Family School at Faith Baptist Church
S.S.S. Study Biblical Apostleship
Week 4: Sacrificial living
What does it mean to live sacrificial lives unto God?
It means that every decision in your life is based upon how it will please God, not how it will affect you.
What must we be willing to sacrifice in order to please God?
Our savings- Matthew 26:6-13 (it is better to sacrifice our savings to further the cause of Christ than to feed the poor, the more important need is the gospel.) Matthew 19:20-22 only time in scripture someone left Jesus's presence sorrowful.
Our social status- Matthew 9:17-25 This mans parents were so concerned with their social/political standing in the synagog they refused to speak of Christ and instead put the focus of the angry leaders back onto their own son.
Our security- Acts 5:14-20,40-42 The apostles did not stop preaching when they realized it could cost them their lives, they thanked God and kept on! Luke 6:22-23 (the only time in God's word the phrase leap for joy is used)
Our family- Luke 14:26, Luke 9:59-62, family can be a great support, family should be, but many moms and dads have discouraged their children from following God's will because they do not want to see their kids on a foreign field.
Our selves (what do you mean?)
Our time- The entire lives of the apostles and many people of the early church revolved solely around serving Christ. Matthew 24:36-42 If you spend your time working the fields, spend it also making sure that if Christ comes back while your there, that the coworker isn't left behind.
Our bodies- tattoos, cutting, gluttony, clothing, smoking, drinking, abortion, etc 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 You do not belong to you!
Our plans- James 4:13-15, Plans are good, God honoring plans are better, but a willingness to sacrifice the plan and follow God is always best.
Knowing what must be sacrificed how do we (continually) live a sacrificial life unto the Lord?
Have and keep the proper view of ourselves-
Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
Have and keep the proper view of God-
Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
Have and keep the proper view of God's plan-
Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Do not just attempt to "do" the great commission while you live, live to see it "done" complete, fulfilled,
2nd Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
To live a sacrificial life we must weigh every decision with wether or not it glorifies God, we must be willing to sacrifice our savings, our social status, our security, our family, ourselves, our time our plans, we must keep a proper view of ourselves, our God, and His plan.
Remember:
Living a sacrificial life is not about giving money, or angrily doing what you think the pastor wants from you, living a sacrificial life is about being in tune with the Holy Spirit of God and being totally surrendered to its leading so that at any time and in any place around any people you can honestly say "Where He leads me I will follow".
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