OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 4/11/2013 -TRUE SACRIFICE BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

TRUE SACRIFICE

MEMORY VERSE

I 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.

Romans 12:1

READ

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1 I 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.

Romans 12:2 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.

MESSAGE

Another laudable virtue in the midwives of Exodus 1:15-21 was that they were ready to die for what they believed was right. That was great sacrifice! These midwives got to the ultimate in sacrifice  to the point of death! Romans 12:1 says,

I 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.

For you to follow the Lord at all, you must be ready to sacrifice for the Kingdom. The extent of the sacrifice is what you have to determine. Some people can sacrifice their intellect but not their time. Some can sacrifice their time but not their money. How many times have you sacrificed very interesting television programmes just to be in God's presence, worshipping or winning a soul to Him? Some people can sacrifice their old or used clothes to be given for missions but cannot buy brand new clothes for the same purpose. Some people can give hundreds and some thousands of naira, dollars or euro but cannot give hundreds of thousands or millions of the same currency even when they can afford it. What level of sacrifice are you presently on?

What is the ultimate sacrifice? This is a point of sacrifice where you can give anything or any amount for the Kingdom. Here, you can give your all - house, car, money, time and even life for the Kingdom of God to be established on earth. You do not mind being killed for your faith in Christ. This is the ultimate sacrifice! When you love God to this point, you begin a new life where everything is totally different. At this point, nothing is anything. Nothing can stand between you and God. Here, obedience is total. This is the place of true sacrifice. Once you get to this point, God can do just about anything through you. He can entrust His riches into your hands and He will carry you delicately like an egg. This is the place where real life starts. May the Lord take you to this point!

KEY POINT

True living starts from the point of total surrender.