ARCI – 2019 Nov 24: We are a Living Stone Temple. Sacrifice as an act of worship. New Testament Sacrifice??

ARCI – 24 Nov 2019

Sunday notes…

Sacrifice as an act of Worship

We need to take ownership of the Temple of the Lord

• First our body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit… 1 Corinthians 6:19
• 2nd : collectively, we are the Body of Christ that are Living Stones >> Temple
• >> Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it…1 Corinthians 12:27

• Practically for us >> ARCI as our Church
• >> Not Apostles, prophet or pastor only
• What we take ownership of, we care for

With every Temple, there is a sacrifice offered as an act of worship

• A place where the divine and the natural meet
• A place where spiritual transactions take place
• Where we release something from our lives to make room for God to put even more into our lives
• >> Abraham & Isaac
• … released the rights of his blessing from God & God blessed him with more & in abundance
• He came to bring life and life in abundance…John 10:10

1 Peter 2:5 (NLT)

• And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

Sacrifice as an act of worship is a factor of

• Pleasing faith >> we believe that God exists and the He surely rewards… Hebrews 11:6
• Trust & Obedience >> His plans for me are always good, for my future and to give me hope… Jeremiah 29:11

Deuteronomy 16:16-17(BSB)

• Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed.
• Everyone must appear with a gift as he is able, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you.

I believe that everyone here is blessed in one way or another

• Being alive
• ..Healthy
• … with food, shelter & clothing
• >> Told to count our blessings one by one…

Types of sacrifices we may offer >> New Testament

• Bodies as living sacrifices, holy & pleasing to God as our spiritual service of worship… Romans 12:1
• >> We are bought at a price, we are not our own, therefore glorify God with our bodies… 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
• How do I take care of my body?
• >> What I put in it >> food, drink etc??
• >> Do I defile my body  >> Sin against my body through immorality …1 Corinthians 6:18

Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving

• God inhabits the praises of His people …Psalm 22:3
• We enter His gates with thanksgiving & His courts with praise…Psalm 100:4

Hebrews 13:15-16 (BSB)

• Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
• And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Sacrifice of our substance

• >> Tithes & offerings
• Luke 11:41-42
• …give as alms the things that are within us
• …paying our tithes, but not neglecting justice & love of God
• >> Basically give our sacrifice of tithes and offering with a clean heart >> loving God & man
• >> Matthew 5:24 >> reconcile with your brother before presenting your gift at the altar

It could be said that

• >> The sacrifice I make to God should be accompanies by good fruit as well

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… The fruit of His Spirit ( love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control … Galatians 5:22-23)

…  that has a sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to the Lord…Philippians 4:18

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• We are told to also do good, be generous & not neglect justice and love of God

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• >> When there is the Spirit of God & the Truth of God in my sacrifice….it turns into an act of worship.

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>> Spirit & Truth >> performing God’s requirement (such as His Word which is Truth) with the right heart ( clean heart, right intentions, Spirit of God that represents the Heart of God in it)

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Romans 15:16 (NIV)

• …to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)

• Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
• And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Philippians 2:17 (BSB)

• But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Fasting >> Isaiah 58

Galatians 5:16-17

• Spirit and flesh are contrary and opposed to one another
• We are to walk in the spirit, (offer our sacrifices in/with the spirit)

Reflections

Do I come into the presence of the Lord empty handed?

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Do I appear before the Lord with a gift according the blessing He has given me?

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Does good fruit accompany my sacrifices to the Lord?

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Do I offer my sacrifice as an act of worship (in spirit and truth)?

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What am I giving as a sacrifice for God in His Temple?

…Putting in God’s hands to…

• Build up
• Make fruitful & multiple
• Give life and life in abundance in me & through me for His kingdom & glory

Is it

• My time to know Him, love Him & serve him >> personal relationship?

• My time for service in the Church
• >>Am I plugged in as a living Stone in the Body of Christ?
• >> Do I know the part in the body of Christ I am supposed to fill?
• >> Am I fulfilling it and bearing good fruit?

Prayer

May the Lord help us to worship Him in Spirit & Truth

• That indeed in everything that I do,
• …I invite the  Spirit of God & the Truth of God to be in it
• >> presenting it as a sacrifice of my worship