A LIVING SACRIFICE TO GOD
By Paul
Dinakaran
Dearly beloved,
During the time of the Old Testament, animals and birds were offered as sacrifices to God, and through that, the sins of the one who offered the sacrifice were forgiven.
But after Lord Jesus Christ offered His body as a living sacrifice on the cross, the animal sacrifice became null and void. His holy blood cleanses you and you become holy.
Even today, the Lord wants you to offer yourself as a living sacrifice for Him so that you can have life in your body (Romans 12:1).
Offering yourself as a living sacrifice is nothing but leading a holy life in this evil world which is full of lust, treachery and sorrow. When you live for the Lord and reflect His love in your life, you are offering yourself as a living sacrifice for Him. When you do that, the Lord will certainly reward you and you shall talk with Him face to face. Your life will become very pleasant.
Although Job had to go through so many afflictions and losses in life, he did not sin. He just said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21). He clung on to God saying, “I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another” (Job 19:27).
Hence the Lord Himself came in search of him and spoke to him face to face. He healed him completely and restored all that he had lost. He made everyone come in search of him and honoured him. The Lord gave him twice as much he had before (Job 42:10-17).
Apostle Paul says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1). Accordingly, submit yourself completely to the will of God. Then He will fulfill His will in your life. He will also bless you doublefold.
During the time of the Old Testament, animals and birds were offered as sacrifices to God, and through that, the sins of the one who offered the sacrifice were forgiven.
But after Lord Jesus Christ offered His body as a living sacrifice on the cross, the animal sacrifice became null and void. His holy blood cleanses you and you become holy.
Even today, the Lord wants you to offer yourself as a living sacrifice for Him so that you can have life in your body (Romans 12:1).
Offering yourself as a living sacrifice is nothing but leading a holy life in this evil world which is full of lust, treachery and sorrow. When you live for the Lord and reflect His love in your life, you are offering yourself as a living sacrifice for Him. When you do that, the Lord will certainly reward you and you shall talk with Him face to face. Your life will become very pleasant.
Although Job had to go through so many afflictions and losses in life, he did not sin. He just said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21). He clung on to God saying, “I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another” (Job 19:27).
Hence the Lord Himself came in search of him and spoke to him face to face. He healed him completely and restored all that he had lost. He made everyone come in search of him and honoured him. The Lord gave him twice as much he had before (Job 42:10-17).
Apostle Paul says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1). Accordingly, submit yourself completely to the will of God. Then He will fulfill His will in your life. He will also bless you doublefold.
Source: http://www.prayertoweronline.org
GROW IN HOLINESS
By Paul Dhinakaran
Dearly beloved,
In the Bible, we read that God chose a young man called Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land after the death of Moses.
When the Israelites Crossed the Jordan River, they camped at a place called Gilgal. This was the place where Joshua sanctified himself along with all the armies of Israel.
In Joshua Chapter 10, we read that God gave Joshua and his men a great victory over their enemies. Yet he did not stay behind to celebrate the victory that the Lord gave him, but came back to Gilgal, the place of sanctification. The Bible says, “Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal” (Joshua 10:15). He and his men marched all night long to that place of sanctification to pray again; they honoured the Lord. Desiring sanctification, they returned to the place that was pleasing to the Lord.
Thus should you guard yourself holy.
We read in Revelation 22:11,12: “Let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy. "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” The Lord Jesus says, Behold, I am coming quickly. He who is holy, let him be holy still. I want to command still more blessings…” Today, open your heart to the Lord and return to holiness.
In Joshua 3:5, Joshua tells the Israelites, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." Holiness is turning to God, waiting at His feet and obeying His Word, and this is what I have learnt. I obey the Lord when He speaks to me. The Holy Spirit gives me the grace to do this. We need to leave the worldly desires, wait at His feet and be truthful and faithful in our deeds, words and thoughts in order to obey Him. The Holy Spirit will help us in our weakness (Romans 8:26).
The Lord says, "Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). He is holy in nature and expects us to be holy since we are His children and belong to Him. When we fear Him and walk in the path of holiness, He will be our strong refuge; we shall have everlasting protection under His mighty hand.
Dearly beloved,
In the Bible, we read that God chose a young man called Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land after the death of Moses.
When the Israelites Crossed the Jordan River, they camped at a place called Gilgal. This was the place where Joshua sanctified himself along with all the armies of Israel.
In Joshua Chapter 10, we read that God gave Joshua and his men a great victory over their enemies. Yet he did not stay behind to celebrate the victory that the Lord gave him, but came back to Gilgal, the place of sanctification. The Bible says, “Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal” (Joshua 10:15). He and his men marched all night long to that place of sanctification to pray again; they honoured the Lord. Desiring sanctification, they returned to the place that was pleasing to the Lord.
Thus should you guard yourself holy.
We read in Revelation 22:11,12: “Let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy. "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” The Lord Jesus says, Behold, I am coming quickly. He who is holy, let him be holy still. I want to command still more blessings…” Today, open your heart to the Lord and return to holiness.
In Joshua 3:5, Joshua tells the Israelites, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." Holiness is turning to God, waiting at His feet and obeying His Word, and this is what I have learnt. I obey the Lord when He speaks to me. The Holy Spirit gives me the grace to do this. We need to leave the worldly desires, wait at His feet and be truthful and faithful in our deeds, words and thoughts in order to obey Him. The Holy Spirit will help us in our weakness (Romans 8:26).
The Lord says, "Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). He is holy in nature and expects us to be holy since we are His children and belong to Him. When we fear Him and walk in the path of holiness, He will be our strong refuge; we shall have everlasting protection under His mighty hand.
Pain and Promise
Pain and Promise
By Nita Edwards“Let the righteous be glad: let them rejoice before God:
yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Sing unto God,
sing praises to His name” (Psalm 68:3-4)
How can you be glad in these perilous times that we are living in? Is it even possible to be glad when a loved one is taken, and grief floods our soul? Can the hearts of parents experience gladness when a beloved son or daughter has been lured away by the evil one into a lifestyle of drugs and alcoholism? Is it realistic to expect to serve the Lord with a joyful spirit when you wake up each day to a life of struggle and affliction, and the building blocks of your life seem to be uprooted? In short, does God call upon His faithful to be glad while we endure tough times?
The answer is YES!
Let us examine the life of a man who was named “a man after the heart of God”: He was a man of sorrow, tears, and affliction. He was betrayed and deceived by his own flesh and blood. Most of his life, he was pursued by his enemies continuously. He was overwhelmed with a life of struggles and repeated warfare. He fought for survival by giving up his throne to seek refuge in the wilderness. Yet in the midst of all his suffering David declared, “Serve the Lord with gladness.” (Ps.100:2) And he further exhorts us to “rejoice exceedingly…” (Ps. 68:3)
This advice to us is not only from King David, but also from the Apostle Peter. Even in the midst of trials and heartaches, Peter encourages us in the same way.
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13) NIV
Here we learn a principle in prayer: David’s secret of being glad at heart was a result of his entering into the Lord’s presence. (Ps. 21:6) This principle is also confirmed in the life of our ultimate example, the Lord Jesus Himself, who was anointed with the oil of gladness. If you and I practice giving thanks in all things, we too will discover the secret of God anointing us with that same gladness. So even in the midst of pain, we can enter into God’s presence in prayer and obtain joy.
That is our promise.
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