
Last week we saw…
• Through the Gospel, God restores us to His presence. Our sins are forgiven and we have an opportunity to live the life we were created to live – as worshippers of God. We take captive every moment to live for His glory.
• But what does biblical
Romans 12:1 | 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.
Present
• As a Jew familiar with Levitical worship and the sacrificial system, Paul wrestles with describing worship
• This word “present” literally means to place or set beside or near hence to place at someone’s disposal. The English dictionary notes that to present is to bring or introduce into the presence of someone especially of superior rank or status; to
• This word pictures giving something over to another, relinquishing your
Bodies
• Romans 6:13 | Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
• Our bodies are the
• A.W. Tozer >> “Present your bodies…”—that is, present your vessel. That must come first. A vessel that has not been presented will not be filled. God cannot fill what He cannot have. Present your vessel.
• So our body represents the totality of our being, not just our physical bodies but our heart, soul, mind and strength…all of each of them! God wants all of our body on the altar, not just a part. The body is the
Living (Holy) Sacrifice
• Luke 9:23-24 | And [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
• F.F. Bruce >> The sacrifices of the new order do not consist in taking the lives of others, like the ancient animal sacrifices, but in giving one’s own.”
• Lawrence Richards >> The Old Testament worshiper brought animals to the temple, to be killed and laid on the altar. Paul reversed the imagery. Bring yourself to the altar. But do not DIE for God: LIVE for Him!
Do you hear what the biblical Gospel is calling you to today? It is complete surrender.
• Catherine Booth >> There comes a crisis, a moment when every human soul which enters the kingdom of God has to make its choice of that kingdom in preference to everything else that it holds and owns.
• You were created to be in the Kingdom of God and to find the most
• C.S. Lewis >> I became my own only when I gave myself to Another.
• Watchman Nee >> To what are we to be consecrated? Not to Christian work, but to the will of God, to be and to do whatever He requires.