Becoming a Living Witness: The Requirement of Being a Living Sacrifice for God

Becoming a Living Witness: The Requirement of Being a Living Sacrifice for God

Isaac Megbolugbe 

September 2, 2024

Key Summary Points:m

– Being a living witness to God’s glory, grace, and goodness requires being a living sacrifice.

– This lifestyle of sacrifice embodies a pursuit of holiness, which is our acceptable offer of worship to God.

– Pursuing holiness involves:

– Separation from sin

– Consecration to God

– Transformation by the Holy Spirit

– Obedience to God’s Word

– Christlikeness

– Accountability

– Dependence on God

– Progressive sanctification

– This holiness lifestyle is our spiritual worship, reasonable service, and acceptable offer to God.

 

May we continue to embrace this lifestyle, reflecting God’s glory and goodness to the world!

 

Introduction

As believers, we are called to be living witnesses to the glory, grace, and goodness of God. However, this calling comes with a requirement: being a living sacrifice for God. In this article, we will explore why and how being a living sacrifice is essential for becoming a living witness.

 

Why Being a Living Sacrifice is Required

In Romans 12:1, Paul urges believers to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” This sacrifice is not about physical death but about surrendering our lives to God’s will. It’s about giving up our own desires, ambitions, and interests to serve God and others.

 

Being a living sacrifice is required because it:

1. Demonstrates our love and devotion to God

2. Allows God to work through us, transforming us into His image

3. Enables us to experience God’s power and grace in our lives

4. Prepares us to be used by God as instruments of His glory and goodness

 

How to Become a Living Sacrifice

Becoming a living sacrifice requires:

1. Surrender: Give up control and surrender your life to God’s will.

2. Obedience: Obey God’s commands and follow His leading.

3. Humility: Recognize your limitations and dependence on God.

4. Self-denial: Put God’s interests above your own desires and ambitions.

5. Faith: Trust God’s sovereignty and goodness, even in difficult circumstances.

 

Benefits of Being a Living Sacrifice

As we become living sacrifices, we experience:

 

1. Transformation: God transforms us into His image, making us more like Christ.

2. Empowerment: God’s power and grace work through us, enabling us to serve others.

3. Purpose: We discover our purpose and meaning in serving God and others.

4. Joy: We experience joy and fulfillment in surrendering our lives to God.

 

Conclusion

Becoming a living witness to the glory, grace, and goodness of God requires being a living sacrifice. By surrendering our lives to God, we demonstrate our love and devotion, allow God to work through us, and experience His power and grace. As we become living sacrifices, we are transformed, empowered, and fulfilled, becoming effective witnesses to God’s glory and goodness.

 

The Rewards of Being a Living Sacrifice

As we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, we can expect:

 

1. Deeper intimacy with God: Surrendering our lives to God deepens our relationship with Him.

2. Increased fruitfulness: As we surrender to God, He works through us to produce spiritual fruit.

3. Greater impact: Living sacrifices have a greater impact on the world around them.

4. Spiritual growth: Surrendering to God leads to spiritual growth and maturity.

5. Eternal rewards: Living sacrifices will receive eternal rewards in heaven.

 

Challenges of Being a Living Sacrifice

While being a living sacrifice has many rewards, it also comes with challenges:

 

1. Surrendering control: Giving up control can be difficult.

2. Facing trials: Living sacrifices may face trials and difficulties.

3. Overcoming self: Denying ourselves and our desires can be hard.

4. Persevering: Remaining a living sacrifice requires perseverance.

 

Conclusion

Becoming a living witness to the glory, grace, and goodness of God requires being a living sacrifice. While it comes with challenges, the rewards are immeasurable. As we surrender our lives to God, we experience transformation, empowerment, purpose, joy, and intimacy with Him. Let us offer ourselves as living sacrifices, that God may work through us to bring glory to His name.

 

 

Living Sacrifices: A Call to Radical Obedience

As we embrace the call to be living sacrifices, we must understand that it requires radical obedience. This means:

 

1. Total surrender: Surrendering every area of our lives to God.

2. Unconditional trust: Trusting God without conditions or reservations.

3. Unwavering commitment: Remaining committed to God’s will, even in difficult times.

4. Unrelenting passion: Pursuing God with passion and fervor.

5. Unshakeable faith: Trusting God’s sovereignty and goodness, even when we don’t understand.

 

The Power of Living Sacrifices

When we become living sacrifices, we:

 

1. Unlock God’s power: God’s power is unleashed in our lives as we surrender to Him.

2. Experience transformation: We are transformed into Christ’s image.

3. Become instruments of God’s glory: We are used by God to bring glory to His name.

4. Demonstrate God’s love: We demonstrate God’s love to a world in need.

5. Leave a lasting legacy: Our lives leave a lasting impact on the world.

 

Conclusion

Being a living sacrifice is not just a suggestion, but a requirement for becoming a living witness to the glory, grace, and goodness of God. It requires radical obedience, but the rewards are immeasurable. As we surrender our lives to God, we experience transformation, empowerment, and purpose. Let us embrace the call to be living sacrifices, that God may work through us to bring glory to His name.

 

Pursuit of Holiness

Being a living witness embodies a lifestyle of pursuit of holiness in several ways:

 

1. Separation from sin: A living witness seeks to separate themselves from sin and worldly influences, pursuing a life of holiness and obedience to God.

 

2. Consecration to God: By surrendering their life to God, a living witness consecrates themselves to His purposes, seeking to be set apart for His use.

 

3. Transformation by the Holy Spirit: As a living witness, one seeks to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to work in their life to produce fruit and character that reflects God’s holiness.

 

4. Obedience to God’s Word: A living witness pursues obedience to God’s Word, seeking to live according to His commands and principles.

 

5. Christlikeness: The ultimate goal of a living witness is to become like Christ, reflecting His character, love, and holiness in every aspect of life.

 

6. Accountability: Living witnesses hold themselves accountable for their actions, thoughts, and attitudes, seeking to maintain a life of integrity and holiness.

 

7. Dependence on God: Recognizing their inability to achieve holiness on their own, living witnesses depend on God’s grace and empowerment to pursue a life of holiness.

 

8. Progressive sanctification: A living witness understands that holiness is a lifelong process, continually seeking to grow in holiness and become more like Christ.

 

By embracing these aspects, a living witness embodies a lifestyle of pursuit of holiness, reflecting God’s glory and goodness to the world.

 

Offer of Acceptable Worship

The holiness lifestyle is our acceptable offer of worship to the Holy God because:

 

1. It reflects our reverence for Him: By living a holy life, we demonstrate our reverence and awe for God’s majesty and holiness.

 

2. It honors His character: Our pursuit of holiness honors God’s character and nature, reflecting our desire to be like Him.

 

3. It is a sacrifice of obedience: Living a holy life requires sacrifice and obedience, which are essential components of worship.

 

4. It pleases God: The Bible says that we are to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1).

 

5. It is a form of worship that never ceases: Unlike physical sacrifices or rituals, the holiness lifestyle is an ongoing, continuous act of worship.

 

6. It reflects our love for Him: By choosing to live a holy life, we demonstrate our love and devotion to God.

 

7. It brings glory to God: Our holiness lifestyle brings glory to God, as it reflects His work in our lives and points others to Him.

 

In essence, the holiness lifestyle is our spiritual worship, our reasonable service, and our acceptable offer to the Holy God.