THE SACRIFICE OF FAITH

There was a young lion who wandered away from his father to test whether or not he would get the same respect from the other animals as his father did. As the young lion approaches some monkeys, he roared and asked, “WHO IS THE KING OF THE JUNGLE?” The monkeys replied, “You are!” The lion replied, “And don’t you forget it!” The lion repeated this to each animal in the jungle and got the same result until he came across a heard of elephants. The little lion roared and asked, “WHO IS THE KING OF THE JUNGLE?” The big bull elephant walked closer to the lion, swooped him up in his trunk swung him around and around and threw him into the river. Battered and wet, the little lion replied, “Just because you don’t know the answer to the question didn’t mean you had to get nasty about it!”

Most of us roar through life without God in the same way- as if we are kings of the jungle- until life throws us in a tail spin and shows us we are not.

Hebrews 11:4 KJV 1900

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Abel means vanity. Eve had excepted Cain as her first born blessing from God and rejected Abel as a mer vanity. Let us be careful what we accept to be valuable and what we reject as worthless. True value is found in acceptance from God.

I. The Surety of Faith.

The source of his faith was not found in his offering, work, or self.

A. The Word of God.

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

B. The Will of God.

God had already set the example of what an offering should look like. Abel followed God’s example and by this he increased his faith.

II. The Sacrifice of Faith.

The source was the first of his flock.

A. The Firstlings of the Flock.

The first of the flock represented the newest and best. Abel’s offer of the first flocks displayed his willingness to offer unto God the very best he had to offer.

B. The Fat of the Animal.

1. The best of the herd. 2. The best of the animal.

He offered the choicest of animals but he also offered the best part of those animals.

The Fat was used for grease, cooking, waterproofing, soap, and candles. Numbers 19 deals with using the fat and wood for purification.

Leviticus 3:14–16 KJV 1900

And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the Lord’s.

III. The Suffering of Faith.

He suffered at the hand of Cain but was hated because of sin.

A. Self-offered

Abel willing chose to sacrifice the finest of his flock. We see no scripture demanding that ether he or Cain offer sacrifices. However, both of them offered willingly. Abel gave an offering of faith but Cain gave an offering of duty.

B. Self-denying

Romans 8:17–18 KJV 1900

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

To live a live of faith we must deny ourselves

Matthew 16:24 KJV 1900

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.

CALL TO SACRIFICE.

Romans 12:1 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.