But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

 Of all the sacrifices from the old covenant, the least discussed is the drink offering.  Also known as a libation

Drink offering concluded the daily burnt offerings

Drink offering was made as a concluding rite to the Nazirite vows.

 Drink offerings began and concluded many heathen sacrificial meals, including those of the Romans.

 Paul uses the libation twice as a metaphor for his own life.  If we understand his use of the metaphor, we will understand more about a true Christian life.  What was the drink offering?  What does it have to do with us Christians?

 First reference to drink offering in Bible:  Genesis 35:14 -- Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.  Offered by Jacob

 Numbers 28:1-7  Offered with each lamb twice a day every day  About a quart offered at each time  About 182 gallons of wine a year  Was to be strong drink – undiluted, fermented wine  It was part of the “soothing aroma” sacrifices

 Psalm 64:4 -- The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.

The meaning seems to be JOY in consecration to God. Wine spoke of joy and rejoicing “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.” (Psalm 4:7) “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.” (Ecc. 9:7)

 Paul speaks of their “sacrifice” and “service”  Sacrifice is THUSIA – either the act or the victim.  Service is LEITURGIA – of a ritual or observance

 Remember Paul challenged them to have the attitude of Jesus Christ.  In 2:8, Christ was obedient to death.  In 2:13, they were told to work out their salvation, because God was at work in them to will and to act according to God’s purpose.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2) Sacrifice of heart and mind

 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:15-16)

 SPENDO – poured out, completely spent!  Paul’s great joy was?  Their sacrifice  His sacrifice  God’s glory

 We sing the song  We readily answer: Yes, I’ll be poured out like wine….  Will we?  Really?