Don’t Be A Spiritual Zombie

 

INTRO: Many of us like to watch movies.  Going to the movies used to be a popular family event.  Remember going to the Drive-In theatre?  Today it’s much more convenient to enjoy a movie in the privacy of your own home in your PJs with your much less expensive popcorn and drink of choice than driving to the movie theatre and paying exorbitant prices while enduring the presence of complete strangers and rude behavior.

One type of movie genre is the “horror” movie.  Personally, I am not a fan.  I can’t stand the previews much less watch a horror movie.  One type of horror movie that seems to attract a large audience is the Zombie themed movies.

I did a Google search and found a website (www.imdb.com) that listed 273 zombie movie titles.

Wikipedia defines “Zombies” as “fictional creatures usually portrayed as reanimated corpses or virally infected human beings.”  There are many versions of a Zombie movie titled “Night of the Living Dead.”

I thought of these zombie movies when I recently read a great article titled “Fixing Our Eyes on Eternity,” written by Robin Webber and published in the Beyond Today magazine January-February issue.  Mr. Webber writes “Sadly, but humanly, even people called to serve the living God can at times travel through life like the living dead.”  Wow!  Sounds like a “zombie!”

I guess you could say that I’m kind of like a Zombie before I have my coffee in the morning!

 

(Eph 2:5)  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

(Rom 6:11)  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Wow, are we actually the “living dead?”  Well, what does it mean to be “alive?”

Definition of alive

1: having life : not dead or inanimate

2a: still in existence, force, or operation : ACTIVE kept hope alive

b: still active in competition with a chance of victory must win to stay alive in the playoffs

3: knowing or realizing the existence of something : SENSITIVE alive to the danger

4: marked by alertness, energy, or briskness his face came alive at the mention of food

5: marked by much life, animation, or activity : SWARMING streets alive with traffic

 

[Words to ponder: Living vs. dead; selfless vs. self-centered; giving vs. taking; dedicated vs. non-committal; holy vs. profane]

SPS: Today we will explore what it means to present our bodies a living sacrifice to God

NKJV (SB – Study Bible); Romans 12:1 “Living sacrifices to God”

 

(Rom 12:1)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

The NKJV Study Bible 2nd Edition, by Thomas Nelson, sheds some light on the meaning of being a living sacrifice as follows:

1. Paul entreats believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, meaning they should use their bodies to serve and obey God (see 6:13).
2. Such giving of the body to God is more than a contrast with a dead animal sacrifice, it is a “newness of life” (see 6:4). 
3. Holy means set apart for the Lord’s use; acceptable means pleasing to Him; and reasonable indicates that such a gift is the only rational reaction to all the good gifts God has showered on us.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Abridged Edition puts it this way under the heading “The Appeal for Dedication of the Believer” in it’s commentary on Romans 12:1—“I beseech you therefore” is Paul “establishing a connection to the entire foregoing presentation in this letter.” Expositor’s goes on to equate “living sacrifice” with “spiritual worship.”

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS; “…the main idea is that the sacrifice (living sacrifice) we render to God is intelligent and deliberate.”

 

I’ve already given you a few clues, however we need to dig a little deeper.

(Rom 12:1)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

(Rom 12:2)  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 

1.       We are to use our bodies to serve and obey God when we present our bodies as a living sacrifice. 

We were baptized into Christ Jesus and into His death.  Our old and carnal way of life was buried with Him, and “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), and   “…our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin (Romans 6:5).”

[Personal note: Years ago when I was what you would consider middle-aged I pulled up to my local gas station/mini-market near Shingletown, CA and parked.  I got out of my truck and headed for the entrance, which was the typical glass and metal exterior door you see at the entrance of many retail establishments.  A strapping young man, probably in his twenties grabbed the door handle ahead of me, and said “here, let me get that for you ‘old man.’” Wow, did that hurt!  In fact for a minute I had a passing fancy to deck him!  That was the first time I had anyone call me old man!  I had a few gray hairs, but old man, really?! I haven’t thought about it much over the past several years, however, when I was preparing this message I realized he was right!  Not because of my gray hairs, but because my behavior at the time in my life was entirely too much like that old man that was crucified with Christ!]

God wants us to dedicate our lives to Him!  If we continue walking in the old ways of this world we are dedicating ourselves to Satan and giving in to his influence, and in essence engaging in Zombie like behavior; walking in the body that was dead to sin, instead of the new creature that is alive in Christ [Recidivism – a relapse into criminal behavior].

We’re to be a living sacrifice that is acceptable to God!  We’re not to be a dead sacrifice like the animals in the old testament.  The sacrifice is giving up our old way of life and dedicating ourselves to God by living His way!  He wants us to be Holy, seeking His kingdom and His righteousness.  We are not to allow our lusts to rule over us—we gave that up, right?!  That’s what is supposed to be dead!  Our old sins should be left dead and buried.

Our new life, “walking in the newness of life” should exhibit a walk like Jesus walked.

This “living sacrifice” we’re supposed to be, doesn’t it mean we should be a peace offering to God?

The Forerunner Commentary makes an excellent point as follows:

“peace is a major fruit of sacrifice. …it means sacrificing ourselves in keeping God’s commandments and fighting human nature, holding it in check.  It means being a living sacrifice by not conforming to this world or yielding to the base demands of human nature.”  The Forerunner equates our living sacrifice to a peace offering to God, which “is the very essence of love!”

The old carnal man practices sin, and the new man is to practice (KJV “doeth”) righteousness.

(1Jn 3:7)  Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

(1Jn 3:10)  In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

As a “living sacrifice” we are to be living God’s way, and not the way of the world.

 

“SACRIFICE” – Let’s take a closer look at the meaning of “sacrifice.”

 

According to The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Copyright 1990 by Thomas Nelson Publishers), the word “sacrifice” in Romans 12:1 is translated from the Greek word thusia (G2378-thoo-see-ah) from G2380, thuo (Thoo-o).  Thuo means to immolate, or sacrifice by fire.  AGAIN, I REPEAT, WE ARE TO BE A LIVING SACRIFICE.  NOT A BURNED UP DEAD SACRIFICE UNABLE TO SERVE GOD ANY LONGER UNTIL THE RESURRECTION.

We have work to do…we have God’s work to do.  We have to immolate and burn up the sins of the old man, and live a new life to God.  A life of righteousness!

When we walk in righteousness, and give up our old ways, sacrifice our old ways, our living sacrifice is a soothing or pleasing aroma to God.

When we give our time to Him instead of burning up time with self-centered and worthless pleasures, we are a living sacrifice and a peace offering to God.

NLT - (Rom 8:6)  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

(Rom 8:7)  For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.

 

We know we received the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ (v9), and we have the God given ability to live in a newness of life and be spiritually minded because we have the Holy Spirit.  We are not at enmity with God when we are spiritually minded and live our lives to Him in an intelligent and dedicated way!

 

2.       Holy

(Rom 12:1)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

We are to be a living sacrifice that is holy.

G40, ἅγιος, hagios, hag'-ee-os

sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing), saint.

(1Pe 1:13)  Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you (resurrection to eternal life) at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-gird-up-your-loins-an-illustrated-guide/

If you've read the Bible, then you've probably come across the phrase “gird up your loins.” ... Thus to tell someone to “gird up their loins” was to tell them to get ready for hard work or battle. It was the ancient way of saying “man up!”Oct 2, 2014

(1Pe 1:14)  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

[This ties into Romans 12:2]

(Rom 12:2)  And do not be conformed [fashion yourself to the same pattern] to this world, but be transformed (metamorphous, change, transfigure) by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

(1Pe 1:15)  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

(1Pe 1:16)  because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

[See Ephesians 2:1, 4:17]

Blaming God for the sorrows and suffering in this world is not being HOLY as HE IS HOLY!

Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman in a Nazi concentration camp, who survived. She went around the world talking about what she had gone through, and kept saying something which was so famously repeated, “No matter how deep our darkness, He is deeper still.” She concluded “There is no pit so deep, the love of God is not deeper still.” It makes me have a sense of confidence that God totally gets it. Regarding our pain, He’s been there, and then we can also understand other people’s pain. – Victor Kubik,

3. Acceptable (God wants us to be a living sacrifice that is pleasing to Him)

(Php 4:18)  At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Expositor’s Bible Commentary states that “Paul considers this contribution a sacrificial offering to God, made to further the Lord’s work by helping His servant (Mt 25:40).

 

It pleases God when we choose to make financial offerings and pay our tithes to God instead of spending that money on our own worldly desires.  It is part of what makes our living sacrifice to God an acceptable sacrifice.

 

[We don’t buy our way into the kingdom!]

Being an acceptable living sacrifice has a lot to do with our ATTITUDE.

We need to avoid the “I have to” and “I can’t” type of attitude.  Like “I can’t eat any leavening during unleavened bread” instead of “I get to eat unleavened bread for seven days as a reminder that I need to live a sinless life!”

Or, instead of saying “I can’t eat pork and shellfish because God said its unclean.”  Very true, but what’s the attitude?  How about saying “I get to eat such an amazing variety of food that God designed and created for my wellbeing, and I’m so thankful He warns me out of love to not eat things that are bad for me!”

Instead of saying, “I have to give a tenth of my income to God and save another tenth and spend it at the Feast every year,” you could say “I am so grateful God blessed me and I get to express my thankfulness in this small way, and I’m thankful He teaches me to budget by setting aside money for the Feast so I don’t get into debt.”

“FREE WILL”

Part of being an ACCEPTABLE living sacrifice to God is that we live His way of life willingly and of our own free will, AND NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO OR ELSE!

(Lev 19:5)  'And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the LORD, you shall offer it of your own free will.

(Lev 22:29)  And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will.

Who is the first person in the Bible that you think of when I say “Who was the first person (not spirit being) mentioned in the Bible that had a really rotten attitude about sacrificing to God?

You know who I mean, right?

Do you remember this Scripture?

(Gen 4:5)  but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

(Gen 4:6)  So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?

(Gen 4:7)  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

[So important that we “do well” as a living sacrifice to God]

 

(Rom 14:17)  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

[Relate story about a Feast luncheon at long tables in a restaurant, and the young man who virtually wagged his finger at me and said, “Don’t you know they usually put pork in that!”]

What’s more important to God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps what the young man could have said was something along the line of “Sir, I heard some restaurants use lard in that dish you ordered.  You might want to ask them about it.”

(Rom 14:18)  For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

A vital key here brethren to be an ACCEPTABLE living sacrifice to God is this:

(Psa 51:17)  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.

 

4. (Rom 12:1)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

 

My NKJV study Bible states that “…reasonable indicates that such a gift is the only rational reaction to all the good gifts God has showered on us.”

Is it UNREASONABLE for God to expect us to give our ALL to God?

He gave us His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sins – totally undeserved.  God doesn’t just want your physical body…He wants your life to be a sacrifice.  He wants you to set aside your carnal nature and selfish desires and prove how appreciative you are for the GRACE Jesus Christ has given you.

Brethren, the ultimate and awesome gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord DEMANDS our reasonable and righteous service to God.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.

God gave each of us a measure of faith and various gifts THAT HE EXPECTS US TO USE IN OUR SERVICE TO HIM!

[Don’t go AWOL!]  We were conscripted into the army of God as Christian soldiers!  He called us!  We didn’t volunteer.  He expects us to perform our Christian duties with a willing zeal!

Conclusion:

(Gal 2:20)  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

(Joh 16:33)  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

(Isa 53:3)  He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

 

So Jesus did three things to solve the problem of suffering. First, He came, He suffered, He wept. Secondly, He came and becoming a man, He changed the meaning of our suffering, because now it’s a part of His work of redemption and salvation. Our death pangs become birth pangs for eternity as we are preparing for a new nature. Something great is being done in our lives. And thirdly, most importantly, He died and rose. He was resurrected. - Kubik

 

Summary:

 

1. We are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God.  We are to serve and obey God.  It’s a 24/7 job with no vacation hours.

 

2. We are to be living as new creatures in Christ…not giving in to the old carnal man (or woman).

 

3. We are to live holy lives before God, and not conforming ourselves to our former lusts.  We need to work hard and gird up the loins of our mind and commit to leading lives dedicated to God with diligent purpose.

 

4. Our living sacrifice to God must be acceptable to God, a pleasing aroma to Him.  We must give our very best to God…our best attitudes and behaviors.

 

5. We must give our reasonable service to God, which is our ALL…our lives must be dedicated to showing God our love, and showing the world our love for God!

 

(2Co 4:17)  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

(2Co 4:18)  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(Rev 21:4)  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."