Consuming The Offering

(1) INTRODUCTION: In the passages before us we see that when a right offering is made on the altar then the FIRE WILL FALL! Revival!

In Romans 12:1 we see we are to offer ourselves as a `living sacrifice`. The problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar. There certain things we must do right before the fire can fall, that the offering of life can release the fire of God from heaven.....

(2) OFFERING IN THE RIGHT TIME, PLACE and WAY.

(a) TIME is now - CONTINUALLY (Heb 13:15).

(b) PLACE is the ALTAR - Exodus 20:24 (Christ - Heb 13:10) Only through Christ (1 Peter 2:5).

(c) WAY = Faith + Obedience out of love (Psalm 51:17) - not striving for His presence like the prophets of Baal (or as Cain`s offering ).

(3) OFFERING THE RIGHT SACRIFICES.

According to the condition of one`s heart -

(a) SIN OFFERING: Leviticus 4:1-35; 6:24-30.

This is for intentional or unintentional sins and is the offering of a REPENTANT HEART.

Two things block this : Pride and Fear (eg. Racism - Gal 3:28) - see Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:9.

(b) BURNT OFFERING: Leviticus 1 (With grain offering).

Wholly consumed - for propitiation and entire consecration and is the offering of a CONSECRATED HEART (Romans 12:1-2) - this type of offering is not possible without the SIN OFFERING.

(c) PEACE (Fellowship) OFFERING : Leviticus 3

Offered by those at peace with God with a PEACEFUL HEART - to express gratitude to God and fellowhip with Him and His people. This offering is not possible without the SIN & BURNT OFFERINGS.

(4) CONCLUSION: When we offer the RIGHT SACRIFICE at the RIGHT TIME in the RIGHT PLACE and in the RIGHT WAY then the FIRE WILL COME FROM HEAVEN!

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Discussion Questions:

(1) What does offering your life as a sacrifice to God mean to you ?

(2) Which offering do you feel you need to offer at this time ? Why ?

(3) What does this offering involve ? What must you do now ? Pray....