Text: Romans 12:1-2

My question to you —who is willing to consecrate their life to the Lord?

"Submission is a strong word; consecration, one still stronger. Surrender is cessation of resistance; consecration, a transfer of all we are and have to Christ for active service. It covers person and property, talents and opportunities, and accepts of Christ as leader, manager, friend, and Savior--present, active, and efficient in all the details of life.

There are degrees of consecration, and even entire consecration is progressive--for new interests, cares, burdens, capacities and opportunities arise and await disposal as Christ is revealed in new relations, making new demands, offering new privileges. These await trustful acceptance, so that ever the proposition to devote all to Christ and receive all of Christ claims fresh attention.

Many commit spiritual interests to His care, but worry on alone with temporal concerns. They trust Him to save their souls, but hesitate to ask His aid in business. They accept daily grace, but doubt respecting daily bread. They rejoice in Christ as Savior, but fail to apprehend Him as a brother, a companion, a present, constant friend.

Consecration is not absolutely perfect (that is complete), until the fullness of our Lord is perceived and received, and the fullness of life is devoted to Him. Every revelation of Christ calls for new devotion from us. The consecration must be as broad as one's perceptions covering the fullness of Christ and the fullness of man."  Selected.

I.                  Behavior of Consecration

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Romans 6:13

                  Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

A.    Sanctified

B.     Servant

C.     Separated

D.    Sold-out

II.               Bravery of Consecration

Daniel 6:10

A.    Daniel

1.      Lost Favor Daniel 6:4

2.      Lost Freedom 6:16-17

3.      Lost Fellowship 6:17 Sealed the tomb.

B.     David

1.      Lost Family—I Samuel 17:28-30, II Samuel 18:33

2.      Lost Friends—I Samuel 20:41-42

3.      Lost Followers—II Samuel 15:13-14

III.           Blessing of Consecration

“For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing.” Exodus 32:29

A.    Daniel.  Daniel 6:25-28

1.      Gained new Favor--

2.      Gained new Freedom--

3.      Gained new Fellowship--

B.     David

1.      Gained new Family—II Samuel 9:1-13

2.      Gained new Friends—Men who went for water

3.      Gained new Followers—The right kind

IV.           Beginning of Consecration

Consecration begins when self-interest ceases, and ends when self-interest begins.

A.    Begins with your Heart

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise.”

Psalms 57:7

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

“Harden not your hearts…” Hebrews 3:8

B.     Begins with Holiness

 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

C.     Begins with Honesty

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me.” Isaiah 29:13

Closing:

I Ch 29:5 “And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?”

I knelt in tears at the feet of Christ,

In the hush of the twilight dim;

And all that I was, or hoped , or sought,

I surrendered unto Him.

We need to pray this tonight:

1. Lord, Take me—with all my faults
2. Lord, Break me—my heart and stubborn will