Pastor's Message

What is a sacrifice? The word sacrifice in the New Testament has several nuances. The primary word means “the act of offering” then, objectively, “that which is offered.” Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:2 “that Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”   This sacrifice was a literal offering of Himself on the cross. The word sacrifice can also take on a figurative meaning as well. For example, in Romans 12:1 the body of the believer, presented to God as a living “sacrifice” or even in Philippians 4:18 the material assistance rendered to servants of God or doing good to others and communicating with their needs as the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 13:16.

 

In preaching through the gospel of John, we discover a good illustration of sacrificing! In John chapter 4 after Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well, He tells His disciples (4:35) to “look up, the fields are ripe for harvest.” Jesus is looking at all the people coming out of Sychar as a result of the testimony from the woman at the well. In verses 37-38, Jesus gives principles about working the fields. One sows and another reaps. Jesus, while looking at the people coming toward Him says in verse 38, “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

 

What is Jesus saying in these verses to His disciples? The people in Sychar had already been worked. Someone else had planted the seed of truth among them, possibly John the Baptist. The people were ready to be harvested because someone labored hard, planting the seed of truth, that the Messiah was coming. Once the woman at the well told them, He was here they were ready. What is Jesus saying to Bixby’s First Baptist Church of the twenty first century? We have over 100 years of history. Our spiritual forefathers and mothers have worked long and sacrificed so we can have land and buildings on our present location to preach the gospel and see many invite Jesus into their lives. In the last several decades we have benefited from the labor of others by worshipping in a building they paid for or studying the Bible in a class room they built and labored for. 

 

Jesus told His disciples in John 4:38 “others have done the hard work.” All you have to do is to benefit from their labor. Now, it is our turn to labor for the next generation. We should be ready for the coming of Jesus Christ, as though it could happen today and plan as though He may be gone for another thousand years. For such a time as this, we have an opportunity to work hard and sacrifice BIG for the next group of Christians we will lead to the Lord and raise them up to be disciples to continue the work of the Lord until He returns.

 

What can you do? First, look at the fields. Bixby is growing west where we have purchased twelve acres of land. This is the Master’s Plan; the Lord is bringing new people to our church field. Second, pray about your sacrificial gift to our Master’s Plan Capital Stewardship goal of raising two times our annual budget over three years which is $500,000. Evaluate your giving record and ask the Lord, how much I can sacrifice because I know the benefit of what other Christians have done for me and now it is my time!