A Sacrifice of Praise

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name” – Heb. 13:15 (NIV)

Praise becomes a sacrifice (costly) when we offer it to God in the midst of the contrary situations of life. It doesn’t really take much to praise God when things are fine or not too bad. But it is much harder to keep on praising God when our hopes are dashed and we are surrounded by troubles. Surely it is much easier at such times to blame rather than praise God. Yet learning to offer costly praise is crucial if we want to see God’s victory.

In Hebrew 13: 15 the Bible says that what we are doing by such a sacrifice is confessing his name. What that means is that as we continue to praise God even when all seems hopeless, we are confessing all that God is, over our situation. We are confessing that he is love, even though it looks as if he has abandoned us. We are confessing that he is all-wise despite the confusion that faces us. We are confessing his almighty power, even though our situation may look impossible. The bible says, “with such sacrifices God is pleased”(Heb.13: 16 – NIV), and it causes him to act mightily on our behalf.

That was what happened to Paul and Silas. They had been shamefully beaten by the people they had gone to help, and when they found themselves faced with a night of hopelessness in prison, they CHOSE to offer a sacrifice of praise. Their minds may have rebelled against it, but they decided not to miss the opportunity to offer God a sacrifice. We know how this their sacrifice went up as a sweet smelling savour to God, and provoked him to come down and shake their prison.

This kind of praise has very little to do with our emotions. God does not look at our feelings but rather at our willingness to praise him in spite of how we may be feeling. This kind of offering is one that comes from our heart and our will, but it must be expressed through our lips. Not only does it bring God’s intervention, but also the repeated offering of this kind of sacrifice builds character into us. So let’s not waste the opportunity that the troubles of life offer us. Let us offer unto God a sacrifice of praise!

In concluding here is a chorus from a song by Larnelle Harris:

“When praise demands a sacrifice,
I’d worship even then.
Surrendering the dearest things in life;
And if devotion cost me all,
He’d find me faithful to his call
When praise demands a sacrifice”

Don’t let the impossible stop you

Don’t let the impossible stop you from doing what is possible:

‘Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap’ – Ecclestiastes 11:4 (NIV)

Don’t we often allow the impossibilities that surround our task to paralyse us from doing that which we may be able to do? It is presumptuous and not an act of faith, to assume that God will do the impossible in any case, even if we do not step out in the light of what he is telling us to do.

After the flood in Genesis 9, God told Noah he could eat animal meat but also specified that there would be judgement for murder of one’s fellowmen. God knew that even after the flood men would still sin for sin was in man.

Then he says to Noah: ‘As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it’ (v7 – NIV)

It is that phrase ‘as for you’ that struck me. It is as if God were saying ‘Noah, yes, men may return to murder and begin to deviate from my purposes again. Things may change and not go as they should, but as for you, keep doing what I have asked you to do – be fruitful and multiply. No matter what happens, as for you, keep doing what you ought to do’

‘As for you’ – despite the possibility of men failing God tells Noah to focus on his mandate. I believe God is saying  to us today ‘as for you’, just do what you have to do and don’t worry about what others may or may not do. Just focus on taking that next step of obedience and leave the outcome to God. And not, ‘as for circumstances’ but, ‘as for you’ – don’t let circumstances determine your obedience.  Just do what you can do.

Sometimes the only reason we don’t take that step of obedience which is within our control, is because of the many other outside factors we see beyond our control. At other times, it is seeing how little we can do compared with what needs to be done that distracts us from acting. Here is God’s word to you this week: Just do what you can do and let God do the rest.

Romans 12:18 (NIV) says ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’. It is calling us to do what is possible and what depends on us. Don’t let the impossibilities and challenges of the task deter you from stepping out in obedience. Just determine to do what is possible and God will do the impossible.

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Comments? Questions? etc. If these messages have been helpful or unclear it would encourage us to hear from you, please write to chim_ibidun@…
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PLEASE are you born again? It is not enough to believe in the existence of God, to go to church, or be interested in spiritual things. Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus died to deliver you from sin so that you can come to God. (John 3:16) If you ask him to forgive you and give you a new heart he will. (Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-11).Try it. I’d love to hear from you @ chim_ibidun@…
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Chim’sWRITE are regular articles on Christian living and cross-cultural missions from Chimezie Onyebilanma a cross-cultural missionary with Calvary Ministries (CAPRO). CAPRO is an indigenous African non-denominational cross-cultural  mission agency involved in reaching the remaining unreached peoples in 22 countries of Africa and the Middle East as of present. CAPRO is involved in missions mobilization, training, and research as well as church-planting and mercy ministries (literacy, rural development, primary health-care, relief and rehabilitation). CAPRO is a faith mission, both the ministry and its missionaries depend on God’s provision through the giving of his people. None of its missionaries are salaried. All gifts are used as designated.

Surface Address: CAPRO MISSIONS SA, Durban, 47 Sutherland Rd, Waterfall, 3610, Durban, P.O.Box 207, Hillcrest, 3650, South Africa.Tel: +2731 766 2336; +27 794737208 (cell)

To learn more about the ministry of Chimezie Onyebilanma and how you can partner with us please email chim_ibidun@…
To learn more about the cross-cultural missionary work of CAPRO visit www.capromissions.org.za

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