> The Sacrifice
Paul entreated those in Rome who had been 'called to be saints' to:
Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Yahweh, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Yahweh, Rom 12:1, 2.
He admonished the Colossian assembly to:
Put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry, Col 3:5.
Carnal desires and inclinations, weaknesses, disobedience to Yahweh, doubts and fears, and the love of the world are some of the many barriers which will prevent the transformation that Yahweh wants to make in your life. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Yahweh; neither can fleshly tendencies gain entry into eternal life.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of Yahweh? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of Yahweh, 1 Cor 6:9, 10.
Everything that takes precedence over Yahweh, or diminishes His authority in your life, or dims the light that is in you, must be daily yielded to Him. Thus surrendered, you are no longer a slave to sin but to righteousness. If you had been baptized following repentance, and had hands laid upon you for you to receive the Holy Spirit, then you are now the bearer of a light that has been lit within you. It is now your duty as it was Aaron's to keep that flame ablaze. Live on the altar of sacrifice.
Do not 'Yield … your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto Yahweh, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto Yahweh. For sin shall not have dominion over you,' Rom 6:13, 14, KJV.
You do not have to succumb to sin and to natural weaknesses. These things must be put to death daily.
Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts, Rom 13:14.
You must be able to walk confidently as you obey and trust Yahweh, and not to be constantly dragged and held down like a slave by your old natures.
Just as the Messiah was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, Romans 6:4.
The transforming work of Yahweh in your life is not a 'quick-fix.' If the flame is to burn continually in you, you must never be removed from the sacrificial altar. This is not a once-for-all self-denial. Death to carnal selfish natures must become a regular routine in anyone who is hoping for eternal life. In the burnt offering there was no fire without sacrifice. The fire of Yahweh's Holy Spirit will not be ablaze in you except you are, and remain constantly, upon His sacrificial altar. Your susceptibility to yield to, or to give preference to the hindrances of this world, must be eradicated.
Anything including interests, passions, ambitions, possessions, weaknesses and strengths that have priority in your heart and mind instead of Yahweh, is a hindrance and must be yielded to Him so that only He will have pre-eminence.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (Rom 6:16)
David said 'The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O Elohim, You will not despise,' Ps 51:17.
The best sacrifice you can make to Yahweh is of your penitent heart that seeks only to do His will. Like Yahshua, your earnest prayer should be, 'Father…not My will, but Yours, be done,' Luke 22:42.