"THOUGH DEAD, HE STILL SPEAKS!"
Written and preached by David P. Nolte





GENESIS 4:1-5, HEBREWS 11:4

Sir Philip Sidney was a soldier serving in the British army under Queen Elizabeth. He was a Christian, a gentleman, and a valiant warrior. In a battle with Spain at a place called Zutphen, he displayed gallantry, courage and daring far beyond the call of duty. Two horses had been killed right out from under him and still he led his soldiers into the thick of battle. We would characterize Sir Philip as a faithful soldier. What he offered in service was well pleasing to his Queen. In the text we read about a familiar character, Abel. He, too, was a faithful man. {SKIT PERFORMED BY 2 YOUNG MEN} Enter Abel: "God has blessed me so much that I want to give something back to Him. It has to be something special. Something that costs me and something that represents a sacrifice. I'll give Him the best lamb I have. It has to be the first born lamb and a nice fat one, at that. Hmmm. That one won't do; too skinny. That one won't do; it's got wounds on it's legs. Here's the one; nice and fat, no bruises or wounds. I'll give this to God." Enter Cain. "Boy! That Abel; trying to butter God up by giving an offering. I guess I'd better give something, too, or I'll look bad. I don't want to give what I can use myself, though. I'll go to the garden and look around. Hmmm. That melon is a nice one; I'll keep it. That's a good one, too. Oh, here's one the deer have nibbled on. I don't want it so I'll give it to God. Now, tomatoes; I have a ton of them and none of them are much good. I'll give some of those, too. Bummer. I wish I didn't have to give anything at all; but I guess I won't miss these things. Could plow them under for fertilizer, though. Oh well, God can have them." Two men offered something to God. With Cain God was not pleased, but it was different with Abel. The Bible tells us that what he offered pleased God. In so doing, he preached a sermon that still reverberates. What is Abel's undying message? What are the words that he still speaks?

  1. ABEL SPEAKS WORDS OF FAITH:
    1. Hebrews 11:4 "by faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain." "Faith" here may mean either of two different things or even both! It may mean:
      1. Simply "faith" as we usually understand it:
        1. Believing God: because He is, and lives, and rules
        2. Trusting God: because He rewards those who seek Him, that He is dependable.
        3. Obeying God: because He is authority and Lord.
      2. "Faith" as it is sometimes used to denote faithfulness: "He showed good faith." or "He kept the faith." Used like that:
        1. It means fidelity: being trustworthy, reliable and dependable, true to your word.
        2. It means constancy; being stable, solid, sure.
        3. It means loyalty: being dedicated, committed, true.
    2. How did Abel show faith? How was Abel faithful?
      1. He sought to honor God in what he did: his was an act of worship and adoration.
      2. He acted in belief, trust, obedience and was faithful to do as God wanted. His was an act of faith.
    3. If we would give a worthy offering to God of time or talent, or specifically of treasure through the tithe, it must reflect faith.
      1. The widow in Mark 12:41-44 showed faith when she gave her whole living. Consider the need for faith:
        1. What would she live on? How would she get by?
        2. God would provide, of that she was certain.
      2. The Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 showed faith when they gave to the needy in Judea. Consider how faith operated:
        1. First they gave themselves to God.
        2. Then they gave liberally out of their poverty knowing God would provide.
    4. Now, either we believe God is the giver of every good and perfect gift, and that He will provide our every need out of His riches in glory in Christ Jesus or we don't believe it! Our giving will demonstrate the degree of our faith!
Sir Philip was a man of faithfulness. During the course of the battle, the bold soldier faced the foe with calm resolve. For him it was do or die. No turning back, no quitting, no cowardice. At last a bullet struck him, he reeled in his saddle and fell to the field. But, placing himself at the front of the battle, risking his life, was a sacrifice he was willing to make for the good of his country and his Queen. Abel, too, knew something about sacrifice. When we listen we can still hear him speak and
  1. ABEL SPEAKS WORDS OF SACRIFICE:
    1. Genesis 4:4 "and Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions."
    2. How did Abel give sacrificially?
      1. His offering cost him something
        1. No left overs.
        2. No culls.
        3. No giving what he'd not miss.
      2. He gave according to the proverb: "honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce;" Proverbs 3:9.
    3. We need to learn to give sacrificially! Giving that lacks sacrifice is not worship at all!
      1. David gave sacrificially: 2 Samuel 24:21-24: then Araunah said, "Why has my Lord the king come to his servant?" and David said, "To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be held back from the people." And Araunah said to David, "Let my Lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. Everything, o king, Araunah gives to the king." And Araunah said to the king, "May the Lord your God accept you." However, the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 
      2. Think of he widow again who gave her mite! She gave sacrificially: all she had, her whole living.
      3. Think again of the Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8! They gave sacrificially: they, out of their poverty, gave beyond their means for the sake of the Judean Christians who were in dire need.
      4. Let us join them in giving with a spirit of sacrifice.
        1. To sacrifice is to do without something we would otherwise have obtained or gotten for ourselves.
        2. To sacrifice is to relinquish any personal claim to ownership.
        3. To sacrifice is to forfeit what might benefit self for the sake of another.
        4. To sacrifice is to deny ourselves some indulgence, purchase, possession, enjoyment for the sake of giving to the Lord's work.
    4. Now, either we consider the work of the church, the Lord's work, worthy of sacrifice, or we will just continue to think it is enough if we give God a mere pittance. Our giving shows which it is for us.
Sir Philip gave sacrificially. Mortally wounded, he was carried to the camp where he called for water. It was a hot day already and his fever raged. Water was scarce but a little was brought to him in a cup. Just as the suffering man raised himself up on one elbow, his eye caught the gaze of another wounded comrade fixed on the glass of water. Without hesitation, Sir Philip handed him the glass and said, "soldier, your need is greater than mine!" He obviously remembered Jesus' words, "and whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42. It seemed to him that Jesus spoke, saying, "give this poor man a drink!" He was obedient to the call of need, to the call of love, and to the call of his master. Abel was no stranger to obedience to God. And when he speaks,
  1. ABEL SPEAKS WORDS OF OBEDIENCE:
    1. Genesis 4:3-5 so "it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell."
    2. How did Abel give obediently?
      1. It seems apparent that God had instructed them what and how to give. He likely commanded an animal sacrifice. God doesn't leave us blind concerning His will for us!
      2. He gave as God had directed!
    3. Do we give obediently? Until we do that, all we give is less than a worthy offering. Every leader ought to be an obedient tither! Some say, "I can't afford it!" but I ask, "How can you afford NOT to tithe? How can you afford not to do what God said He'd bless? How can you afford not to honor God?" Now while we are most definitely not under the law of the Old Testament tithe, there are some New Testament commands for giving: let's note them:
      1. 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come." Here Paul commands proportionate giving! As you are prospered! What if God prospered as you give? What if everyone gave as you give? What would the church be like?
      2. 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."
        1. We must purpose: plan a given percent or dollar amount and stick to it!
        2. We must set aside negative giving attitudes: "Do I hafta?" "How can I afford it?" "I wouldn't but I guess I'm supposed to!"
        3. We must adopt a positive, cheerful attitude: "Glad to do it!" "When I consider what Jesus did for me, the world would be too small a gift!"
      3. We give obediently when it is willing and glad, not as a matter of course or duty.
      4. We give obediently when we give recognizing the right of God to receive our offerings as part of what is already His.
    4. Now, our giving will reflect an obedient spirit or a spirit of resentment and surliness. Our giving tells which is true for each of us.
How would you like to do something that goes on having meaning, keeps on speaking, keeps on blessing? Give to the Lord! Don't give to the church, don't give to pay the bills, don't give to pay your dues, don't give to fulfill duty, don't give to salve your conscience, don't give to buy salvation, don't give to look pious, don't give to manipulate God. Just give to the Lord -- and long after you're gone, that kind of giving speaks volumes of faith, sacrifice and obedience. You don't have to give a million dollars, you just have to be faithful with what God has given you! What He asks is that you give your best to Him, freely, willingly, gladly. Those who give much, but not their best, pale in contrast to those who have but little, but give their best. That's the call -- that's the challenge today -- give your best for Jesus! As we sing our hymn of invitation and commitment, let's decide what our best is -- and purpose to give it all to Jesus. It must begin, however, with giving yourself. Until you have done that, nothing else you give matters. Come this morning to give yourself to Jesus by confessing your faith; by being buried in the water of baptism if you've not done so. Come give yourself in rededication of your life in some area you've withheld from Him. Come give your self as you become a partner in work and witness by placing your membership as an immersed believer. Come, though, to give all for Jesus.

Story From Book Of Knowledge


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