SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES


1. Today's sacrifices are called "spiritual sacrifices (pneumatikos thusias)" (1 Peter 2:5). 
They're offered in the Spirit and are a part of the age of the Spirit. They are Church age sacrifices. 

2. Spiritual sacrifices are offered by priests after the order of Melchizedek (1 Peter 2:5). 

3. These spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:5; cf. Rom. 15:15–16; Phil. 4:18). 

4. God accepts spiritual sacrifices because of the sacrifice of His Son (1 Peter 2:5; cf. Heb. 13:15). 

5. God is pleased with spiritual sacrifices (Rom. 12:1; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18; Heb. 13:16). 

6. Ten spiritual sacrifices are mentioned in the New Testament. 

a. prayer is a "memorial offering" (Acts 10:4, 31; Rev. 5:8; 8:3–4). 

b. almsgiving is a "memorial offering" (Acts 10:4). 

c. money given to missionaries (Phil. 4:18). 

d. faith (Phil. 2:17). 

e. praise (Heb. 13:15). 

f. doing good (Heb. 13:16). 

g. sharing (Heb. 13:16). 

h. our bodies (Rom. 12:1). 

i. souls saved (evangelism) (Rom. 15:15–16). 

j. death by martyrdom (of Paul and Jesus) (Phil. 2:17; 2 Tim. 4:6; Eph. 5:2; cf. Heb. 7:27;
9:14, 25, 26, 28; 10:10, 12, 14).

7. Any act of self-denial can be offered as a spiritual sacrifice to God. Though not mentioned as such, 
fasting is a spiritual sacrifice that often accompanies the sacrifice of prayer. It shows how serious you 
are: you're willing to suffer to bring about God's will on earth. Fasting will be rewarded (Matt. 6:16–18). 

8. Spiritual sacrifices are costly (cf. 2 Sam. 24:18–25). 

9. Spiritual sacrifices will be rewarded by God: almsgiving (Matt. 6:3–4), prayer (Matt. 6:6), and fasting 
(Matt. 6:16–18). 

10. God desires the following more than sacrifices: 

a. love (loyalty) (Mark 12:33). 

b. compassion (Matt. 9:13; 12:7). 

c. the knowledge of God (Hosea 6:6). 

d. covenant loyalty (hesed) (Hosea 6:6; cf. Micah 6:6–8). 

e. obedience (1 Sam. 15:22). 

f. do righteousness and justice (Prov. 21:3; cf. Micah 6:6–8). 

g. to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:6–8). 

11. Allusions to spiritual sacrifices are found in worship services today. An "offering" is collected during 
an "offertory" and placed on an "altar" near the front of the church. "Sacrificial giving" is encouraged 
along with "offering praise" and "offering prayer." The lingo is still with us, but the associations with 
our priesthood are blurred. 

12. You must be spiritual (clean) to offer spiritual sacrifices (for prayer, Psalm 66:18; for good works, 
2 Tim. 2:21).