Society today has come to the point that it does not take Christians seriously. This is because many Christians don’t take the word of God seriously. How can we effect a world with the change that the Bible speaks about, if we don’t allow it to effect us, first.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
??? What are some spiritual sacrifices someone might offer up to God?
- Name something that can be: spent, haggled for, bargained with, wasted, squandered, and redeemed and even sacrificed… but you can never get any more than you have? (answer: time)
- Remember a sacrifice must cost you something… and be acceptable to God
What do you have that you can offer up to God? That will be acceptable?
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.
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.
Today’s modern Church wants to tell God what HE should accept for a sacrifice…
Hebrews 11:4a By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous,…
A Testimony of having an effect
Philemon 1:4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Effectual
The term effectual is a noun and a verb. It means that something not only had an effect but also the act of having an effect. (Life changing)
Paul could see that when people spoke to each other about the testimony of the people that were meeting at Philemon’s house that it was having an effect on their lives. That their testimony was challenging them to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others.
If you examine the passage carefully you will note that Paul was not addressing what the this group at Philemon’s house was saying to the world (the witness)… but rather what the world was saying about the church at Philemon’s house. (their testimony!)
- People today need to see our testimony, the need to see Jesus Christ in us.
An Effectual testimony, lifts up Christ
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Note again: what was causing this effect was the testimony of this church that was causing a communication. People saw all their good works and it got them talking.
What about you? What is your testimony? Do the people around you see you as a Christian?
Do you even know the difference? Because those watching your testimony DOES.
God can do something special when you do it together
- We are His hands, feet and voice
Acts 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
What is the value of your sacrifice?
If I were to offer up $100 to each person in here that genuinely wanted to:
- Come to church
- Dress in a manner honorable to God
- Act in a way honorable to God
- Memorize just one verse a week (not just 3 minutes before quoting it) Thy Word have it hid in my heart… not head…
- Bring your Bible
- Bring a visitor
Is that worth $100? Or is that your “reasonable sacrifice?”
But like Cain some look at that and offer up the worldly effort and dare God not to accept it.
Like some arrogant gansta you pull out your own $100 just so you don’t have to go by God’s terms… but your own.
Even to the point that this effort isn’t WORTHY of your sacrifice…
These are the efforts that the world sees (our testimony), Is your sacrifice something that will have an effectual testimony? When people see YOUR faith… will it change peoples lives?