Modern Sacrifices for Christ are a Stench

Modern "worship services" are focused on sacrificing for Christ instead of what He sacrificed for us. Mankind loves to pridefully control their own destiny by their own actions.

There are no sacrifices we would make that would count for anything. We praise God because He sacrificed for us.

Romans 12:1 says, "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".

When we make ourselves available to Christ desiring Him working in us His good will, it will not be "sacrifice" but rather obedience.

Psalm 51:16-17

"For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise".

Isaiah 1:11-14

"The LORD says, “I do not want all these sacrifices. I have had enough of your burnt sacrifices of male sheep and fat from fine animals. I am not pleased by the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats".

Hosea 6:6

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings"

Sacrifice has to do with burnt offerings brought to God but there is no longer a need for this because Christ sacrificed Himself on our behalf on the cross.

When we love Christ we do not do things to impress Him, we do things to please Him without regard to whether or not it brings anything to us.

I get this idea of not wanting sacrifices because of what many have experienced from family. Some will bring a birthday gift or send a card but whenever they are in company together they find a way to demean, ignore or mock those they wish to hurt. God understands this better than anyone could.

He died for the world and the response of many is to do something for Him that He never wanted and ignore His commands that He loves.

Receiving a gift or sacrifice from someone who demeans you the rest of the year is more like a stench than a blessing.

Believe and Desire Go Hand in Hand

God said that all we have to do is believe but I think it is more than that, it includes the desire to be changed into a new creation by Christ. He will not dwell in anyone who doesn't want to be changed by Him.

Luke 9:23

"If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me".

Matthew 16:24-25

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it".

If there is a desire to have Christ to save ourselves but no desire to be changed by Him into a new creation then the expectation that God will protect us without us wanting Him does not bring salvation.

Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

Nowhere do we see that just believing in one's head saves anyone; faith is deeply rooted in admitting sinfulness and wanting to be changed by Christ.

As we see in Matthew 7, these were lost people who believed in Christ, they just wanted Him to serve them instead of them serving Him.

When we want someone or something badly enough we will follow them or it.

James 1:22

"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves."

Luke 6:46

"Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?"

John 14:21

"Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”

1 John 2:4

"If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

Christian Narcissists Resist God and Believe they are Obeying

https://youtube.com/shorts/Bgmv4wxmrmw?si=rvnVicgP7mK-nSD-

This is why a full-blown narcissist cannot be born-again. In order to be born-again one has to feel ashamed of their sinful nature and desiring God to change them. God has to bring them to the end of themselves before they will confess their sin. And, even then most will not do it, our churches are full of these types of false Christians.

Following Christ is the only way to walk in His Principles

Narcissists are so full of self that they interpret everything we say and do in terms of themselves. If we speak a truth in general they will interpret our speaking as though it was written to them or about them when it was a general principle or statement meant for everyone to ponder.

They will translate every good deed done by their target as a manipulation or one-upmanship because if they were doing a good deed that would be the reason they do it.

Narcissists seldom interpret things according to truth, it is always skewed with their own mindset, how they feel, what they think and what it would be if they were doing it.

Narcissists do not love others, they use others, judge others on small insignificant matter and gossip to others to be able to feel superior. If someone else does something good it diminishes the narcissist in their own thinking. These are not people who share your joy or edify anyone else.

"Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

When we understand these tactics coming from the narcissist we can rise above the feelings they create and resolve to walk in a Christlike manner no matter what the evil person is doing in response to us.

Hebrews 3:13

"But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

Ephesians 4:29

"Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."

Romans 14:19

"So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

Colossians 3:16

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

1 Corinthians 14:26

"What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church."

Galatians 6:2

"Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Romans 15:2

"Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."

Philippians 2:1-4

"Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, / then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. / Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves."

1 Peter 4:10

"As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another."

Those who live to glorify self can never carry out these mandates from God. Only those who love Christ more than themselves can walk in these principles.

Philippians 2:3-4

"3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;

4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."