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Abel offered sacrifices to
the Lord on a frequent basis and his sacrifices always required an altar. The
fat is important here because it caught fire quickly and was consumed, causing
a sweet aroma to rise - it is a type of prayer or fellowship that is acceptable
to God. The Lord himself states that such intimate worship rises to him like a
sweet-smelling savor. It is impossible to have a faith that pleases God without
sharing a closeness to Jesus that comes from yearning after him - this kind of
close personal bond can only come when we desire the Lord more than anything
else in life
David Wilkerson
It is impossible to have a faith that pleases
God without sharing a closeness to Jesus that comes from yearning after him.
This kind of close personal bond can only come when
we desire the Lord more than anything else in life.
The
writer of Hebrews gives us several examples of faith-filled servants who walked
closely with God.
Let’s
look together at Abel: “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous,
God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks” - (Hebrews
11:4).
Abel offered sacrifices to the Lord on a frequent basis and his
sacrifices always required an altar.
Abel brought not only unspotted lambs for the
sacrifice, but the fat of those lambs as well.
“Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock
and of their fat” - (Genesis
4:4).
The fat is important here because it caught fire
quickly and was consumed, causing a sweet aroma to rise.
“The priest shall burn them on the altar as
food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord’s” - (Leviticus
3:16).
It is a type of prayer or fellowship that is
acceptable to God, representing our ministry to the Lord in the secret place of
prayer.
The Lord himself states that such intimate
worship rises to him like a sweet-smelling savor.
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ” - (2
Corinthians 2:15).
Somewhere along the line, Abel made the choice
to pursue a relationship with God, to have communion and fellowship with him as
his parents had.
His brother Cain also brought sacrifices but
they were fruit, an offering that did not require an altar as there was no fat,
nothing to be consumed.
As a result, there was no sweet aroma to rise up
to heaven. In other words, no personal exchange between Cain and the Lord was
involved.
That is why Abel’s offering was “more
excellent than Cain’s.”
This servant tells himself, “I’m determined
to give the Lord all the time he wants from me in fellowship. I long to hear
his still, small voice speak to me, so I’m going to stay in his presence.”
Beloved, may you determine to be this type of servant.
David Wilkerson was called to New York City in 1958 to minister to gang
members and drug addicts, as told in the best-selling book The Cross and the
Switchblade. He went on to create Teen Challenge and World Challenge, Inc. to
minister to people’s spiritual and physical needs.
In 1987, he
established Times Square Church. As its founding pastor, he faithfully led this
congregation, delivering powerful biblical messages that encourage righteous
living and complete reliance on God.
David Wilkerson also
had a strong burden to encourage his fellow pastors. He founded the Summit
International School of Ministry; and from 1999 to 2008, he held international
conferences to strengthen church leaders.
His passion to support
believers, build up leaders and care for the poor is still at the heart of
World Challenge’s ministries to this day.
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