Thanksgiving 2008 By Samuel E. Ward (Psa 4:5-8 NIV) Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. {6} Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. {7} You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. {8} I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Introduction A. The Requirements of Offerings in the Old Testament 1. Perfect. Lev 22:21. 2. The best of their kind. Mal 1:14. 3. Offered willingly. Lev 22:19. 4. Offered in righteousness. Mal 3:3. 5. Offered in love and charity. Mat 5:23, 24. 6. Brought in a clean vessel. Isa 66:20. 7. Brought to the place appointed of God. Deut 12:6; Ps 27:6; Heb 9:9. 8. Laid before the altar. Mat 5:23, 24. 9. Presented by the priest. Heb 5:1. 10. Brought without delay. Ex 22:29, 30. --Torrey's New Topical Textbook Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 2004, QuickVerse, a division of FindEx.com, Inc. All rights reserved. It is my desire that we make this a day of offering spiritual sacrifices to the Lord to demonstrate our thankfulnesss to Hom for all His benefits. The New Testament basis for Christians to offer spiritual sacrifices is presented quite clearly in 1 Peter 2:1-5.
4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. From this passage observe . . . B. The Requirements Involved in Bringing a Spiritual Offering the New Testament 1. We are to be of holy and righteous character, confessing and thereby cleansing ourselves of sin. 2. We are to be eager worshipers—seeking the maturity which develops from such sacrifices 3. We are to be participants with other worshipers—belonging to a fellowship of other believers. 4. We are to be regular worshipers—coming together regularly to be a part of the witness of God's people to the world. For those who think that sacrifice and offerings were abolished with the advent of Christ and the gospel message, think again. Though we no longer offer the blood sacrifice of bulls, goats, lambs, and lambs (for these typified the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins) we are called to offer other sacrifices that are a part of our spiritual service and worship of God in devotion to Him. Consider these offerings we are called upon to make in the present day. I. We Offer Our Bodies A. Because God Commands It (Rom 6:13 NIV) Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. God commands it because it is not within our nature to do it willingly. B. Because We Do Not Want to Be a Slave to Sin (Rom 6:16 NIV) Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Many people desire a "libertarian" lifestyle in which no one defines sin for another thinking that this is true freedom. However, those who pursue sinful practices as defined in God's Word will find that eventually they are enslaved or destroyed by them. There is a reason why God hates sin and calls us to separate ourselves from it; and it is not that He is some celestial killjoy. Only He knows wherein true joy and freedom lies. Hard for some to believe is that true joy and freedom are not found in self-gratification, but in self-giving. C. Because We Desire a Different Destiny (Rom 6:19 NIV) I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. People who become addicted to various forms of sinful activity often end up sacrificing their most valued resources, most important relationships, and eventually physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health, the latter being the most costly of all. D. Because We Appreciate God's Mercy (Rom 12:1 NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. The only reasonable thing we can do in response to the mercy of God which rescues us from such slavery to sin is to give ourselves to pleasing God. We indeed are "not our own, we have been bought with a price"—the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins. II. We Offer Our Testimonies A. Because We Desire to Bring an Offering of Souls to God (Rom 15:16 NIV) to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Each person we bring to Christ as a result of sharing our testimony of what Christ has done for us is a offering unto God—an act of worship as a New Testament priest who represents God to the world through Christ the High Priest. B. Because We See the Opportunity to Make Our Service a True Personal and Joyful Sacrifice—"I do it for free!" (1 Cor 9:18 NIV) What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. Paul had every right to make his living by preaching the gospel and then receiving the support of others who received the Word of God and its message. But God had made it possible for Paul to preach it without such reliance upon those to whom He was ministering. That is why he was a "tent-maker" evangelist. He was bi-vocational. III. We Offer Our Substance to the Need of Others (2 Cor 8:19 NIV) What is more, he [a ministry partner with Paul] was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. A. Because It Is an Honor to Serve God B. Because It Is an Opportunity to Show My Eagerness to Serve God Our service can easily become a "chore" unless we keep in mind that at least two things can result when we faithfully serve even in the so-called menial tasks. As the passage says God is honored by our service. And when we do it eagerly, it shows to others that we love serving the Lord. This encourages them to serve in like manner. IV. We Offer Our Physical Lives (Phil 2:17 NIV) But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. (2 Tim 4:6 NIV) For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. This attitude is modeled for us by no less than the Lord Jesus Himself. He was willing to endure His own death on the cross for the joy set before Him of bringing others into eternal relationship with God. (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV ) 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. V. We Offer Our Substance to the Support of Missionaries (Phil 4:18 NIV) I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. When we think about all the investments we make in life, the one that counts most is what we invest in eternity. Christ meant it when He said, (Mat 6:19-20 NIV) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. {20} But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. VI. We Offer Christ Who Offered Himself as the Sacrifice for Our Sins (Heb 7:27 NIV) Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. The only sacrifice that God accepts as a covering for sin is a perfect one. Jesus is that Perfect One. If I offer myself as payment, I must pay with my life. It being an imperfect life, it is not acceptable as a valid covering. So I do must do something that should break my heart, I claim Christ's perfection and willingness to take my place. But there is joy in the fact that He was resurrected from the dead and so shall I be because of my faith in Him VII. We Offer Our Praise and Other Spiritual Sacrifices A. The Scriptures speak of prayer and praise as spiritual sacrifices. (Heb 13:15 NIV) Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. B. These Prayers and Praises Are Heard in Heaven Before the Father's Throne (Rev 5:8 NIV) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Rev 8:3-4 NIV) Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. {4} The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. C. These Prayers and Praises Are a Testimony to the Hosts and Saints in Heaven. Too often we think of prayer in terms of simple requests or praise that goes to God's ear for a moment then He hears and answers according to what and when He wills. Perhaps we even think of it as a mere private act between God and saint. But in Rev 8:3 we discover something far more fantastic concerning the effects of prayer. Though we may indeed find deliverance from a problem and feel right about having voiced a prayer of thanks, there is the ultimate purpose of prayer that is being performed in heaven whenever we pray. That purpose is to put on display the glory of God. Our prayers are depicted as sweet fragrances in golden censer bowls which are offered before God's throne. In such acts the whole heavenly realm witnesses the faith and love of God's saints represented by those prayers and are held in awe as they witness God's loving and wise response to each prayer. Knowing this about prayer, should we all not be filling the halls of God's throne-room with the fragrance of our dependence, submission , love, trust, and faith in God for all of God's heaven to witness. What a blessing this must be to God's heart! Do your question this? Then look in Acts 10:4 for proof. (Acts 10:4 NIV) Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. So I say, let us offer ourselves, our testimony, our gifts to others, our lives, our support to missionaries, our faith in Christ's salvation, and our prayers and praise to God as spiritual sacrifices before a holy audience. ========================================================== |
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Sunday, November 23, 2008
“Offer Right Sacrifices”
