ROMANS 12:1 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.
- So great are the mercies of GOD, that we should present our bodies. Favour shown to the undeserving, or kindness, compassion, etc. and that HE had showed great compassion in giving his Son to die for us in this state, and in pardoning our sins.
- That ye present:- Bringing or presenting an Animal before the altar to be sacrificed as in O/T. We should present and give our bodies freely to GOD unconditionally.
- Your bodies:- Bodies of Animals were offered and sacrificed in the O/T. Paul here explains that we also should present and submit our bodies , our whole body to be sacrificed to the service of GOD. Ref: Matthew 15:11,16-20 James 3:6
- A living sacrifice: Animals were sacrifices for the atonement of sin. When it was presented and offered, the individual that did so, had no more claim or right to it because it was done unto God for GOD. Ownership of the sacrifice belongs then to GOD. So should our bodies be unto the Lord , belonging to HIM through Grace , Mercy and Lovingkindness shown to us through Jesus Christ.
- Paul explains that we also need to present and devout our bodies to the service of GOD. Not as dead Animals once sacrificed , but a continuous sacrifice from day to day until the end of time. We therefore need to present ourselves to the Lord with ALL our living and energy – ONE LONG SACRIFICE.
- Holy: Only the best animals, without spot or blemish were selected to be sacrificed. Ref: Lev 1:3 & Lev 3:1. Our service/sacrifice should also be without spot and blemish, it should be holy, genuine and always be an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord.
HOLY – Set apart, Separated from Sin/Evil, to be pure, consecrated.
ROMANS 12:2 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.
ROMANS 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but
present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness to God.
JAMES 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity
with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy
of God.
IF WE PROCLAIM THAT WE ARE LIVING SACRIFICES TO THE LORD AND OTHERS SEE OUR
BEHAVIOUR AS A CHRISTIAN , HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS/MEMBERS WILL BE IN THE
CONGREGATION TODAY– PLENTY OR JUST A FEW. HOW MANY WILL FOLLOW OUR
EXAMPLE?
DOES GOD RECEIVE OUR TRUE SERVICE OR DO WE SERVE HIM WITH OUR LEFT OVERS?
MALACHI 1:1-1
1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' Was not
Esau Jacob's brother?" Says the LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved;
Jamieson Fausett Brown remarks:- In painful contrast to the tearful tenderness of God's love
stands their insolent challenge. The root of their sin was insensibility to God's love, and to their
own wickedness. Having had prosperity taken from them, they imply they have no tokens of God's
love; they look at what God had taken, not at what God had left. God's love is often least
acknowledged where it is most manifested. We must not infer God does not love us because He
afflicts us. Men, instead of referring their sufferings to their proper cause, their own sin, impiously
accuse God of indifference to their welfare
3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the
wilderness."
4 Even though Edom has said, "We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the
desolate places," Thus says the LORD of hosts: "They may build, but I will throw down; They
shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the LORD will have
indignation forever.(Indignation –Anger / Wrath/Rage , particularly towards Sin)
5 Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, 'The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.'
6 "A son honours his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My
honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests
who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?'
LUKE 6:46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?
7 "You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying,
'The table of the LORD is contemptible.' Ref : Deuteronomy 15:21
8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and
sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he
accept you favourably?" Says the LORD of hosts.
9 "But now entreat God's favour, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favourably?" Says the LORD of hosts.
10 "Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," Says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations," Says the LORD of hosts.
12 "But you profane it, In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is defiled; And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.'
13 You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!'(Tiring / Burdensome/ Waste of time) And you sneer(despised / snuffed at) at it," Says the LORD of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?" Says the LORD.
Isaiah 43:22-24, Here GOD indicates that it is they who have "wearied" Him, not He who has wearied them.
14 "But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished-For I am a great King," Says the LORD of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations.
MALACHI 3:7-10 & MALACHI 3:13-17
7 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not
kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the LORD of hosts. "But you said, 'In
what way shall we return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed
You?' In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me
now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And
pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
13 "Your words have been harsh against Me," Says the LORD, "Yet you say, 'What have we
spoken against You?' Ref: Malachi 2:17
14 You have said, 'It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His
ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the LORD of hosts?
Ref: Job 21:14-15
15 So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even
tempt God and go free.'"
16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard
them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD
And who meditate on His name.
17 "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels. And
I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him." Jewels – Ref: 1 Peter 2:9
TIME / ATTITUDE /EFFORT
- The time that we dedicate to GOD, is it enough or will 3 hours per week be acceptable to GOD? Are we like the Israelites that is “weariness” to serve GOD?
- To what do we dedicate our extra time, if not work related and Family responsibilities? • How much time do we spend Praying and meditating on GOD’s WORD?
- If we spend time in serving GOD, is it with a willing Spirit or a Spirit of contempt just to get it out of the way or are we looking forward in giving up our time to worship GOD?
- Is our worship becoming a burden, a waste of time, or doing it to keep members of the congregation happy?
- When the congregation comes together, to we give GOD the honour, respect, glory and reverence HE deserves? Do we completely surrender all, or only a portion?
- GOD IS KING and deserves our time, effort, and attitude .Let us not be deceived or attempt to deceive GOD. HE’s eyes are constantly on us and HE knows our intentions.
- IS GOD YOUR NUMBER 1? Then HE should come FIRST in EVERYTHING!
TITHE / COLLECTIONS:-
ROMANS 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him
also freely give us all things?
All things:-
1. HIS first great free gift was HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
2. Things that may be needful to us for our own welfare.
3. Given to us not that we deserve it or by merit, but by the mercy and grace of GOD.
1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-2
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so
you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up
as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come."
The Poor Widow
MARK 12:41-44:
41 "Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the
treasury. And many who were rich put in much.
42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.
43 So He called His disciples to Him and said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you that this poor
widow has put in 8 than all those who have given to the treasury;
44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that
she had, her whole livelihood.
1. Many gave through their abundance because they could afford it but the Widow gave out
her want(her need , her poverty – which she could not afford)
2. “Whole livelihood “– All that she depended to live on, additional to her means and what
she could afford.
3. This was more acceptable to GOD , not in value but the loving and caring attitude she had
towards her giving.(SELF DENIAL)
4. GOD loves a cheerful giver. If we truly give as we’ve prospered and we do it lovingly, the
amount we give will take care of itself.
5. It’s our duty to compare how much we can afford to give towards this cause in relation to
what we have / earn.
6. Do we exercise the spirit of self denial or do we give with an incorrect motive e.g to be
seen by others?
7. Christ observes all our actions: - He knows our hearts and attitudes towards this cause and
whether we act through vanity, interest, self love, ambition, hypocrisy, or whether we
have the desire to please him through love, charity, and zeal for his glory.
8. Are you giving as you should? Is giving towards GOD on you Budget List, first or last?
9. Do we scratch around in our wallets to “see” what we have available?
10. When we give, do we give whole heartedly, or are we ROBBING GOD?
PSALMS 37:25
I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his
descendants begging bread.
COLLOSIANS 3:23-24
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the
Lord Christ.
Let us not rob GOD of our TIME , OUR CALLING , DEVOTION , MONEY , CHARACTER & OBEDIENCE.