Sheryl Brady - When Surrendering Is a Sacrifice

On your way down, look at somebody on either side and tell them that when surrendering is a sacrifice, it is sometimes for the sake of the promise. God will call for that sacrifice, and that is what has happened. That is what we are going to talk about today, in particular, in the life of a man by the name of Abraham. Here in Hebrews 13, it is very clear; the Bible states that we have no continuing city, but we seek one that is to come. In other words, where we are is temporary. The writer of Hebrews makes it very clear that they are a people without a country. They are wanderers, dislocated, having given up everything familiar; now they have no place to rest, stay, dwell, or call home. Basically, what he is telling them is that we are a people in transition. We don’t have a home today, but we will have one someday. In the meantime, put your hands together and give the Lord praise. That is what he is telling them. It seems like a strange way to introduce the subject of praise, but that is exactly how he did it. He said we are sojourners here; we don’t have a place to put our roots down. Even in those moments when life seems hard, that is the time to offer the sacrifice of praise. That is what he is teaching them, and if he is teaching that to them and we are reading it today, then that is what he is teaching us. He introduced praise by talking about separation, about what we don’t have, but one day we will have. In between those two places, he tells them to offer up a sacrifice of praise. Now, it’s not always easy, but often God will bring us to a certain place. He’ll tell us we’ll be in a place of transition, and God will say, «Now I want a sacrifice of praise.» He places us in a nebulous situation, a place in between. «I’m not quite there, but I’m out here, God.» At that moment, he says, «Offer me a sacrifice of praise.» I want you to do it right where you are. I don’t want you to wait until it gets better, until times are good, or until you can see your way clear. Have you ever had God tell you to offer a sacrifice of praise when you didn’t know which way was up or down? You didn’t know how it was going to work out, but you stood there, and God said, «Now I want you to praise me.» It’s easy; anybody can praise him when all is well, when you can see your way clear and know where you’re headed. However, it is much more difficult when you are in between. There are two very key words that we read in verse 15 that will help us understand the process of praise, especially in transition, and those two words are «by him.» If you’re writing in your Bible or taking notes, write that down: by him. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise. The Bible tells us that we, you and I, were made kings and priests unto God. As priests, we stand before God and offer our praise up to Him. It is Christ, the high priest, who takes our praise into the presence of God Himself. Christ intercepts it; he removes the impurities and imperfections. That is why the scripture says, «By him let us offer the sacrifice of praise.» As priests, we bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord, and as the high priest, he carries it beyond the veil and worships the Father in the Holy of Holies. Thus, he becomes our way to the Father. The Bible says there is only one way to the Father, and that one way is through the Son. Are you following me today? So he tells us that we are to offer a sacrifice of praise. The question then arises: what is the sacrifice of praise? Well, before I tell you what it is, can I tell you what it’s not? Let me explain what it’s not. Many people have reduced the meaning of the sacrifice of praise down to being able to rise above human hardships. If I can just get to church, lift my hands, and tell God he’s worthy, then that is my sacrifice of praise. They think if we can rise above fleshly frustrations and carnal conflicts, and still be able to worship, then we have brought a sacrifice of praise to the house of the Lord. Many people believe that when you can praise God beyond what you are feeling, «I don’t feel like it today, but God…»