So What...

You’ve been involved in a House group or Alpha. You’ve learned some new things about faith in Jesus. You may have been exposed to new experiences of God. You feel more committed. Is that the result of an Alpha or house group – is that the result of being involved in a house group? People often are prepared to go to extraordinary lengths for things they believe in.

Last weekend was the 60^th anniversary of the D-Day landings. A German machine gunner, Heinrich Serverloh, 80, who claims that he killed or wounded more than 2,000 American Gis on Omaha beach, said he thought, 'My God, you poor pigs", as he raked the beach with bullets. Heinrich, dubbed "the beast of Omaha", apologised for killing so many to one of the men he wounded, David Silva from Cleveland, Ohio, on German television.

In Romans chapter 12 the message is this the only acceptable response to be a living sacrifice for God. That is we are totally and utterly committed to God body, soul & mind. 

It’s good to look at the example of Abraham. He had a son he loved dearly - Isaac. God said to Abraham, “Take him up in a mountain and kill him.” Take him up in a mountain and kill him? After all we went through to get him? He wasn’t born until I was 100…He was the only son I have, legitimately by Sarah.” But Abraham obeyed--took all the sticks and tied them on Isaac’s back. As if a picture of Christ, carrying his own cross, Isaac goes up the mountain. Abraham goes with him. He gets up on the mountain, lays Isaac out on the alter, and Isaac’s probably saying “, I’m not sure what’s going on here…” Abraham lifts his dagger”

Isaac was about to be a dead sacrifice? But there was a living sacrifice as well? Abraham. You know why? He was about to kill all his hopes, all his dreams, everything he ever wanted because that’s what God told him to do? Do you know what a living sacrifice is? Not somebody who dies for God, but somebody who submits to God’s will whatever the cost. That’s a living sacrifice. Abraham was prepared when God asked to put anything else that was dear to him after following God.

In Romans Paul  says, “Because of all that God has done for you, present your bodies a living sacrifice. We’re already acceptable - because of  Christ!  So will we just present ourselves? That is our required spiritual worship! God wants us! He doesn’t want bulls and goats and He doesn’t want dead animals… He wants us. And He wants you to be a living sacrifice; that is, willing to pay the supreme price for him. 

In 1 Corinthians 6  it says
¹⁹Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body

How do we present our bodies to God? What actions will make us living sacrifices? It is not an act of emotion but an act of the will involving all of us - ears - eyes - mouth - hands.

What we are is determined by what goes in - rubbish in rubbish out  - do we commit ourselves to listening & seeing whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely....

Philippians 4

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

Sexuality
Sex is sometimes thought of as something that Christians do not quite approve of - but of course the reality is that it was God’s idea - he could have thought of some much more boring ways to propagate the human race if that was His only concern - but he came up with something which was fun and relationship enhancing. - but of course it needs to happen according to the makers instructions in a lifelong relationship of marriage to keep the extended life  long divine warranty of it being an entirely positive activity.

Time
We are all levelled by time - you may be richer cleverer and more handsome than me but you still only have 168 hours a week – how can we make that time count for God.

Ambitions Mt 6.33
Ambition is another area where there is significant confusion over how we should act - there is nothing wrong as far as I am concerned with wanting to achieve things, with wanting to use your gifts to achieve the most you can in life - a degree of ambition seems to me to be entirely healthy - but for some people it is a case of getting up the greasy pole whoever they stand on in the process and whether they are the best person for the job or not .

Matthew 6
³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Our prime purpose is not to do well in life but seek to adopt Kingdom standards and to do what is right.

Money
When we get to heaven will we able to say the resources I had were used to take forward God’s Kingdom In order to
follow God we need to be living sacrifices who are different from what goes on in the rest of the world.

It is by contrast very easy to conform - when my children stayed in the West Midlands for a weekend some time ago I found for a couple of days later that they had conformed to a West Midlands accent - it is so tempting for us to conform 

We will all have things from the past that affect us and for many of us entangle us. The first step is to realise that we conform so easily to the world around us. The next step is a break with the past - it is an act of the will to say and mean I want to break with those sins that entangle me, those attitudes that ensnare me, those actions that bring you no glory. The third step is to make a new start - let God transform you inwardly. 

Attitudes of a living sacrifice 

Sincere love v9 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good"
One of the things I have found is that I am more cynical when I have drifted away from God but when I am close to God I find it easier to love people sincerely.

Enthusiasm for the Lord v11 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."
We need to keep our spiritual fervour – how on earth can I do that you may ask - the answer is  in meeting with others of like mind – that is why going on from an Alpha group to a follow on group is something we always encourage - it helps to encourage enthusiasm for the Lord

Harmonious relationships vv9-21
The whole of the last part of this passage is about harmonious relationships - we are seek to work together well with others. Why should we do this? Because he has a plan for us - for each of us here God has a unique plan - we can test what his will is by allowing his scriptures to imbue us and those leadings of His Holy Spirit to lead us.

He has gifts to help us carry out his will for us :
 ⁴Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

If the maker has a plan for your life and his Son  died for you to get you back on plan – what will your response be in terms of committing yourself for the rest of your life.

 © Alan Goddard
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