Message Notes

YAG 10th RETREAT 
SESSION # 5
Saturday, 17 October 2009
Time: 4.00pm
Theme: “A Living Sacrifice”

E. RAMIFICATIONS: PERSONAL APPLICATION OF “A LIVING SACRIFICE”
1. A drink offering (libation)

Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your
faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Philippians 2:17

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure is at
hand.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

2 Timothy 4:6-7

a) The Daily sacrifice (ancient Israel)

Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day
continually.
One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight.
With the one lamb shall be one tenth of an ephah of flour mixed with one fourth of a hin
of pressed oil, and on fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering.
And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; and you shall offer with it the grain
offering and the drink offering, as in the morning, for a sweet aroma, an offering made by
fire to the LORD.

Exodus 29:38-41

i) Daily offering of a ancient Israel

ii) Ephah- Four to six gallons (flour)

iii) Hin- 1 gallon (1/4 gallon- drink offering)

iv) Representing a meal (Lamb, flour, grain, wine)

v) The drink offering was the smallest part of the burnt offering

vi) This reflects Paul’s understanding of his being a drink offering

(sub-set of “a living sacrifice”)

vii) Symbolic significance of the drink offering-

His departure (death)

b) The altar of service and sacrifice

i) Altar of service

ii) Altar of sacrifice

c) Of your faith

i) Paul’s ministry to the Philippians

ii) Beginning of the church at Philippi           Acts 16

iii) Suffering for the sake of building a church in Philippi (jailed)          Acts 16

iv) The treasured fellowship with the Philippians           Philippians 1:5

v) The good work that God had begun in them           Philippians 1:6; 2:13

vi) The prayers of Paul for the Philippians           Philippians 1:3-4, 9-11

vii) The progress and joy of faith           Philippians 1:25

viii) The labours of Paul for their faith           Philippians 2:16

ix) Perhaps the most loved church

My beloved, longed-for-brethren, my joy and crown…beloved

Philippians 4:1

x) The loving care of the Philippians for Paul           Philippians 4:10-19

F. RESULTS OF A LIFE BUILT ON A REASONED-FAITH
1. Results are clearly Revealed by reviewing Paul’s ministry

a) Put into the ministry           1 Timothy 1:12

b) Appointed a preacher           2 Timothy 1:11a

c) An apostle           2 Timothy 1:11b; Acts 14:14

d) A teacher of the Gentiles           2 Timothy 1:11c

e) Missionary           Acts 13

f) Founder of churches           (Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica etc)

g) Writer/Theologian (13 Epistles)

h) Apologist (defender of the faith)

2. Reflection: Paul’s Personal life

a) Pattern (general)           1 Timothy 1:16

b) Friend           Philemon

c) Intercessor           Philippians 1; Ephesians 1, 3

d) Fighter           1 Corinthian 9; 2 Timothy 4:7

e) Runner           1 Corinthians 9; 2 Timothy 4:7

f) Father           Timothy, Titus 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus

g) Servant           Romans 1

h) Profound thinker           Philippians 4:8-9

i) Sufferer           2 Corinthians 11

3. Reasoned-Faith Approach

a) Biblical Theology

b) Personal Life

c) Ministry

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present yourselves, a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1

4. Reality of Application of the Doctrine of “A Living Sacrifice”

a) Ponder

b) Pray

c) Plan

d) Practice

5. Remarkable statements of an outstanding servant of God

a) With reference to suffering for the sake of the ministry of the Lord

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will
happen to me there,
Except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations
await me.
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may
finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify
to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:22-24

b) With reference to personal suffering

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn
in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above
measure.
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

c) With reference to magnifying Christ

According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but
with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by
life or by death,
For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:20-21

d) With reference to perception of being given the ministry of preaching Christ

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should
preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning
Of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ

Ephesians 3:8-9

e) With reference to the grace of God given

For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I
persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I
laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with
me.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10

G. RESOLUTIONS TO BE “A LIVING SACRIFICE”
(By attendees of 10th YAG Retreat)
1. Verbal
2. Written
3. Life-Changing Resolution(s)