In The Season of Consecration, Favor, and Empowerment - Self - Denial & Sacrifice- Bliss & Fire Network Weekly Digest - July 9, 2013

"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. 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. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." - Romans 12:1-3

EXPLORATION

DEFINITION: To sacrifice means to offer something (living or non-living) to a deity in worship; to give up something for someone or something else. A sacrifice also means the thing (animal) killed for an offering; It could be something given up in order to benefit another person or gain something more important.

INSPIRATION

In exhorting the brethren in Rome, Paul said; "I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1-3. When something is said to be reasonable, it means that it makes sense and has some value. But when it is said to be unreasonable, it means, on the contrary, that it does not make sense and consequently, of no real value or advantage. The plea of Paul to the believers in Rome was that they should endeavor to render or offer services to God that is reasonable. In other words, they should offer spiritual services that have both temporal and eternal value and reward. The lesson here is that some Christians could be laboring with the view that they are serving God, but as a matter of fact, their service is of no value before God, indeed unreasonable.

There are four major ways Paul says a Christian should make his service reasonable to God. (Romans 12:1-3). They are as follows:

• (a) To present his body as a sacrifice unto God
• (b) This body that is presented as a sacrifice should be LIVING and HOLY.
• (c) He should not conform to the fashion and living styles of this sinful world.
• (d) He is to be daily transformed by the renewing of his mind.

In almost all religious rites, the sacrifice of animals involves mortally killing it. But the Self-Sacrifice/Self Denial Paul is talking about in a Christian does not involve physical annihilation. It is such that the person’s will and ways of life are totally submitted to the Word and Spirit of God. He is no longer living to please himself but God.

The Bible says: "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:11 (Colossians 3:5-6, Ephesians 4:21-32). The word and Spirit of God therefore remains the final decider of what he does from time to time. (Matthew 26:41) The Bible says: "He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30. Paul explains his own self-sacrifice in a classic way as he said: "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." - Galatians 2:20

According to Paul, our sacrifice must be living (active, zealous, and enthusiastic). Under normal circumstances, when an animal is killed for a sacrifice, it ceases to function normally or engage in any form of physical activity. The case of the believer is such that though he is dead to sin, Satan and the world, and will not obey the lustful desire of the flesh. Instead of being sinfully and carnally minded and busy, he is spiritually alive and active for Lord which is an outward manifestation of this consecration of self-sacrifice and self-denial. The Bible says: "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;" - Romans 12:11. Beyond that, he must abstain from every appearance of sin to serve the Lord in the beauty of HIS holiness. The Bible says: "Abstain from all appearance of evil." - 1 Thessalonians 5:22.

A Christian should not conform himself/herself to the sinful ways of this world but in daily devotion, constantly renew his mind, by prayer, meditating on the word of God, and avoiding evil commutations; Having a regular fellowship with the children of God, reading Christian books instead of worldly ones, having pure thoughts, forgiving those who offend him/her and wishing others good. The Bible says: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." - Psalm 119:11

Paul also says: "...that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."- Romans 12:2. If there is any way people around us can be challenged by our Christian faith, it is only by showing through our own personal life examples what God requires from us and how he wants us to live in this sinful generation. The Bible says: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

This week Self-Examination: As we continue in prayer, fasting, awaiting on the LORD for the next 21 days, think over these words… Is the service you render to God in holiness of mind and body? Are you daily sanctified by the word of God through prayer and careful meditation? Do you daily prove what the standard of God is in your day to day dealing with others? The Bible says: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" - 2 Corinthians 13:5

Beloved! Answer these questions to yourself as the Holy Spirit is watching and always ready to help you if you are willing.

Remember the Bible say: "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ," - Philippians 3:8

We love you!

We are praying for you,

It's our JOY to see you blessed!

Pastor Wales

Bliss & Fire Network Team.

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