“I’m Dying to Live”
“The Sacrifice of Revival”
We are able to see God’s presence manifest in greater ways as we sacrifice ourselves to his will in greater magnitude.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:16
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
(Die and living) outward perish, inward renewed day by day. Seems to be a paradox, but it is rather a very beautifully written explanation of what is in the body of Christ.
There are things that die daily so that other things may live.
Colossians 3:1-2, Paul said I die daily-
Intro:
In the Study of the physiological world
The Adult Human Body which is made up of between 50 – 100 trillion cells is in the process of “dying daily” About 40 trillion of your cells (comprising almost 50% of your body’s cell count) are bacterial cells that live in your digestive system, primarily in your large intestine. (That must explain why some of us are bigger around the middle.
Of the remaining 50% of your body’s cell count…
10% (4 trillion cells) make up the solid tissues that we think of when we think of the human body (muscles, spleen, kidneys, bones, brain, stomach, skin, etc.).
The remaining 40% percent of the cells in your body are blood or lymph cells of some sort that are not associated with any solid tissue. [the blood]
Most of the MASS in your body is comprised by the 4 trillion cells that make up your solid tissues, especially your muscle and skeletal cells.
“The process of staying alive is a constant balance between “dying” and “living!”
The atoms in your body go through a complete turnover about once every seven years. In any given second The human body loses around 3,000,000 cells per second.
The cells go through a process called “Apoptosis” in which cells die so that others may live. This is the building blocks of life.
In the Sociological world…
I will not easily forget the deep feelings of Love that I felt and feel for the woman who is now my wife.
I recall easily as I am sure will most all of the men in this room the compelling emotion and very real and exciting feelings that moved you in your early courtship.
In many causes there where very real sacrifices made in order to see the young marriage blossom and arise to new levels of maturity.
This room is full of Stories that recount with vivid color and through various situations these sacrifices that where made, and if you have a growing marriage are still making.
“Nothing of real value comes to us without real sacrifice! Those things that do come to us without real sacrifice we don’t appreciate or we are indifferent to. A Biblical faith is one that recognizes the importance of sacrifice.
A ‘sacrificial character” is a must for those who approach the presence of God! There was no way to bypass SACRIFICE on the way into God’s presence!
We do not go far into the pages of our bible and we are faced with this kind of sacrifice…
I. The Significance of the Sacrifice
• Adam and Eve
Genesis 3:21 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
• The sacrifice; something died so that something could live, something died so that they could experience a touch of God’s presence which is life.
• We must understand that the ultimate point of a sacrifice is that (atonement – restoration) is made, something dies so that something can live.
• The greater the sacrifice the greater the blessing, the greater the power that is released. The Sacrifice displays how powerful God feels about you. Love is no greater than the character that loves
[ Illustration ]
II. Situations of Sacrifices
1. Literal;
• Cain and Abel
Hebrews 11:4
“… Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks.”
• Abraham, offers his Son, Isaac
• Jonathan Saul’s son sacrifices his place in the kingdom for David
• The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
Psalms 107:21-22
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.”
• The Sacrifice of Righteousness
Psalms 4:5-6
“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say, who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.”
• The Sacrifice of Joy
Psalms 27:6
“And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.”
• The Sacrifice of Praise
Hebrews 13:15-17
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
… God is well pleased
• The Sacrifice of our Savior
Hebrews 10:9-19
“9… I come to do thy will, O God.
10 …we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
There is a sacrifice that I believe is even more pressing upon the heart of God. This sacrifice is the one which determines the future of that which he can do through us his body!
III. The Sacrifice God Honors [of revival]
There is a sacrifice of ourselves that God honors and rewards with his presence.
• A Living Sacrifice
Romans 12:1
“I 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.”
• The Sacrifice of God
Psalms 51:15-17
“17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
(notice what follows the sacrifice…)
“18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness”
Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
• The “future” is manifested by the “present” being sacrificed
• John the Baptist sacrificed his life for the life of the one who should come after him!
• Sacrifice is a door way through which greatness can come!
• Self preservation is natural but self sacrifice is supernatural
• Nothing that we have experienced thus far is here without someone having worked and sacrificed to see it come to pass.
1. Men who sacrificed:
• Paul
• The Twelve Disciples
2. Things we could sacrifice:
• Our Time
• Our Talents
• Our money
• Our Effort
Summary: 1. John the Baptist sacrificed his life for the life of the one who should come after him!
2. And in prison he asked is he really the Christ… The Gospel is preached and miracles are being done!
3. Will he have a church that will sacrifice to see His will be done?
