DAY 4 – SEMINAR – THE NECESSITY OF A LIFE OF SACRIFICE – Apostle Yves CASTANOU

The necessity of a life of sacrifice

When you step into God’s presence, do you come to receive or do you come to give? Too many believers want power without sacrifice, blessing without total surrender, transformation without paying the price. But let me tell you a truth: without sacrifice, there is no fire! Without fire, there is no power!

“I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

He’s not talking about a shallow, lip-service commitment, but a total offering, a complete surrender into God’s hands.

God is looking for men and women who understand this spiritual law. Those who give Him everything will experience divine visitation on an unprecedented scale. Do you want to see the glory of God? Then step fully into a life of sacrifice!

Sacrifice: the key to a powerful life with God

All throughout Scripture, we see men and women who triggered glorious visitations by choosing to offer God what was most precious to them.

Look at Noah! Read Genesis 8:20-21! As soon as he came out of the ark, he didn’t think of himself, but built an altar! He offered sacrifices, and the Lord smelled a pleasing aroma, declaring that He would no longer curse the earth! God’s judgment was stopped because of a sacrifice! What does God want to stop in your life? Where must you build an altar?

Look at Elijah on Mount Carmel! (1 Kings 18:36-38) He prayed and the fire came down… But not before placing a burnt offering on the altar! Without sacrifice, there is no fire. Without fire, there is no divine manifestation. Do you want to see your fire go out or do you want to see the power of God manifested through you?

Jesus Himself lived by this law. His entire ministry was built on sacrifice: He spent whole nights in prayer, went from town to town, He didn’t even have a place to lay His head! Then He offered the ultimate sacrifice—His life! And because of that sacrifice, He was glorified with eternal glory. That’s why to this day, His Name is exalted above every name!

The Christian life is a life of sacrifice

If Jesus gave His life for you, why would you hesitate to give yours for Him? He didn’t save us so we could live comfortably, attached to our own desires and ambitions, but so that we would be a living sacrifice. All of God’s power is drawn to a life of sacrifice!

Ephesians 6:18 urges us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

But how can you pray unceasingly if your life is still ruled by personal comfort? A life of sacrifice means bending your schedule under God’s will. It’s no longer your time, it’s His time. No longer your plans, it’s His mission.

The problem is that many want power without paying the price. They want the anointing without surrender. But in the spiritual realm, no dimension of glory is accessible without sacrifice! That’s why some people pray and see nothing. What you refuse to surrender becomes the barrier holding back your spiritual ascent.

Sacrifice your time, your prayer life, and your commitment

Take the example of a man who marked the history of prayer: John Knox, Scottish reformer, who prayed fervently for 20 years for the salvation of his nation until God invaded Scotland! 20 years! Not a day, not a week, but years of unceasing prayer. Today, we want results after 15 minutes of prayer.

There’s also Yonggi Cho’s mother-in-law who prayed every single day, fasting every week, for 8 years. Then for 10 years, every midnight, she interceded for the Church to grow. Today, the Church God built through him is known among the largest in the world.

Lord, where are the men and women like that in this generation? Who is ready to pay that price? Too few are willing to offer themselves like this on God’s altar! Yet, the greater the sacrifice, the greater the divine visitation!

Where is the compassion that should drive you to evangelize?

When Jesus saw the crowd, He was moved with compassion! But what about us today—what is our reaction? Far too often, we just walk on by. But Leviticus 6:13 reminds us:

The fire shall be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

This is the fire of passion, intercession, and zeal that will not go out—if you choose a life of sacrifice.

Matthew 9:35-38 shows us Jesus going from village to village, preaching, healing, delivering… His fame was spreading! And in Matthew 4:24:

“His fame spread.”

Today, is the fame of Jesus growing in your city through your life? Is Jesus known through you?

Jesus wants evangelists, multifaceted witnesses. Some evangelize through their position of influence in society, others through their spiritual power. But each one must be a channel through which the fame of Jesus spreads!

God is calling you to the priesthood—ready to answer?

Something is happening in this generation! Those called to ministry are rising up, but you didn’t choose this path, God chose you!

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 13:2)

Today, the Lord is still calling. There are those here who are chosen to be shepherds, prophets, evangelists. But are you ready to answer that call?

You want to see God’s power in your life? You want to bear fruit for the Kingdom? Then give yourself fully to God. Don’t be lukewarm—burn!

Let’s pray together

Lord, I want to be a living sacrifice. Burn away everything in me that’s not from You. Let my life become an altar where Your fire descends, where Your glory manifests! Today I give You everything, because You are everything. My life, my time, my commitment, my heart. Make me a useful instrument, a multifaceted evangelist for the expansion of Your fame! In the mighty name of Jesus, amen!