Principles of Sweet Savour

Wednesday 13 May
READ: Lev 23: 12-13
MORE LESSON: Psa. 119:89-90

There are several types of sacrifice and offering that God requests in the Old Testament. All of these offerings are for different purposes, and each has specifications. In Lev. 23: 12 – 13, God gives His instructions for burnt offering. The fact that God gives descriptions and specifications for offerings to be brought to Him shows that God works by laid down rules, principles and prescriptions. He doesn't do things anyhow, so if you want to walk with or work for Him, you must agree to His principles.

It was not only offerings that God gave specifications for, He also gave directives on the feasts to be observed by His people. These feasts are annual celebrations for the nation of Israel, and God gave the purpose, peculiarities and principles for each of them. The implication of this is that you can't offer to God on your own terms; it must be on His terms. There are believers who are suffering just because they lack knowledge of God's terms, principles and prescriptions. Anybody who wants to enjoy God must learn His principles. God is very principled and He is not a respecter of persons. When He states what He wants to do, He is bound to do just that. God binds Himself with His principles and standards, how much more will He expect you to work with the standards. Whenever a man meets God's standards or principles, nothing can stop that man from achieving the desired goal.

For example, God's principle for dealing with the problem of poverty is for you to live a life of giving. To put an end to poverty, begging and slavery to money, you have to walk by God's terms, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again: Luke 6:38. Weeping, crying, fasting and prayer are not the principles for prosperity. It is seed sowing and giving, There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself: Prov 11:24-25.

The point is that in serving, working for and walking with God, there are conditions that He has set for you to adhere to. These principles and standards were not fixed by the pastor or preacher, but by God who binds Himself and everybody else with these principles. As long as a man does not operate by these principles, he will not get the desired result. Only when you operate according to His principles will your offering be a sweet savour that is acceptable to Him.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for grace to walk in His will and precepts.
* Pray that God in His faithfulness will remember His promises for your life.
* Declare that your life will be a sweet smelling savour to God forever.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
My Father, as I go out today, let my eyes see the place and people ordained for my blessings this year, in the name of Jesus.