Hatred

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." John 15.18

The feeling of hatred from the children of this world towards the children of God is part of carrying the cross. The Lord Jesus warned His disciples about it. It is waste of time trying to please God and the children of the world. It is more comfortable to keep the cross and take its sacrifices than trying to reconcile faith with the world.

The love God wants

"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'do you love Me?'And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.'Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.'" John 21.17

Why did Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him? From my understanding, he wanted to teach about pure and true love. Just as faith requires attitude, love also requires action. Those who think that pure love is a feeling are completely wrong. It is not. Just as  and faith, it also requires sacrifices.

The Sacrifice said

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" John 14.6

I thought the comment of Luiz Fabiano on my husband's blog to be very true: The Sacrifice said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 
This is a fact. Without sacrifice, it is impossible to reach God.

Fear in obedience

"And He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'" Genesis 22.12

Abraham's faith had already been tried several times. He passed the tests, but when the sacrifice of his son was required, he got to his limit. His unconditional obedience proved his FEAR to the Lord God. Today, for far less, many are not able to demonstrate the least bit of FEAR IN OBEDIENCE to God's Word.

Listen

"But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” Proverbs 1.33

Listening means to obey. When we obey God's Word, faith is pure and does not allow room for doubts or fears of evil. That's a fact. Difficult is to use faith to obey. Difficult is to sacrifice the desires of the flesh. But who said that the road to salvation would be easy?

Covenant

“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you." Genesis 17.4

Covenant, pact, marriage or accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior involves mutual commitment between creature and Creator. It is all about sacrifice from both parties. Jesus sacrificed and is still sacrificing as He endures our imperfections. From our part, the sacrifice is to surrender our will to do His. This agreement allows Him to be our Lord and God for all eternity.

Unbearable

"Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me.The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting." Isaiah 1.13

Offerings, sacrifices and religious zeal cannot make up for a person's sins and they are not pleasing to the Lord. The children of Israel know this very well. It was not a difficult task for them to fulfil religious obligations. The hard part was to stay away from sin.
Wouldn't it be the same as a husband full of lovers saying to his wife, "I've given you comfort, good houses, expensive cars, jewellery, money, and everything else you need..."? But she says, "I don't have the most important thing: you."

Faithfulness

"...Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2.10

The crown of life, that is, eternal life, depends on our faithfulness to the Lord Jesus until death. Just as faith is proven to death, our faithfulness is also. If our forefathers in faith have been proven to the end of their journeys in this world, why would we be spared?
If athletes take pains and sacrifice everything for a perishable gold medal, why should we not sacrifice everything for eternal life?

Temperance

"And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." I Corinthians 9.25

Competitive athletes undergo strict training, dieting and exemplary discipline. They make real sacrifices hunting for medals and the glory of this world. Even so, in time, their glory and accomplishments are forgotten.
The same does not happen to the true glory, which is reserved to the loyal and faithful to the Lord of Eternal Glory.

The Spirit and faith

"And Pharaoh said to his servants, 'Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?'” Genesis 41.38

Only those who are possessed by the Spirit of God make a difference. As a matter of fact, even the the children of darkness recognise them. However, in order to have Him, we must pay the price of sacrifice.

Tough work

"For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure." John 3.34

Imagine the joy of achieving the greatest and most important dream of your life. Now, imagine the sacrifice you made in order to achieve it. This is it...
To make His dream of dwelling in us come through, God had to send and sacrifice Jesus, His Dream, to wash us and cleanse us. Only then could He send His Spirit.
Jesus had to do the "tough work" so that we can be possessed by the Spirit.
And what have you been doing to match such a great sacrifice?
The Daniel Fasting of Daniel is not for the curious or adventurous.

Sacrifices

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15.22

The offering of material goods without obedience to God's Word does not work. What good would it be if a prostitute, for example, offers one month worth of her gain but keeps selling her body? Would the Lord God accept such an offering?


The offering is something spontaneous from the soul that expresses sincere love. But the sacrifice involves total surrender of body, soul and spirit. It sacrifices body and soul. There is no reservation on the sacrifice. Saul sacrificed the body of an animal, but did not sacrifice his will in order to do God's will.

The conditions to become an heir

 "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you." Genesis 12.1

Abraham had to leave his land, his family and the position of leadership inherited from his father.God required him to sacrifice. And those who want to be sons and heirs of Abraham must pass the scrutiny of sacrificing this world. The Lord God must come before than nationality, relatives and our father's house.

REMISSION

"And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood and without shedding of blood there is no remission."      Hebrews 9.22

During the times of the Old Testament, almost everything was purified through the sacrifice of blood. However, in the New Testament, the sacrifice of animals was canceled. But the sacrifice of faith was not and it requires action. 
Without sacrifice there is no remission, no salvation and no achievements.
Whoever wants to be forgiven, must forgive (sacrifice). Whoever wants to receive, must give (sacrifice). Whoever wants to reap, must sow (sacrifice).
Therefore, it is impossible to take possession of God's promises without an act of sacrificial faith. 

BY MY SPIRIT

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts."    Zechariah 4.6

When a Christian freely surrenders his life over to God and sacrifices his will daily to remain in the faith, he is given the power to win all of his battles by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus.

ATHLETIC SACRIFICE

"And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules."    2 Timothy 2:5

Awards are only given to winners. But they must burn through many hours of the day practicing and eating appropriately  They must also abstain from all types of addictions, so that their physical health is not compromised. All this means sacrifice. Sacrifice for what? To win a gold medal and worldwide recognition. 
If the momentary glory of this world  requires sacrifice, imagine the eternal glory of salvation? Do you think it will be easier to attain than the glory of this world?

GOD TESTS US

"...for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 13:3

The Lord knows us better than anyone else. When He tests us, He wants us to get to know ourselves better too. Sacrifice is the best way for us to test our faith in His Word.

OFFERING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

"He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord and offering of righteousness." Malachi 3:3

He who teaches how to offer sacrifices to God is teaching an act of faith that pleases God. Sacrifice strengthens the communion between the creation and the Creator. Abel was justified and approved because of the sacrifice he presented to the Lord. 

Oh!

“Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries." Psalm 81:13,14

God's will is that His people are free from their enemies, that He may have fed them also with the finest of wheat and with honey from the rock satisfy you (v. 16) But in order to listen and obey Him, you need to sacrifice. Sacrifice your flesh.

The Righteous

Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker? Job 4.17

Who is righteous before the Almighty if even the angels have their imperfections? Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus' sacrifice and total surrender made it possible for His blood to purify us from all sin, making us deserving.