Sacrificial Service

We often talk of sacrifice (giving a gift, offering), but do we really understand the implications? Do we know what it costs? Being a servant (giving services) to the master or employer.

We may think to make a sacrifice for Christ is coming to church, tithing, reading our Bible, singing in the choir or prayer. Little do we realize that we do these things often with no inconvenience on our part, when we can spare the time, we do them reluctantly and as long as it does not interfere with our lifestyle or personal time. Hence serving without sacrifice!

We have detached sacrifice from service, and this is a fatal mistake. It is one of those indications of the lukewarm believers.

Read Daniel Chapter 3, the story of three wise Hebrew men who got the idea of sacrifice and service right.

In the lives of the three Hebrew men, they recognized and were willing to sacrifice their lives to serve their God. Service and sacrifice are married together perfectly.

Three Principles

1. The effect of your service will be in proportion to your willingness to sacrifice

In Daniel 3, verses 12, 16-18 (the only time the three speak in this entire ordeal). When did we speak in our modern time?

• Sacrifice goes hand in hand with service to God—Romans 12:1-2.
• Both service and sacrifice show our faith in action—Philippians 2:17
• Patient suffering and service get God’s notice and approval—1 Peter 2:20

2. The presence of Christ is best experienced in the scorching trials of service verses: Daniel 3:25-27

• Christ was in the middle of the fire with them (25), Christ was seen at the height of the storm when Peter walked on water (Matthew 14:22-33). He appeared to Hagar as she was fleeing from Sarah (Genesis 16:7-14)
• He appeared to Abraham (Genesis 18:1; 22:11-13). These two appearances came at critical times in Abraham’s life. One (Genesis 18) concerned itself with the destruction of Sodom, and the other (Gen. 22) with the last-minute salvation of Isaac.
• He appeared to Daniel in the lion’s den and shut the lions’ mouths (Dan. 6:21-22)

I do believe God’s presence is being felt even during this time of COVID-19.

Christ promised to be with us in our service together—Matthew 18:20

Christ promised to be with us when it seems the whole world is against us—Hebrews 13:5-6

3. Sacrificial service will produce an outcome that glorifies God verses Daniel 3:28-30

• We still need to serve expectantly and know that God will work someway and somehow. —Romans 8: 28
• The final heavenly outcome is worth the earthly effort—Luke 15:8-10
• The reward of faith comes with the constant effort of keeping our attention on God— Hebrews 11:6
• Sacrificial service is never a wasted effort—1 Corinthians 15:58

Conclusion:

My prayer is that we should not detach sacrifice from service. It has led many churches to become lukewarm and many people to become lukewarm. No wonder we do not have Leaders of Influence who are giving Finances and their Expertise to do God’s work in Africa and beyond in our societies. I dare say that without Sacrificial Service there will be no life in our communities.

If God were to approach you now, could He say that you serve the same way as the 3 Hebrew men? Are you doing Sacrificial Service especially during this time of COVID-19?

Prayer Points

Adoration

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. (Psalm 115:1)

Confession                                                                                                                                       

Forgive us Lord where we have not been willing to sacrifice in service to you and others. (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Thanksgiving

Thank you Lord:

• For becoming a perfect sacrifice for our redemption from sin and death (Hebrews 10:14)
• For being a perfect example for our sacrificial service. (Hebrews 10:7)
• For working in us, by your Spirit, to will and do your good purpose – so we have the strength and the wherewithal to fulfil this service (Philippians 2:13,14)
• For the making all grace abound toward us so that we, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work.
• For the assurance of your presence, your pleasure and your promised reward in our sacrificial service.
• Thank you Lord for bringing us through the first set of Webinars so wonderfully. Thank you for anointing our speakers, for good attendance and engagement and for preventing technology glitches. We are grateful that the team worked so well together and that God was glorified in all of it.
• Supplication

We pray:

• For a spirit of wholehearted sacrifice in service.
• For a focus on God who we serve in everything we do.
• For a delight in the opportunities God brings our way to serve.
• For a diligence and excellence in service so that our labor is honorable to God and a good witness of Him to the world
• As we work on putting together a new series of Webinars, we pray for God’s leading in identifying the right speakers. We pray that God would superintend over every detail of each Webinar. We pray that our desired involvement of the young people would be fruitful and long term.

In line with sacrificial service, we declare as Africans on the Continent and in the diaspora called into the Kingdom of God that:

1. WE PREACH JESUS CHRIST AND SERVE OTHERS FOR HIS SAKE. (2 CORINTHIANS 4:5)
2. WE OFFER OUR BODIES AS LIVING SACRIFICES, HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD. (ROMANS 12:1)
3. WE WALK IN LOVE AS CHRIST LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US, A FRAGRANT OFFERING AND SACRIFICE TO GOD. (EPHESIANS 5:2)                 
4. WE LAY OUR LIVES DOWN FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. (1 JOHN 3:16)
5. LIKE DAVID, WE WILL NOT OFFER TO GOD WHAT COSTS US NOTHING (2 SAMUEL 24:24)