Living Sacrifices: Embracing Holiness and True Worship
Summary
In our journey of faith, we are called to present ourselves as living sacrifices, a concept that seems contradictory at first glance. To be a living sacrifice means to be alive in Christ yet dead to our own desires and ambitions. This paradox is beautifully explained by Paul in Galatians 2:20, where he states that he is crucified with Christ, yet he lives, but it is Christ who lives in him. This life is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. Our plans and goals should be aligned with God's will, requiring us to die to self and live for Him, choosing His ways over our own when they conflict.
Holiness is another crucial aspect of our spiritual journey. Unlike righteousness, which deals with right and wrong, holiness is about being set apart and unique, much like the special dishes reserved for significant occasions. God is holy, holy, holy, emphasizing His uniqueness and the reverence He deserves. Our call to holiness is a call to be set apart for God, not conforming to the world's standards but living according to His.
Worship is not merely about attending church or participating in religious activities. True worship is about total surrender to God, offering our whole selves to Him. Without this surrender, our actions, no matter how religious they appear, do not constitute genuine worship. It is in yielding all of ourselves to God that we truly worship Him in spirit and truth.
The world constantly pressures us to conform to its values, which often exclude God. This system, led by Satan, seeks to shape us into its mold, but we are called to resist this pressure. We must not allow the world to dictate our values or worldview. Instead, we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds, aligning our thoughts and actions with God's truth.
In a world full of distractions, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to God, much like the living statue in the Macy's window that remained unmoved despite the crowd's attempts to distract her. Our allegiance is to God, who sustains and provides for us, not to the world that seeks to divert our attention from Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Being a living sacrifice means dying to self and living for Christ, aligning our plans and goals with His will. This requires a daily choice to prioritize His desires over our own. [01:48]
- Holiness is about being set apart for God, reflecting His uniqueness and reverence. It calls us to live distinctively, not conforming to the world's standards but embodying God's values. [02:52]
- True worship involves total surrender to God, beyond mere religious activities. Without surrender, our actions lack the essence of genuine worship, which is a heartfelt offering of ourselves to Him. [06:21]
- The world pressures us to conform to its values, often excluding God. We must resist this pressure and be transformed by renewing our minds, aligning with God's truth rather than the world's lies. [08:22]
- In a world full of distractions, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to God, focusing on Him rather than the world's attempts to divert our attention. Our allegiance is to God, who sustains us. [12:53]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:39] - Living Sacrifice Explained
- [01:10] - Paul's Paradox of Life and Death
- [01:36] - Aligning Plans with God's Will
- [02:02] - Choosing God Over Self
- [02:16] - Understanding Holiness
- [03:09] - The Book of Leviticus and Holiness
- [03:48] - Profane, Common, and Holy
- [04:31] - Set Apart for Special Use
- [05:03] - God's Unique Holiness
- [05:36] - Spiritual Service of Worship
- [06:53] - Conforming to the World
- [07:28] - The System of Worldliness
- [08:22] - Resisting Worldly Pressure
- [11:19] - The Living Statue Analogy
- [13:12] - Staying Committed to God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Galatians 2:20
- Romans 12:1-2
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Observation Questions:
1. How does Paul describe his life in relation to Christ in Galatians 2:20? What does it mean for him to be "crucified with Christ" yet still live?
2. In Romans 12:1, what does it mean to present our bodies as a "living sacrifice"? How is this concept explained in the sermon? [00:39]
3. What are the three concepts related to holiness mentioned in the sermon, and how do they help us understand what it means to be set apart for God? [03:28]
4. According to the sermon, what is the difference between being conformed to the world and being transformed by the renewing of our minds? [08:22]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to live by faith in the Son of God, as Paul describes in Galatians 2:20? How does this faith influence our daily decisions and priorities?
2. The sermon mentions that true worship involves total surrender to God. How does this idea challenge common perceptions of worship as merely attending church or participating in religious activities? [06:21]
3. How does the analogy of the living statue in the Macy's window illustrate the concept of remaining steadfast in our commitment to God despite worldly distractions? [12:53]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the world pressures us to conform to its values, and how can believers resist this pressure? [08:22]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current goals and plans. Are they aligned with God's will, or are there areas where you need to die to self and live for Christ? How can you make this alignment a daily practice? [01:36]
2. Consider the concept of holiness as being set apart for God. What are some practical steps you can take to live a life that reflects God's uniqueness and reverence? [02:52]
3. True worship involves total surrender. What areas of your life have you not fully surrendered to God, and what steps can you take to offer your whole self to Him? [06:21]
4. Identify specific ways the world pressures you to conform to its values. How can you actively renew your mind to align with God's truth instead? [08:22]
5. Think of a recent situation where you felt distracted from your commitment to God. What strategies can you implement to remain focused on Him, much like the living statue remained focused despite distractions? [12:53]
6. How can you encourage others in your community to resist worldly pressures and remain steadfast in their faith? What role can you play in supporting them?
7. Reflect on a time when you chose God's ways over your own desires. What was the outcome, and how did it impact your faith journey? How can this experience guide your future decisions?
Devotional
Day 1: Living Sacrifice: A Daily Choice
To be a living sacrifice is to embrace a life that is both alive in Christ and dead to personal desires and ambitions. This concept, though paradoxical, is beautifully illustrated in Galatians 2:20, where Paul describes being crucified with Christ, yet living through Him. This life is not about fulfilling personal goals but aligning them with God's will, requiring a daily decision to prioritize His desires over our own. It involves a conscious effort to die to self and live for Christ, choosing His ways when they conflict with our own. This alignment with God's will is a journey of faith, where each day presents an opportunity to choose His path over ours. [01:48]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: What is one personal ambition or desire you need to surrender to God today, and how can you begin to align it with His will?
Day 2: Holiness: Set Apart for God
Holiness is about being set apart for God, reflecting His uniqueness and reverence. Unlike righteousness, which deals with right and wrong, holiness calls us to live distinctively, not conforming to the world's standards but embodying God's values. This means being like the special dishes reserved for significant occasions, set apart for a unique purpose. God is described as holy, holy, holy, emphasizing His distinctiveness and the reverence He deserves. Our call to holiness is a call to live in a way that reflects God's character, choosing to be different from the world and aligning our lives with His standards. [02:52]
1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: In what specific ways can you set yourself apart for God today, resisting the temptation to conform to the world's standards?
Day 3: True Worship: Total Surrender
True worship goes beyond attending church or participating in religious activities; it involves total surrender to God. Without this surrender, our actions, no matter how religious they appear, lack the essence of genuine worship. True worship is a heartfelt offering of ourselves to God, where we yield all of ourselves to Him. It is about living a life that honors God in every aspect, not just in religious settings but in our daily lives. This surrender is a continuous process, where we offer our whole selves to God, allowing Him to transform us and guide our actions. [06:21]
Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God, and what steps can you take today to offer it to Him fully?
Day 4: Resisting Worldly Pressure
The world constantly pressures us to conform to its values, often excluding God. This system, led by Satan, seeks to shape us into its mold, but we are called to resist this pressure. We must not allow the world to dictate our values or worldview. Instead, we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds, aligning our thoughts and actions with God's truth. This transformation requires a conscious effort to resist the world's influence and choose God's ways, even when they are counter-cultural. It is about standing firm in our faith and allowing God's truth to guide our lives. [08:22]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: Identify one worldly value or influence you need to resist today, and how can you renew your mind to align with God's truth instead?
Day 5: Steadfast Commitment in a Distracting World
In a world full of distractions, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to God, focusing on Him rather than the world's attempts to divert our attention. Our allegiance is to God, who sustains and provides for us, not to the world that seeks to divert our attention from Him. Like the living statue in the Macy's window that remained unmoved despite the crowd's attempts to distract her, we are called to remain focused on God. This steadfast commitment requires intentionality and discipline, choosing to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. [12:53]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What is one distraction in your life that diverts your attention from God, and how can you refocus your commitment to Him today?
Quotes
he says present yourself a Living Sacrifice now that's a contradictory phrase that phrase is contradiction present yourself alive living but present yourself a sacrifice dead sacrifices were killed you put sacrifices on the altar when Christ is a sacrifice he died on the cross sacrifices are killed he said present your body as a living dead thing as a Living Sacrifice how can you be living and dead at the same time [00:00:24]
perhaps Paul can help us here and the great scripture where he says in Galatians 2 20 I'm crucified with Christ I'm dead nevertheless I live I'm alive yet not I because I'm dead it's Christ who lives in me so I'm alive well how you doing both Paul well he says in Galatians 2 20 the life which I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me [00:01:00]
so if Paul was standing here today and you would have asked Paul Paul what are you playing what are your plans Paul would say I don't have any until God gives them to me if you Paul were here you say well what are your goals well he says I'm waiting to get instructions from the Lord so that I know what my goals are to be to put it another way it means dying to self and living to him choosing him over you [00:01:31]
he says present your body a Living Sacrifice he also says presented holy now the word holy is a little different than the word righteous righteous has to do with the standard of right and wrong so it's sin versus that which is not sinful that's that's righteous holy is a unique term it is uh a defining term of God God is never called love love love truth truth truth righteous righteous righteous but he is called holy holy holy holy to the third power [00:02:11]
the word holy means to be set apart as unique there's one whole book in the Bible that deals with the Holiness of God it doesn't get a lot of attention because of its uh uh ceremonial emphasis and that's the Book of Leviticus where the Holiness of God is emphasized God puts up a no trespassing sign to not trample on his holiness and three concepts are there that help us understand holiness [00:02:59]
one concept is profane the other concept is common and the other concept is Holy perhaps we can explain it this way your dishes in the sink are profane they're dirty that's why they're in the sink you've eaten off of them you put them in the sink because they have gotten dirt on them we'll call those the profane dishes the dishes in your kitchen cupboard are common because they're the ones you regularly use [00:03:33]
but in this other room the dining room is a whole nother set of dishes those are holy dishes though the holy plates cups sauces cause those aren't used commonly you don't use those every day those are for special guests special occasions they have been set apart as special or unique not as common and certainly not as profane when the Bible uses the word holy about God it refers to his uniqueness and set apart [00:04:13]
he says I beg you Brethren to give all of you to all of him to surrender yourself to God then he says this is your spiritual service of worship That's How The New American Standard says it if you have a King James version it says which is your reasonable service but the Greek word there is a worship term he says your spiritual service of worship is in your total surrender not your church attendance [00:05:31]
so you could be in church but not worshiping because you aren't surrendered without the surrender there is not the worship so unless there is the willingness of yielding all of me to all of him then you can wave your hand in the air like you just don't care but you're not worshiping you can shout you can sing you can speak the word you can amen but it is not worship if it's not including surrender [00:06:10]
he says be not conformed to this world now we did a whole sermon on world the world and worldliness we won't go over all of that today but let me summarize when the Bible speaks of the cosmos the world it is referring to that system headed by Satan that leaves God out whenever God is excluded you have become worldly the world speaks of a system an organized system of values [00:06:47]
you and I live in a world that is trying to pressure us to conform to its values it's trying to squeeze us to accept its World Views it's time trying to press us to walk away from What God Says and operate on what society says it is trying to force us to jettison the truth of God for the lives of culture and you hear it all the time you hear Christians caving into the pressure because they don't want to be canceled [00:08:19]
I was in New York a number of years ago and I was walking on 34th Street and I passed Macy's and there was a crowd outside the window at Macy's pretty big crowd and so inquiring minds want to know I was curious why are all these people outside of Macy's when I walked around and looked everybody was looking at this statue in the window it was a living statue and the only reason you knew it is because the eyes were blinking [00:11:17]
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