Presenting Your Body as a Living Sacrifice

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Led by Eric Gintert

• Romans 12:1-3  -  We are called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto God, but what does this mean and how can it possibly be done? 1 Peter 2:11 tells us that the flesh and the soul are at war with each other. Presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice is our "reasonable service" and therefore we should not expect a reward in return for sacrificing ourselves to Him. How do we pay back the Saviour who spilled his blood for us? Is saying "thank you" enough? We must sacrifice ourselves to Him and give him our heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:37). Sacrificing our bodies as a living sacrifice is like the children's song "O Be Careful Little Eyes"...

O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see.


O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear. 

O be careful little tongue what you say
O be careful little tongue what you say
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little tongue what you say.


O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do. 

O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go. 

O be careful little heart whom you trust
O be careful little heart whom you trust
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little heart whom you trust. 

O be careful little mind what you think
O be careful little mind what you think
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little mind what you think. 

• Eyes, ears, tongue, hands, feet, heart, and mind. All to be sacrificed unto God in an acceptable and pleasing way to Him.
• Eyes: See Matthew 5:29 sacrifice your eyes if they cause thee to sin... Ears: Ephesians 5:19 sacrifice your music for what would glorify God... Tongue: Colossians 4:6 make sure your speech is always with grace... Hands and Feet: Matthew 18:8 if our hands or feet cause us to sin, cut the off (figuratively, cut off that which leads you into sin)... Heart: Matthew 6:21 make sure your treasure is in the Lord and none else... Mind: Romans 12:2 renew your mind in the word of God
• It is only the word of God that can help us to prove the good, acceptable will of God. We can't use any other means to prove God's will... John 1:1... the word is God Himself!
• You are thinking higher of yourself then you ought when you think that you don't need God because you have everything figured out (or so you think). We must have faith in God and trust Him. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6)! We you start doubting and wavering just remember where God has brought you from and He will increase your faith again!
• We miss out on a lot of joy because we selfishly serve ourselves instead of sacrificing to God. Paul and Silas refused to quite preaching the name of Jesus and were cast into prison and whipped. Afterward they were singing praises unto God a midnight because their joy was full in the Lord. Read Acts 16.

•  Proverbs 3:5-7  -  It takes trust and not leaning on our own understanding or being wise in our own eyes to be a living sacrifice for Christ! See also Philippians 4:13.

Prayer Requests:

Penny W.  -  ill

Eric G.  -  decision on job or business

Corinne G.  -  baby due Feb. 22