THE MEASURE OF OUR SACRIFICE
Please open your Bible to Romans 12:1 for today’s message, “The Measure of our Sacrifice.” God will one day measure our lives and one of the things He will most certainly measure is our sacrifice. Many hear the word sacrifice, and they immediately think of suffering and pain and death, and that is a possible part of sacrifice. But that is not the true measure of sacrifice. The true measure of your sacrifice is not the ability to endure pain and suffering, but a heart that lives to honor God regardless of the cost.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible speaks of a godly sacrifice that pleases God. Righteous and holy sacrifices are so pleasing to God that He will one day measure the greatness of our lives by our sacrifices. Knowing how important this is, I want to show you from God’s word how your sacrifice can please God and bring great eternal rewards.
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. NKJV
MEASURE YOUR LIFE AS A LIVING SACRIFICE
One of the most important ways to measure your life for eternity is by your willingness to sacrifice for the name of Jesus. The Bible reveals the Christian life is a life of sacrifice. Not a life of ease and comfort, but a life of sacrifice. However, it is possible to perform a great sacrifice that changes lives and the course of history and yet, it not be the kind of sacrifice God is looking for. The big question is, what kind of sacrifice is God looking for?
Paul wrote in Romans 12:1… I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…
God is looking for a living sacrifice… not a once-a-month sacrifice, but living sacrifice that lives day by day to know God, love God and honor God. One of the greatest calls upon your life is to be a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God.
God is not looking for a sometimes sacrifice. He is not looking for those who say they will do it, and then don’t… He is looking for those who desire to be a living sacrifice, a daily sacrifice, a sacrifice that is given out of love and devotion. He is looking for those who love Him so much they are devoted to Him as a living sacrifice… That’s the kind of sacrifice that pleases God. That’s what I want for my life…
We talk about Abraham and His commitment to offer his son, Issac as a sacrifice. But what many forget is that Issac was old enough to say no. He was not a little boy. It was out of his obedience that Issac allowed himself to be placed on the altar. To do that, he had to surrender his will to God’s will, even though he did not understand it. As he laid on the altar, Issac was a picture of a sacrifice. However, when God sent a ram to be sacrificed in his place, and Issac got up from the altar, He became a living sacrifice.
Jesus Christ is the perfect picture of a living sacrifice. He died as God’s sacrifice for our sins, in obedience to His Father’s will, but now He reigns in heaven as a "living sacrifice."
That means when you believe in Jesus Christ, you become a living sacrifice. When the world sees you, they see a picture of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. That’s why a living sacrifice is so important and so pleasing to God!
As a living sacrifice you dedicate your body and life to God, and you keep on living for God, each day until He calls you home. And very importantly… The only time you can be a living sacrifice for God is right now, while your body is alive. Once your body dies you obviously can no longer use your body, your mind, your abilities, as a living sacrifice.
That’s why Paul said we are to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice… because it is only in this life that we can be a living sacrifice that honors God. And every day we do not live a sacrificial life for God’s glory is a day wasted for eternity.
What does a living sacrifice look like?
A living sacrifice is to sacrifice your own desires to live fully for God's kingdom and glory. To be a living sacrifice is to dedicate your hands for godly service. It is to dedicate your feet to godly service. It is to dedicate your eyes to see as God sees, and your ears to hear as God hears. It is to dedicate your mouth to speak of His love and mercy. It is to dedicate your mind to understand His truth, and to fill your mind with the knowledge of His eternal word. To be a living sacrifice is to dedicate your whole body to God in every way that glorify Him.
I encourage you church… in the name of Jesus, measure your life by your willingness to offer your body to God as a living sacrifice.
MEASURE YOUR SACRIFICE BY THE COST
I want you to clearly understand, there is a cost for being a living sacrifice. To be a living sacrifice requires that we take up the cross and follow Jesus. Notice that the cross is not placed upon us. We must choose to voluntarily take up the cross and follow Jesus daily, and… there is a cost for following Jesus Christ as a living sacrifice.
In the first century, the Romans killed Christians by the thousands for their faith in Jesus Christ. They were sawed in half, burned at the stake, and thrown to the lions, but they willingly gave their lives as a living sacrifice for the glory of God. When given a choice between Cesar and Jesus, they chose Jesus. Their love and commitment to Jesus Christ was greater than their desire to live. They had rather die than to deny Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
In many countries, Christians are dying for their faith in Christ, because they rather die than deny Jesus. Again, there is a cost to be a living sacrifice that chooses Jesus Christ.
In Daniel 3, we read the story of the three Hebrew boys who defied King Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty king of Babylon. He commanded these three boys to bow before him, or he would burn them to a crisp. But they refused to bow… They refused to bow because they chose to give their lives to God as a living sacrifice.
In Revelation 12, John saw in the tribulation a huge multitude that loved Jesus so much they chose to die as a living sacrifice rather than bow to the antichrist and take his mark.
Revelation 12:11 they overcame him (antichrist) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. NKJV
That’s what a living sacrifice looks like…
Another example of sacrificial living is found in Ephesians 4 that says we are to put off the old way and to put on the new way. To do that, we must be willing to sacrifice our old way of living to gain a new and greater way of living. That’s what it means to be a living sacrifice.
Every decision… every decision… is an opportunity to be a living sacrifice that honors God, and the choice you make will serve as a measure for your life. In Jesus name…
Measure your life by your sacrifice to put God’s kingdom first, whatever the cost.
Measure your life by your sacrifice to be faithful to Jesus Christ, whatever the cost.
Measure your life by being a living sacrifice, whatever the cost.
My brothers and sisters, the cost of your sacrifice may seem high, it may even cost you your life, but the rewards of heaven are far greater and will last forever.
MEASURE YOUR SACRIFICE TO DO GOD’S WILL
A living sacrifice is obedient to the will of God.
Romans 12:2 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. NKJV
The most important thing you will ever do is to know and do God's will. It is God’s will that you be a living sacrifice, which means there will be times when the will of God, will require you to sacrifice… and sometimes it may require you to make a great sacrifice.
Abraham sacrificed his understanding to obey God when he took Isaac to sacrifice him.
Noah sacrificed his time and energy to build an ark and save his family.
Peter sacrificed to preach God’s word knowing he would be persecuted and killed for it.
Ananias sacrificed the risk of his life when God called him to pray for Saul, the killer of Christians who became Paul the apostle.
Obeying the will of God, will require sacrifice, and sometimes a great sacrifice…
There is a cost to be a living sacrifice…
REWARDS AND SACRIFICE
Because of the high cost that comes with sacrificial living, God promises to reward us with great rewards, even for our smallest act of sacrifice that we made because of our love for Him.
Let’s look at an example in Mark 10…
After hearing about the high cost of following Jesus, Peter said…
Mark 10:28 “See, we have left all and followed You.” (Peter is talking about sacrificial living.) 29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,
30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and
mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. NKJV
I want to point out two things very quickly…
First, Peter wanted to know if we follow you, what do we get out of this. Jesus did not scold Peter for
asking this question, which means it is God’s desire to reward us for our sacrifice to follow Jesus.
Second, Jesus said… No one… no one… who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time… and in the age to come, eternal life.
The point is, anytime you follow Jesus Christ, there will be a sacrifice. It is very possible that because of our love for Christ, we could lose our home and our loved ones turn against us. But… no matter how big or how small the sacrifice, no matter how great the cost. God promises our sacrifice for His glory will be rewarded with great rewards that are beyond earthly measure.
MEASURE YOUR SACRIFICE BY YOUR TRANSFORMATION…
Another example of a living sacrifice is our willingness to be transformed from a worldly person who loves the things of the world, to a heavenly person who loves Jesus Christ and His kingdom. Paul said… Romans 12:2…
…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…
One piece of evidence that proves you have been transformed to a new life in Jesus Christ, is your hunger and desire to live a sacrificial life that loves and honors Jesus Christ. When you surrender your life to Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit transforms you from the old way of living, to a new godly way of sacrificial living that follows Jesus Christ.
Thomas is a perfect example of the power of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives. When Thomas walked with Jesus, he was a constant doubter. Thomas once said…
Unless I place my fingers in the nail prints of His hands and place my hand in His side, I will not believe…
Those are the words of doubting Thomas who went from being a constant doubter, to living a life of sacrifice and devotion. History reveals that Thomas became perhaps the most zealous, and fearless apostle besides Paul. Records indicate that Thomas traveled to Syria, Iraq, Iran, southern Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The guy traveled everywhere and made great sacrifices to preach the love of Jesus. Tradition points to the hillside in Madras, South India, where facing toward China in prayer, Thomas was martyred for Christ. That is sacrificial living… In Jesus name…
Measure your life by your sacrifice to be transformed from the old into the new.
IN CLOSING… KNOWING WHAT WE MUST, AND MUST NOT SACRIFICE
In closing, it is absolutely vital to know the difference between what to sacrifice, and what not to sacrifice. Let’s look first at some things God wants us to sacrifice.
First, one of the big things God wants us to sacrifice is our earthly treasures that stand between us and God. Jesus said…
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NKJV
The big question for you is, where are the treasures of your heart. Are you pursing earthly treasures or heavenly treasures? God desires for you to surrender and sacrifice your earthly treasures, for His eternal treasures that will endure forever. One of the best ways we can sacrifice our earthly treasures for the awesome eternal treasures of heaven is by the giving of our tithe to God.
Second, to be a living sacrifice we must obey God and His word. I cannot stress enough the importance of obeying God. No matter how great a sacrifice is, no matter how far reaching that sacrifice may be, without obedience to God, it is worthless.
1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel said… (to King Saul) Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…
The greatness of our sacrifice is equaled only by our obedience to God. Many times, your obedience to God will require you to sacrifice. For example…
Your obedience to faithfully attend church may require you to sacrifice
Your obedience to read God’s word may require you to sacrifice
Your obedience to pray may require you to sacrifice
Your obedience to tithe may require you to sacrifice
Remember… No matter how great a sacrifice may seem, it is worthless without obedience to God. God is looking for those who are obedient to Him even if they must sacrifice to do it.
WHAT WE MUST NEVER SACRIFICE
Finally, a very important truth to consider about our sacrifice, is to know there are things we must never, never sacrifice. For example…
First, as believers in Christ, we must never sacrifice our allegiance to Jesus Christ. He is our Savior, our Lord, our God and King, and the master of our souls.
Second, we must never sacrifice God’s word of truth, for false truths of the world.
Third, we must never sacrifice our commitment to live a godly life in an ungodly society.
I fully believe we are very near the rapture of the church and it is imperative that we live for Christ. It is my sincere prayer that you will fulfill your God given purpose and live a sacrificial life that honor God.
And for the times we live in, I believe Paul’s word from 2 Timothy is a picture of how we should live a sacrificial life in these final days.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. NK
To finish the race and to keep the faith requires that we live a sacrificial life for Jesus Christ and His kingdom. In Jesus name, I encourage you to be a living sacrifice for Jesus Christ.
If you have not done so, I pray you will start today to live a sacrificial life that honors God.
