LIVING SACRIFICE
Introduction:
1. Rom. 12:1-2 "Present your bodies a Living Sacrifice..."
2. In this sacrifice, the natural life is not consumed like O.T. sac.
3. Present to God "ALIVE" yet dead to sin.
4. It implies that he who offers this sacrifice presents self entirely
to God, releases all claim or right to it, and leaves it to be dis-
posed of for the honor of God. To devote oneself to God, as if he/
she has no longer any claim on oneself.
5. "Living"--Under O.T., sacrifice offered only once (life was taken),
But, NOW, we are offered daily, over and over.
Christ does not require a service of death or inactivity, but a
vigorous and active life of service to God. A LIVING SACRIFICE!!
6. Christ died, yet he lives again.
So also, we must die (Gal 2:20; 5:29; 6:14); But, WE LIVE!!
Our bodies are to be presented like those of the animals, but
NOT like them (to be slain); yet, like them in that it is to
be a complete surrender of oneself to Jehovah.
7. Matt 16:24--"...take up his cross daily, and follow me...."
8. With some, Christianity is like being a member of a social club; a
place to go on Sunday, pay dues, be a part of the club; them go
about one's activities for the rest of the week.
9. Under the Law, there were "daily" services and sacrificies:
WE TOO, are to offer daily sacrifices unto God; "LIVING SACRIFICES
"SPIRITUAL SERVICE" unto our Creator and sustainer.
10. What does a DAILY SERVICE involve in our lives????
I. DAILY PRAYER:
1. Under the Law, incense was offered to the Lord daily. Ex 30:7-8.
Incense was a figure or symbol of prayer. Rev. 5:8.
2. David prayed daily to the Lord, even in spite of the difficulties
which it brought upon him.
3. Jesus taught Disciples to pray, "Give us this day our DAILY bread.."
4. Daily NEEDS mean daily prayer. Phil. 4:6; 1 Thess 5:17.
II. DAILY BIBLE STUDY:
1. 2 Tim 2:15--"Study to show self approved unto God..."
2. Bereans searched the scriptures daily. Acts 17:11
3. But, someone says, "That's easy for you, your the preacher..." The
Bereans were not all preachers. I would hope that I would study
on a regular basis even though I were not preaching.
4. Our children attend public school five days a week, each week for
nine months of the year to learn math, grammar, geography, etc.
Nothing wrong with this, in fact; that we say is fine.
Yet, some seem to think they can attend Bible class for an hour, or
perhaps two a week, and learn enough about the Word of God to
become Children of God and remain faithful to the Lord.
Somehow, that strikes against logic and reason.
5. DAILY FOOD is essential for the physical body to grow and develop.
Yet, the spiritual diet of some would lead to starvation and
malnutrition.
1 Pet 2:2- One cannot grow without spiritual milk.
2 Pet 3:18- Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord.....
III. DAILY EVANGELISM.
1. Mt. 26:55--Jesus said he sat DAILY in temple teaching....
2. The church grew in the first century because of its daily teaching
by the members -- Acts 2:46; 5:42; 8:1-4; 19:9-10.
3. But some will say, "I must work to make a living...."
4. With whom do we work??? PEOPLE!!
We teach people by the life we live, our example, our faithfulness
to the church, our regular worship; then with our WORDS.
We talk to people day by day, perhaps we can give them a tract, say
a word about our Lord or the church. Invite them to services...
5. Paul said he ceased not to warn night and day with tears....
IV. DAILY EXHORTATION
l. Heb. 3:12-14- Exhort daily. day by day.
2. Scriptures teach us to be our brother's keeper. Cain implied that he
was NOT. But he was wrong!!
3. Our love for a brother will cause us to exhort daily
4. Gal. 6:1 -- ye who are spiritual---What a responsibility..
5. 1 Thess 5:14 -- Warn them who are unruly.....
6. Rom 15:1-3 --
V. DAILY CROSS-BEARING:
1. We noted earlier Jesus' remarks "Take up cross daily....follow me."
2. He made the perfect sacrifice for us--THROUGH SUFFERING!!
3. We, too, must be willing to sacrifice, offer Living Sacrifice.
4. 2 Tim 3:12 -- "All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer per."
5. We love to sing about the "OLD RUGGED CROSS"; Do we love to bear it?
Many in the world would wear a cross around their neck, or
dangling from their ears, or place it on a steeple of a church
building, but when it comes to personal suffering, they are not
so eager to bear it.
6. Paul knew what it meant to suffer, bear a cross--2 Cor 4:8-10.
7. Our life may well be filled with troubles, but just look what we
shall attain in the end--ETERNAL LIFE.
CONCLUSION:
1. Our religion must stand the test on a day by day challenge.
2. Mankind cannot be saved by sermons and worship on Sunday unless they
are being saved all the other days of the week by the work and
service which is rendered in the Master's Kingdom.
3. Yes, Paul was (and still is) right when he said, "PRESENT YOUR
BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR
SPIRITUAL SERVICE...."
4. And it is a daily responsibility, a day by day religion.
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