By: Dr. Alois Rutivi

39Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions"  (Psalms 106:37-38)But the Lord wants us to offer to him sacrifices of righteousness; these are sacrifices that will be rewarded with abundance and endless, inexaustible treasures in heaven. In Psalm 4:5, scripture says, "5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD".   When I have put my trust in God, I will not fear to offer my sacrifice because I know the Lord God will reward it.  The work of God has slowed down and has no power as it had in the beginning because there are no sacrifices.  "16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased". (Hebrews 13:16)  In Psalm 50:14, " 14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:"   The Lord admonishes us to keep our word.

The devil works hard to remove the spirit/heart of sacrifice from us.  When we forget to sacrifice unto the Lord, the devil places something else that will replace our sacrifice such that we will be busy doing many things, but not the Lord's business.  In Daniel 8:12, "12And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered".  This is the spirit of anti-christ; it is the spirit that is behind the destruction of God's altar of sacrifice.   When I do not offer sacrifice to God, the devil will replace it with something else; it is not just removed completely!  When this happens, it makes impossible the process of restoration.  "30For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.  31And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate". 

Abraham was known by God; He knew Abraham would do everything Hewould tell him.  "19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him". 

Do not forget to make sacrifices to your families, businesses, but also do not neglect the sacrifice that goes to the Lord; remember to pray, fast, visit the sick, encourage the down-trodden, free service in the house of God, and all such sacrifices.   The daily sacrifice must be kept!   Amen! 

Sunday, 24th October, 2010.

SACRIFICE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit".   (John 12:24) "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul". (Levitius 17:11)These are the key scriptures from the Word of God that were used to explain how a sacrifice brings forth life.   In John 12:24 Jesus Christ was speaking about himself - that is, his life; how he would die and his death would bring life.It is important to note that the death on the cross was a sacrificial death and the blood that was shed at the cross is the blood for remission of sins.In the Old Testament, blood was sprinkled for atonement of sin.  That animal died and as it were was offered as a sacrifice to save someone.   The greatest sacrifice is the sacrifice of giving life to another person. In John 1:1 and John 14:1 scripture talks of the Word becoming flesh.  This means that the Word became tangible because the flesh has blood and life of all flesh is in the blood.  When the word of God spoken has not dispensed power, then it has become irrelevant to the people who have heard it because the word should give life. Where there is no sacrifice, there is no sin forgiven and where there is no sacrifice, there is no power or gain.  For example, fasting is a sacrifice and that is why it yields results.   If I give my time sacrificially to my business, job, etc, it will yield great gain; if I give my time sacrificially to my family, or my marriage, it will yield great gain. This is true in every segment of life you would apply it.   It works even in the underworld,where they sacrifice and so succeed!  But this is a sacrifice of wickedness.  "Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,  38And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.