A Living Sacrifice

The Gospel is not just a statement of facts. It is not a collection of theoretical truths to be studied and pondered and debated. It is living reality. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer so that the truths of the Gospel may be evident in every area of our lives. [Cf: OBC ]

(Rom 12:1) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

The Apostle Paul opens Romans Chapter 12 with a –Therefore..., in light of the great mercies that God has lavished on us through His Blood on the cross. As the verse reads, we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, as our spiritual service of worship. After all, this is the very least we should be doing after what he has done for us? Agree? So how do we do this?

Under the Old Testament Levitical Sacrificial system there were five offerings, Guilt, Sin, Fellowship, Grain and the Burnt offering. The burnt offering is the sacrifice being referred to by Paul in Romans 12. The Burnt offering was the highest of all the offerings because it represented the life of the offerer himself. The fire burned all day and all night and was all consuming. The animal took the place of the offender, the sinner in the fire on the Lord's altar. Christ's sacrificial offering (taking our place) was also all consuming, and instead of having to be repeated over and over again, it was once and for all. Again I ask, how are we suppose to sacrifice our bodies daily to our Lord?

Remember when Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane on the eve of His crucifixion? As he prayed Luke said that His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:44) Jesus was in anguish as He wrestled with the reality of what was about to unfold. Despite His feeling of isolation, Jesus gave Himself over to His Father's will, not His own:

(Luk 22:42) saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."

He was ready and willing to God to sacrifice Himself to correct the disobedient sin and error from long ago in the Garden of Eden.

We today can rightly sacrifice ourselves by giving our whole beings over to His will, abandoning our will and the will of the corrupt world in which we are Sojourners. The more we know about Christ Jesus, the more effective a sacrifice we become. The supernatural sanctification process is on going, changing us bit by bit through His hand, His will, His effort. Jesus does this. We just have to be willing, and place His will always in front of our will. For us humans, this is a very difficult task. Overcoming ourselves, our pride, our selfishness, our Egos, and placing Christ first, that is how we sacrifice.

Almighty Father, Lord Jesus, let all that I do this day be as a result of Your will and not my will. Show me, grow me, teach me, all glory to you, In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

A Living Sacrifice

The Gospel is not just a statement of facts. It is not a collection of theoretical truths to be studied and pondered and debated. It is living reality. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer so that the truths of the Gospel may be evident in every area of our lives. [Cf: OBC ]

(Rom 12:1) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

The Apostle Paul opens Romans Chapter 12 with a –Therefore..., in light of the great mercies that God has lavished on us through His Blood on the cross. As the verse reads, we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, as our spiritual service of worship. After all, this is the very least we should be doing after what he has done for us? Agree? So how do we do this?

Under the Old Testament Levitical Sacrificial system there were five offerings, Guilt, Sin, Fellowship, Grain and the Burnt offering. The burnt offering is the sacrifice being referred to by Paul in Romans 12. The Burnt offering was the highest of all the offerings because it represented the life of the offerer himself. The fire burned all day and all night and was all consuming. The animal took the place of the offender, the sinner in the fire on the Lord's altar. Christ's sacrificial offering (taking our place) was also all consuming, and instead of having to be repeated over and over again, it was once and for all. Again I ask, how are we suppose to sacrifice our bodies daily to our Lord?

Remember when Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane on the eve of His crucifixion? As he prayed Luke said that His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:44) Jesus was in anguish as He wrestled with the reality of what was about to unfold. Despite His feeling of isolation, Jesus gave Himself over to His Father's will, not His own:

(Luk 22:42) saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."

He was ready and willing to God to sacrifice Himself to correct the disobedient sin and error from long ago in the Garden of Eden.

We today can rightly sacrifice ourselves by giving our whole beings over to His will, abandoning our will and the will of the corrupt world in which we are Sojourners. The more we know about Christ Jesus, the more effective a sacrifice we become. The supernatural sanctification process is on going, changing us bit by bit through His hand, His will, His effort. Jesus does this. We just have to be willing, and place His will always in front of our will. For us humans, this is a very difficult task. Overcoming ourselves, our pride, our selfishness, our Egos, and placing Christ first, that is how we sacrifice.

Almighty Father, Lord Jesus, let all that I do this day be as a result of Your will and not my will. Show me, grow me, teach me, all glory to you, In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Be ready, The Lord is near

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Therefore comfort one another with these words. He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

(Php 4:5) (1Th 4:16-17) (1Th 4:18) (Rev 22:20) (2Pe 3:14) (1Th 5:22-24)

(Jas 5:8) (sbagster)

ARE YOU READY?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Be ready, The Lord is near

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Therefore comfort one another with these words. He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

(Php 4:5) (1Th 4:16-17) (1Th 4:18) (Rev 22:20) (2Pe 3:14) (1Th 5:22-24)

(Jas 5:8) (sbagster)

ARE YOU READY?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Voice of God

(Isa 6:8) Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?"

Isaiah Then said, "Here am I – Send me!" He rose his hand and stepped up to God's call. It surprises me that anyone can hear the call of God in today's noisy and vulgar world. Even if they did hear, most would not understand. Even if they could see the compelling evidence of His call, the majority would not recognize His voice. So many called. So few chosen. (Mat 22:14)

The SIN nature in which we are born does not seek God. That SIN nature seeks only to fashion us to be gods, our own god, our own private source of all that is good. At least that is what our nature and Satan would have us believe. So many will continue in that mindset, ignoring the real call of Christ, and follow that wide super highway all the way to hell. Hell, truly does exist. Hell is forever.

Isaiah chapter six stands as a type in the old testament that becomes the shadow in the new. Many are called, few are chosen because they hear and see not.

The noise of SIN can can also dull the hearing of God's call for you to use the gifts He gave you in order that your might serve Him. Doubt is one of those noises. You sense the call but allow SIN's doubt to delay or sidetrack your action.

Oswald Chambers wrote: The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him.

The common call to everyone is to share the gospel (see Mat 28: 19-20). Jesus never chased anyone. He simply told them the truth. The decision was then theirs to make, or not make. Share the truth with others. Use the gifts, the talents and skills God gave you to bless others, to bring glory to God. If that is where the quiet voice is leading you, leave your doubts behind.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Voice of God

(Isa 6:8) Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?"

Isaiah Then said, "Here am I – Send me!" He rose his hand and stepped up to God's call. It surprises me that anyone can hear the call of God in today's noisy and vulgar world. Even if they did hear, most would not understand. Even if they could see the compelling evidence of His call, the majority would not recognize His voice. So many called. So few chosen. (Mat 22:14)

The SIN nature in which we are born does not seek God. That SIN nature seeks only to fashion us to be gods, our own god, our own private source of all that is good. At least that is what our nature and Satan would have us believe. So many will continue in that mindset, ignoring the real call of Christ, and follow that wide super highway all the way to hell. Hell, truly does exist. Hell is forever.

Isaiah chapter six stands as a type in the old testament that becomes the shadow in the new. Many are called, few are chosen because they hear and see not.

The noise of SIN can can also dull the hearing of God's call for you to use the gifts He gave you in order that your might serve Him. Doubt is one of those noises. You sense the call but allow SIN's doubt to delay or sidetrack your action.

Oswald Chambers wrote: The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him.

The common call to everyone is to share the gospel (see Mat 28: 19-20). Jesus never chased anyone. He simply told them the truth. The decision was then theirs to make, or not make. Share the truth with others. Use the gifts, the talents and skills God gave you to bless others, to bring glory to God. If that is where the quiet voice is leading you, leave your doubts behind.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

What is Truth?

(Joh 18:37, 38) Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate *said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.

The truth mattered little to the Jews as they shouted to Pilate, Crucify HIM! It was an emotional, bitter, and frightened plea from a group who simply could not look beyond the ends of their noses to the TRUTH. Jesus was who he claimed to be, the Messiah had indeed arrived.

From this piercing moment and through the horror of Golgotha, that terrible wooden cross became instrumental in bringing about an end to the condemnation of all mankind. Man and woman kind who followed Adam, in the aftermath of their terrible sin. The horrible cross, symbol of deceit, torture, perversion, pain, and death now became the gateway to hope, faith, purity, peace and unfathomable joy. The TRUTH in the blood of Jesus the Christ caused that change. What is Truth?

THIS IS TRUTH: (Mat 10:22) "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

AND THIS: (Mar 16:16) "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

THIS TOO: (Joh 10:9) "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

FINALLY: (Rom 10:9) That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

All truth revolves around THIS TRUTH, and without THIS TRUTH, there is no truth at all.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

What is Truth?

(Joh 18:37, 38) Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate *said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.

The truth mattered little to the Jews as they shouted to Pilate, Crucify HIM! It was an emotional, bitter, and frightened plea from a group who simply could not look beyond the ends of their noses to the TRUTH. Jesus was who he claimed to be, the Messiah had indeed arrived.

From this piercing moment and through the horror of Golgotha, that terrible wooden cross became instrumental in bringing about an end to the condemnation of all mankind. Man and woman kind who followed Adam, in the aftermath of their terrible sin. The horrible cross, symbol of deceit, torture, perversion, pain, and death now became the gateway to hope, faith, purity, peace and unfathomable joy. The TRUTH in the blood of Jesus the Christ caused that change. What is Truth?

THIS IS TRUTH: (Mat 10:22) "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

AND THIS: (Mar 16:16) "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

THIS TOO: (Joh 10:9) "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

FINALLY: (Rom 10:9) That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

All truth revolves around THIS TRUTH, and without THIS TRUTH, there is no truth at all.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Be Bold, Be Confident

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in a waste place'; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are upright.

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. --- so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"

(Heb 4:16) (Php 4:6, 7) (Rom 8:15) (Isa 45:19) (Heb 10:19) (Heb 10:22) (Heb 13:6)sbagster

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Be Bold, Be Confident

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in a waste place'; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are upright.

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. --- so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"

(Heb 4:16) (Php 4:6, 7) (Rom 8:15) (Isa 45:19) (Heb 10:19) (Heb 10:22) (Heb 13:6)sbagster

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Three A.M. Wakeup call

(Gen 31:11) "Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I am.'

(Gen 37:6) He said to them, "Please listen to this dream which I have had;

(1Ki 3:15) Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream..........

The early morning hours seem to be an active time for our Lord as the Holy Spirit guides (or attempts to guide) our steps. The Lord has a long history of three a.m. counseling sessions and I assure you that He will be very persistent in arranging these meetings until His will is met.

Many nights a restful sleep begins only to be interrupted around two a.m.. tossing and turning; unable to return to sleep, often blaming the event on too much coffee, or that several day old burrito discovered in the fridge earlier in the evening.

These “early calls to prayer “, as I now refer to them, are very effective and productive. I come away refreshed, at peace and confident that my Lord Jesus loves me very much. I say this while many times the result God intends remains hidden from my view. In our early morning discussions, the Holy Spirit always brings to my mind what I believe is a direction, a solution, a promise, and sometimes a rebuke. You know, one of those “you know better than that” moments. Some sessions with my Lord Jesus may seem non-productive from my vantage point. Other times the exchange is very intense, tearful, sorrowful, repentant.

Opening the Good Book is often the key to finding His will and His way as He lovingly but firmly yokes you back to the center of the furrow and you begin to plow straight again.

There have been times where it was days, even weeks later, that the clarified direction the Holy Spirit was delivering finally becomes beautifully apparent.... through the Scriptures. When it happens, it lights up all your senses, you exclaim “Oh my goodness....there it is!! There is the answer I was looking for”. Thank-you Father, Thank-you Jesus, Thank-you Holy Spirit, Amen and Amen, Hallelujah, Amen!!

So.....rule of thumb...........If it is three a.m., it must be the Lord!

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Three A.M. Wakeup call

(Gen 31:11) "Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I am.'

(Gen 37:6) He said to them, "Please listen to this dream which I have had;

(1Ki 3:15) Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream..........

The early morning hours seem to be an active time for our Lord as the Holy Spirit guides (or attempts to guide) our steps. The Lord has a long history of three a.m. counseling sessions and I assure you that He will be very persistent in arranging these meetings until His will is met.

Many nights a restful sleep begins only to be interrupted around two a.m.. tossing and turning; unable to return to sleep, often blaming the event on too much coffee, or that several day old burrito discovered in the fridge earlier in the evening.

These “early calls to prayer “, as I now refer to them, are very effective and productive. I come away refreshed, at peace and confident that my Lord Jesus loves me very much. I say this while many times the result God intends remains hidden from my view. In our early morning discussions, the Holy Spirit always brings to my mind what I believe is a direction, a solution, a promise, and sometimes a rebuke. You know, one of those “you know better than that” moments. Some sessions with my Lord Jesus may seem non-productive from my vantage point. Other times the exchange is very intense, tearful, sorrowful, repentant.

Opening the Good Book is often the key to finding His will and His way as He lovingly but firmly yokes you back to the center of the furrow and you begin to plow straight again.

There have been times where it was days, even weeks later, that the clarified direction the Holy Spirit was delivering finally becomes beautifully apparent.... through the Scriptures. When it happens, it lights up all your senses, you exclaim “Oh my goodness....there it is!! There is the answer I was looking for”. Thank-you Father, Thank-you Jesus, Thank-you Holy Spirit, Amen and Amen, Hallelujah, Amen!!

So.....rule of thumb...........If it is three a.m., it must be the Lord!

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?