No one likes the word or term “sacrifice”. Let’s face it, it sounds uncomfortable, disruptive and effort, especially when it happens in our own individual lives.
For a Christian Sacrifice means; giving to the Lord whatever He requires of our time, our earthly possessions, and our energies to further His work. The Lord commanded,
Matthew 6:33
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” . Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God.
As Christians our value is not measured by our success of what we own or achieved in worldly standards. It’s not about our education, the amount of money we have or the many properties we own. Success for Christians is measured by our ability to surrender to Him. Our ability to live with an open hand. Our ability to practice “presensing”.
Acts 17:28 NLT
[28] For in him we live and move and exist.
“Presencing” can only happen when He is all that matters. The more I am able to hand over the more He is able to provide in every sphere and area of our life.
Character and integrity is absolutely necessary- but it’s not sufficient for today. Not for the army the Lord is equipping and preparing today. God is raising up an army that is preparing the way for a mighty move of the Spirit. Like the Spirit of Elijah on John the baptist.
The people the Lord is forming His army from is only arising from a place of present truth. This
army is only interested in present truth, in real time truth, in the freshness of His voice for the
now.
2 Peter 1:12 KJVS
[12] Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
There is a people that is hungry for the now, not for the yesterday. They want to feel His constant living heartbeat now. They have the need to synchronise with His heartbeat and they are aware whether they are in rhythm or not.
Our standard of measurement for success should be our internal connectedness with Christ. Our deep seated relationship with Him. Our willingness to go deep and stay deep. Our willingness to hand over.
Matthew 16:24 KJVS
[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Our willingness to act and obey and walk away from comfort when the Spirit beckons. Many
Christians are moving into the deep chambers of God’s heart thankful to the Lord for the past but not satisfied.
Psalm 42:7-8 NASBS
[7] Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have
rolled over me. [8] The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.
From this place our whole life is navigated. From this deeply rooted relationship we receive
instruction were we respond in faith and make ourselves vulnerable as we step out in bravery and courage.
A Christian’s Success is their internal connectedness with Christ and their ability to
respond and act in courage and bravery putting them in a place of vulnerability to demonstrate His will. Trusting Him deeply to know, no matter what, He will come through for them.
Their will be no surrender, thus no success, without sacrifice. Sacrifice is the act that precedes surrender and thus, true Christian success.
True kingdom manifestation in our lives is tied up in sacrifice. They are inseparable. In this very hour the Lord is raising up a people who will manifest the heart of heaven on earth in real time. They will walk in divine love and power at the same time and will reveal the true substance of God’s heart. A heart revealing true authentic glory carried in vessels that loves purity and hates any form of evil.
The Lord is raising up an army weaponised with the Word and Sword of the Spirit who’s double edge will have the brilliance of His authentic will for this present time.
Many, many Christians are being issued with supernatural discernment, which they will act
upon, that will radically change the trajectory and face of today’s Christianity as we know it. This army is weighing voices they have been listening to. Any seemingly godly voice that has been covered under a veil of deception to hide deeply seated motives, that are not of God, will be recognised and shut down. These voices will not attract the new bread the Lord is gathering in this present hour. Change is here and it’s continually evolving and it’s nothing less than radical and very much disruptive for domesticated and self serving Christianity.
The purpose of sacrifice is to establish, maintain, or restore a right relationship of a human being to the sacred order. People that desires more of God and less of themselves will experience the Spirit calling them to line up with His intentions. Things that are bent out of shape will be straightened out and God’s glory will invade their space unknown to their past experiences.
True kingdom manifestation is to bear and reveal the fruit of the Spirit. A tree can only produce fruit through sacrifice. Spiritual fruit is also the only element of the Christian life that has the ability to reproduce christianity because of the seed it possesses. Fruit’s primary purpose is to multiply and to reproduce. True Christianity cannot exist, or be identified in our world, and reproduce, without Spiritual fruit.
Jesus clearly said;
Matthew 7:20 NASBS
[20] So then, you will know them by their fruits.
The fruit of the Spirit are;
Galatians 5:22-23 NASBS
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Love is a fruit of the Spirit.
Sacrifice is a demonstration of pure love. The degree of our love for the Lord, for the gospel, and for our fellowman can be measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for them. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, manifested the supreme example of this love. His life and ministry
established a pattern for us to follow.
Spiritual sacrifice is doing what is righteous. It is spiritual conduct that honours God. When you do any righteous thing — reproving or restoring a brother, loving or helping someone, studying the
Word of God, being at the Lord’s feet in prayer, sitting under the preaching and teaching of the precious truth, arising and embracing the responsibility of your call, ministering in the power of God’s Spirit— it is a spiritual sacrifice in the name of Christ that glorifies God.
Gifts cannot reproduce because it possesses no seed. Gifts, just like a tree, can only cast a shadow. A shadow is for free just like a gift. Gifts are meant to refresh just like the shadow of a tree. The gifts of the Spirit edifies, encourages, delivers and heals but it cannot reproduce. Gifts are part of our inheritance and it’s our harvest in God. The fruit of the Spirit is God’s inheritance in us and God’s harvest through us. Sadly many Christians run towards the gifts but not towards the fruit which is tied up in sacrifice.
Of course we need to contend for the gifts and grow in the gifts because it’s part of our arsenal - but the greater weapons are the fruit. There is no weapon stronger than the pure love of God. Producing and revealing the fruit of the Spirit requires sacrifice. Sacrifice always has a price.
The Lord is raising up an army that will be armed both with their inheritance in Christ but also returning to God His inheritance in them through the sacrifice they are willing to make, to produce the fruit of the Spirit and walking in it.
This is a time of an uprising. This is the time of an great awakening and a massive authentic
movement that will result in a authentic harvest.
The divine invitation has been delivered and Christians are hearing the sound. Each one of us is responsible to act on the call and to sacrifice what needs to be sacrificed to walk into the higher purpose the Lord has for us.
Arise and shine for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Love you much
Didier