SACRED SACRIFICES

Lightbearers MinistriesUncategorized

The majesty of life is in the details. The quiet inner choices, where strands of emotion, knowledge, logic, imagination and understanding wind together to become a cord of determination and heartfelt commitment, are the moments that define a life.

My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. John 4:34 KJV

The Lord utterly uses the devil. I have seen, over and over, in the moments of my walk when I am absolutely ready to quit, when I’m ready to tell the world where to go and what to do when they get there, that the Lord shows me the works of servants of the devil, works so hideous, so egregious, that they can hardly be described. Strangely, my reaction is always the same – my spirit is so incensed that I rise up out of my despair, and say to that devil, “Not on my watch! I will fight you to the end!” Instantly, I’m back in the game.

…by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ…

Eph 3:4 NKJV

There is something about reading that is more intimate, more personal than just watching or listening. When I was a kid, I used to read comic books, short stories with illustrations ( absolutely phenomenal communication tools because they made you engage – see and read, think and imagine ) about extraordinary heroes – Batman, Superman, Sergeant Rock and his howling commandoes. Spiderman was my favorite because he had an ‘attitude,’ and he was fearless. I wanted to be like them all! Little did I know that my desire would soon begin to be realized.

The Lord was preparing me to be clothed with power from on high…

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued ( clothed with ) with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 NKJV

What makes a hero? In a word, sacrifice. The greatest honor in life is to sacrifice yourself, pour yourself out completely for the cause dearest to your heart, the purpose you believe in the most. There is no thrill like it! Heroes don’t want to be known as heroes, because then their sacrifice is diluted by approbation. Beware of the man who tells you how wonderful he is! Jesus said, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…

…that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matt 6:4 NKJV

Every hero needs their source. Ironman had his atomic heart, Spiderman his radioactive spider bite, Luke Skywalker his force. Harry Potter made J.K. Rowling a billionaire because he was a good guy, who gave himself for his friends, with an ungodly power source. The source for the born again one is not some transient power, but the Lord God Almighty Himself.

Are you ready to give yourself for your heart’s greatest cause? Just as Luke had to be trained in the ways of the force, the born again one must be trained in the ways of the Holy Spirit. God does not conform to you. You must learn to conform to Him. You must learn to be led. The heart laid down to the Lord Jesus Christ becomes a sacred sacrifice.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Rom 12:1 NKJV

“I beseech you therefore, brethren…”

Verse 12:1 is contextually attached to one of the great sections in God’s Word. Chapters nine through eleven are a parenthetical insertion addressed to both Jews and Gentiles. Verse 12:1 follows in the context with the end of chapter eight ( the eighth chapter of Romans is so great that you could read it five times a day for the rest of your life and never waste a minute! ). Read it out loud slowly and get the impact of this…

“…for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I beseech you therefore, brethren…” Rom 8:38-39, 12:1 NKJV

In light of all that the Lord has spoken and given us as laid out between vs. 3:21 through 8:39, the pure, passionate cry of the Holy Spirit ( …I beseech you…), as the Author of the Word is this – present yourself, your heart, your life and whole being, in holy consecration as a sacred sacrifice, a living, breathing sacrifice to Him who gave you everything.

…by the mercies of God…

Do you know why it’s the mercies of God that brings us to this place of surrender? The reason is because even with the greatness of all that Christ is within us, we would never get there on our own. I can never understand spiritual leaders that vaunt their own lives and their own accomplishments. If not for the mercies of God actively at work in our lives, we would never even be in the game, let alone winning or accomplishing anything. If you ever get a vision of the mercies of God, it will wring your eyes dry of tears and change your life forever…

…that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…

How is the presentation accomplished? ‘Your body’ is a figure of speech where a part is put for the whole. You are spirit, soul and body. Paul said, I die daily. So, it’s a daily presentation. Jesus said, deny yourself. So, there are two sides to the coin. It’s a daily denial of self, but also a daily presentation of self to Him who has covenanted Himself to us in love, a presentation that is holy, a sacred sacrifice, acceptable to God. Realize that being acceptable to God is a big deal because God accepted Abel’s sacrifice, but rejected the other guys. Do you see it?

…which is your reasonable service…

The word ‘reasonable’ could be translated ‘logical,’ meaning that in light of all that God has done for you, and made available to you, the only logical response is to make a daily sacred sacrifice of yourself to Him. ‘Service’ here is ‘religious service.’ Our sacred sacrifice is our logical, daily religious service to Him.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matt 6:33 NKJV

There is a statement that I want to make which is true but if you take it legalistically you will ruin the truth of it and miss the practical application. Here it is: believers miss the promises of God because they never really get to the place of a daily, sacred sacrifice that verse one talks about. Can you apply that to the best of your ability without getting weird about it? Do it, and you will learn to be led by the Spirit, which is the key to manifesting the promises of God!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…