[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning, the 21st of October, 2018 at Pilgrim Reformed Church. Look for the video of this and our other services on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, according to the author of the book of Hebrews. The Apostle Paul tells us that faith is a gift from God, with a measure given to each of us. But it is a gift that comes with a certain degree of responsibility, at least to those who truly appreciate it.
Last week we mentioned that we should exercise our faith, to help it grow stronger. So what are some of the ways we can do that? Please listen and follow along to the exhortation the Apostle Paul gives us all through his letter to the Romans, chapter 12, verses 1 through 8, reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
Last week we mentioned that we should exercise our faith, to help it grow stronger. So what are some of the ways we can do that? Please listen and follow along to the exhortation the Apostle Paul gives us all through his letter to the Romans, chapter 12, verses 1 through 8, reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
1 I urge 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. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
--Romans 12:1-8 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, You give us so much, including our faith. Speak to us this morning, Father, with Your message. Show us how each of us might strengthen our faith and better serve You. This we pray in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen.
Dr. David Livingstone, the famous missionary to Africa, once wrote:
"People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply acknowledging a great debt we owe to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny? It is emphatically no sacrifice. Rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, danger, foregoing the common conveniences of this life - these may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing compared with the glory which shall later be revealed in and through us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk, when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father's throne on high to give Himself for us."
John Henry Jowett, an influential British Protestant preacher at the turn of the 19th to 20th century adds:
“Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing.”
To make a sacrifice is to give up something that is important to us, that is dear to us. If it’s something we don’t care all that much about, then giving it up is no real sacrifice. If it’s worthless to us, then giving it up costs us nothing. If our ministry is based on that kind of “sacrifice”, then it accomplishes nothing, according to Rev. Jowett.
Contrast that to Dr. Livingstone’s attitude. Although he gave up so much in service to our Lord, he himself did not consider it a sacrifice. He thought of it as simply repaying a debt he owed to God. He made of himself a living sacrifice to God. So did Paul and the other Apostles. They gave so much of themselves, of their resources, of their time, of their love. The Apostles certainly gave far more than most Christians today ever give, or that many would even consider giving.
Our Bible is full of sacrifices, especially in the Old Testament, with blood sacrifices being necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus sacrificed Himself for the forgiveness of sin of all who would believe. His blood sacrifice was once, for all time - no more blood sacrifices are required.
So how much of a sacrifice are we called to give, and of what kind? Paul says we are to make of ourselves a living sacrifice. And he gives some examples, including speaking for God, ministering to His people, teaching them, encouraging them, leading them, showing them mercy, even with cheerfulness. We don’t have to give up our lives to offer reasonable service to God, but we can live our lives for Him.
The author of the Book of Hebrews, in chapter 13 verses 15 and 16 tells us yet another sacrifice we can easily, freely make…
Have you ever thought that our worship here on Sunday mornings is a form of sacrifice? When we worship God, we are offering up a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips, especially when we give thanks for all He has done for us.
Of course, we’re also told not to forget to do good things and to share in the bounty God has given us. Those sacrifices, of our time and our resources, also please God. Our tithes and offerings are a sacrifice of our monetary resources, our working on church and community projects is a sacrifice of our time.
But not everyone can tithe; some struggle to give even a little back to the Lord due to financial constraints. And many good folk simply cannot work at projects. Paul says even they can still make of themselves a sacrifice, as he tells us in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5 verses 1 and 2…
Walk in love. That doesn’t sound like too tough a sacrifice, does it? Be imitators of God and walk in love. Love others, as Jesus loves us, remembering the sacrifice He made for us. Walk in love, loving all others, and God will receive and accept this as a sacrifice, a sweet-smelling aroma.
Yes, it is hard to love all others, especially those who wish us harm. There are people that are just difficult to love. But that’s what makes loving them a sacrifice. And that’s what makes it pleasing to God.
No matter what method or means we choose to make of ourselves a sacrifice, no matter what we choose to do, Paul says we should do it for the eyes of God and not those of men. We shouldn’t do anything just to get personal glory or recognition. What we do, what we sacrifice, must be for the glory of God alone, otherwise it’s no sacrifice.
Preach, teach, minister, encourage, praise God, walk in love – do what we each do best. Let’s just make of ourselves a living sacrifice, to the God of our salvation. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You blessed us all with a measure of faith. Forgive us, Father, when we don’t take the time to exercise it and strengthen it by our service to You. Forgive us when we ignore opportunities to offer living sacrifices of ourselves, of our time, energy, and resources. Please help us to nourish and grow this wonderful gift. Help us better understand Your ways and better serve You.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our sin, and asking for Your help by our faith to serve You in all we do…
Lord Jesus, Your faith and service to God never wavered. Lord, may we be strong in our faith and willing to serve You as we are called. Thank You, Jesus, for sacrificing so much for us. Thank You for giving Your all. Please help us put our faith to good use, to the purpose for which God calls us, in better service to You and Him.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior. Amen.
Dr. David Livingstone, the famous missionary to Africa, once wrote:
"People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply acknowledging a great debt we owe to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny? It is emphatically no sacrifice. Rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, danger, foregoing the common conveniences of this life - these may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing compared with the glory which shall later be revealed in and through us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk, when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father's throne on high to give Himself for us."
John Henry Jowett, an influential British Protestant preacher at the turn of the 19th to 20th century adds:
“Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing.”
To make a sacrifice is to give up something that is important to us, that is dear to us. If it’s something we don’t care all that much about, then giving it up is no real sacrifice. If it’s worthless to us, then giving it up costs us nothing. If our ministry is based on that kind of “sacrifice”, then it accomplishes nothing, according to Rev. Jowett.
Contrast that to Dr. Livingstone’s attitude. Although he gave up so much in service to our Lord, he himself did not consider it a sacrifice. He thought of it as simply repaying a debt he owed to God. He made of himself a living sacrifice to God. So did Paul and the other Apostles. They gave so much of themselves, of their resources, of their time, of their love. The Apostles certainly gave far more than most Christians today ever give, or that many would even consider giving.
Our Bible is full of sacrifices, especially in the Old Testament, with blood sacrifices being necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus sacrificed Himself for the forgiveness of sin of all who would believe. His blood sacrifice was once, for all time - no more blood sacrifices are required.
So how much of a sacrifice are we called to give, and of what kind? Paul says we are to make of ourselves a living sacrifice. And he gives some examples, including speaking for God, ministering to His people, teaching them, encouraging them, leading them, showing them mercy, even with cheerfulness. We don’t have to give up our lives to offer reasonable service to God, but we can live our lives for Him.
The author of the Book of Hebrews, in chapter 13 verses 15 and 16 tells us yet another sacrifice we can easily, freely make…
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
--Hebrews 13:15-16 (NKJV)
Of course, we’re also told not to forget to do good things and to share in the bounty God has given us. Those sacrifices, of our time and our resources, also please God. Our tithes and offerings are a sacrifice of our monetary resources, our working on church and community projects is a sacrifice of our time.
But not everyone can tithe; some struggle to give even a little back to the Lord due to financial constraints. And many good folk simply cannot work at projects. Paul says even they can still make of themselves a sacrifice, as he tells us in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5 verses 1 and 2…
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 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.
--Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)
Yes, it is hard to love all others, especially those who wish us harm. There are people that are just difficult to love. But that’s what makes loving them a sacrifice. And that’s what makes it pleasing to God.
No matter what method or means we choose to make of ourselves a sacrifice, no matter what we choose to do, Paul says we should do it for the eyes of God and not those of men. We shouldn’t do anything just to get personal glory or recognition. What we do, what we sacrifice, must be for the glory of God alone, otherwise it’s no sacrifice.
Preach, teach, minister, encourage, praise God, walk in love – do what we each do best. Let’s just make of ourselves a living sacrifice, to the God of our salvation. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You blessed us all with a measure of faith. Forgive us, Father, when we don’t take the time to exercise it and strengthen it by our service to You. Forgive us when we ignore opportunities to offer living sacrifices of ourselves, of our time, energy, and resources. Please help us to nourish and grow this wonderful gift. Help us better understand Your ways and better serve You.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our sin, and asking for Your help by our faith to serve You in all we do…
Lord Jesus, Your faith and service to God never wavered. Lord, may we be strong in our faith and willing to serve You as we are called. Thank You, Jesus, for sacrificing so much for us. Thank You for giving Your all. Please help us put our faith to good use, to the purpose for which God calls us, in better service to You and Him.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior. Amen.
All post contents are the copyrighted property of Rev. Richard R. Moore;
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