Topic:    The Path of Sacrifice
Text:      Ephesians 5:1-4
Minister:  Pst. Belemina Obunge

This season we connect with sacrifice, the reason you and I are here as Christians is because of the sacrifice of Jesus, and the word of God is clear that you and I should be followers of him through sacrifice. He has given himself to us as an offering, a sweet smelling savour.

One thing I realize is that those that make themselves a waste, they live selfishly – their lives is all about I, me, myself; and so their life is a waste because it’s all about them. Those that make their life a wreck live sinfully, and so those that are living sinfully have wrecked their lives, their destiny and unfortunately, by implication they are even wrecking their families – bringing pain to so many others.

Those that make their life a wonder, live sacrificially. I realize that Jesus is worthy and is a wonder because he lived sacrificially; life for Jesus wasn’t all about him, it was about you and I. As Ambassador we need to follow his footsteps.

THE PATH OF SACRIFICE

i. LOVE

What is the path of sacrifice the Lord expects you and I, to follow as we call ourselves Christians?

The way of Love: True love requires sacrifice; you can never see true love without sacrifice. Anyone that says “I love”, is ready to sacrifice; people sacrifice their time for what they love. People are ready to go the extra mile for what they love. The way of love is the path of sacrifice. This is exactly why Jesus went the extra mile for us (Rom. 5:8). Walking through the paths of sacrifice, we must showcase love.

How do we showcase love? 1 Cor. 12: “The more excellent way”. The paths of sacrifice is the path of love, and for your and I there should be no room for bitterness, there should be no room for un-forgiveness.

LOVE

L- Let go: To love you must be willing to let go. Others have offended us, beloved please let it go.

O- Overcome: Overcome your anger, overcome that bitterness.

V- Value: Love values people

E- Embrace

The Path of sacrifice is a path of love. Love is not a feeling, love is all about sacrifice

ii. WALKING IN LOYALTY

Do you know that Loyalty is a trait that is absent now? It is rare to find people that are loyal. Proverbs 3:3-4 (NLT). Every Organization values people that are loyal to the organization. Another word for loyalty is faithfulness. Not compromising; when it comes to time consciousness, you are there, when it comes to commitment you are there, when it comes to sacrifice you are there. Loyalty and sacrifice are synonymous – they walk hand in hand. When you are loyal to God, you will be willing to sacrifice.

The path of sacrifice is a path of loyalty. The reason you and I are here today, is because some people remained loyal to the very end; the proclaimed the gospel till the very end. At the expense of their lives, they were proclaiming the gospel. The path of sacrifice is working in loyalty.

iii. WILLING TO BE A LIBATION – 2 Timothy 4:6-8

When you are poured out, instead of being full of yourself, you are empty; “I no longer live but Christ lives in me”. As we come forth as Christians, we are supposed to be empty that everything called self will give way. We are supposed to meet God empty – the way of sacrifice is to be poured out as a libation to the glory of God.

As I round up, I want to ask you a question: can you say you have emptied yourself as a libation? Are you releasing yourself to say, Lord I live for you only. I urge you to connect with Christ even today, tomorrow may be too late.

PRAYER POINTS

– Oh Lord, help me to live a victorious life in Jesus name

– Lord help me to be Loyal to you in Jesus name

– Lord help me to give myself as a libation to you in Jesus name