“Set Apart as a Living Sacrifice”

OUTLINE:

By the mercies of God

Because of what he has done for us

2. The call to be a living sacrifice

Not about comfort, but glorifying the Father

Daniel and friends perfect example of a living sacrifice

3. Not conformed but transformed

Breaking free from the pattern of the world

4. Transformed as you spend time in the Word and Prayer

Radical in changes in my life to walk closer to the Lord

5. New Creation in Christ

Evidence of salvation is being new creation, you’re no longer that same person

Being a living sacrifice is not conforming to the pattern of this world

Daniel and his friends were not willing to disobey God. They were set apart for God’s purpose, even if it means death

A living sacrifice is a life that is set apart, according to the Word of God

Christians make the mistake of basing their actions on how they feel, or their opinion, or maybe on the opinion of some else

Feelings and opinions will miss lead you

Jeremiah 17:9 ““The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

Romans 12:1-2 “Set Apart as a Living Sacrifice”

1. (V1) By the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice

a) The mercies of God

Because of what Christ has done for us (Mercies of God)

You may say, I am a good kid, I’ve never done any of those things that you guys have done

The Bible says there is no one that is good because it’s based on God’s standard, not our own

We make the mistake of comparing ourselves with other people

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

While I was living a life of rebellion, God loved me and Christ died for me

I’ve heard people say, I can’t be forgiven, you don’t understand the things I have done

The Apostle Paul was a murderer

Don’t hold onto unconfessed sin because you think God will not forgive you

b) Living Sacrifice

Paul is encouraging the believers in Rome to sacrifice themselves to God, not as a sacrifice on the altar, as the Mosaic Law required the sacrifice of animals, but as a living sacrifice.

God established a system to show us that our sin does cost

Being a living sacrifice doesn’t require your blood, but it requires us to be set apart, living different then the rest of the world

c) Daniel & Friends are a perfect example of a living sacrifice

Remember, Daniel purposed in his heart that we would not defile himself and they were prepared to give up their life

2. (V2) Not Conformed, but Transformed

***Break free from the pattern of the world (Not conformed)

a) Transformed

Transformation comes as a person purposes in their heart to be set apart

To be transformed, you must be surrendered

b) My own personal transformation

To be transformed, you must be willing to surrender to God for His purpose

When I began to really notice a transformation in my life it was when I devoted myself to spending daily time in the word and prayer

For me surrender came as I changed everything in my life

I broke up with my girlfriend

I stopped hanging out with friends with that were a bad influence

I changed my music

I moved from Santa Cruz to Huntington Beach

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

c) Are you a new creation?

Is there evidence you have given your life to Jesus? (All things have become new)

Can you remember the time when you asked Christ into your heart?