Embracing Sacrifice: From Babylon to Jerusalem

Devotional

Day 1: The New Covenant's Call to a Higher Standard

The New Covenant invites believers to a higher standard than the Old Covenant, where even the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. This calls for a pure and costly sacrifice to God, not the leftovers of our lives. The Israelites, despite their history of revival and lessons from captivity, often fell into the trap of offering defiled sacrifices—giving God what was of no value to them. This mirrors the condition of many Christians today who offer God the leftovers of their lives. The call is to offer God our best, reflecting the profound difference between the Old and New Covenants. [01:09]

Malachi 1:8-9 (ESV): "When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are giving God the leftovers instead of your best? How can you change this today to align with the higher standard of the New Covenant?

Day 2: The Spirit of Babylon vs. The Spirit of Jerusalem

The spirit of Babylon, characterized by self-interest and gain, can infiltrate churches and individuals, leading them to seek personal benefits rather than genuine service to God. This contrasts with the spirit of Jerusalem, which is centered on sacrifice. The spirit of Babylon is evident when people join churches for personal benefits, such as social connections or opportunities for their children, rather than a genuine desire to serve and sacrifice for God. The call is to embrace the spirit of Jerusalem, where sacrifice is central. [10:29]

Revelation 18:4-5 (ESV): "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.'"

Reflection: In what ways might the spirit of Babylon be influencing your motives for participating in church activities? How can you shift your focus to embody the spirit of Jerusalem?

Day 3: The Cost of True Sacrifice

True sacrifice is costly and requires us to give God our best, not what is of no value to us. This principle is exemplified by David, who refused to offer to God that which cost him nothing, and by Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son. The essence of a pure offering is sacrifice, something that costs us dearly. This is contrasted with the spirit of Babylon, a system driven by self-interest and gain. [28:34]

2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV): "But the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."

Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you value highly but have not yet offered to God? What steps can you take to offer it as a true sacrifice?

Day 4: Building the Church on the Principle of Sacrifice

The Church is built on the principle of sacrifice, as demonstrated by Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross. This spirit of sacrifice should define our relationship with God and our participation in the Church, focusing on what we can give rather than what we can gain. The call is to examine our motives and ensure that our offerings to God are pure and costly, not defiled and cheap. [22:54]

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Reflection: How can you contribute to your church community in a way that reflects the sacrificial love of Christ? What practical steps can you take this week to serve others selflessly?

Day 5: Turning from Babylon to Jerusalem

We must examine our motives for joining and participating in a church, ensuring that we are not driven by the spirit of Babylon, which seeks personal gain, but by the spirit of Jerusalem, which seeks to glorify God through sacrifice. This involves a conscious decision to turn away from self-interest and embrace a life of giving and sacrifice. The spirit of sacrifice is not about what we can gain but about what we can give, even if it costs us everything. [48:59]

Hebrews 13:15-16 (ESV): "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

Reflection: Reflect on your current involvement in your church. Are there areas where you are motivated by personal gain rather than a desire to glorify God? How can you realign your motives to reflect the spirit of Jerusalem?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the passage from Malachi, we are reminded of the profound difference between the Old and New Covenants. The Old Covenant, exemplified by figures like John the Baptist, was significant, yet Jesus declared that even the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John. This calls us to a higher standard, one that requires a pure offering to God, not one that costs us nothing. The Israelites, despite their history of revival and lessons from captivity, fell into the trap of offering defiled sacrifices—giving God what was of no value to them. This mirrors the condition of many Christians today who offer God the leftovers of their lives.

The essence of a pure offering is sacrifice, something that costs us dearly. This is contrasted with the spirit of Babylon, a system driven by self-interest and gain, akin to a business model. Babylon represents a religious system that operates on the principle of profit, whereas Jerusalem symbolizes sacrifice. The spirit of Babylon can infiltrate churches and individuals, leading them to seek what they can gain rather than what they can give. This spirit is evident when people join churches for personal benefits, such as social connections or opportunities for their children, rather than a genuine desire to serve and sacrifice for God.

The call is to embrace the spirit of Jerusalem, where sacrifice is central. This is the principle on which the Church is built, as demonstrated by Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross. The spirit of sacrifice is not about what we can gain but about what we can give, even if it costs us everything. This is the spirit that should define our relationship with God and our participation in the Church. It is a call to examine our motives and ensure that our offerings to God are pure and costly, not defiled and cheap.

Key Takeaways

1. The New Covenant calls us to a higher standard than the Old Covenant, where even the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. This requires us to offer God a pure and costly sacrifice, not the leftovers of our lives. [01:09]
2. The spirit of Babylon, characterized by self-interest and gain, can infiltrate churches and individuals, leading them to seek personal benefits rather than genuine service to God. This contrasts with the spirit of Jerusalem, which is centered on sacrifice. [10:29]
3. True sacrifice is costly and requires us to give God our best, not what is of no value to us. This principle is exemplified by David, who refused to offer to God that which cost him nothing, and by Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son. [28:34]
4. The Church is built on the principle of sacrifice, as demonstrated by Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross. This spirit of sacrifice should define our relationship with God and our participation in the Church, focusing on what we can give rather than what we can gain. [22:54]
5. We must examine our motives for joining and participating in a church, ensuring that we are not driven by the spirit of Babylon, which seeks personal gain, but by the spirit of Jerusalem, which seeks to glorify God through sacrifice. [48:59]
** [48:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - The Call to a Higher Standard
[01:33] - Understanding the Cost of Sacrifice
[02:44] - The Decline of Israel and Christendom
[03:32] - The Lord's Complaint Against His People
[04:17] - Defiled Offerings and Their Consequences
[06:06] - The Role of Priests and Compromise
[07:24] - The Rejection of Israel and Modern Christians
[09:36] - Babylon vs. Jerusalem: Two Cities, Two Spirits
[11:52] - The Spirit of Babylon in the Church
[15:49] - The Principle of Business vs. Sacrifice
[19:12] - Examining Our Motives in Church
[22:39] - The Spirit of Sacrifice in Jerusalem
[28:34] - David's Principle of Costly Offerings
[41:01] - Building the Church on Sacrifice
[48:59] - Turning from Babylon to Jerusalem

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Malachi 1:6-11
2 Samuel 24:24
Revelation 17:5; 21:2

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Observation Questions:

In Malachi 1:6-11, what specific complaints does the Lord have against the Israelites regarding their offerings? How does this reflect their attitude towards God? [03:32]
According to the sermon, how does the spirit of Babylon manifest in churches and individuals today? What are some examples given? [11:52]
What principle did David express in 2 Samuel 24:24 regarding offerings to the Lord, and how is this principle relevant to the sermon’s message? [28:34]
How does the sermon describe the contrast between Babylon and Jerusalem, and what do these cities symbolize in the context of the Church? [13:50]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does the sermon suggest about the significance of offering God a pure and costly sacrifice, and how does this relate to the New Covenant? [01:09]
How does the spirit of Babylon, as described in the sermon, challenge the integrity of one's faith and participation in the Church? [20:24]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the spirit of sacrifice, as exemplified by Christ, should define our relationship with God and the Church? [22:54]
How does the sermon interpret the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 as a warning against the spirit of Babylon within the Church? [35:59]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current offerings to God. Are there areas in your life where you might be giving God the "leftovers" rather than a pure and costly sacrifice? How can you change this? [05:47]
Consider your motives for being part of your church community. Are there any self-interested reasons that align with the spirit of Babylon? How can you shift your focus to a spirit of sacrifice? [19:46]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of examining our motives. What practical steps can you take to ensure your participation in church is driven by a desire to glorify God rather than personal gain? [48:59]
How can you cultivate a spirit of sacrifice in your daily life, similar to the examples of David and Abraham? What specific actions can you take this week to offer something costly to God? [28:34]
Reflect on the relationships within your church community. How can you encourage others to embrace the spirit of Jerusalem, focusing on what they can give rather than what they can gain? [13:50]
The sermon warns against the spirit of business infiltrating the Church. How can you personally guard against this mindset in your interactions and service within the church? [18:37]
Identify one area in your life where you can demonstrate the spirit of sacrifice this week. What specific action will you take to live out this principle? [22:54]

Sermon Clips

"Jesus said the least person in the New Covenant in the kingdom of God is greater than him and I wonder whether Christendom has understood that and that's why I find even in many who come to a CFC church they're not really gripped by the calling to be way higher than anyone in the Old Covenant." [00:01:05]

"Why was the Lord fed up with the Israelites and why was he setting them aside permanently and starting something completely new the Church of Jesus Christ and in that we can see what has happened to Chris in them also as it is declined just like the Israelites the Israelites started with great power in the day of Joshua just like the book of Joshua is like the Acts of the Apostles from that time onwards a decline started." [00:02:49]

"Essentially they were giving to the Lord that which cost them zero if they are given a really good office or a good lab that would have been expensive but they gave their gave the Lord that which really cost them nothing they were glad to get rid of and the Lord says would you offer that to your governor if your governor I mean if you are giving a gift to the governor of your state would you give him something third-rate would you pick up something useless and give him as a believe alone a governor even someone in the church you would not give them a gift which is third-rate and sick and bad no and would he be pleased with you." [00:05:31]

"The Lord rejected Israel and I believe that the Lord has rejected most people and when I say most people I mean most people who call themselves Christians today and many many people who call themselves born-again believers because of the same reason they have not understood what it means to give to the Lord that which cost them something they give to the Lord the leftovers and that which costs them nothing and it's good for all of us to examine ourselves." [00:07:03]

"Babylon is a religious system and it's called here in revelation 17:5 the mother of harlots and in contrast to that here in Revelation 21 I was - I see Jerusalem like a bride adorned for her husband so the contrast is between a bride and a harlot a Harlequin means a prostitute or in an engaged woman who was unfaithful to her fiance see we are not yet married to Christ the Bible says the marriage of the lamb is going to come but the bride is one who is engaged to be married to Christ and while she says she's engaged to marry Christ she's unfaithful." [00:10:06]

"Babylon is a church which operates on the principle of the business world because here it speaks about Babylon has a city of business turn to Revelation chapter 18 and verse 11 the merchants of the earth we met more because no one is buying their cargo system these are business people Babylon is a business system it's a religious scum business system and it talks about the cargoes of verse 12 gold and silver and stones and pearls and perfume as 13 and cattle and sheep and all those things again it speaks about businessmen in verse 15 and wealth great wealth in verse 17." [00:12:18]

"Babylon is much closer than you think what can I get out of it the principle of every crooked businessman who lives in the world who's for instance what can I get out of it can come right into the church what can I get out of it and the Lord says one day it be rejected there will be no more businessmen in the house of the Lord one day anyone who's come to the church with the principle of with the question of what can I get out of it." [00:20:17]

"David said no why if I take this free from you and then I offer it to the Lord what does it cost me zero and he said I will pay a price for it verse 24 because I will never offer an offering to the Lord that cost me nothing that's the word the Lord spoke to my heart I'm very thankful is the word Lord spoke to my heart after my baptism but the Lord said to me was never offered to me that which costs you nothing." [00:27:02]

"When Christ died upon the cross the Lord was telling the whole world I run this world on the principle of sacrifice that's the message of the Cross have you understood that Christ did not come here to get something he came to kill and the devil became the devil by wanting to get something so the contrast between Babylon and Jerusalem is also the contrast between the devil and Jesus Christ the devil is the ruler of Babylon when Christ is the ruler of Jerusalem." [00:22:57]

"Repentance means you want to turn around from that today and say Lord today I want to give that out I never want to think from today onwards what am I going to get it so in other words don't ask yourself what you do but ask yourself what is the motive behind my doing this or saying this I want to get zero out of the church for myself and my children I want to glorify God that's all I go to the church to glorify God I baked my children there to glorify God not to find a comfortable place in a nice place where I can meet with others who are good people." [00:48:40]

"I believe the Lord can use you to build Jerusalem the true Church of Jesus Christ and that is the purpose with which this church and every CFC Church was raised up and I praise God that there are people like that a very few so always the number is few Jesus had only 11 among all the crowds he preached to and it was a very small number but he had some and they are the ones who turned the world upside down and he has some today as well but those few are mixed up in the crowd of many others who have got other motives." [00:49:34]

"I pray that everyone who has that spirit here will feel terribly uncomfortable after hearing this message today and you'll keep on feeling uncomfortable until you get rid of that spirit because that is the message I always preach the message I preached for forty five years and I'll continue to preach until Jesus comes I've often said the prophetic message in the church is to comfort those who are disturbed there is also there and to disturb those who are comfortable to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable." [00:50:18]

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