Episodes
Sunday Jul 07, 2019
Spiritual sacrifices 3 Praise Thanksgiving and giving
Sunday Jul 07, 2019
Sunday Jul 07, 2019
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore through Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good (Acts 11:29 euporia) and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
This Scripture combines three powerful spiritual sacrifices, Praise, thanksgiving, and doing good by giving to those in need.
Praise is a sacrifice of surrender and of worship. Surrender is the magnifying of God in our hearts instead of the magnifying of self and its problems in our minds. This gives rise to hope and faith, and spiritual authority, as God is greater within us than anything that can overcome us (1John 4:4 1John 3:19).
Thanksgiving is the sacrifice of faith and love that is able to praise and magnify God even in difficult circumstances, as God is greater within us than anything that can overcome us.
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That kind of expansion of heart allows a person to move in the grace of reaching out to share and give to those in need. This word to ’share’ here means to give of what you have to those who do not have. It is first seen in Acts 11:29. Then the disciples (in Antioch), every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the Christians who dwelt in Judaea.
In the next Scripture Paul talks of the sacrifice as a fragrant offering. Paul emphasizes the blessing in the doing of this giving as a reward in itself for them from God, as fruit that abounds to their account. That fruit is that a cycle of goodwill and grace gets set in motion. Paul wanted to be assured that they were living and giving of themselves to God, so as to assure them of God’s provision for all of their needs, and for them to expand in their capacity to receive the fulness of God and to give of God.
Philippians 4:17 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
With this statement he lifts their gift from the level of human compassion and looks upon it in its relation to God. At the same time he states an important principle, namely, that whatever is done for the servant is in reality done for the Master; that whatever is given to a child of God is given to God himself (Matt 10:40-42)
In the world there is an accepted philosophy of the zero sum game. I give so you get and I lose so you win. This is the total opposite to New Testament theology. It is the Good News, the grace that abounds to many. It is a sign or mark of the freedom and faith of a believer (Toronto).
2Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (Deut 15:9). And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
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