2026.03.15 - ALL IN - The Offering

2026.03.15 - The Offering

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. KJV

Saturday, March 14, 2026

2:18 PM

 

                I.         Mary Was All In

                               i.         Her mind was made up

                             ii.         Was consideration given to what the angel was saying?

1.     Born from a virgin . . .

2.     Engaged and pregnant but not with his child . . .

3.     What would the people say?

4.     What will this cost me?

                            iii.         Mary said "behold"

1.     She already knew that God saw her for what she really was

2.     She welcomed his gaze upon her life as a pleasing thing, a thing of love and not a thing of judgment.

a.     We tend to hide from Him because of what we have done - but should run to Him for what He has done

b.     I don’t have to know where He is taking me to allow Him to lead me

                                                                       i.         Those who fully surrender to Him will live life to the fullest

              II.         Anything less than 100% Is Less Than

                               i.         Don’t bring Him a lesser offering - God does not accept all offerings . . . !!

                             ii.         Cain and Abel both brought offerings to God

1.     Why was one offering rejected and the other accepted?

a.     Cain brought the fruit of his own labors

b.     Abel brought a lamb (not just bc he was a shepherd, but because it was the required offering to The Lord

c.     Genesis 4:3-7

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6 And the LORD said unto Cain , Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. KJV

                                                                      I.         Look at what is said - firstling of his flock  and the fat thereof

                                                                                     i.         Exodus 13:12, Numbers 18:17, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:19 .

                                                                    II.         Cain brought what he could produce - like a single flower from a garden, it is pretty but there are dozens more and you won't really even miss the one you cut  - - -but a lamb had to DIE, life must be given and blood must be shed, this left a lasting impression - it would be remembered, 

            III.         Offerings Rejected And Accepted

                               i.         1 Kings 18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? KJV

1.     Remember, he had been hiding out

a.     1 Kings 17:3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. KJV

                                                                       i.         He had been sheltered, fed and cared for in every way, now God was calling him out of "hiding"

1.     Is there a David in the house?

2.     Is there an Elijah in the house?

3.     Is there a Moses in the house?

4.     Is there a Noah in the house

                                                                      ii.         1 Kings 18 - the story of Elijah @ Mount Carmel 

            IV.         Remember the David scene - 1 Samuel 16:5-7 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. KJV

                                            i.        Key point - they were all called to the sacrifice - don't miss this point

                                           ii.        All the brothers came to the sacrifice - God saw each of their hearts

                                         iii.        All the brothers that had come to the sacrifice were on the field when David slew Goliath . . .only David came with the required sacrifice!

              V.         All Or Nothing - Resurrection and Fire Only Comes When All Is Given

                               i.         On Mount Carmel what - or who - was really on the altar?

1.     Elijah was - he put everything into this very moment it was all or nothing!

a.     Ask yourself what might have happened had God not showed up when He did! Elijah was out on a limb - but God was the tree

2.     Enoch - was on his own altar - and "the fire of God" fell in such a way on his life that he was consumed by The Love, The Power and Wonder of Almighty God - he has this testimony - Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God : and he was not; for God took him. KJV

            VI.         Altar Call

                               i.         The fire of God does not fall on empty altars - come and bring your very best offering

1.     God is calling you out of hiding, out from the backside of the wilderness

a.     Is there a David in the house?

b.     Is there an Elijah in the house?

c.     Is there a Moses in the house?

d.     Is there a Noah in the house

2.     Can God hear your cry - HERE AM I SEND ME!