Do We Understand Sacrifice?

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Introduction

Spiritual sacrifices are any words or acts that we do which is motivated by a desire to glorify God alone. It is to surrender or give up something precious for the sake of honoring and glorifying God. It is an act of worship that God delights in.

Noah sacrifice after the flood
Genesis 8:21 ESV
And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
Kings Saul planned sacrifice
1 Samuel 15:21–23 ESV
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
Today God Desires Spiritual Sacrifice
Hebrews 13:15 ESV
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Romans 12:1 ESV
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

What to Guard Against to Make Your Sacrifice Acceptable.

Resentment

Moses
Numbers 11:14–15 ESV
I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”

Jealousy

Matthew 27:18 ESV
For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
If we allow the desire for a title or prominence to build up in us, jealousy and resentment may develop in us unknowingly as well
Peter’s ministry
Acts 5:16–17 ESV
The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy
1 Corinthians 3:3 ESV
for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

Spiritual Sacrifices Offered Today

Every baptized believer in Christ is a holy priest under the new covenant and as priests, we offer spiritual sacrifices unto God through Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:5 ESV
you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 ESV
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Priest sacrifice
Read Hebrews 10th chapter
An Alter is not an Alter if there is no sacrifice. The very language of alter is sacrifice
Key work in spiritual sacrifice is Spirit.
Spirit needs no cars, money

1. Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Very easy to give thanks in good times. Giving thanks in bad times
Romans 8:28 ESV
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

2. Sacrifice of Prayer

We also offer sacrifices of prayer. This is prayer made not from the position convenience.
Acts 16:25 ESV
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Psalm 141:2 ESV
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
As believers, our prayers that are offered to God goes up, just like the smoke o the incense offered ascended in the sanctuary
The fact that the incense was always burning in the temple signifies what? - WE SHOULD ALWAYS OFFER PRAYERS TO GOD
Luke 18:1 ESV
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV
pray without ceasing,

3. A Sacrifice of Praise

God’s will for us is to praise Him at all times and in all situations
When we offer praise to God in the midst of suffering and misfortune doing that becomes a spiritual sacrifice
Hebrews 13:15 ESV
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
This is what Paul and Silas were doing in prison

4. A Sacrifice of Will

Luke 22:42 ESV
saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Our will should never usurp God’s Will
Our sin nature, which is all of us contends for supremacy

5. A Living Sacrifice

You give yourself wholly to the Lord - This is total commitment to serve only God
Romans 12:1 ESV
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
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