Deuteronomy 16:16
Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.
Beloved, effective prayers are not automatic! Many good Christians routinely offer insipid, futile and void prayers. So far we’ve seen several ingredients that provide our prayers with spiritual leverage. By leverage is meant anything that increases the power or influence to achieve a desired result.
Today we consider another example of spiritual leverage: we must never appear before God empty-handed. For instance, the Bible records that Cornelius’ prayers were effective because of a combination of devotion, reverence, regular prayer and generosity (Acts 10:2-4). Such a mix is powerful, dear saints!
Likewise, the word of God teaches that we must always bring sacrifices of praise and should be generous, for God is pleased with such sacrifices (Heb. 13:15-16). As new covenant priests, it’s our duty to bring one sacrifice or other to God whenever we approach His Throne.
Moreover, our seed-faith is a fragrant offering as well as a pleasing sacrifice to God, that triggers God’s supply of all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phi 4:18-19). ALL our needs!
Finally, God’s word promises to make all kinds of favour abound and to ensure total and continual sufficiency for all generous, willing and cheerful givers (2 Cor. 9:6-8). What seed will sow in His presence today–a sacrifice of praise or a financial seed or both?
Pastor Josh