Sermon – “Sacrifice”

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. 25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

Sacrifice Philippians two verses nineteen through thirty hear the word of the Lord but I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly. That I also may be encouraged when I know your state for I have no one like minded who will sincerely care for your state for all seek their own not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character that as a son with his father he served with me in the Gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once as soon as I see how it goes with me but I trust in the Lord that I myself so also come shortly. Yet I considered it necessary to send to you. Packard ictus my brother fellow worker and fellow soldier but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need since he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick for indeed he was sick. Almost done to death but God had mercy on him and not only on him but also will may lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less sore fool receive Him Therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold sets men in esteem because for the work of Christ he came close to death not regarding his own life to supply that to to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. May god add his blessing and to that here in the reading of His Holy Word. You did not hear the word sacrifice in that passage did you. But if you paid attention to the content you could see the sacrifice the sacrifice that was made on behalf of Christ to be very straightforward about trying to give an understanding of what sacrifice means. I guess I could say this that if it doesn’t cost you something be it. Your time. Be it financially or physically or materially then it is not a sacrifice. It is only a sacrifice if it cost you something it’s the act of giving up something that you would really rather keep in order to help someone else or to to promote the Gospel promote your cause you know there are a couple different types of forms of sacrifice of course the one being the sacrificial institution that God himself appointed that he or deigned all the way back in Genesis in order to make worship acceptable. This was designed instituted by God you know if you look back in Genesis chapter three verse twenty one says also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin and clothe them. So the very first sacrifice made for sins was by God. The sacrificial system in IL Testament was to cause man to experience giving up something because of their sins to experience giving up and cause an end to realize and and Bill be guilty and repent of their sins. You know that old sacrificial system was never intended in by by no means could it ever make one clean and pure and holy before God only the blood of Jesus Christ a good do that and you know as I thought about this and thinking about Adam and Eve I think they really was impacted by the sacrifice that God made by sacrificing those animals to cover them because think about it. Think of the time in the garden. They named the animals they named them. Is kind of like God took one of their pets. And had to sacrifice at the close of them. You know before sin came they could go over and pet the line on top of the head. They could go over and Patton old alligator on top if they want to do and say Have a nice warm because the animals were not against them before sin. So they understood what a great sacrifice it was because of the sin that they committed against God another type of sacrifice though is the ethical sacrifice that will be our main focus for the day I know the entire Bible is is the theme of sacrifice pervades the whole Bible to step two. It didn’t translate. It’s eight different Hebrew words for various kinds of sacrifice occur in three hundred fifty times they refer to the Old Testament sacrifices. It refers to Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross. It also recent refers to the sacrifice of Christian living and service. You know many many people over the centuries have paid a great sacrifice for what they believe to be a worthy cause or a noble cause. And I want to share a couple interesting examples so bear with me as I read these to you Have you ever wondered what happened to the fifty six men who signed the Declaration of Independence five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died twelve had their homes ransacked and burned to lost their sons in the revolutionary army another had two sons captured nine of the fifty six fought and died from wounds or the hardship of or of the Revolutionary War They signed and they pledged their lives their fortunes and their sacred honor. What kind of men were these men twenty four were lawyers and jurist eleven were merchants nine were farmers and large plantation owners men of means. And well educated but they signed a declaration of independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured Carter Braxton a Virginia a wealthy planter and traitor saw his ship swept from the sea by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debt and died in rags Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly He served in Congress without pay and his family was kept in hiding his possessions were taken from him and poverty was his reward vandals and or soldiers or both looted the properties of Ellery claimer Paul Walton Wynette Hayward Rutledge And Middleton at the Battle of York town. Thomas Nelson Jr noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. The owner quietly urged toward Washington to open fire the home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. Frank Francis Lewis had his home and property destroyed the enemy jailed his wife and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside washee was dying there thirteen children fled for their lives his fields and his grist mill were laid to waste for more than a year he lived in forest and caves returning home to find his wife and children dead and his children vanished with few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. NORRIS And Livingston suffered similar fates sets where the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed rabble rousing Ruffins they were soft spoken men of means and education they had security but they valued liberty more standing tall straight and unwavering a pledge for the support of this declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of the divine. In Providence we moved mutually pledge to each other our lives our fortune and our sacred honor these were unselfish men who were willing to look beyond themselves willing to sacrifice their own comforts their own wealth because they could see something that was bigger than themselves they could see how it would benefit the generations to come. They were willing to sacrifice their means to benefit a generation and the generations I should say that would come after them their grandchildren or great grandchildren or great great grandchildren. They gave us a free and independent America is America willing to do the same today. God be with us. Because of selfishness and pride in arrogance in greed. What are we leaving our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren nearly twenty trillion dollars in debt nearly twenty trillion dollars in debt because we like those men have not been wanting to sacrifice comforts and pleasures in our own desires and want to get much further net today because we as a nation and this is you know something has been all Martin someone had a word for me this week we as a nation need to repent. It is my prayer that God would send forth his spirit like a mighty tidal wave that was sweep across this land. That would cause us as Americans to see or need of repentance that we would overcome our own selfishness and be willing to sacrifice for those who will come after us to be willing to. For flights for him. God help us. God be with us. I might get back to that I want to go and continue. I have another example from another country. It hasn’t been too many years ago that the Chernobyl nuclear plant had the explosion. One of the most harrowing examples in history of the dangers of nuclear power if it is not kept in check but the disaster could have been much much worse than any of us have known if it would have been for three men there was a chamber Hausen a huge piece of radioactive carbon that was in danger of melting right through the floor into a pool of water. If that had happened it would have caused a massive steam explosion which in turn would have forced thousands of tons of radiation material into the air. It was quickly decided that someone need to drain the pool in order to say potentially millions and millions of human lives three men volunteered for that task alexy Anonymous of the hour. I beg of and Bors borrow all selflessly opted to leap into that water to open the valve. They later succumb to the mass of those radiation. They had received while saving the lives of their countrymen a very noble cause they gave their lives. You know I’m sure that most of us would jump right in for that foreign squad to save our children or grandchildren or whatever the sacrifice would be are we willing to sacrifice for our neighbors or for those we don’t even know sacrifice. There was a Jewish sect known as scenes death scenes I think is how it is pronounce. They held that unethical sacrifice was far better than an animal sacrifice they didn’t even believe in animal sacrifices the scenes resembled the fair seas. Though there were stark differences their original rejuvenated around one hundred B.C. and disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem in eight hundred seventy eight the scenes lived in various cities they congregated to live a communal monistic lifestyle that had strict membership requirements rules and rituals they dedicated themselves to living a static life that included voluntary poverty abstaining from worldly pleasures and in some cases celibacy. Although a smaller number than the fair season Sadducees the Jews historian Joseph A States that they existed in large numbers and that thousands of throughout Judea. The A scenes are not directly mentioned in Scripture but some believe that Matthew nineteen ten and twelve refers to them says the disciples said to him if such is the case of the man with his if sets is the case of the man with his wife is it better not to marry but he said to them all cannot accept the same but only those whom it is given for there are uniques who were born. Thus from the mother’s womb and there are units who are made eunuchs by men and there are uniques who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven sake. Who is able to accept it that in accepted. So they believe that that’s who they are referring to because it’s those who chose chose that sacrificial lifestyle chose to live in poverty chose not to live in pleasure in a New Testament age of grace in which we now live. What kind of sacrifice is pleasing to God We all know that we don’t need to slaughter the. With the goats because Christ completely fulfilled that when he died on that cross their sins are washed away. So what do we sacrifice to God what is pleasing to him why I can go to the Old Testament Isaiah one verses eleven to seventeen to what purpose as a multitude of your sacrifice to me says the Lord I have had enough of burnt offerings and Rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not the light in the blood of bulls or of lambs or gives when you come to appear before me who has required this from your hand to trample my cords bring no more futile sacrifices incense is an abomination to me the new moon is a Sabbath and the calling assemblies that cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meetings your new moons and your appointed feast hate my SO hates They are a trouble to me I am weary of bearing them when you spread out your hands. I will hide my face from my eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers I will not hear your hands are full of blood wash your selves make yourselves clean put away the evil from your doing from before my eyes cease to do evil learn to do good seek justice rebuke the oppressor defend the fatherless plead for the widow. That’s the sacrifice of gods these are. To learn to do good to seek justice to rebuke the oppressor. And also in Micah Chapter six dispersed six and six to eight with what shall I come before the Lord and bound myself before the High God So I come before him with burnt offerings with calves a year old where the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams ten thousand rivers of oil. So I give my firstborn for my transgressions the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul. He has shown you a man. What is good and what does the LORD require. Our of you both to do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God that is what the Lord requires to walk calmly before him true and faithful sacrifice looks the same as it did in a passage from Philippines today where he said. Yet I consider necessary to send you a passer by just my brother my fellow worker and fellow soldier but your messenger the one who ministered to money that he was longing for you all and with these stress was distress because you had heard that he was sick for indeed he was sick almost to death but God had mercy on him and not only won him but on me also. Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him more eagerly that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful receive Him Therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold sets men in a stain because for the work of Christ he came close to death not regarding his own life to supply what was lacking in your service. Do we put the things of God above even our own life is God’s service God’s ministry that important to us that we put it above oron comforts. Our own pleasures our own desires. That’s true. Sacrifice is he that important to us is God’s church God’s ministry that important to us is his ways and His purpose. More important than our ways in our purpose and if they are that’s the sacrifice to God desires of the of us today a passer by it is considered more important than his own life than his own life. The say. Bad thing isn’t today society many people will sacrifice everything to gain worldly gain though sacrifice their families will sacrifice their time they’ll sacrifice anything you could think of to gain more money to gain more fame to gain more no notoriety to gain all these things will sacrifice everything to sacrifice all these important things to gain something that is only temporary. Because what good would it do to gain the whole world and forfeit your own soul. But when we sacrifice for the work of Christ we are sacrificing for that which is eternal. So what are we going to sacrifice for what we’re going to sacrifice for the temporal things we’re going to sacrifice for the eternal things that’s the question today what are we willing to sacrifice. So I’m fifty one seventeen says the sacrifices of God are a broken speared a broken and contrary heart these oh God you will not the spy’s our hearts broken. Jesus said in Matthew twenty. Matthew five twenty three and twenty four. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you leave your gift there before the altar and go your way and first be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift that is a sacrifice. It’s an ethical sacrifice to go and be reconciled with your brother. It’s more important that the gift you bring it’s doing unto others as you have would have others do unto you. It’s repenting it said if your brother has something against you. It didn’t say you had something against him but it’s going to. Consolingly making things right hold such men in high esteem and high esteem sets men as a path for Titus hold them in high esteem. So sets men and women that are willing to sacrifice for others. We need to hold in high esteem those that have given those that have proven themselves. We need to hold it high esteem because they are willing to pay the sacrifice. You know care spoke of RAM all in the prayers this morning. My dad’s mom grandma sword. I thought she was already hundred three Carrick recta me and says will be under three in November. You know if I was to describe grandma all by speak of the fruits of the spear kindness love patience selfless they all described my grandmother and most here. Most here know my grandmother. She is the kindest gentlest person that I’ve ever known and always very very patient and she has shared that same love with every member of her family and I think with everybody. She know she is a sweet dear woman and I know that. Every one of her children love her dearly in her grandchildren love her dearly. We love her dearly. She’s a sweet woman and she’s become an ill her kidneys are failing and you know we think you know her days could be very very short but when Grandma was still living at home home as in the Baltimore Street apartments there come in the manner. Where Mom now lives. You know we would go visit her but there was one who really made a sacrifice my cousin April she works at Allegheny College she would go see grandma every I shouldn’t say almost every single day she would go and have lunch with Grandma almost every day. So as grandma here a few years back got to where she couldn’t be one around April said I don’t want grandma to go to a nursing home. I want to come live with me so Grandma has been living with April for for five or so years. She is sacrificed her time and Janie is there with her for like four hours every morning then a sitter comes for four hours than other net Aprils are with her. They’re there with her every day she needs someone there twenty four seven. She has sacrificed her time she is in her forty’s and you know probably a lot of things she’d rather go do but she has sacrificed her time her efforts her strings her finances to help take care of grandma and if you would say to her. What a great sacrifice you have made you know what she’s going to tell you because I love or. It’s not a sacrifice. You see it’s not a great sacrifice when you love that person does that help you understand what God did for us. Why did he send his son why was Jesus willing to go to that cross because his love this greater for us than we can even fathom. And I think I much I love my grandmother and how much April was my grandmother and all you know my grandmother lover. That’s how much God loves you and who have talked about grandma like that tearful. But are we will. In the face of the sacrifice. We will in the sacrifice for his purposes but we will in the give up our pleasures and comforts go worry calls us to do what he asked us to do. Are we willing to do it. That’s the question today we want in the sacrifice some of the things that we would rather do to do what he is asking us to do. Are you willing to lay down your desires and pick up the cross and carry for him. So I leave you with that question today. Amen.