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When The Fragrance Has Lost Its Scent

I BESEECH, you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service – Romans 12:1.

The body has been an instrument of sin; now, it is to be presented to God as a channel through which the righteousness of God is manifested.

The body reacts to what the mind and heart are thinking. When the mind and heart submit to the Word of God, the body will follow. When our mind and heart have not conformed to the Word of God, we think whatever we say or do is okay; nothing is wrong with it.

Sacrifice was practiced in almost all ancient religions, including that of Israel and the Jews, down into the first century A.D., and is regarded in the Bible as an aspect of human worship of God almost from the beginning (And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell – Genesis 4:3-4). The regular daily sacrifices were burnt offerings of one lamb in the morning and evening. An incense offering was also part of the morning and evening sacrificial routine.

The second altar was constructed by Noah (And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, and took every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar – Genesis 8:21). Their sacrifice worship was always with the clean beast, nothing deformed or unclean in order for it to be acceptable and pleasing to God.

In this dispensation, we worship God through our lifestyle. Worship consists of more than singing; it’s a daily lifestyle presented to God on a daily basis. The Epistles of the Bible instruct the believer what to put on and off to worship God in Spirit and in truth.

Those who have accepted salvation are spiritual Jews; we have been called and chosen by God to serve Him in His will and His way (But he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God – Romans 2:29). We no longer try to please people, but our focus is to please God.

God is the God of all nations whether they accept Him as being God or not. He is the Creator, and there is no other God besides Him (Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the Lord He is God; there is none else beside Him – Deuteronomy 4:35). In order for you to have received salvation, God showed Himself in a way that you knew that He was God. You accepted His salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we have been instructed not to yield ourselves to unrighteousness; sin should not dominate us unless we yield ourselves to sin. The Holy Spirit is not going to restrain one from sinning. They have to make a conscious decision; they will not practice sin.

When we practice sin, our worship is not accepted by Him; no matter how we shout, run, dance, or cry, if we’re practicing sin, our worship is in vain. There must be a conversion referring to the human response to the gospel, while regeneration is God’s creation of a new nature in the one who believes. Conversion requires the commitment of the total personality, intellect, emotions, and will. This is how people respond to the message of the gospel when they understand the nature of Christ’s atonement, feel the guilt of conviction and love of God, and surrender their wills to the offer of salvation.

Christians are in the world, but they are not of the world; they have been born in their spirit into the kingdom of God. They are joint heirs with Jesus, and they are now the sons of God, whether they are male or female. There is no gender in the spirit (There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus – Galatians 3:28).

Some think because they have a gift and it still operates. Even though they’re practicing sin, the calling and gifting of God are without repentance (For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance – Romans 11:29). Everyone was born with a gift, some with more than one; as we submit ourselves to God the gifts will be more effective; but when we begin to practice sin, God does not take the gift or gifts from us. The gift will operate, but there will come a time we must answer to God for the forsaken of His Word as the children of Israel had too.

Sin is an abomination to God; it’s something that He hates, He loves His people, but He hates sin. If we’re practicing sin, the songs, clapping hands, running, and shouting stink in His nostrils. It’s not acceptable; even when we pray, it’s an abomination to Him ( He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination – Proverbs 28:9). Many say they pray, but if they are rejecting God’s written Word which is His law the prayer is an abomination.

Many of God’s people have backslidden in their hearts. They want to live as the world lives and serve God; it’s either God’s way or no way. His Word is established in heaven and will not be revocable; it’s time to seek the Lord through prayer and commitment. Those that submit to His Word, their prayers are heard, and they are answered (The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is His delight – Proverbs 15:8).

Take time to read and study God’s Word, and submit yourself to His Word so that you will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Then will your songs, hand-clapping, jumping and shouting, and prayers be acceptable to Him. The fragrance of your worship will be a sweet smell!

Our bodies are now the altar of God, this is where He and the Son dwells, and He wants our worship to be sweet, consistent, in spirit, and in truth.

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