Living sacrifice

Gerard Seow
July 04, 2021

Voice of Elijah – 4th July 2021 – (e7k/#456) – 36 days until National Day (Aug-9); 73 days until Monogamy Day (Sept-15); Sukkot begins a week after that (Sept 20-27).

Living Sacrifice – turning bitter hearts to the bosom of the Father by a baptism of fire (to undergo) ie, melting away the flesh-life in the presence the Son of God, “whose eyes are burning fire and feet burnished (from clay to) bronze” (Jesus at the Church at Thyatira)

“Simon, Simon – Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

“… The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Mark 9:49 – For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with SALT.

There is a deep cleansing work that the Lord is doing amongst us. Very gentle, nurturing, easy (but not cheap) in our hearts, good but not (necessarily) safe.

Cleansing is not merely taking away (subtraction), but allowing the immense righteousness of his Presence to flood us (addition) and, “… all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33b).

Guard our hearts’ intentions. Wait in the Temple of the Holy Spirit (within) and listen to what the Spirit says to the ecclesia. Gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and enquire of Him.

Are we “doing good” passionately out of our flesh inherited from the Fall? Soulishness manifesting as a form of godliness, but without power (2 Tim 3:5)?

For all the things we are doing, strip it down to one question from Jesus: “(YOUR NAME), do you love me?”

Like Peter, how will we react when confronted by the reality of the difference between fleshly desire and truth of the Spirit (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62)?

Consider Jesus’ words afresh in Matthew 5:3-16. For all the exciting things we are “doing for Jesus”?

How will we answer the question, “Do you love me? Am I still your First Love?”

Like Job (42:1-6), can we say before the Lord, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Thus, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Pray – Make us a living sacrifice, and may You sanctify us with your Holy Spirit only, in all that we are and do. The Lord is restoring all things, beginning with our hearts. (G.C.)

[Photo credits: Durga Gurung & friends of Jesus in Nepal]