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). The Lord calls for His children to be living sacrifices, purified by divine blood and set aflame by the Holy Ghost. He is calling, “Whosoever will let him come.” Come and be a shining light to the world. Come and do the whole will of your Heavenly Father. Come ready and willing to give your life unto the Lord daily.

It is important to understand that God will not accept just any kind of sacrifice. He did not under the Law in the Old Testament, and He will not today. As the starting scripture states, a person’s sacrificing of themselves to God must be holy and acceptable unto Him. To be that kind of sacrifice, two things must be present: blood and fire.

The Old Testament is filled with types and shadows of blood and fire which become living reality in the New Testament. So first, I want to take you to the Old Testament to confirm what I said about acceptable sacrifices unto God.

In Genesis 4, you find that two brothers, Cain and Abel, both offered sacrifices unto the Lord. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God, but Cain’s sacrifice was rejected by God. Abel was a keeper of sheep, and his sacrifice unto the Lord was the firstling of his flock. Blood was spilled; a fire was made for the sacrifice, and God was pleased. Without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22).

Cain was a farmer who brought forth fruit from the Earth, and the sacrifice he presented unto God was of that fruit. The Bible tells us his sacrifice was rejected. But unto Cain and to his offering he [God] had not respect (Genesis 4:5). The mistake Cain made is the same mistake people are and have been making for thousands of years: he made a sacrifice to God that was pleasing in his own eyes but not in God’s eyes.

Sacrifices Had to Please God

Throughout the Old Testament, sacrifices unto God had to meet certain requirements and be prepared a certain way if they were going to please God. And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings (Numbers 6:14). Now, even the altars upon which the sacrifices were made were to be built to certain specifications and made ready in a certain way, and sacrifices were to be made only in the tabernacle. Later when the temple was built, sacrifices were to be made only in the temple.

All things related to each sacrifice were to be completely submitted to God and to His direction. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces (Leviticus 9:24). This scripture is telling of Moses dedicating the tabernacle by making an offering unto the Lord. Everything met God’s specifications—the sacrifice, the altar and the tabernacle. Then blood was spilled, so God was pleased; and the fire of the Holy Ghost fell from Heaven to consume that sacrifice.

The Bible tells us later in II Chronicles, Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house (II Chronicles 7:1). King Solomon was dedicating the temple in Jerusalem unto the Lord. Once again, everything met God’s specifications. Blood was spilled, and the fire of the Holy Ghost fell from Heaven.

In I Kings, you can read of the prophet Elijah preparing the altar and a sacrifice unto God in a very unique and unusual way, but it was still done according to God’s specifications. Then Elijah prayed a short prayer, and the fire of the Holy Ghost fell from Heaven. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God (I Kings 18:37-39).

Animal Sacrifices Not Enough

In the Old Testament, the fire of the Holy Ghost operated and manifested most of the time outside of people and not inside of them because that fire was unable to burn on the altar of men’s souls under the Law. Before Jesus came and made divine blood available to all who wanted it, people could not stay free from sin. Without the shedding of Jesus’ divine blood, people could not meet God’s standard of holiness and righteousness.

In the Old Testament, all people could offer God was the sacrifices of animal blood; and they had to be done to His exact specifications. And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar. And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar (Leviticus 1:10-12).

Even though men were meeting God’s exact specifications for sacrifices under the Law, God still was not pleased with such sacrifices because they could not take away people’s sins and keep them free from sin. A sacrifice of animal blood could not give a person a born-again experience, and that is why God sent Jesus into this dark world.

Jesus Willingly Sacrificed Himself

Jesus came to provide His own sacrifice that would be made once and for all so that whosoever believeth upon Him and His sacrifice would be saved. The next day John [the Baptist] seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus was the perfect sacrifice—holy and without spot or blemish. He came into this world to reconcile the human race to the Heavenly Father because they had been separated from Him by sin. Through Christ’s divine blood, a person is made holy and acceptable to God. Then the fire of the Holy Ghost can burn on the altar of their soul when they are baptized in Him.

Now, Jesus was not only a perfect sacrifice in death; He was also a perfect, living sacrifice. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:5-7).

Jesus came not only to die for our sins but to show us how to live and overcome this world. He showed us how to please the Heavenly Father. Jesus, the Lamb of God, declared, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12). The fire of the Holy Ghost burned within this perfect, sacrificial Lamb; and He cried, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me (Luke 4:18). What a powerful, holy life shined forth through Him.

Become a Temple of the Holy Ghost

Divine blood flowed in Jesus’ veins; and the fire of the Holy Ghost burned within Him, making Him the perfect, living sacrifice in His temple of clay. He said, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Through Jesus Christ’s blood and the fire of the Holy Ghost, a person can be a perfect, living sacrifice. Jesus said, Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient [necessary] for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you (John 16:7).

Remember, there are two requirements for a sacrifice to be pleasing unto God: blood and fire. One without the other is not sufficient. Your body is to be a temple for the Holy Ghost to abide within. When your body has been sanctified unto the Lord by divine blood, a holy altar dwells within your soul. A fire lit by the Holy Ghost is to burn there continually.

The Bible says, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (I Corinthians 6:19,20). Spirit-filled children of God must always remember that they are not their own. That is according to His Word, and God means business. Through divine blood and the fire of the Holy Ghost, that person’s life belongs to God. Their will is to be submitted to the will of God just like Jesus’ will was submitted to the will of His Father.

Sacrifice for Christ

One definition of sacrifice is the act of offering something precious to deity. Child of God, what is most precious to you? Is it the Lord, or is it family and friends? Is it career and financial security? Is it self-desires and self-will or God’s will? Have you surrendered everything to the Lord on the altar of your soul so that the fire of the Holy Ghost can blaze within you daily? As Paul said in the opening scripture, that is your reasonable service unto God.

Another definition of sacrifice is destruction, or surrender, of something for the sake of something else. Have you become a perfect, living sacrifice on Earth so that you may inherit eternal life in Heaven? Jesus said, For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul (Mark 8:35-37)? If a follower of Christ chooses to yield to the spirit of the world, the blood within them is rendered void and useless in their life; and the fire of the Holy Ghost will be quenched on the altar of their soul.

Jesus’ life was set apart from the world and dedicated unto the will of His Heavenly Father, and He prayed to the Father that all who would follow Him would be set apart as well. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth (John 17:17,19).

People all over the world go to church without ever receiving a true born-again experience. They never really separate from sin and the world, and they never deny self or even know what it means. The Word says, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24).

Deny Self

Is self on the altar of your soul daily? Is there any disobedience or sin in your life? Do you lie, deceive or tell half-truths to cover up trouble for yourself or to try to get your way in certain situations? Do you carry any grudges, bitterness, anger or unforgiving spirits? Does your tongue grumble, complain, gossip or cut others down?

Many people don’t truly understand what it means to deny self. It is a spiritual act of burying the Adamic nature and allowing Christ to live in and through you by the power of the divine blood and the fire of the Holy Ghost. Paul said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth 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).

When you have a real born-again experience, all your old ways of living, thinking, talking and acting are gone. Behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17).

The Bible tells us that Jesus will return for His glorious Church. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27). This is a church whose members are from all over the world and from all walks of life. They are made pure and holy through the divine blood. They are clean and undefiled by sin with the fire of the Holy Ghost ablaze on the altars of their souls.

Remember, Moses watched the burning bush, yet the bush was never consumed; and the same is true of those whose hearts are full of Holy Ghost fire. They are sacrifices unto God, and that fire from On High will not consume those sacrifices for they are living sacrifices unto the Lord. They are prepared unto His specifications and obeying His divine will in everything.

Become a Godly Sacrifice

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Friend, God so loved you that He gave Jesus on the altar at Calvary. He surrendered that which was most precious to Him—His Only Begotten Son—so you could be delivered from all sin, receive a born-again experience and the gift of eternal life. Jesus died on the altar at Calvary so you might live forever.

If you have not yet been born again, you can receive salvation today. You will then be on your way to becoming a perfect, living sacrifice unto the Lord.

But I want to emphasize again that to be a perfect, living sacrifice, two things are required: divine blood and the fire of the Holy Ghost. One without the other isn’t sufficient. Once you receive salvation, you can have the gift of the Holy Ghost. It’s promised to you in the Word. Jesus said, And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49).

Friend, becoming a godly sacrifice begins with salvation. God loved you so much that He gave His Only Begotten Son on the altar at Calvary so you could be delivered from all sin and receive the gift of eternal life. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse you and receive a born-again experience today.

Say this prayer with me now: Oh, God, I confess all my sin before you. Forgive me, Lord, and I will serve you the rest of my life. I believe there is power in the divine blood of Jesus to wash away all my sin. Come into my heart, Jesus. Amen. Friend, if you meant that prayer, Jesus is yours.

Jesus also sacrificed His body and allowed stripes to be placed on His back for the healing of your body. If you are sick, afflicted or in pain, raise your hand as a point of contact. I’m the Lord’s believer agreeing with you in prayer that God will meet your need. Lord, in the name of Jesus, I bring those who are sick in body or in great pain. God, meet their need right now. In the holy, blood name of Jesus, heal! Heal! Lord, make them well for your honor and glory to be witnesses for you in the name of Jesus. Amen. Friend, watch every sign of improvement and give God the honor, the praise and the glory; and let Him make you a witness.

Now, you can receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Get off to yourself and start praising the Lord with all your heart and mind. Keep praising Him and don’t stop until the Holy Ghost comes in and speaks through you in a heavenly language. God bless you today.