Sacrifice is True Worship

Sacrifice is True Worship

1. God made the first sacrifice to cover Adam and Eve with the skin of a beast as symbolic of the Messiah covering us with the garment of salvation. (Gen. 3:21; Isa. 61:3)

2. The first time “worship” is mentioned in the Scriptures is when Abraham went with a sword and fire to offer his son Isaac as sacrifice. He became a friend of God forever. He did not sing, dance or clap his hands. (Gen.22: 5-8)

3. God called Jerusalem temple, “a place of Zebach (slaughter)”. Covenant between man and his Maker was always ratified with the shedding of blood. The Hebrew word Beryth for covenant means ‘to cut.’(2 Chron. 7:12)

4. Every Jew knew that God meets and speaks at the Altar; “It shall be a continual burnt-offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle, where I will meet with you, to speak with you there.” (Exodus 29:42)

5. Jews offered sacrifices, then stood in the outer court and prayed while a priest took the ‘sacrifice soaked fire’ to the Altar of Incense in the Holy Place. The smoke (prayer) wafted across the veil on to the Mercy seat. Thus God received adoration while man received salvation. (Lev.1:4)

6. Yeshua claims that He chose you and ordained you to bring forth lasting fruit (saved souls) and then ask (pray) and then the Father will give whatever you ask. No point in praying without first bringing lasting fruit. (John 15:16)

7. At Pentecost (Harvest) the Sword became the Word, the Fire changed into Holy Spirit and the 3000 baptized became the Sacrifice. Pentecost will continue until all the nations have been harvested. (Acts 2:1-3,37-41)

8. Samaritan woman did not worship Yeshua by falling down prostrate but by bringing the whole village to His feet. This was the defining moment, when worship changed 1. From the temple to ‘everywhere’  2. From sacrificing animals to offering lost people and 3. From professional priesthood to priesthood of all believers. Lip worship is easy but offering lost souls is a challenge. (John 4:20-24; Rom.15,16; 2Chron. 29:30,31; Heb.13:15)

9. Worship in truth and spirit can occur any time, any place. We can go and plant new altars (churches) to offer ‘broken and contrite hearts’ as sacrifice, raise our holy hands and worship. God does not need sky piercing Babylonian cathedrals; He is more likely to meet you in a bamboo hut. (1Tim 2:8; Psalm 51:17; 1Chron. 16:29)

10. While every chaplain’s dream is to have a 500 seat chapel  with the loudest sound system, Paul as a minister, worshipped God by offering Gentiles as sacrifice. The NT, enshrines “priesthood of all believers” to offer “lost souls” as spiritual sacrifice, to glorify God. Saved Gentiles are our eternal inheritance and our crown of rejoicing. (1Pet. 2:9; Rom. 15:16; 1Thes. 2:19; Phil. 4:1)

11. God is now pouring out His spirit on all flesh, so that from sunrise to sundown, incense (prayer) and pure offerings (sanctified sinners) will be offered in His name, in every heathen home which are now the Altar of prayer and Sacrifice. (Acts 2:17,18; Mal. 1:11; Rev. 8:3,4)

12. Satan’s primary strategy is to replace offering lost people as worship with vain celebration of lips. As priests of the living God, are we offering true worship? Or like Nadab and Abihu, offering counterfeit strange fire, i.e. without offering salvation to others. (1Pet. 2:5;9; Num. 3:4)