Our Spiritual Sacrifices 2 Samuel 24 18 25

Our Spiritual Sacrifices 2 Samuel 24: 18 -25

SACRIFICE • Sacrifice (thusia): “The act of offering; then, objectively, that which is offered” (Vine) • To an idol, Acts 7: 41 • Animals under the Law of Moses, Heb 10: 1 • Of Christ, Eph 5: 2 2

Acceptable Sacrifices (1 Pet 2: 5) • Presentation, Lev 1: 3 -5; Rom 12: 1 • Personal, Lev 1: 2; Rom 12: 1 • Prescribed manner, Lev 9: 15 -16 • Value, 2 Sam 24: 18, 21 -25 “Nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing. ” (2 Sam 24: 24) 3

The Cost Of Our Sacrifices • The Father sacrificed His Son, Jno 3: 16 (Rom 5: 8) • Abraham sacrificed his son, Heb 11: 17 (Gen 22: 12) • Do not offer God sacrifices that cost us nothing! 4

The Sacrifice Of Our Faith • Present our faith to God, Heb 11: 6, 4 • The Christian’s life and conduct of personal faith, Phil 2: 17 • Fruits of righteousness, 1: 9 -11 • Unity of faith in opposition to Satan, 1: 27 • Suffering for Christ, 1: 29 -30 • Humbly work out salvation, 2: 5, 12 -13 • W/o murmuring, hold fast word, 2: 14 -16 James 2: 14, 26 5

Sacrifice Of Our Body (Rom 12: 1) • Present our bodies to do God’s will • Living, active instrument in God’s service • Body belongs to the Lord, 1 Cor 6: 13 • To practice righteousness, not lusts and uncleanness, Rom 6: 12 -14 (1 Jno 2: 29) • Abstain from fornication, 1 Ths 4: 1 -8 • Worldliness, 1 Peter 4: 3 -4 • Cleanse our hearts, Mark 7: 20 -23 6

Sacrifice Material Goods (Phil 4: 18) • Helping those in need • As individuals, Gal 6: 10; 1 Tim 6: 17 -19; 1 Jno 3: 16 -18 (all who we can help) • As a congregation, 2 Cor 9: 7, 12 -15 (saints who are in need) • Support of gospel preachers, Gal 6: 6; Phil 4: 15 -16 • God is pleased, Heb 13: 16 (Matt 25: 34 ff) 7

Sacrifice Of Praise (Heb 13: 15) • God is praised when we confess His name in our lives, Matt 10: 32 -33 (Rev 2: 13) • Assembled worship is one way, Heb 10: 24 -25 • Neglect is a refusal to offer the sacrifice of praise to God, cf. Psa 42: 4 • Worship seeks God’s favor as we give Him homage, 2 Sam 24: 25 8

Our Spiritual Sacrifices • Every expression of faith • Every word of praise • Every pure thought • Every helping hand to others • Every obedient action …these are all spiritual sacrifices made to God (Rom 12: 1) 9