Series: Don’t Be a Grinch                 

Title: How to Grow Your Heart 3 Sizes

The video ends with the question “Have you found a spotless lamb for sacrifice?”

We will begin to have a new heart when we can correctly answer that question.

In the Old Testament it was necessary, as it was a commandment of God, to bring a perfect lamb without any spot or blemish to the priest so that he could then sacrifice it to the Lord.  The sacrifice served as an act of worship and obedience which also made atonement for the sins of the person bringing the lamb. 

However, this sacrifice would not remove the guilt or shame from the sinner as we learn in

Hebrews 10:1-18

¹ For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.

The law was good and came from God.  In that law we find God’s instructions on sacrifices.  Sacrifices were ordained by God.  God had many specific instructions regarding sacrifices.  Just to mention a couple of those specifics, The lamb was to be without spot or blemish and the Israelites were to bring their sacrifice to the priest every year so that they could offer them to the Lord. 

But what we learn from this verse and the next few verses is that the blood of bulls and goats were unable to cleanse the conscious from sins.  

² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; ⁶ in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.

Here is a statement that should shake you to your core.  Because in essence we learn that the burnt offerings and the sin offerings were insufficient.  The reason they were insufficient was because it was the works of man.  Man had to raise the sacrifice, bring it to the priest, the priest who was a man would then slaughter that lamb, build a fire and offer it unto the Lord.  The reason the burnt offering and the sin offerings fell short was because it was man’s doing. 

The reason you should be shaken to the core about this verse, is in the fact that your efforts fall short.  You can’t be good enough or do enough good things to obtain your salvation.  Your best efforts are not good enough!  Some try to justify their selves by saying “I am a good person.” “I never killed anyone or committed adultery.” 

Isaiah 64:6 (ESV)

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

Admit That You Are a Sinner

and that your best efforts fall short of bringing about your salvation and that you need a savior. Thankfully, it does not end in hopelessness.

⁷ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

⁸ When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), ⁹ then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Believe in Jesus

Jesus, the Son of God, came to do the will of His Father and to become that perfect sacrifice for our sins once for all.  His sacrifice was much different than those offered before.  Because when Jesus sacrificed His own body, it was not man’s doing but God’s doing.  God provided the perfect sacrifice by sending His Son Jesus.  His sacrifice is sufficient to appease the wrath of God on your behalf and to purge your conscious from sin.

¹¹ And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. ¹⁴ For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,         

¹⁶ “This is the covenant that I will make with them

                     after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws on their hearts,

                   and write them on their minds,”

¹⁷ then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Confess Your Sins

When you confess your sins to the Lord, there is forgiveness available to you.  “I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” He totally forgives you gives you a clean new heart.  He then assures you that you have a new heart, by giving you the Holy Spirit.  Besides assuring us of our salvation, the role of the Holy Spirit is to convict you of sin, guide you in righteous living, teach you God’s word. Etc..

It is through the filling of the Holy Spirit that we learn to determine what kind of lifestyle is pleasing unto God. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that you can overcome the tricks of the enemy.

Draw Nigh Unto God

Some of you have old lifestyles and old addictions that need to be replaced with the presence of God. 

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

For the grinch, his heart grew three sizes that day when he discovered that there is more to Christmas than what can be bought in the store.  How much more will your heart grow when you give it to Jesus!