March 15, 2015

Hebrews 13:15 NLT - Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

The Writer of the Book of Hebrews points to Jesus as the Ultimate One. He is greater than Abraham and the Patriarchs, greater than Moses the Lawgiver, greater than Joshua the Warrior, or David the King, or Solomon the Wise, or one of the prophets.  Christ is greater than the Priesthood of Aaron; He is greater than the most righteous of the saints, and greater than the most powerful of angels. 

He is the Great mediatorial HIGH PRIEST and the SACRIFICE.  He is the Lord Jesus Christ, who not only mediates the New Covenant, but also secured it with the shedding of His own blood.  He sacrificed his life for us in order to draw Humanity near to the Father.  Therefore, since Jesus offered all of the Sacrifices Himself: Sin, Atonement, Consecration, Sanctification, Devotion, Fellowship…everything, there remains only ONE Sacrifice left for us to offer: THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE!

We cannot make atonement for our sins.  We cannot bring ourselves into right standing with God.  We cannot provide for our eternal life…only Jesus can, and only Jesus did!  But what we can do is Worship and Praise His Holy Name and relish the Beauty of His Holiness.  We can offer the SACRIFICE of PRAISE and recognize that as a “sacrifice,” it includes all the necessary components of Cost, Declaration, and Transformation.

“Through Jesus” the Writer Hebrews declares, not just, “to Jesus” or “for Jesus.” Oh no, Beloved, this Sacrifice requires the provision and Grace OF Jesus.  It is too much for us to offer on our own, and to prevailing to simply be the words of mere mortals.  We must have THE WORD flowing through our lives to offer this Sacrifice!

John 4:24 NIV- God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.

We are called to praise the Lord at ALL times, and in the midst of ALL circumstances, not as an expression of our Religious Preference, but as a Prophetic Declaration of WHO Jesus is and what He has COMPLETED for us!  This is not simply the expressions of the poet or the melodic chords of the Composer.  It is the Prophetic Voice of the Almighty God crying out through His Broken, and yet faith-filled Child.  It is the “deep” of God’s Heart penetrating the “deep” of this Vessel of Clay, and being professed back to the Throne of God, piercing the Darkness and DECLARING the Honor of Christ in this Age of Rebellion and Fear.  In this sense, the Sacrifice of Praise is a uniquely prophetic utterance and declaration!