Topic: Costly Sacrifice [Open Heavens for Teens 27 December 2020]

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Memorise: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14

Read: Genesis 22:1-12

1. And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8. And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Bible In One Year: Zechariah 4-6; Revelation 18:1-24

MESSAGE:

Sometimes, special children of God have to make sacrifices that are very costly. You must be familiar with the story of Abraham in the Bible. Abraham had a very intimate relationship with God, in fact, God called him His friend. He was Gods confidant. He trusted God so much that he waited for a hundred years for God to give him a child. Then God fulfilled His promise but asked Abraham to sacrifice that same child to Him. No one would believe that a father would attempt to kill his own child, his only child that he waited a hundred years to have but Abraham obeyed God. Abraham’s obedience earned him blessings; so much that he is called the father of all nations.

Believe me, God only requires sacrifices from His favourites. So, if you want to be His favourite, be ready to make some costly sacrifices. However, rest assured that when there is a sacrifice, blessings much more than what was given, comes back to the giver as it was in the case of Abraham.

Key Point:

God requires sacrifice from His favourites.

Hymn: Let Us With A Gladsome Mind

1. Let us with a gladsome mind
   Praise the Lord for He is kind;

Chorus:
For His mercies shall endure
Ever faithful, ever sure.

2. Let us sound His name abroad,
   For of gods He is the God;
3. He, with all-commanding might
   Filled the new-made world with light;
4. All things living He doth feed,
   His full hand supplies their need;
5. He His chosen race did bless
   In the wasteful wilderness;
6. He hath with a piteous eye
   Looked upon our misery;
7. Let us with a gladsome mind
   Praise the Lord for He is kind.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.