On that fateful day, I offered myself as a living sacrifice unto God. I placed myself on the altar, ready to remain there.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Rom 12:1-2
That was the day I realized that I was no longer my own but I had been bought with a price. That price was the life of My Lord, Jesus Christ.
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
2 Corinthians 5:15
He gave his live for me so that I might live for him. I discovered that I wasn’t doing a good job living for him. Literally, I was living for myself. I wanted to be in control. I had been trained to take care of my future and be responsible for it. The more possessions I had; the less I was in control. The less control I had; the more anxiety I had.
On that day, I realized that, “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” That sounded strange, it neither made sense. At least it never did until I looked at the life of Paul. The established gentleman and erudite scholar declared, “I count them all as rubbish that I may gain Christ”. So I wondered, ‘what did Paul find in Christ?’ Luke 17:33 (KJV), Phil 3:8 (ESV)
Now I can boldly say together with Paul that:
” I have been crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20
Simply put, for Christ to live in me, I had to die.
John declared, “He must increase but I must decrease”. By baptism I was baptized into his death so that I may be raised up in righteousness. Even though I had all these revelations, there was so much strive within me. For my flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh such that the good I wanted to do, I did not. Oftentimes, it was the evil I wished not to do that I did. Was I an hypocrite, Yes. Was that what I wanted to be, No. Would my life ever reflect his glory, could I ever meet up to his standard? The struggle was so intense. {John 3:30, Galatians 5:17}
Solution came through death.
That day, I took me and laid me on the altar as a living sacrifice. I had been crucified with Christ. Christ can now live in me. The effect of death became obvious as all my struggles ceased. A dead man does not lust, does not struggle, cannot defend himself, is not concerned about his image and cannot be tempted. I had no more desires to please myself but my saviour. I was not longing for the praises of men neither did their criticism hurt me. All I wanted was for my Lord to be satisfied with me. I am the redeemed of the Lord. I want to dwell in his presence for ever and nothing else could be compared to it.
The problem with death.
I was a living sacrifice and that was a big problem. Though I was dead, yet I was living. Though I was given and accepted, yet not taken. The problem with the living sacrifice was that I kept walking off the altar. Even in death was the need for resurrection. I needed to live a new life. Christ was meant to manifest in me daily. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:14
I die daily.
Being a living sacrifice therefore demanded that I die daily. Each day was an opportunity to lay myself again on the altar. Each moment was a time to be sober and vigilant, ‘and give no occasion to the flesh to fulfil its lust thereof’. I had realized that ‘in me. that is in my flesh is no good thing’. There was no need trying to control the flesh and its carnal desires for ‘he that is in the flesh cannot please God’. The carnal man can never submit to God. Through the power of the spirit I have the ability to mortify the desires of the flesh. That is the power of pentecost. {Romans 7:18, Romans 8:8}
The power of pentecost
I realized that pentecost was not about revival. The power of the Holy Spirit was not about miracles. Rather, we are empowered to live in the spirit and through the spirit to mortify the deeds of the flesh. Being able to overcome self and the flesh is the reason for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. If anyone fails to overcome self, he has failed in all things.
Abraham had difficulty with the flesh. David failed in the case of Bathsheba, Samson’s destiny was ruined in the laps of Delilah, Gehazi’s ministry vaporized before it had even started all through the influence of the flesh. The hidden lusts was taking advantage of the moments. For him in whom the spirit of God is dwelling, the essence is for the manifestation of the fruits and not the works. We must learn to walk in the spirit so we may not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Mat 7:22-23
The real battle
The real battle is won over the soul. The really battle is deep within and is between the darkness in our flesh and the light of God in our spirit. We are in a struggle for the possession of our souls. “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Until we lay the body on the altar, we may not overcome. Only those who overcome have access to the kingdom. {Luke 21:19}
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Revelation 3:21
Thus I died. I die daily! Would you rather do the same?
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1
Life, Health and Prosperity 