From the archives of Oral Roberts – Fifth of seven parts
The Apostle Paul writes to the Philippians, “I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18).
In the Bible, sacrifice began with Cain and Abel, the first two sons of Adam and Eve. Hebrews 11:4 says that Abel made his sacrifice by faith and it was accepted. But Cain made his sacrifice without faith, and it was not accepted.
According to this verse, just the act of giving something as a sacrifice, by itself, is not necessarily acceptable or pleasing to God. We can’t force our sacrifice to be acceptable to God. But if our faith is attached and we are giving in obedience to God and His Word, then that is when our sacrifice becomes acceptable and well-pleasing to God. Our giving must be combined with our faith.
Hebrews 11:6 expands this Bible principle. It says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please him [God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is [that God exists], and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” God is a rewarder ― but He is a rewarder of everything good that we do in faith.
The acceptable, well-pleasing gift is the one that can be multiplied by God so that His Word may abound on this earth. The acceptable gift ― the gift made in faith ― is also the one that causes fruit to abound back to the account of the one who makes the gift!
Do you desire biblical prosperity in your life? Make your gifts as He directs and make them in faith. That, the Apostle Paul teaches, is what puts us into the position in which he found when he said, “I have all, and abound; I am full” (Philippians 4:18).
