Sacrifices and Offerings: What are you bringing to the Altar of God? (Apostle Tracey Robinson)
Let’s start out with the beginning of a sacrifice offered to God by Cain and Abel in
Genesis 4:3-7
. Cain was a tiller of the ground. Abel was a keeper of sheep.
In the process of time, Cain brought the fruit of the ground as an offering to the Lord. Abel, his brother also brought of his sheep the first of his flock and the
fat thereof. The fat means the first, rich, and fertile; the best of his flock. GOD should get your best!
Abel brought the first of his flock, not the sheep left over from his selling them or giving to others. He gave to the Lord God his first of his sheep. In other words, he chose the best for God and not the least. Whereas, Cain gave God whatever he wanted him to have and grudged in his heart toward giving it to Him.
Somewhat like we are today toward God, by saying to God “you’re God you got everything, why do you need what I have?” Not even considering the source of your blessing which is God Himself. Think about your giving in sacrifices and offerings toward God! When we give according to the Word of God in giving then we will have the promises of God’s Word.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Please note here in this scripture, you can’t be in sin sowing and reaping from the Lord bountifully. That does not add up!
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudging, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Please note here, this giver is one that has purposed in heart, not put on a mask of pretense. Your heart has to be in your giving toward God or anyone else you say God told you to give to.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
Please note here, the scripture says that “GOD is able” to make all grace (His unmerited favor) come to you in abundance so that you won’t have a need to require aid or support from any other source but Him.
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Please note here, God gives to the poor, what poor? The poor in spirit. St Matthew 5:1 says blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. You are blessed you that are poor in spirit. Again, man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
God way verses man’s way!
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness);
Please note here, GOD provides for the sower bread for eating, as well as multiplying the sowers resources and increase the fruits of the sowers righteousness. That righteousness means being in right standing with God. You don’t get this multiplication in sin and living unrighteous before God.
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Please note, GOD will enrich you in all things and in every way, so you can be generous and your generosity will bring forth your thanksgiving to God.
We are still talking about your sacrifices and offerings, and what are you bringing to the altar of God?
This teaching is your prosperity teaching, since we love to be taught how God is going to bless us and give to us; but this teaching is for you to know just how to be prosperous in God through His Word; how to be spiritually bountiful through His Word; how to faithful in thanksgiving over what God has given to you through His Word.
As you continue to study with us, see if you are a Cain or Abel in your sacrificial giving. In the scripture God had respect for Abel and his sacrifice; but to Cain and his offering God had no respect. And this made Cain angry with God and his countenance fell. God was not pleased with Cain’s offering nor did He accept it.
What is your heart toward God in your sacrifice of giving? Does God have respect or disrespect for your offering/giving? Whether your sacrifice of giving is in praise or worship, tithes and offerings; time and talents, etc. what is your heart in giving to God? What does your heart really say to God? We are not asking what it looks like to so-and-so, but what does it really look like to God? What is God’s return to you for your sacrifices and offerings?
We know that in today’s local assembly’s or House of Prayer our sacrificial giving as unto the Lord is not that of fruits and vegetables, sheep or rams, but it is this monetary, tangible item called money – currency that we use today to buy, sell, and exchange.
Please note this is not a tithes and offering teaching, but it will teach you to study God’s Word to find out about the giving of tithings and offerings. In case you want to start in scripture somewhere here are some: Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:30-31, which talks about a 5th added when you don’t bring the full 10th; Malachi 3:10, which talks about the spiritual blessings to the liberal giver; Acts 11:29; 2 Corinthians 8:12, which talks about a willing mind to give; 2 Corinthians 9:7, talks about giving as you have purposed in your heart.
If your giving is
acceptable, and is without spots or blemishes or sin from your heart, then God will do as St Luke 6:38
says Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Again, another promise to liberal (free) givers in their heart, along with spiritual abundance.
If your giving is
unacceptable and is without respect from the Lord God, because of sin, transgression, and iniquity found at the door of your heart with disobedience God will do as Jeremiah 6:20-21
says 20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. 21 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
Here like Cain, if your sacrifice and offering is unacceptable to God with no respect from God, then check your stewardship with God, check your relationship with God, and check your labor with God. Your willingness and obedience carries a heavy weight with God and His recompense of reward, regardless of how faithful you are to giving or how often you give.
In willingness and obedience, have you surrendered your Will to the Way of God; are you doing what God has required of you in Spirit and in Truth? Can God present you to the devil and say “have you tried my servant so and so?”
This is that heavy weight that willingness and obedience carries in the heart of God toward you.
God’s promise in His Word comes with a commandment that
MUST be executed by you. In other words, promises in the Word of God will cause God will give back to you will be in spiritual abundance
.
God don’t need
any
money, but the House of Prayer does in order to keep the furtherance of the Gospel flowing, as well as the upkeep of the ministry. So God’s return to you is spiritual abundance that will be applied to your spiritual growth in Him, as He Will, Desire, and Destine you into to His Plans and Purposes.
Evaluate your spiritual growth toward your stewardship in its sacrifices and offerings. Are you growing in the Ways of the Lord God? Or are you growing in the ways of your Will with its desires that are opposed to God’s Will and Way? Or are you naturally bountiful that you, like Cain can give to this HOLY God what you Will and tell God it’s up to you whether you accept it or not, “I gave”.
GOD is a spirit. He will give you the spiritual abundance you need if your sacrifices are acceptable to Him with respect. 3 John verse 2
says Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. In this scripture prosperity, health, and spiritual growth is promised.
Spiritual abundance
is having a fullness of life, whereas everything is taken care of as it pertains to you in life and in godliness. Spiritual abundance is seeing what God’s need, pleasure, and desire are for you. Spiritual abundance is a mindset, with a sense of satisfaction that comes from what you have, what you don’t have, and what you may never have. With spiritual abundance, the more satisfied you are with God’s supply, the less you will need in the naturally.
If you are not growing spiritually through all your giving, then something is wrong. If you are not prospering both spiritually and naturally, and is in good health, then something is wrong. If you are not living a life of abundance with gratitude that displays a mindset with a sense of satisfaction, something is wrong. Your sacrifices you are bringing to the altar of God are not being accepted by God with a return of His Promises in His Word.
Spiritual Abundance
includes some of these things: abundance in life, joy, power, supplying your need, power to get wealth, promotions, beauty, praise, worship, etc.
Spiritual Abundance will include BALANCE
in your life both spiritual and natural.
Ask yourself, am I balanced in the natural and in the spirit, sort of like the scales of justice they use. Are you in equilibrium with the Spirit of God and His Will for your
whole man
(mind, spirit, soul, and body?)
If we forget to consider God, by looking at our gains and returns, then we will walk in the way and mannerism of Cain.
Evaluate your spiritual life and its style with God and His Word. See if you are lining up with God’s truth or your way of truth.
GOD should get your best! What are you bringing to the altar of God?
Sin with your sacrifices and offerings will not be consumed on the altar of God. God will not get the sweet savor that He desires from your offering. He deserves your first and your best!
Under the Laws sacrifices were not effective to take away the sins, because in those sacrifices there was a remembrance of sins in their conscience. In other words, no matter how many times the people went before the Priest and repented the remembrance of their sin remained in their conscience.
Hebrews 10:1-10
.
Repentance is much needful here, with a Godly sorrow of your sin. Praying and asking the Lord God to give you a new heart and a new spirit, so that He (GOD) can take away the stony heart of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Then will the Lord put His Spirit, His Holy Spirit which will cause you to walk in His statutes, keep His judgments, and DO THEM.
Ezekiel 36:26-27.
Psalm 51:16-17
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Even down to not having a tangible (seen) sacrifice or offering, God’s Word holds true, He will not despise a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.
Just because you don’t have anything tangible to offer up to God, still give to Him that which is intangible (that which is unseen) in your heart.
Hosea 6:6
6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings
This is repentance. There is no greater sacrifice or offering greater than this. God desires this of His People.
Personal Touch Int Ministries Inc 