Download 2016-06-12 The power of sacrifice - George

Bikers Church Sermon Notes
12 June 2016
The power of sacrifice
You have to fight to reach the dream God has for you. You have to sacrifice and work
hard for it.
By Pastor George Lehman
Show me an anointed effective life and I’ll show you a sacrificial life.
Godly growth and any significant achievement spiritually are not by accident, automatic,
nor inevitable...
...it comes from struggle, suffering and sacrifice.
Paul wrote about his sacrifice he made:
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (LB) – 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not
crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things
happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. 9 We are hunted down, but
God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep
going. 10 These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so
it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe.
The things that holds many back from God’s blessing is their unwillingness to make
sacrifices.
Paul spoke with authority because he understood the power of sacrifice (sitting in prison
he is a free man).
Philippians 3:7-8 (Ampl) – 7 But whatever former things I had that might have
been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s
sake. 8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the
possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the
surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted
with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and
clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere
rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed
One)
If we truly desire to walk as Christ walked...
...we will have to meet the requirements of the sacrifice that will arise in our lives.
Paul was willing to make the sacrifice for his Lord and Saviour (note verse 7 above).
From Genesis to Revelation the bible speaks of sacrifice.
Bikers Church Sermon Notes
12 June 2016
When we follow the correct biblical procedures it becomes a powerful key in our walk with
Jesus.
The following scripture gives a clear indication that God looks at the type of sacrifice and
the attitude of our hearts.
Genesis 4:3-7 (Ampl) – 3 And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an
offering of the fruit of the ground. 4 And Abel brought of the firstborn of his
flock and of the *fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and
for his offering, 5 But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So
Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.
6 And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and
depressed and dejected? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you
do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must
master it.
*NOTE = just as your tithe – give God what’s right – not what’s left. Cain gave God what’s
left. He gave the left overs not his first fruit as Abel did!
Why is there power in sacrifice because it causes us to humble ourselves and surrender to
God’s will...
...resulting in a joy-filled, peace-filled, blessed, victorious, overcoming life.
We mostly tend to position ourselves on the receiving end, asking God for His blessings.
God loves us and wants the best for us.
But we need to see ourselves on the ‘giving’ end and offer what He expects from us.
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. U.S.
President J.F. Kennedy
Jesus said:
Luke 9:22-26 (NIV) – 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things
and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he
must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 23 Then he said to them
all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain
the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed
of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in
his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Is following Jesus Christ easy?
No!
It was never meant to be.
Bikers Church Sermon Notes
12 June 2016
Yet many times we hear only the happy side of our faith.
As a Christian we are deeply loved and greatly blessed. (This is very true).
But it is only one-sided. God expects something from our end.
David’s attitude:
2 Samuel 24:24-25 (NIV) – But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on
paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that
cost me nothing.”
Sacrifice costs you something.
The truth is a serious disciple of Jesus can expect persecution and hardship when you
make sacrifice for Him.
2 Timothy 3:11-12 (NIV) – 11 ...persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things
happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.
Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to
live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Child of God, you must be prepared to make sacrifices in your life if you want to be an
effective disciple of Jesus.
Doing the will of God will mean sacrifices and we need to be prepared for this.
The sooner you understand this, the better.
The Christian who is not prepared to make sacrifices...
...will very soon question God’s goodness at every slightest problem and doubt God’s love
when in a difficult situation.
Israel is a good example. The moment they were saved from Egypt, within a few days...
...they lost sight of the good and compassionate God who acted on their behalf.
They would rather have remained as slaves of Egypt.
If happiness is tied only to physical and material blessings, we have really fallen short of
God’s ideal for us.
Bikers Church Sermon Notes
12 June 2016
Jesus said:
John 12:24-26 (Ampl) – 24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain
of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never
becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others
and yields a rich harvest. 25 Anyone who loves his life loses it, but anyone who
hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. [Whoever has no love for,
no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but despises it, preserves
his life forever and ever.] 26 If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow
Me [to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if
need be, in dying] and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone
serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Our spiritual life is a life of sacrifice.
God looks at the value of the sacrifice and heart condition of the person involved with it.
It is a true faith indicator when someone is fully trusting in the Lord.
*****