The Sacrifice/Offering God Accepts

Activity: Sunday Sermon

Scripture References: Gen. 4: 1-8, 1 Kings 3: 1-15, Acts 2: 42-47; 4: 32-37; 8: 9-24, Gal. 6: 6-10, Heb. 10: 1-18

Introduction
Our present world is tilted to believe that everything and everybody, including supposed men of God, and even God Himself, has a price. The capitalist orientation has modified our thinking into believing that there is nothing that could not be bought, including things that are  exclusive of God; grace, mercy, blessings and even, the Holy Spirit, as long as the price is right.

Body
In the Old Testament, the very first advent of sacrifice was by Jacob (Genesis 31:54). I did tell us over the past three weeks that father Abraham and his son, Isaac never sacrificed for once before God blessed them; they were both given to good works before God.

God began to explicitly require sacrifices from His people for basic reasons like, thanksgiving, remission of sins, peace, etc while in the wilderness and their sins, both against God and their fellow Israelites became rife and constantly reoccurring. It then became customary for God's people to sacrifice various things, such as ram, bullocks, goats, turtledoves, pigeons and farm produces, unto God. Having done these prescribed sacrifices according to specifications from God via His priest, God accepts such expressly by way of the flames going straight towards heaven without scattering.

A good study of the Old Testament however, shows that it was not every offered sacrifice that God accepted. A very good example was that of Cain which was rejected by God. But that of his brother, Abel, done at the same time, was accepted (Gen. 4: 10). Many preachers have made us believed that Cain's sacrifice was rejected because he sacrificed bad fruits. Unfortunately, the Bible didn't say so. Some other people also offered sacrifices which were either accepted or rejected by God.

The death of Jesus Christ on the cross stopped all forms of sacrifices because He offered himself once and for all, a propitiation for all sins (Heb. 10: 8-14).

However, the New Testament emphasized the giving of offerings which is practically at variance to the one in the Old Testament because no animal is encouraged to be given anymore (Heb. 10: 4). Offerings are required for the needy amongst us (Acts 2: 42-47; 4: 32-37, Gal. 6: 9-10).

However, the teachings in our various congregations today is that anyone could bring any offering "unto God" in order to enjoy the favour of God. In fact, it is repeatedly hammered, using Galatians 6: 7, Luke 6: 38 and other relevant Scriptures, that unless one gives an offering, albeit bountifully, one must not expect to be blessed by God. We thank God for His teachings in the last three weeks that taught us that God doesn't need our sacrifices/offerings before blessing us richly. The big question now is: does God accepts all sacrifices/offerings?

Let us bring it down to today. Does God accepts all offerings brought by everybody during our various church services?

The answer is NO! Contrary to the wrong teachings sparking off covetousness amongst Christians by which promptings many are doing obscene things, that should not even be mentioned amidst us, it MUST be noted that "it is not every sacrifice (offerings, tithes, etc) that God accepts.

Conclusion
God is not a man, and MUST NOT be reduced to one. To a man,  anything and or anybody may be acceptable. But God has a standard which, over the times past, He has "stubbornly" refused to change. I have re-echoed to many people that God, my own God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is OLD-FASHIONED (Heb. 13: 8). Therefore, whosoever wants to serve Him to His satisfaction must be ready to be as old-fashioned as He is. Trying to civilize and or digitalize God is a cheer waste of time!

By His special grace, if He tarries, next week, we shall see the kind of offerings that God accepts and those He rejects. We shall also know why He rejected Cain's but accepted Abel's.

May He lavish His grace for understanding on us without measure in Jesus Christ Mighty Name. Amen.

Till we meet again, keep keeping on in Him!