Tag: sacrifice

Posted in Hiding His Word

Your Reasonable Service

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

2 Chronicles 24:1–25:28; Romans 12:1-21; Psalm 22:19-31; Proverbs 20:8-10

Your Reasonable Service
[Paul] beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:1-21

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The King Hearkened to the Princes of Judah
But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house. Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. – 2 Chronicles 24:15-17

Wrath Came Upon Judah
And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. – 2 Chronicles 24:18

God Sent Prophets – Spirit of God Came Upon Zechariah
Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. –  2 Chronicles 24:19-20

The Conspired Against Him (Zechariah), and Stoned Him
And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. –  2 Chronicles 24:21-22a

The LORD Look Upon It, and Require It
And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it. And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus. For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. –  2 Chronicles 24:22a-24

His Servants Conspired Against Him and Slew Him on His Bed
And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings. – 2 Chronicles 24:25

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I Will Declare Thy Name Unto My Brethren
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. – Psalm 22:22-24

Who Can Say, I am Pure from My Sin?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? – Proverbs 20:9

I am pure from my sin because of the blood shed for me on Calvary by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I could never say I have made my heart clean because He alone makes my heart clean. It is by His mercies that I am able to present my body as a living sacrifice. It is my reasonable service. Glory and Honor and Praise to JESUS!

What is My Reasonable Service?
To present my body as a living sacrifice
To be not conformed to this world
To be transformed by the renewing of my mind
To prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
To not think of myself more highly than I ought to think.
To think soberly, according as God hath dealt to me a measure of faith.
To see that while there are many members we are all one body.
To see that being many we are one body in Christ and every one members one of another.
To see that we don’t all have the same office.
To use my gifts according to the grace that is given to me.
To let love be without dissimulation.
To abhor that which is evil.
To cleave to that which is good.
To be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love.
To in honour prefer one another.
To not be slothful in business.
To be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
To rejoice in hope.
To be patient in tribulation.
To continue instant in prayer.
To distribute as necessary to the saints.
To be hospitable.
To bless them that persecute me.
To bless them and not to curse them.
To rejoice with those that rejoice.
To weep with them that weep.
To be of the same mind one toward another.
To mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
To be not wise in my own eyes.
To recompense to no man evil for evil.
To provide things honest in the sight of all men.
To live peaceable with all men, if it be possible and as much as I can.
To avenge not myself but give place to wrath (knowing God said, vengeance is mine and I will repay).
To feed my enemy if he is hungry.
To give my enemy a drink if he is thirsty.
To not be overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.

Posted in Hiding His Word

The Better Sacrifice – Hebrews 10

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We are studying Hebrews in Sunday School. It has been a challenging book but the Holy Ghost has been faithful to guide our teacher week by week. This week we were looking at chapter 10. I like to study along before and after the lessons. I usually write out my notes in journals but I am working to put them on the blog to preserve them for later use and study. So these are just some notes from my study time….and one of my favorite worship/prayer songs at the end.

Hebrews 10 – Notes on the Perfect and Better Sacrifice of Jesus Christ

(in contrast with the imperfect sacrifices offered under the old covenant).

Why was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ better?

1.Christ’s sacrifice takes sin away

Man had need of a better sacrifice. While at times the Jewish people permitted their sacrifices to become empty rituals, many people were sincere in their offerings to God and were blessed. But the very nature of the old covenant sacrifice still made them inferior.

Animal sacrifices could never completely deal with human guilt. God forgave but the guilt was not removed from the hearts of the people. The nations sins were covered but they were not cleansed.

The blood of bulls and goats could not take sin away, but God provided a better sacrifice. It was God who provided the sacrifice, not man. The sacrifice provided was Jesus, His only Son! Jesus came to do the Father’s will. This will is the new covenant that has replaced the old covenant.

The better and perfect sacrifice was effective. Believers have been set apart or sanctified by the offering of Jesus body ONCE for ALL. No old covenant sacrifice could do that. An old covenant worshipper had to be purified repeatedly but a new covenant Saint is set apart, finally and completely!

2.Jesus’ sacrifice does not need to be repeated.

The ministry of the priests in tabernacles and temples was never done and never different. The fact that Jesus sat down after He ascended to the Father is proof that His work was completed.

Sat down – Psalms 110:1

“The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Believers are complete in him – Colossians 2:10

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

An old covenant worshiper could not say that he had no more conscience of his sin. New covenant believers can say that their sins and iniquities are remembered no more.

In the new covenant there are no more offerings for sin and no more remembrance of sin. When a sinner trusts Jesus Christ, his sins are all forgiven. The guilt is gone and the matter is completely settled.

3.Christ’s sacrifice opened the way (for us) into the very presence of God!

No old covenant worshipper could enter the Holy of Holies but the death of Jesus Christ tore open the veil and opened the way into the heavenly sanctuary where God dwells.

Holy of Holies – The inner sanctuary of the tabernacle where God dwelt.

In Verses 19 – 25 we are given an invitation to enter the Holy of Holies. The invitation was:

  •  Let us draw near
  •  Let us hold fast
  •  Let us consider one another

The priests went in only once per year but we are invited to dwell in the presence of God always.

Dwell – to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside

Let us draw near

  •  Prepare
  •  Come with a clean heart
  •  Fellowship with God demands purity

Let us hold fast

  •  Hold fast the profession of hope.
  •  When a believer has hope fixed on Jesus and relies on the faithfulness of God, then he will not waver.

Let us consider one another

  •  Fellowship with God must not be selfish. Fellowship with God must also include fellowship with others in the local assembly.
  •  Emphasis is not on what believers can get out of the assembly, but what he can contribute.

Sobering Words of Exhortation

Hebrews 10 ends with some sobering words of exhortation.

It tells us that one who drifts from the Word will soon start to doubt the Word. He will become dull toward the Word and lazy in his spiritual life. This will result in despising the Word. The evidence of despising is willful sin.

Under the old covenant there were no sacrifices for deliberate or willful sin. The people were generally executed. God does not always take the life of willful sinners, but He will always deal with them.

Are you sending willfully and deliberately? If your answer is yes, He will deal with you. Have you grown dull toward the Word? Turn to God for mercy and forgiveness!

One of the themes of Hebrews is this – God has spoken, how are you responding to His Word?

 

Posted in Hiding His Word

Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart – 1/18/2018

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

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When love is the motive, sacrifice is never measured or mentioned.  – Unknown

Daily Scripture

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ~ Philippians 2:5-8

Study

While the theme of the first chapter of the book of Philippians is Jesus Christ first, the subject of chapter 2 is others next. The verses above, are a portion of Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi and that specific instruction and encouragement to be servants and have submissive minds.

Paul talks about being humble.

Humble: not proud or arrogant; modest; having a feeling of insignificance; low in rank, importance, status, quality; to lower in condition, importance or dignity.

So what does it mean to be a humble person; to have humility? The humble person is not one who thinks ill of himself, but one who doesn’t think of himself at all. The truly humble person knows himself and accepts himself and yields himself in obedience to Jesus to be a servant – for the Glory of God and the good of others.

In verse 5-6 above we see a humble man’s eyes and mind are turned off of himself and onto others. He sees the needs of others, and he thinks of others. He has the mind of Christ, and his attitude proves it.

In verse 7 we see that thinking of others, he also serves others. It is not just good words he speaks, but his actions follow with true service. Paul was a servant, but his example and our most excellent example is Jesus.

Jesus thought of others and became a servant. The Bible says that He made Himself of no reputation. He emptied Himself and laid aside His own attributes as God. He became human in a sinless physical body, and He used that body to be a servant…meeting the needs of others all the way to the cross where He willingly died for others.

Jesus was a servant, and He was humble. His service cost. The genuinely humble man will naturally pay the price to serve others because their mind is on others and not themselves. Many people are willing to help if it cost nothing, but if there is a price, they lose interest. In verse 8 we see Jesus became “obedient unto death.”

Meditation

Jesus didn’t avoid sacrifice and neither should I. My attitude as I walk through this Christian life should be one of willing submission for the glory of God and the good of others. If paying a price will honor Jesus and help others, I should willingly pay it. Will there be suffering? Very likely…but I do believe the test of the submissive mind of Christ is not how much I am willing to take in terms of suffering but how eager I am to give in terms of sacrifice.

One of the interesting things about this Christian life is that the more we give, the more we receive; the more we sacrifice, the more God will bless.

I will close out with two quotes I read today:

When love is the motive, sacrifice is never measured or mentioned.  – Unknown

Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing. – J.H. Jowett

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I come before you today and declare that You are wonderful and magnificent and all knowing and YOU are the Lord of me. I declare that You are supreme and You are the great I AM! You alone Lord. Father, I come before You today having blown it again in so many ways. Did I have the mind of Christ today? Not when I compare it to Your Holy Word. Father, forgive me for allowing my mind to wander and to get caught up in trivial things and imaginations. Help me, Father, to keep my focus on You and Your Word and Your will. Help me to see You when I see others and help me to step up and be a servant. Help me to be one so willingly that it is just the outflow of my heart because of my relationship with You. Help me to know You and love You more and more and as I work and serve may YOUR LOVE and Your Presence be my strength and my only drive.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!!!

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts. ~ Haggai 2:4

A Little Something Extra

The New Testament is full of all kind of instruction in how to live with one another.  Here are just a few:

  • Prefer one another      Romans 12:10
  • Edify one another        1 Thessalonians 5:11
  • Bear one another’s burdens       Galatians 6:2
  • Don’t judge one another       Romans 14:13
  • Rather admonish one another       Romans 15:14
  • Serve one another       1 Peter 4:10