Sacrifice your life unto the Perfect Will of God
Part IV
Students
of the Word, welcome back to our study of Romans 12:1-2. Your assignment was to read one of the
Gospels: focusing on the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ.
Jesus
is our perfect example of Romans 12:1-2:
1I 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.2 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.
Jesus presented his body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which was his reasonable
service and was not conformed to this world: in the garden there was a
transformation, his mind was renewed in prayer when he struggled against the
will of flesh, he proved what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will
of God.
- Jesus presented his body/life a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God: Jesus met every need of every person that ask of him: that was a sacrifice
- Jesus left heaven to come to earth to be crucified: that was a sacrifice
- Jesus endure the temptation of the enemy for a season(Matthew 4:1-11), that was a sacrifice
- Jesus endured the persecution of the religious people who claim to serve God: that was a sacrifice
- Jesus took on the form of a servant in the likeness of sinful flesh: that was a sacrifice
- Jesus ultimate sacrifice, he was crucified, died, was buried for our sins, (that was the sacrifice) but he rose with power. HE Is seated at the right hand of God, making intercession for me and you.
If you completed
your assignment to read one of the Gospels accounts of the life of Jesus
Christ, you can understand the above statements. As Jesus walked the face of this earth, he
was in demand: to heal the sick, raise the deal, teach the word of God, and
feed people. Don’t you think this was a
sacrifice? Surely, he had other things
to do as well. Taking care of his mother was one of his responsibilities. Jesus pretty much walked everywhere on his
missionary journeys. That was tiresome,
but yet his ministered to the needs of the people: healing and hope of
salvation. He clearly taught
repentance. He endured temptation just
as any other man. Remember, Jesus was a man and yet the Son of God who came
into this world to be our perfect living sacrifice. He
never sinned, but was judged by the unrighteous and condemned to death. He took on the SINS OF THE WORLD: your sins
and my sins, to give you the gift of eternal life through: repentance and
receiving his Holy Spirit: the comforter.
Hebrews 5:8-9
8 Though he (Jesus Christ) were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Eternal Salvation is given to us because of the sacrifice of obedience performed by Jesus Christ.
Then said Jesus … I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: …; for I do always those things that please him. John 8:28-29
Jesus never did anything just because he wanted too. He always did the things that pleased God the Father. Jesus always sacrificed his will to do the will of the Father. This is only accomplished through obeying the first commandment.
Matthew 22:37-39 (KJV)
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
For those of you who believed some people don’t love themselves, I disagree. I realize some people are deceived by Satan into believing they don’t love themselves. People do love themselves, they love themselves so much that they seek pleasure, peace, happiness in some very unproductive ways.
Continuing with Jesus sacrifice:
Jesus, the
greatest example, of a living sacrifice – although he knew his Father’s will –
he struggled in the garden in prayer – with the will of God against the will of
the flesh. Read Matthew 26: 36- 44
- Matthew 26:39
- Matthew 26:42
- Matthew 26:44
In these passages of scripture, Jesus gives us the key to
Romans 12:1-2. How do I present my body as a holy living sacrifice? Read the passages:
Matthew 26:36-44 (KJV)
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Jesus clearly demonstrates how to become that perfect living sacrifice in Romans 12:1-2. As Jesus struggled in the garden of Gethsemane; he struggles with the will of his flesh as a human verse the will of God. In his flesh, he did not want to be bruised, whipped, spit upon, ridiculed, falsely accused, stripped of his clothes, have a thorn crown placed on his head and nailed to a cross like a common criminal. But, Jesus won this battle against the flesh in his mind first.
Remember, where ever the mind is the body will follow. Once he settled or purposed in his heart to obey the will of God, the battle in his mind to be sacrificed for the sins of the world, he was now ready to be delivered to the Jews, the high priest, and the rulers of the land: Caiaphas the high priest then Pontius Pilate the governor. (Read Matthew 26-28)
Once he had that made up mind, “Thy will be done Father”. He could submit (offer) himself to death, death of the cross. Don’t forget a beating preceded the cross. He was whipped beyond recognition (scourged): for the sins of the whole world. His blood was shed for the remission of our sins. Without the shedding of blood there is no sacrifice, no remission of sins.
What Jesus went through was not an easy task. We, just like Jesus are to present our bodies a living sacrifice. Meaning, we are submit or surrender our will, to the will of God. Guess what? God’s will, will be contrary to your will. If it’s not contrary then there is no sacrifice.
Look at Peter a mighty apostle taught by Jesus himself. Peter’s occupation was a fisherman. Peter had to give up his occupation as a fisherman to become a fisher of men (soul winner) for Christ. Peter loved his occupation, he loved fishing. But his new occupation as soul winner did not leave much time for his passion of fishing. That was a sacrifice.
We have to learn how to love God will all of our mind, heart, soul, and strength to be able to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. It does not mean you will not be allowed to enjoy your life, it means you must surrender your will to God’s will.
Remember God’s thoughts and ways are not like ours. He does know what’s he’s doing therefore we must learn to trust him. We must learn to trust his will for our life. This is a total act of love, surrender and obedience to God. His ways and thought are higher than ours.
Isaiah 55:7-9 (KJV)
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
In the garden of Gethsemane, as Jesus struggled with his decision to be our sacrifice for our sins, he remember his purpose of coming into the world, was to be that sacrifice. Therefore he submitted himself to the will of God: his purpose or his destiny.
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save
me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this
hour.
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus
answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for
this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto
the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
We all have a purpose ordained by God for our lives. We must be determined to surrender our will unto God’s perfect will for our life, even when it’s hard.
Next week we’ll
look at Romans 12:2 to see how Jesus proved, … what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I pray this study is helping your fulfill Romans 12:1-2 for your life. As we study the Bible, remember it’s not just a bible story; it is your road map to eternal life.
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