In order for us to be filled with the Spirit something has to die
Now think about this that the river of life is issuing forth from the house of God and where's it coming from the altar?
What is the altar for the animal sacrifices now in the New Testament? We don't have animal sacrifices, but you know what we do sacrifice humans
Like what well the Bible says I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice
Gotcha
Holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service so even though we're not putting animals
Sacrifices on the altar we're not killing animals and and and doing that to atone for the sins of the body in the New Testament
What is commanded of us to do to be a living sacrifice?
Okay, now. What's the problem with the living sacrifice? Well the problem is this is it keeps coming off the altar
You
Put yourself on the altar one day. You're like man. I'm gonna commit to God today. I'm gonna read my Bible today
I'm gonna pray today. I'm gonna do that which is pleasing today, and then tomorrow you're off that altar you come back to life
Okay, that's why I would say you have to be a living sacrifice
What does that mean you have to die say with me now daily?
You have to die every single day
You have to mortify the deeds of the body
Every single day today cannot be lived based upon the successes the spiritual successes of yesterday
Just because you had a good spiritual day yesterday doesn't mean you're gonna. Have a good spiritual day today
Why because today is a new day?
And the Bible tells us if any man come after me let him deny himself and what take up his cross and follow me
Well look folks Jesus said that to his disciples prior to his crucifixion
Right and he's telling them hey you need to take up your cross. What does that mean you need to go die?
Go die
Pastor tells congregation to go die
Hey you need to die
You need to die
You need to take up your cross
Right deny yourself and follow the Lord and it requires your death
Now don't take me out of context you say well. I'm gonna go commit suicide now
You know what I'm saying is you have to be a living sacrifice and before Ezekiel can go through the waters
Before the the unnamed individual in Ezekiel 47 who's showing them the description of the house of God
Before he can take him through the waters the waters are issuing forth from what the altar
which is where your sacrifice in
Order for you to be filled with the spirit in order for you to walk in the spirit in order for you to be you
Know empowered by the Holy Spirit of God
You have to die
It requires your death, okay?