Title: Sacrifice And Rewards
Memorize: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 15:20-22 (Nkjv)
[20] And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
[21] But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
[22] So Samuel said: “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.
Message:
My life is a testimony of sacrifice and divine rewards. When you prioritise God and make sacrifices for His Kingdom’s sake, I can tell you from my personal experiences that He will reward you. From giving up my personal dreams, as instructed by Him, to emptying my bank accounts for church projects, God has always rewarded me in return; He does not owe anybody.
I recall a time when I prayed for financial provision to complete the first auditorium in the Redemption Camp (now Redemption City). Instead of receiving an immediate answer, God instructed me to sow all our savings for the project into another ministry. I obeyed His instruction, and miraculously, He supplied everything we needed for the auditorium.
Living a life of sacrifice is not about outward actions but sincere obedience to God’s instructions. It is sad that some people cannot give up their food to fast and pray. Some others cannot dedicate long hours to studying the word of God, yet they spend hours watching movies. Still, some people cannot sacrifice their cravings for impulsive shopping to save money to give to God’s work.
My dear child, don’t let anything control you. Learn to live a life of sacrifice (delayed gratification) to God now. That way, you will honour Him in all your ways and He will reward you bountifully.
Key Point:
Living a life of sacrifice yields beautiful rewards.
HYMN 15: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
Bible In One Year: Luke 1:57-80, Joshua 1-3
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye