Sacrifice of Ruin
2 Chronicles 28:1,22-23 (NLT) Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the lord, as his ancestor David had done. Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the lord. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, “Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.” But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah.
Introduction: Welcome to another week at the feet of the Lord as Scriptures speak. God will continue to grant us understanding by His Spirit as we take time to study at His feet in Jesus name.
To sacrifice means to give up valuable or something important in exchange for something else. Everyone must give up valuable for something important such as life.
Devil is very much aware of this fact and he consistently use this to destroy Christians and put many under bondage.
Hear what Devil told God when he failed his first attempt in the life of Job by Destroying Job’s valuable yet Job remained faithful to God.
Job 2:4(NLT) Satan replied to the lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life.
We must therefore note that sacrifice is a must.
What about a ruin? It is a state of being severely damaged or spoilt.
Sacrifice of Ruin is giving up valuable or something important in exchange for something else that gets one into severely damaged state.
This was the case of Ahaz, king of Israel from our text; his sacrifice in exchange for help cost him ruins or severe damage.
2 Chronicles 28:23 He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, “Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.” But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah.
Now our focal point as Christians is, who are you sacrificing for? God or Satan. This determines our spiritual and physical state in our journey to eternity.
You must have heard about Christians bowing down to pressure of life by sacrificing to Satan to save their lives, or seek help to get something important such as children and riches.
As I read through our text of today, I observed what led to the ruin of a king and all his kingdom was sacrifices to gods. We are also made kings and priests unto our God.
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
As kings, we have a kingdom, that is, a place under our control.
1️⃣ Control on earth. We are to rule over our household
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
2️⃣ Control over self. As Christians, we are supposed to rule or have control over sinful nature inherited from Adam.
Genesis 4:7(NLT) You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
Ahaz’s sacrifice to gods, thereby idolizing other gods above God of Heaven and Earth, brought ruin to him and his kingdom.
Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord : that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Hear God’s instructions to His children;
Deuteronomy 28:14-15 You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them. “But if you refuse to listen to the lord your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:
As Christians, we have flesh, Adamic or sinful nature, and household to control or rule over. We should avoid sacrifice of ruin like king Ahaz, whereby we reject Godly ways of life and follow after worldly counsel.
1️⃣Ruling or control over household
Scriptures speak concerning Christian leadership. A Christian leader should manage well his/her household.
1 Timothy 3:4-5 Must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
Aaron who walked closely with Moses had opportunity to rule Israel well when Moses went to collect God’s commandment, but he failed.
Exodus 32:1-5(NLT) When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the lord!”
Do you know you can fail as a leader over your household when you think God has taken so long to meet your needs? Aaron couldn’t remind the people how faithful God was to them from Egypt to that time, he aided idolatry.
In what areas have you turned God’s blessings to idols in your home?
Remember the gold rings used for idol worship were blessings from Egypt through the favour God granted Israelites before the Egyptians.
Exodus 12:35-36 And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed; they asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. The lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!
How are we controlling God’s wealth in our lives? Has the wealth become an idol? Can we still serve God with all our hearts? Do we lead our household in worship of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light?
Failure to rule over our household by the word of God, irrespective of what we have or have not can bring ruin to us and entire household.
Dwelling among corrupt people is not an excuse for believers to join them in idolatry.
Numbers 25:1-3(NLT) While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab. In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the lord’s anger to blaze against his people.
How do you celebrate with your family? Worldly way or Godly way?
Little things like alcohol and Worldly music that you think doesn’t matter are little foxes that destroy the vine.
May we not incur God’s anger over ourselves and entire household in Jesus name.
Many Christian households are in bondage due to God’s anger as a result of failure to teach and enforce Godly living among Christian family by Christian parents. Children of some Christians are in bondage of drug addiction and other evil vices because of God’s anger.
Judges 3:7-8(NLT) The Israelites did evil in the lord’s sight. They forgot about the lord their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles. Then the lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.
Our children will not be source of sorrow for us in Jesus name.
Apostle Paul wondered how a Christian can make himself/herself to be in bondage again.
Galatians 4:8-9 Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?
Brethren, to escape destruction and wrath of God, let us rule and have control over our household, by teaching and living by the word of God irrespective of our situations in life. This will have impact on the Church of God and the entire Nation.
The Spirit of God in us should make us detest idolatry.
Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
2️⃣ Ruling or Control over Self.
Romans 8:12-13(NLT) Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
Self is also referred to as sinful or Adamic nature, Old man, flesh or body, etcetera. Ruin or death is inevitable for whoever is unable to put Self under control. Ability to control Self or sinful nature prevents ruin or death.
As Christians, we must first identify areas of our lives that Self, flesh or sinful nature is still having control. Then we put it under or into subjection of Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
What are the areas we must beam our search lights by the Spirit of God?
Galatians 5:16-21(NLT) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God
Don’t rush to read the above listed sinful desires and similar manifestations in your behaviour so as to cry unto God for help. Reading through with assumptions that you’re okay can cost life when it comes to sinful desires.
Hear Apostle Paul who was sincere with himself during his earthly ministry.
Romans 7:23-25 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
To rule or control Self in order to avoid sacrifices of ruin, we must put on Jesus Christ the Word of God.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Self must be crucified with Christ.
Galatians 2:20(NLT) My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Finally brethren, learning from king Ahaz who offered sacrifices to gods of Damascus. He did so because he suffered defeat, he thought the gods that helped kings of Aram will help him too in times of trouble. It was a great mistake because instead of receiving help, he was ruined along with all Judah who he was ruling over.
Therefore, in all situations, our sacrifices must be unto our God through Jesus Christ our Saviour. There is no salvation anywhere other than Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:12(NLT) There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
For whatever troubles or pains we pass through, there is still Balm in Gilead, find out why there’s no recovery. It may be inability to rule our household well or control our sinful nature.
Jeremiah 8: 22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
✋ Maranatha.
