Set the Sail (Preparing for a Move of God) Sample

Consecrated: Sacrifice

“There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, a cheap Christianity which offends nobody, and requires no sacrifice – which costs nothing, and is worth nothing.” — J.C. Ryle

In Romans 12:1, Paul urges us to present our bodies as a "living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship." This call to sacrifice reflects a profound shift from merely doing dead religion or participating in Christian subculture, to embodying a life fully consecrated to God. It is a call to a life of radical sacrifice, requiring us to live in a way that honours and reflects God’s love and sacrifice for us.

J.C. Ryle critiques the modern Christian experience, describing it as "cheap Christianity" — a faith that is easy, non-offensive, and demands nothing. Ryle’s observation serves as a poignant reminder that genuine faith involves sacrifice. True worship and devotion are marked by a willingness to make difficult choices and endure hardship for the sake of your convictions. Furthermore it is not only about saying 'no' to things that are not of God, but saying 'yes' to God and offering ourselves: our time, resources, prayers, bodies — our very lives to Him as an act of worship.

The Western church finds itself in a spiritual moment of compromise. Theological compromise. Leadership compromise. Lifestyle compromise. Dilution. Salt that has lost it’s saltiness. In this kind of spiritual moment, standing firm in our faith requires us to confront compromise, live counter-cultural lives, offer ourselves to God and make sacrifices.

What would it look like for you to offer your time to God in contending prayer? What would it look like to make sacrifices of worldly pursuits or objects — perhaps even good things — in the pursuit of the greater things of God and his kingdom?

Whenever revival has broken out in history sensitivity to sin has intensified among God's people. Conviction has struck deep. Consciences have been tenderized. Things that once were tolerated or ignored suddenly have become intolerable. Complacency has been shattered, and a fresh outpouring of love and devotion has been offered to God as the church has returned to its first love, doing what it did at first (Rev. 2:4-5).

Lord, would you be pleased to pour out the Spirit of revival on us yet again!