Sacrifice the Sacrifices of Thanksgiving - Nov. 24th, 2024
Thanksgiving 2021-2025 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:25:51
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· 13 viewsWhether we offer our lives, worship, prayers, resources, or repentance, each sacrifice is an act of love and gratitude to the One who has given us everything.
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22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
By Dr. CJ Walker
FBCWestminster, Thanksgiving Sunday AM, November 24th, 2011
Outline
I. Offer Your Life as a Sacrifice (Rom. 12:1)
A. Present Your Life Voluntarily (Lev. 1:3)
B. Live a Life of Self-Denial (Gal. 2:20)
C. Commit Fully to God’s Purpose (2 Tim. 2:21)
II. Offer Your Worship as a Sacrifice (Heb. 13:15)
A. Worship Freely and Wholeheartedly (Ps. 119:108)
B. Let Worship Be a Daily Practice (Ps. 34:1)
C. Bring Worship Into the Community (Jer. 33:11)
III. Offer Your Prayers as a Sacrifice (Ps. 141:2)
A. Pray with Sincerity and Humility (Mt. 6:6)
B. Approach God with Reverence (Heb. 10:19)
IV. Offer Your Resources as a Sacrifice (Heb. 13:16)
A. Give Cheerfully and Generously (2 Cor. 9:7)
B. Recognize That All Belongs to God (Prov. 3:9)
V. Offer Your Repentance as a Sacrifice (Ps. 51:17)
A. Come to God with a Broken Spirit (Is. 66:2)
B. Seek Restoration and Renewal (Ps. 51:10)
Introduction
Introduction
In Psalm 107:22, the sweet psalmist of Israel calls us to “sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.” Thanksgiving and gratitude, while they ought to manifest themselves within our hearts, that is, our emotions, this is not where they should begin; otherwise, we might wind up only thanking God when we feel like thanking Him. Instead, these should emanate as a response to our minds poring over God’s grace that transforms our lives, lifting us from the miry clay, setting our feet upon a rock, and establishing our goings. What does it mean for us to offer the sacrifices of Thanksgiving today? How can we, living under the grace of Christ, demonstrate by our actions how much what God has done means to us, that turns our gratitude then into a real conversation, I mean, a biblical one, that is, a manner of living, or a lifestyle that exudes of pure worship and loving obedience to Him who saved us, and called us to be conformed unto His glory and image.
I. Offer Your Life as a Sacrifice (Rom. 12:1)
I. Offer Your Life as a Sacrifice (Rom. 12:1)
1 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.
The Apostle Paul challenges us in Romans 12:1 to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Our response to God’s mercy should be to offer our very lives to Him. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were offered daily. It would be a mistake for us to think that we can present our bodies as a living sacrifice once in our lifetime and that would be enough for God. There's only one sacrifice in the Bible, "Once for All," and that was Jesus' sacrifice of Himself for our sins upon the tree. The book of Hebrews emphasizes that Christ's sacrifice was final and sufficient, contrasting it with the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament that could never fully remove sin (Hebrews 9:26; 10:10, 12).
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Jesus' sacrifice was unique — 'once for all' — providing complete atonement. In comparison, our sacrifices are a daily, living response to His finished work, as we continually present ourselves to God in gratitude and obedience (Luke 9:23; Romans 12:1).
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
1 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.
He gave His life for us so that we might live through Him and never die. Each day that we live then becomes a new opportunity for us to be a living sacrifice for God. This offering is not a one-time event but a continual act of surrender.
Furthermore, in Romans 12:1, the verb "present" (παραστῆσαι, parastēsai) is in the aorist tense. The aorist tense often suggests an action that is viewed as a complete, one-time occurrence. However, in the context of this verse, Paul’s use of the aorist combined with the idea of a "living sacrifice" (ζῶσαν θυσίαν, zōsan thysian) provides a richer nuance. The adjective "living" implies ongoing action, suggesting that while the initial act of presenting oneself is decisive, it leads to a continuous, active condition—a life that is continually offered to God.
Additionally, considering this in light of the next verse, Romans 12:2, Paul emphasizes transformation and renewal of the mind ("be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind"), which also indicates that this is to be an ongoing, lifelong process.
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.
This idea of daily commitment aligns with the Old Testament concept of continual sacrifices offered daily on behalf of the people (e.g., Numbers 28:3-4).
3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. 4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
The aorist tense, therefore, does not contradict the idea of continual surrender but rather complements it when paired with the imagery of a "living" sacrifice. Here's how I would summarize that for us: it is a decisive act leading to an ongoing lifestyle. The hymn writer once put it simply like this, "I have decided to follow Jesus."
Theologically, the broader context of Scripture further suggests that, just as the Levitical sacrifices were offered repeatedly, we, too, are called to live out our consecration every day. Now, thank God we didn't have to come to church today, and you all meet me at the front door and watch me, or someone on staff here, take an animal that you brought, bleed it out right in front of you and your children, burn it on a brazen fire pit, and sprinkle its blood on the barbecue, then wash our hands at the fountain before coming inside. We're not under the Law. We're under grace. But please, notice Paul's emphasis here on "reasonable service" (λογικὴν λατρείαν, logikēn latreian), which ties in with the notion of rational, continuous worship—our response to God's mercies that is ongoing rather than momentary.
A. Present Your Life Voluntarily (Lev. 1:3)
A. Present Your Life Voluntarily (Lev. 1:3)
God will not force you to surrender your life. He invites you to willingly place yourself in His hands, just as the Israelites willingly made their sacrifices at the altar (Leviticus 1:3).
3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
The idea of voluntarily presenting oneself to God is rooted in love and devotion. Just as Jesus willingly laid down His life for us (John 10:17-18), we are called to lay down our lives for Him. This surrender is a recognition that we are not our own, but bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
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.
Consider the example of Polycarp, an early church leader who willingly faced martyrdom rather than deny his faith. When asked to renounce Christ, Polycarp declared, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” His willingness to present himself as a sacrifice for the sake of Christ is a powerful illustration of what it means to offer our lives in love and devotion.
B. Live a Life of Self-Denial (Gal. 2:20)
B. Live a Life of Self-Denial (Gal. 2:20)
To be a “living sacrifice” means dying to self-centered ambitions and desires. It is choosing to place God’s will above all else, saying with Paul, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20).
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Jesus Himself calls us to take up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). This means that our desires, ambitions, and goals must be subject to the will of God. Just as Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42), we too must submit our lives to the purposes of God.
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Living a life of self-denial is also the key to overcoming many of the emotional struggles that beset us. Pride, selfishness, fear, and anxiety all stem from an overemphasis on self—either in an inflated or diminished way. By choosing to die to ourselves, we learn to trust in God rather than be controlled by our emotions. Self-denial directly confronts pride and selfishness as we learn to put God and others ahead of our own ambitions (Philippians 2:3-4).
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Trusting in God’s will and adopting an attitude of surrender helps dispel fear and anxiety as we learn to rely on His sovereign plan rather than our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Additionally, when we see ourselves as "crucified with Christ," we gain freedom from the burdens of self-valuation deformities, worry, and depression, understanding instead that our identity and strength are rooted in Christ alone (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
C. Commit Fully to God’s Purpose (2 Tim. 2:21)
C. Commit Fully to God’s Purpose (2 Tim. 2:21)
Our sacrifice is to be “holy,” or set apart, for God’s use. Like General William Booth, who gave God every part of himself, we must ask, “Does God have all of me?” Holding nothing back, we dedicate our entire being to Him for His glory and service. Paul encourages Timothy to be a “vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).
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.
When we commit fully to God’s purpose, we are like the vessels in the temple, consecrated for God’s service alone (2 Chronicles 29:18-19).
18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof. 19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.
This means our lives are not compartmentalized; every part is given to Him, and nothing is held back.
II. Offer Your Worship as a Sacrifice (Heb. 13:15)
II. Offer Your Worship as a Sacrifice (Heb. 13:15)
Hebrews 13:15 teaches us to “offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
I'm glad to see you in church on a Sunday, but I would be even gladder to know that you didn't leave your religion at the door when you left but took your walk with Jesus into your Monday through Saturday, too. Sunday is the first day of the week for a reason. This isn't just some ritual we go through to show how spiritual we are; this is a building-up so that you can better handle all the tearing down that the world will try to do to you through the coming week as you try to live godly in a godless world. We must continually give ourselves glorifying God with our minds and our words and our words from our hearts and from our hearts to our hands. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh, but remember, our walk talks louder than our talk talks.
A. Worship Freely and Wholeheartedly (Ps. 119:108)
A. Worship Freely and Wholeheartedly (Ps. 119:108)
True worship must come from a willing heart. God delights in freewill praise, not worship that is forced or routine. As Psalm 119:108 says, “Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord.”
108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
David expressed his heart of praise when he said, “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore” (Psalm 86:12).
12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
Worship must be wholehearted, involving every part of our being—mind, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Anything less than our full devotion falls short of what God desires.
B. Let Worship Be a Daily Practice (Ps. 34:1)
B. Let Worship Be a Daily Practice (Ps. 34:1)
Worship should flow from every part of our lives. Whether in prayer, song, or the quiet meditation of Scripture, we can magnify God’s name continually, as Psalm 34:1 encourages: “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
The Bible speaks of the early church, who “continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God” (Acts 2:46-47).
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
You ought not to wait to come to church for a formal gathering to worship God; learn to adore Him in (as Brother Andy pointed out a couple of weeks ago, not necessarily "for" but "in") every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
C. Bring Worship Into the Congregation (Jer. 33:11)
C. Bring Worship Into the Congregation (Jer. 33:11)
While personal worship is vital, corporate worship is equally important. We are called to “bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord” (Jeremiah 33:11).
11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.
When we gather as a church body, our united voices testify to God’s greatness and love. Psalm 22:22 says, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.”
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
When we gather together, I hope and pray you aren't coming here to be entertained or watch us put on a show for you. I hope you catch the power of the Holy Spirit that is in this sacred place and follow our example of singing heartily; as old John Wesley used to say, "Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength." Corporate worship serves as a powerful witness to the world, showing the unity of the Body of Christ and visibly glorifying God (John 13:35).
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Nothing will send the devil and his imps of darkness away from our presence together with the Lord of light like our heartfelt praise to our God. God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. Darkness can't dwell in the presence of pure light.
III. Offer Your Prayers as a Sacrifice (Ps. 141:2)
III. Offer Your Prayers as a Sacrifice (Ps. 141:2)
Psalm 141:2 compares prayer to incense: “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Our prayers rise to God as a sweet aroma, reflecting our dependence on Him and our desire to commune with Him.
A. Pray with Sincerity and Humility (Mt. 6:6)
A. Pray with Sincerity and Humility (Mt. 6:6)
Prayer is not about performance or empty repetition. Instead, it is a heartfelt conversation with God, acknowledging His greatness and seeking His will. As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:6, “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret.”
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
God is not impressed by outward displays but by the sincerity of our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7).
7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
The publican's prayer in Luke 18:13, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” shows us that God values humility in our approach to Him.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
B. Approach God with Reverence (Heb. 10:19)
B. Approach God with Reverence (Heb. 10:19)
Just as the Old Testament priests approached the golden altar of incense with care, we must come before God with a sense of awe. Our prayers are made possible through the blood of Christ, for Hebrews 10:19 reminds us, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.”
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
The incense offered by the priests (Exodus 30:7-8) symbolized the prayers of the saints rising before God (Revelation 8:3-4).
7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
We must remember that our access to God is not casual but is based on the precious sacrifice of Jesus, and we must approach with reverence and gratitude (Hebrews 12:28-29).
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Prayer is a privilege and a sacrifice, offered through Christ’s atonement, that allows us to draw near to God with faith and confidence daily.
IV. Offer Your Resources as a Sacrifice (Heb. 13:16)
IV. Offer Your Resources as a Sacrifice (Heb. 13:16)
Hebrews 13:16 declares, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Giving of our resources is a tangible expression of our gratitude to God, demonstrating our trust in His provision and our commitment to His work.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
A. Give Cheerfully and Generously (2 Cor. 9:7)
A. Give Cheerfully and Generously (2 Cor. 9:7)
God values the heart behind the gift more than the gift itself. 2 Corinthians 9:7 states, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Our offerings should flow from a heart of joy and thanksgiving. Jesus observed the widow who gave her two mites and said, “This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury” (Mark 12:43-44).
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
It is not the amount but the sacrifice and willingness that pleases God.
B. Recognize That All Belongs to God (Prov. 3:9)
B. Recognize That All Belongs to God (Prov. 3:9)
Everything we have comes from God, and we are merely stewards of His blessings. When we give, we acknowledge His ownership over all things. As David prayed in 1 Chronicles 29:14, “For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.”
14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
Proverbs 3:9 instructs us to “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.” By recognizing that all we have is God's, we give joyfully and trust His continual provision (Philippians 4:19).
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Beginning in November, we promoted and took up a special collection here at the church for various ministries promulgating the true Gospel of our Lord Jesus. We let the church family know through October to be praying about that special collection. I want to give God the glory by pointing out that His local church put their money where their faith is.
We have so much to celebrate! Even in an economy that has been wrecked by greed and corruption, and in a country that overall is racked with trillions and trillions of dollars of debt, and whose people are hurting through unprecedented levels of inflation, God's people dug deep and gave themselves first to the Lord, and then gave willingly, cheerfully, as God has prospered them, and some, I know even gave sacrificially, because they believe in reaching the lost, and impacting our community for Christ.
Through the generosity of just the first couple of weeks in November, we saw tens of thousands of dollars come in to support this church's multiple mission and ministry endeavors. We must now steward that gift and channel those monies to further the Gospel. Do you know what our church is focused on? Your checkbook revealed it this month. We didn't try to raise money to fix up our facility. We didn’t raise a bunch of money for temporal things. I didn't see hardly anything come in on the reports for that (I'm sure there was some), but you know what I did see? (Only God and those who counted the money know who gave what; I don’t know who gave how much; I just see the overall report) I saw money given primarily to support giving others the eternal Word of God. Money for the Seedline Ministry to get the Word of God to the lost. Money for Faith Promise Missions to support God's servants in getting the Gospel to the lost all around the globe. Money for Bibles, money for Benevolence needs (helping the poor among us who can't give back but can only receive the blessing of God through the generosity of God's people), money for God's servants who came and preached the Gospel to us, and helped us see some precious souls come to a saving knowledge of Christ!
That's what this church cares about! If you're sitting here today, and you don't know what this church's heartbeat is, I want you to just glance around you at a faithful church family and think, “this Church loves me more than I can ever know because they love Jesus first.” You are sitting at arm’s length from the cream of God’s crop; you are in the presence today of one of God's precious saints who has honored Him, by faith, with their substance. I can't wait to see what God does to multiply the seed of faith sown through a church family that recognizes ALL BELONGS TO GOD!
By offering our resources to God, we participate in His kingdom work and experience the joy of seeing lives transformed through our obedience and generosity.
V. Offer Your Repentance as a Sacrifice (Ps. 51:17)
V. Offer Your Repentance as a Sacrifice (Ps. 51:17)
Psalm 51:17 proclaims, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
True thanksgiving begins with a humble, repentant heart that is fully surrendered to God.
A. Come to God with a Broken Spirit (Is. 66:2)
A. Come to God with a Broken Spirit (Is. 66:2)
A broken spirit recognizes our need for God and grieves over sin. Repentance is not merely feeling sorry but turning away from sin and toward God in faith. As Isaiah 66:2 says, “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
David exemplified this in Psalm 51:3-4 when he acknowledged his sin: “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.”
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Genuine repentance comes from recognizing the gravity of our sins and the mercy of God.
B. Seek Restoration and Renewal (Ps. 51:10)
B. Seek Restoration and Renewal (Ps. 51:10)
Repentance leads to transformation. When we offer our brokenness to God, He restores us and renews our spirit. David’s prayer in Psalm 51:10 captures this longing: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
God promises that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Repentance is not the end but the beginning of a renewed relationship with God, leading to a life that is aligned with His purposes (2 Corinthians 5:17).
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Offering our repentance as a sacrifice demonstrates our desire to be made right with God and reflects a heart that values purity and holiness above all else.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we reflect on the sacrifices of thanksgiving, let us commit to making these offerings a daily part of our lives. Whether we offer our lives, worship, prayers, resources, or repentance, each sacrifice is an act of love and gratitude to the One who has given us everything.
This Thanksgiving season, let us move beyond words of thanks and live lives that demonstrate genuine gratitude. Ask yourself, “What can I offer to the Lord today?” What do I have to give back to Him who gave everything for me? And with a heart full of thanksgiving, let us declare His works with rejoicing, turning every moment into an opportunity to honor Him.
May our lives reflect the beauty of a heart surrendered to God, and may our sacrifices of thanksgiving bring glory to His name.
If the Lord has spoken to your heart through this message, I invite you to respond. Today is the day to present yourself afresh as a living sacrifice, dedicating every part of your life to Him. Whether you need to lay down your pride, surrender your fears, or give of your resources, take this opportunity to come before God and make that commitment. Let us stand together, and if God is moving in your heart, come to the altar and offer your sacrifice of thanksgiving, knowing He will meet you with grace and strength.
If you are with us today or watching our services and have never trusted in Jesus Christ, who died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead the third day, according to the Scriptures, we invite you right now to pray and tell God that you are trusting His Son Jesus Christ to save you from your sins and give you eternal life. Be not faithless, but believing. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Where you are, sir; where you are, madam; where you are young person; where you are senior; put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Once you’ve trusted Him, I invite you to confess Him openly. Be not ashamed. Only trust Him. If you deny Him before men, He promises that He will deny you before the Father. But if you have the courage to confess Him before men, He will also confess you before the Father in Heaven. Would you be willing to step from your seat right now and come join me up front and make your faith public in a public confession of your faith in Jesus Christ? It will be difficult, and you will need courage, but I promise you that if you come to Christ, He will not cast you out. He loves you and will receive you, and He will be with you to strengthen you and help you as you seek to live for Him. He died for you; the least you can do is live for Him.
Would you come today and that which is reasonable? Will you come to follow the Lord in Baptism? Would you have the courage to identify with Jesus of Nazareth? Will you come and seek to learn of Him who is lowly and meek? We want to help you from the Bible. We want to rejoice with you. I’ll not belabor, but we will tarry and wait for you to come, just briefly, you, there, father, come. You, Mother, come and learn of Jesus. You, son or daughter, don’t wait; today is the day of salvation. Let the world know that you have trusted in Christ. We tarry for another verse while we wait; we invite you to come.
