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 three voices

The Voice of God the Father says: "Leave your country, your kindred and your father's house..." 

The Voice of God the Son says, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me." 

The voice of Satan says: "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 

Genesis 12:1, Mark 8:34 and Matthew 4:9

Three voices: one commands and the other two suggest. Which of the three have you heard?

Exchange

"Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16.26

If people were aware of the extreme importance of the salvation of the soul, they would invest ALL OF THEIR LIVES in achieving and maintaining it. Such is its importance that the Lord God Himself says:What profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?

A grain of wheat

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." John 12.24

The unchangeable law of multiplication demands death. By this, the Lord Jesus teaches that in order for one to be born of the Holy Spirit, they have to die to the world.

You ask amiss

"...You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." James 4.3

Because of their fleshly nature, the children of the world ask and do not receive, since they ask to satisfy the flesh. But the children of God, when ask according to His will, receive.

Enemies of God

"Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4.4

The Holy Spirit considers all those who are friends with the world to be unfaithful. They are much more than unfaithful, they are considered as enemies of God, just as the devil and his demons.

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.