Not Ashamed-Part 40- Consecration

Introduction- Romans 12:1

Last time we were here in the book of Romans we concluded chapter 11 with a look at God’s future plans for the nation of Israel and ultimately Paul’s doxology as he cried out in praise to God at the wonders of His plan.

Chapter 11 provides some wonderful insights to God’s plans for the Gentiles as well as the nation of Israel and with this provides a brief glimpse into the mind of God.

This should cause us like Paul to break forth in praise as we consider the beauty and complexity of God’s plans and purposes.

This now leads us to chapter 12 which begins with a strong exhortation from the Apostle Paul (under the inspiration of the Spirit of God) to consecration.

Consecration- The act of separating from a common to a sacred use, or of devoting and dedicating a person or thing to the service and worship of God

This exhortation naturally flows from what precedes it as we consider the wisdom and knowlege of God in carrying out His plans and purposes.

Consecration Demanded

This passage begins with a strongly worded exhortation.

The wording used here really implies to plead, to beg, to implore.

This immediately helps us to recognize the importance of what follows.

Paul writes under the inspiration of the Spirit of God pleading with the believers at Rome to give heed to this exhortation.

Tonight I want to begin by imploring you, pleading with you, even begging you to not only give attention to what is said in this verse but to then take action as a result!

This exhortation is vital to the success of your Christian life and I cannot overstate the importance of consecration to God.

Consecration Deserved

Romans 11:32 KJV 1900

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

The earnest plea for consecration is given in light of what has already been written in the previous portion of the epistle.

All throughout the previous chapters that we have studied together as well as throughout the Bible the mercy of God towards sinful man is on full display.

Ephesians 2:4–5 KJV 1900

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Lamentations 3:22 KJV 1900

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Psalm 136:1 KJV 1900

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.

This should serve as our motivation to respond to this exhortation to consecration.

When you begin to comprehend the mercies of God that have been shown to you, you will recognize that consecration to God is well deserved.

God has mercifully saved you from your sins through the redemption that is found in Christ Jesus if you have but believed on Him.

God has also now mercifully given you the opportunity to yield your life to Him and He is willing to direct and use it for His glory.

The mercy that you have been shown should cause you to desire to do what God demands.

God deserves our consecration to Him, He alone is worthy of worship and the greatest worship that we can offer is to yield ourselves completely to Him.

Consecration Defined

Consecration is now defined in very practical terms here.

What you must do is to present your body to God as a living sacrifice.

In the Old Testament the people were instructed to make a sacrifice, bringing a valuable possession to the priests to be offered upon the altar.

In the New Testament we are instructed rather to “be” a sacrifice offering up ourselves to God to be used by Him in whatever manner He may choose.

“We have the idea that we can dedicate our gifts to God. However, you cannot dedicate what is not yours. There is actually only one thing you can dedicate to God, and that is your right to yourself. If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you—and His experiments always succeed.” -Oswald Chambers

God is not asking you to make a donation of some of your possessions or even to give of your time or your talents, rather He demands full consecration-that you would voluntarily surrender your entire life to Him.

Notice it is a living sacrifice. It is God who has given you life both physically and now spiritually through your faith in Christ being quickened from the dead.

Now you must take your life and submit it to the Lord to be used by Him according to His will and not your own. This basically invovles relinquishing control of your life to God.

Notice also that the sacrifice is holy. Your life will never exhibit real holiness until it is yielded to God.

Notice also that the sacrifice is acceptable. We all desire to please God to be found acceptable in His sight, yet we shall never please Him by our own human efforts. He is pleased only when you and I yield ourselves to Him.

Consecration might be fittingly illustrated by the relationship between a dog loyal to His master. The dog has relinquished his right to determine where he goes or what he will do but looks always to his master for direction because he is now convinced that the master knows best and that his life will be the most productive under the careful direction of the master.

Consecration Defended

In the introduction I spoke of the fact that this exhortation flows naturally from all that precedes it but I want you to consider especially the passage immediately before what we read here.

Paul breaks forth in praise as he considers the wisdom and knowledge of God in using the unbelief of the Jews to bring salvation to the Gentiles and the faith of the Gentiles to bring salvation to the Jews.

If God is able to foresee all this and is then able to work it all together to bring about the fulfilment of His plans and purposes is it not only logical that we should yield ourselves to the one who has such wisdom and knowledge?

There are many believers today and certainly in Paul’s day who seem to be convinced that they know what is best and that their own way is the best way.

Yet here is stated that your full consecration is but our “reasonable service”

This means that it is completely unreasonable for you to do anything but yield yourselves completely to God.

Why is it that you are so intent on controlling your own life? Does the wisdom and knowledge that you possess equal or surpass the wisdom and knowledge of God?

It is complete nonsense to think that you can choose out the path for your life better than God can!

This is like insisting that the life of a stray dog with no owner and no master is somehow going to be better and more productive than the life of a dog who has submitted himself to a loving owner who has all the resources and wisdom to bring out his true potential.

This is a completely illogical assertion. The only reasonable thing for any believer to do is to present himself/herself to God and allow Him to direct their life.

When you yield yourself only partially to God or you refuse altogether to yield you do something that make absolutely no sense at all!

Conclusion

As we move now to the time where you are given the opportunity to respond the message, I implore you, I beg and plead with you to respond.

Won’t you present yourself tonight as a living sacrifice relinquishing your right to control your life to God!

This is the only reasonable response!

Consider the mercy that you have been shown and let it motivate you to respond by yielding your life to God.

There are many here tonight who have never visited the altar, but tonight I beg you, won’t you come to the altar and “be” a sacrifice tonight!

What better way to demonstrate your willingness to present yourself a living sacrifice than kneeling on the altar tonight!