Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, June 17, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
SACRIFICES THAT WE SHOULD NOT MAKE
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:14-21
Text: 1 Corinthians 10:20
1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Introduction: I preached to you this morning on “A Father Whom We Should Not Honor.” Tonight I want to bring you a message called, “Sacrifices That We Should Not Make.”
The Bible speaks of some good sacrifices. The best sacrifice of all was that of the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a perfect sacrifice for the salvation of all men.
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
The Bible speaks of a good sacrifice for believers, which is for us to present our bodies a living sacrifice:
Romans 12:1 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.
Then there are bad sacrifices. Here in our text, the Bible says that Gentiles offer sacrifices to devils.
Some wicked people in the Old Testament actually offered their sons and daughters as sacrifices to a god named Molech.
Jeremiah 32:35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
How terrible! Yet, I am afraid that many people today offer their children as sacrifices to the government through the government’s school system, to the world through worldly amusements and recreation, to the devil through looseness of rules and discipline in the home, and to the flesh through wicked companions.
I want us to think of some UNWISE sacrifices people make, and I want to encourage us to not make the mistake of making these sacrifices.
I. WE SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE OUR SOULS UPON THE ALTAR OF RELIGION
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
A. Salvation of the soul is not in a RELIGION, but in a RELATIONSHIP!
B. Salvation of the soul is not in RITUAL, but in a REST in Christ!
C. Salvation of the soul is not in a REFORMATION, but in a REGENERATION!
II. WE SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE THE SCRIPTURES UPON THE ALTAR OF “SCHOLARSHIP”
Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
The fact that a man is a college professor and a “scholar” does not make him qualified to find fault with the word of God! That PROFESSOR is a FOOL, if he does! Interestingly, the Bible speaks in this language in Romans 1:
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
A. Some science professors are fools
- They deny the creation account of Genesis
- They deny the Noahic flood
B. Some sociology professors are fools
- They deny that man’s MAIN problem is SIN.
C. Some seminary professors are fools
- They sit in judgment on the word of God in their classrooms, tearing up the faith of students in their Bibles.
III. WE SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE SEPARATION UPON THE ALTAR OF “CHURCH GROWTH”
1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Jeremiah 48:10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
God did NOT say, “Be ye holy; for it will increase attendance.” He said, “Be ye holy; for I am holy”!
A. We should not cooperate with the wicked to grow in numbers
- Billy Graham crusades to get their “converts”
- Ministerial associations to get “contacts.”
B. We should not compromise with the world to grow in numbers
- Rock music
- Country music
- “Come as you are” atmosphere — pastor in sports shirt, youth leader in shorts, lady at piano in jeans
C. We should not cave in to weak believers to grow in numbers
- New Christians don’t need to be put into positions of leadership.
- Some weak believers are going to run from church when the messages continue to call for a committed walk with God and service to Him.
IV. WE SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS UPON THE ALTAR OF “LOVE”
1 Samuel 3:11-13 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
Eli loved his children too much to whip them. He loved them too much to restrain them.
A. Parents must be caring
- Loving a child does not mean giving the child everything he WANTS; it means giving him everything he NEEDS.
B. Parents must be conscious
- Of attitudes
- Of associates
C. Parents must be in control
- Of behavior
- Of buddies
D. Parents must be chastening
- Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
I don’t plan to sacrifice
MY SOUL UPON THE ALTAR OF RELIGION
THE SCRIPTURES UPON THE ALTAR OF “SCHOLARSHIP”
SEPARATION UPON THE ALTAR OF “CHURCH GROWTH”
OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS UPON THE ALTAR OF “LOVE”
Will you join me in this determination?