Oh, how we need Jesus and His living water! God has called for us to be a living sacrifice. What does that mean, and why is it important?
The State of The Church
So many people out in the world are concerned about the state of the world and where the human race is going. People get wrapped up in politics, controversies, strong emotions, COVID-19, etc.! But very few people in the church seem concerned about the state of the church! What Christians fail to realize is that the state of the church can determine the state of the world.
The church has gotten stale. Christians have gotten selfish. Religion has gotten self-centered. The more we turn in on ourselves, then the less we have of God. The less we have of God, the less chance we have of God coming down and saving us from the powers that threaten to destroy not only our country, but also the church!
Run For Revival
Paul instructs us how to run for revival. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the image of the world.” We were made in the image of God, so we must conform to Him alone, His will and His ways. Water naturally conforms to the earth; however, a torrent of living water may flow so powerfully that it does not conform but barrels through the land and takes it own path. Living water changes the land.
This is the attitude of Jesus that we must have: “I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me! I don’t conform to the world or what’s going on around me.”
What is needed is a fresh move of God, a revival! We must to stick with God’s spirit—the Holy Spirit—and stay with it all year long. And we cannot afford to conform to the spirits of this world. American culture with its fun and entertainment tries to draw us in, but we do not give this world, its mythological characters, the “holiday spirit,” or any inanimate thing power over our lives. Only Jesus should have that authority and power!
To be a living sacrifice is to be holy like God is and conform to Him alone. Jesus Christ has rivers of living water and is the one true living God.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Questions:
How often do you think/pray about the (spiritual) state of your church?
Does your life reflect the image of God?
What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
Is God the highest and only authority in your life?
1:52The more we turn selfish and on ourselves, the less we’re going to have of God. The less we have of God, the less we have a chance of God coming down and rescuing us from the powers that are out not only to destroy the country but also to destroy the church.
4:28There ought to be a river of life flowing right out of you! That water has to be flowing so hard and powerfully that it does not conform to the land. It takes its own path, barrels through, and changes the land.
6:20We want revival. We want a move of God… but we’ve got another spirit.
7:10When you get the Holy Spirit, you want to stick with God’s spirit and stay with it all year long.
