Dare To Be A Living Sacrifice!

ROM. 12:1-2

SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN DEVOTION AND SERVICE

THEME: Dedicate Yourself More Completely to His Glory and Service. 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

INTRODUCTION:    

1.  Do You Remember the Different Sacrifices Made in the Old Testament?  The Burnt Offering, Meat Offering, Peace Offering, Sin Offering, and the Trespass Offering were all a part of Israel’s worship.   They all cost the worshiper something, there was a price to be paid . . . .  Serving God was not cheap— it cost a life in many cases!  These offerings also point forward to the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. He also paid and awesome price to purchase our redemption with His own life’s blood.  If it cost the OT worshiper and the Lord Jesus Himself, then why do we feel we should have an easy Christian life that does not place and demands on our strength, minds, will, and emotions?  Where is the cost for us?  Where is our sacrifice?  Have we ever truly been to the altar of sacrifice with our own lives in our hands to give to God?

2.  Do You Realize That God Wants Us to Make a Sacrifice to Him Also?  This sacrifice should not be a bull or goat or lamb. God wants us to sacrifice ourselves to His service.   When we come to Christ as Savior, we are happy that our sins are forgiven. We are glad to know that we have died to sin and been made alive to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit. These are all things that Jesus does for us as Savior. Today’s message speaks of the things we ought to do for Him as our Lord.

Luke 6:46,  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

If we call Him Lord then we should be living lives that adhere to His Words willingly and gladly.   We should be consumed with His agenda, schedule, program, plans, and list of things to do.

   

3.  The Emphasis in the Book of Romans Shifts from Doctrine to Duty: THE GOSPEL LIVED OUT (Chaps. 12-16).

The rest of Romans answers the question: How should those who have been justified by grace respond in their everyday lives? Paul takes up our duties toward other believers, toward the church,  and even toward our enemies in chapter 12.   This series will concentrate on how we can become that Believer who lives supremely for Christ!

MESSAGE:

I.  THE BELIEVER’S CONSECRATION (Rom. 12:1).

1 Chron. 29:5, The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?

Consecration means declaring a thing to be holy or dedicated to the service of God.  Consecration means to come before the Lord with full hands to offer to the Lord.  We are here urged upon by the mercy of God that we consecrate ourselves to the Lord as a Living Sacrifice.

A.  WHAT THE BELIEVER IS TO CONSECRATE.

Mark 12:33, And to love him with all the heart [Emotions & Desires], and with all the understanding [Intellect], and with all the soul [Will & Choices], and with all the strength [Body], and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Total devotion is what He requires!  This verse helps us to understand that the Lord wants our Emotional, Intellectual, Volitional, and Physical devotion to Him.  Further God is not impressed with Christians who place a great deal of emphasis on going to church, to the altar, or saying a prayer of repentance when there is no real evidence of true commitment in the life and throughout the week.  God’s not interested in ritualistic Sunday Morning Christianity.  He longs for genuine devotion.  This is the kind of life that really counts with Him.   It’s the life that is concerned first and foremost with God, then with the welfare of others.  Material things are not even mentioned in this passage but they are what most people live for.  But, this verse says that “God is most important!” and “People are very important!”  The person who devotes them self to these priorities have discovered what life is truly all about!

ILLUSTRATION: “LIVING FOR JESUS”

“Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please Him in all that I do, yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free—this is the pathway of blessing for me.

Living for Jesus who died in my place, bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace—such love constrains me to answer His call, follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus thru earth’s little while, my dearest treasure the light of His smile, seeking the lost ones He died to redeem, bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

Chorus: O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, for Thou in Thine atonement didst give Thyself for me. I own no other Master—my heart shall be Thy throne: My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.”

B.  HOW IS THE BELIEVER TO CONSECRATE? (Rom. 12:1)

Well, how shall we consecrate ourselves to Him and His plans for us?

   1. Present Your Body to God as an Offering.

Old Testament sacrifices became holy when they touched the altar of the Lord.

Exodus 29:37,  Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.

The first thing we need to place on the Altar of consecration is our very own bodies.  The problem with a living sacrifice is the fact that it keeps crawling back off the altar.  We are weak in our resolve to live for God!

       A.  For Crucifying.

We are, therefore, to present our bodies for crucifixion with the Lord that we might have a holy body. Once this is done, we can say with Paul, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live" (Gal. 2:20). Then our bodies become an acceptable sacrifice. 

APPLICATION: Don’t settle for merely getting by, nor for a mediocre Christian service life.  Don’t give up on excellence and settle for average!   Anybody can be average, live for the level of outstanding and godliness!  2 Tim. 2:19-22,  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. [20] But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. [21] If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. [22] Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

       B.  For Sacrificing.   Rom. 12:1, “a living sacrifice”

Every part of the Christian's body should be given to the Lord for His service: the head, the hands, the feet, the eyes, and all functioning parts placed in His hands.

ILLUSTRATIONS:  Jacob was never what God wanted him to be until his body was touched for God (Gen. 32:24-32). Daniel was concerned that he not defile the body that had been consecrated by the eating of some meat and the drinking of wine (Dan. 1:8). The three Hebrew children gave their bodies to the fiery furnace and changed the history of mankind (Dan. 3:22-30).  Mary gave her body to God to be used to bring Jesus Christ into the world (Lk. 1:32-38). In the volume of the Bible it is written that Jesus gave His body for a sacrifice (Heb. 10:3-14). The body was meant for sacrificial service to God!  If it strains our energies, requires, hard effort, demands extended effort for long periods then don’t wimp out and quit.  Stay with the task God has given.  Don’t quite serving God simply because it’s inconvenient! 1 Cor. 15:58,  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

APPLICATION:  All this giving of ourselves is described as “reasonable service.”  There is nothing unreasonable in God's request of our bodies.  1 Cor. 6:18-20,  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. [19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

    1.  It Matters to God What You Do With Your Body.  (1Cor. 6:14-20)

    2.  It Matters to God Where You Take Your Body.  (Heb. 10:24-25; Prov. 23:17-21; 1Pet. 4:1-6)

    3.  It Matters to God What You Put in Your Body. (Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35; Rom. 14:21)

    4.  It Matters to God What You Put On Your Body.  (1Tim. 2:9-10; 1Pet. 3:2-5)

APPLICATION:   It is to be His body. God is not primarily interested in our time, talents, or treasury.  If He has our body, then He has the rest of us too.  The only gift which satisfies the Redeemer Creator is the body of his redeemed creature. (See I Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 8:5.)

     1.  It Is to Be His Living Body. Sometimes it is easier to die for the Lord than it is to live for Him.

     2.  It Is to Be a Separated (Holy) Living Body.  (Rom. 6:13, 16, 19; Phil. 1:20; Heb. 1:22)