DATE: 28th June, 2020
THEME: SACRIFICIAL LIFE
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 22:1-14
Romans 6:12-23
Matthew 10:40-42
Psalter: Psalm 89:1-4
INTRODUCTION
A sacrificial life is a life that is set apart to God. This life is not about pleasing yourself but about pleasing God by doing His will. Jesus Christ lived such a life and everything He did was to please God by doing His will. He gave His life to redeem mankind from slavery to sin and the devil as it was God’s revealed way to deal with sin. As believers our lives are set apart to God with Jesus Christ as our example.
When believers are really committed to pleasing Christ by doing His will they will be able to put a stop to much of the suffering and harm being caused in the world today. The sacrificial life of the believer will bring about God’s blessings of joy, health and abundant life.
CONTEXT
In Matthew 10, Jesus summons the twelve disciples and gives them healing powers and authority over unclean spirits. He then gives them their marching orders. He warns that they will face persecution. He tells them not to fear the person who can kill the body, but rather to fear God who has power over body and soul. He assures them of God’s love. He promises to acknowledge before the Father anyone who acknowledges Jesus before people, and warns that he has not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Therefore, when Jesus promises rewards to those who welcome/receive a prophet or a righteous person, the context is high-risk (Sacrificial)—a spiritual war-zone. The prophet and righteous person are sacrificing their lives for Christ, and those who help them assume similar risks. In addition to providing food, clothing, shelter, and money, they are demonstrating personal support for Christ and his church—and are serving as encouragers of those who stand on the front lines in the war against Satan.
BODY
- HE WHO RECEIVES ME
Jesus spoke of the dangers disciples would face, including persecution, rejection by their own families, and “those who kill the body”. Jesus’ disciples cannot expect comfort or safety as they go about carrying out their commission. They were invited to sacrifice.
There are also sacrificial costs associated with receiving prophets, righteous persons, and little ones:
▪ Financial Cost -It is no small matter to attend to the needs of other people. It is expensive to feed them or to provide money for their living expenses.
▪ Personal Cost- To invite someone to live in our home is stressful. Guests invade our personal space and limit our privacy.
• Danger to oneself and one’s family – Jesus warned the disciples that they could expect opposition—persecution. Host families can find themselves caught in the crossfire.
B. SACRIFICIAL LIFE
a. A sacrificial life begins with knowing about God and His will.- This is why sharing the good news is so important. It is however possible to know about God and His will and not know God. We need to know God through a personal relationship with Him. It is only by knowing Christ through a personal relationship that one becomes a child of God. This is the only way to benefit from a sacrificial life. A person who knows God intimately and His will also understand that everything in life is about God and not about us.
b. A sacrificial life is made possible by the sacrifice of Christ. Under the old covenant a person who had sinned would bring an animal sacrifice to the priest. The animal sacrifice was always consumed by the fire of God’s judgement which was an indication that the judgement of God was far greater than the sacrifice. In the case of the sacrifice of Christ He endured the full judgement of God and was not consumed. Christ has paid far more than was needed for our salvation and by accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour we are identified with His death and resurrection and are set apart to live a sacrificial life.
c. A sacrificial life obeys God– Jesus acted in total obedience to the will of God. Abraham, the father of all who believe, knew God’s will and obeyed Him when God told him to offer up his son as a burnt offering. He did not wait to analyse what God had said but gathered up all he needed and left early the next morning in obedience to the Word of God. Abraham behaved the way he did because he trusted God. He remembered and believed the promises of God.
d. A sacrificial life is the life of God.- It is a life of righteousness and there is no place for sin in a believer’s life. This does not mean that a believer does not sin but sin does not affect His righteous standing before God. As the righteousness of Christ you have been made aware of the cost of sin and should not allow sin to have any dominion over you. A sacrificial life has access to the grace of God. A sacrificial life is a life of service to Christ.
C. A GREAT REWARD
Jesus talks about a tier of rewards for those who would accept the Gospel. The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet gets a prophet’s reward. The one who receives a righteous man gets a righteous man’s reward. The one who offers even the least of the brethren a cup of cold water will certainly not go unrewarded.
The reward for giving even a cold cup of water in the name of a disciple means that what seems to be the most trivial of service is noted by God. The providing of a cup of water to someone who has been out in the heat of the day is indeed a far greater gift than it seems. It could also be seen as offering hospitality for the Lord’s servants who had been put out of synagogues and homes and were left to wander.
CONCLUSION
We cannot have access to God’s abundant provisions and not live a life of service and blessing others. God blesses us to be a blessing as we feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty. We are a blessing when we welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and visit the sick and the prisoner. We are a blessing when we comfort the grieving, the lonely, and the hurting. A SACRIFICIAL LIFE BRINGS BLESSINGS. Enjoy the service. Stay BLESSED.
VERY REV DR SAMUEL DUA DODD
CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH
ADABRAKA, ACCRA
