July 27, 2016
MY FRIENDS, CAN WE GIVE GOD A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE CONTINUALLY?
Why would praising be a sacrifice? When in the context of praising an all knowing, all powerful, omnipresence God we are only expressing our approval and admiration with Joy and celebration for all God has done for us. “The word “sacrifice” comes from a Greek verb meaning “to kill or slaughter for a purpose.” So a sincere praise, with a contrite heart requires that we kill self completely along with anything else that threatens to diminish or interfere with our worship or our personal relationship with God.
because my friends It is “by Him, in Him, with Him, to Him, and for Him that we offer our sacrifice of praise to God.” (Jack Hayford Ministries) In addition, as we begin to “forsake all others” and take up our cross and follow Christ “the author and finisher of our faith” we still have work to do while there is still daylight and God’s presence and grace is still manifested in a world where the light of His Spirit grows dimmer each day.
As God’s chosen, we are ambassadors of His word. And as ambassadors, its personal because it is you and I that must continually offer up our 
“sacrifice of praise” to God daily by proclaiming the grace, and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So as we continue our journey to the promise land, let us all do as the demoniac who became a living testimony for Christ, as those around him witnessed the transformation from the touch of the Master’s hand.
Mark 5:19-20 (KJV) tells us The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.” As we look over our life, what does God really mean to us? And where has he brought us from?
And as we contemplate our answers let us remind ourself of the high cost that was paid for our Salvation, and the only thing that God ask in return is a sincere and contrite heart that has been transformed into His Character and recognizes His voice as we respond by offering “a sacrifice of praise” to Him as we “forsake all others” and “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that [His] house may be filled.” Luke 14:23 (KJV)
So now “let us “through Him, at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of [our] lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name” Heb 13:15 (AMP) as we spread the good news of Christ soon return, while always remembering that a “sacrifice of praise” to God is not just something we have become accustomed to when we go to Church and stand up, waving our hands back and forth as the Spirit entertains us.
But a “sacrifice of praise” to God is what we are and what we have become from a complete transformation in Christ. Remember my friends Our Savior is “the light of the world. Whoever follows Christ will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” And as we take on the Character and image of Christ we become light bearers for him as we offer up “a sacrifice of praise” to God today, tomorrow and as we become a part of that “great multitude John saw that no one could count,” throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.
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