RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL SUNDAY 1ST OF OCTOBER, 2023L

[15]Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

[16]But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Spiritual sacrifices are continuous offerings from believers to God in faith. They are words or deeds motivated by a desire to glorify God alone (Hebrews 13:16). Just as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary under the Old Covenant, so our spiritual sacrifices ascend to God (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8). These include the believer’s prayers, praises, will, body, time, treasures, talents, and spiritual gifts.

Therefore, the fact that the incense was always burning means we should always pray (Luke 18:1). Fasting is also a spiritual sacrifice that aids the believer’s prayer (Daniel 9:3). God created us to praise Him, and we must offer the ‘sacrifice of praise’ to Him continually (Hebrews 13:15).

Just as Jesus surrendered His will to the Father’s (Luke 22:42), so should we, though it’s an ongoing battle (Romans 7:18-20). Our talents and spiritual gifts are from God and should be offered for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edification of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:7, 11-12). Our treasures (financial/material) contribute to the spiritual sacrifices to be offered to God, the kingdom work on earth, the ministers of God, and the people in need (Philippians 4:18; Proverbs 19:17; Galatians 6:10). The apostle Paul also charges believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices unto God (Romans 12:1).

Believers constitute the new priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, to offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices, we must appear before God sanctified (Psalm 24:3-4; Leviticus 10:1-3). We must present our bodies as ‘living sacrifices’ (Romans 12:1-2). Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). The believer’s body must be yielded to God as an instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:12-13). This implies that we are to maintain good sexual boundaries and refuse to use our bodies for theft, or to bring harm to another person (Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:12-13).

Spiritual sacrifices must be offered obediently (1 Samuel 15:22); willingly (2Corinthians 9:6); cheerfully (2Corinthians 9:7); timely (Ecclesiastes 11:6) and in reverence to God (Malachi 1:8).

CONCLUSION: Sacrifice is part and parcel of worship. Jesus promised us rewards for every kind action done in His name (Mark 9:41).