PROCESSES OF BELIEVERS’ CONSECRATION & THE VALUE OF MINISTERIAL DEDICATION IN OUR CHRISTIAN CALLING (Whether full time or part time)
Being Lecture delivered by Pastor Olaolu Adeniyan at the 2017 Real Success Conference For Kingdom Youths.
Prayer: I pray for Spiritual alartness for you today that you will be quickened in your. The revelation of God’s truth you will be coming across in this conference is applicable to all. Open your heart to receive.
2Timothy 2:19-26
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that calls on the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
1Co 6:9-20
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
(Flee Sexual Immorality)“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.”
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
John 15:1-16
I Am the True Vine
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
We will be considering
What is Consecration?
Processes of believers’ Consecration
Comes from & Begins with God
Jesus the atoning sacrifice for our consecration
Purpose of Consecration
The place of Dedication in our Christian Calling.
It is with great joy that I welcome you to this life changing, purpose driven conference, 2017 REAL SUCCESS CONFERENCE FOR KINGDOM YOUTHS. God created man in his image and after his likeness and place man upon the earth with the sole aim of fulfilling God’s purpose, living for Him on daily basis and establishing nations in Salvation as Consecrated and Dedicated Vessel.
1Peter 2:6-9
1Peter 2:9 speaking in clear terms reveals our original positioning to us in Christ Jesus which is never possible in Crime and sinfulness
“For it stands in Scripture:“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
and“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
Verses 9 says But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ”
What is Consecration?
Consecration is another word for sanctification. In I Pet. 3:15, In these passages its true meaning is very apparent — to “set apart for a holy use,” to “separate to God,” to “consecrate.” When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we became cleansed by the blood of Jesus from all filth. To “cleanse” is to separate from sin, but to “consecrate” is to separate to God, to set apart for God that which has already been separated from sin. We cannot set apart to a holy use (consecrate) that which is not cleansed. Hence we see why it is that “cleansing” must precede consecration, “that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it” (Eph. 5:26, R. V.).
“Consecration” is not identical with “cleansing,” but it is its complement. “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered without the gate” (Heb. 13:12). From these passages we gather that it is by the Blood of Jesus we are sanctified, set apart to God. This is another function of the precious Blood, in addition to the one we have already been considering, viz., cleansing from the guilt of sin.
Consecration means total Surrendering unto God:
Dr. Chalmers says “In conversion, God gives to me, but in consecration I give to God.” Know that conversion should have experimental acquaintance with consecration.
Consecration, then, involves surrender — total, absolute, unconditional, irreversible. This is Paul’s teaching in Romans: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). These people had already gi ven their souls to God, and now the apostle insists on their giving their “bodies” too. “Yield (R. V., Present) yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead” (Rom. 6:13). Life first, then sacrifice. Have we life in Christ? Then it is imperative that we “yield,” “present” ourselves unto God. It is not a matter of individual choice or taste or convenience; but every one that has been quickened from the death in trespasses and sins is commanded, yes, commanded, to “present himself to God.” Have you obeyed this command? If not, why not? God excuses no one. Had it not better be attended to now? Yes, before you read another line!
It follows as a corollary that if we yield ourselves, we yield everything else to God; nothing is withheld. What loss we suffer because we will hold back some little thing! A little child was one day playing with a very valuable vase, when he put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father, too, tried his best to get it out, but all in vain. They were talking of breaking the vase, when the father said, “Now, my son, make one more try; open your hand and hold your fingers out straight, as you see me doing, and then pull.” To their astonishment the little fellow said, “Oh no, pa; I couldn’t put out my fingers like that, for if I did, I would drop my penny.” He had been holding on to a penny all the time! No wonder he could not withdraw his hand. How many of us are like him! Drop the copper, surrender, let go, and God will give you gold.
Now let us note that the verb translated “yield” (Rom. vi.13) and “present” (Rom. xii. I) is not in the present tense in the original, as if Paul said “be yielding,” “keep presenting,” but it is in the aorist tense, the general force of which is a definite act, something done and finished with. So that when the command, “Present yourself to God,” is complied with as far as one’s light goes, the person is entitled to regard the transaction as a completed act, and to say, “Yes, I have presented myself to God.” Then Faith presses on the heels of that statement and says, “God has accepted what I have thus presented.” It is absolutely necessary that Faith be in lively exercise on this point, for what will be the practical outcome of all my presenting if I do not believe that God takes what I give? “Him that cometh unto Me I will in nowise cast out” is just as appropriate to the saint seeking full salvation as to the sinner seeking pardon. It is failure here, failure to apprehend by faith the fact that God receives what I present, that has blocked progress for so many of God’s people who are truly desirous of living consecrated lives. From this it will be seen that consecration is a crisis in the life of the believer, just as cleansing is, and not a process; but it, too, “is a crisis in order to a process.”
3. Consecration means Transference of Ownership.
Consecration implies and involves transference of ownership. Many a Christian is living to-day as if he were his own; but the consecrated heart endorses the statement of the Divine Word: “Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:19, 20). The consecrated man looks upon himself as the absolute property of the Lord who bought him, and his whole life is lived in the light of this fact.
There are other aspects of consecration in the Divine Word which have not been touched upon, but enough has been said for our purpose to show what it is, and what its blessed results will be. Our life and service will be enriched beyond telling by enthroning Christ. This, of course, involves the breaking of all our idols, for He will not share His throne with any. When Mahmoud, the conqueror of India, had taken the city of Gujarat he proceeded, as was his custom, to destroy the idols. There was one, fifteen feet high, which its priests and devotees begged him to spare. He was deaf to their entreaties, and seizing a hammer he struck it one blow when, to his amazement, from the shattered image there rained down at his feet a shower of gems, pearls and diamonds — treasure of fabulous value, which had been hidden within it! Had he spared the idol he would have lost all this wealth. Let us not spare our idols. It is to our interest to demolish them. If we shatter them there will rain about our hearts the very treasures of Heaven, the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit; but if we spare our idol we will miss riches unsearchable.
The consecrated life is a Christ-centered life, the only truly-centered life; every other life is eccentric: yet how often do we hear worldly people or worldly-minded Christians (what a contradiction in terms!) criticising some devoted Spirit-filled man or woman as “so eccentric,” simply because of their loyalty to Christ their King! when all the while it is the critics that are “eccentric,” — off the true center. Indeed, so eccentric did the first Spirit-filled band appear, that “others mocking said, they are filled with new wine;” so they were “full of new wine,” the “new wine” of the kingdom. And in God’s sight these drunken, eccentric men were the only truly-centered spiritually-adjusted men in the throng
Processes of believers’ Consecration
Consecration begins with Jesus. Until you encounter Saving Grace of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, you can’t be a candidate that will set apart for God’s use.
1Co 6:9-20
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
(Flee Sexual Immorality)“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.”
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Purpose of Consecration
Isaiah 49:5-6 reveals God’s purpose for Consecration. It reveals why God wants you sanctified and dedicated to this course.
“And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength—
he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
To be God’s light for nations that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth through all the spheres of influence you can think of all over the world
Also see Act 13: 47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,”I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
and Isaiah 42:6-7 “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.“
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The place of Dedication in our Christian Calling.
What does dedication mean?
Dedication means “given up to,” or “devoted to.” It is used to describe those things which were devoted to the service of God. It is unreclaim-able devotedness to the service of God. It means given up irrevocably once entirety to the service of God. With this in mind we refer again to the first verse of Romans 12:1-4.
Dedication means to be sold out to God and the course of His Kingdom in truth and in deed.
It is also defined as self-denial in the pursuit for God. Going beyond your power in pursuit for the truth and the words of God that the fullness of God’s will may be done through them.
Dedication can be said to be serving God delightfully without reservation, being dead to self and alive unto God. This is what triggers God to come alive in you and all you do till you emerge from your youth as evidence of Supernatural breakthrough.
God is presenting with the truth that it is ourselves we are to dedicate, not only that which we possess. It follows that if we dedicate ourselves to God all that we possess will be at His disposal also. The word is “your bodies,” and that involves ourselves entirely — our minds, our movements, our desires, are all bound up with and function in relation to our bodies. It is to be absolute, and without any reserve. Dedication precede glorification that are meant for the consecrated. Dedication is the key to distinction in consecration and glorification attached with consecrated lifestyle (righteousness).
God gave this privilege of doing this in Christ Jesus. That which is referred to here is what Christ has done for us, nor what the Holy Spirit has done for us, nor what God has done for us as clearly stated in the first three verses of Romans 8:1-4, now we are being challenged to appreciate that which has reached us through the mercies of God in verses 4 to yield ourselves and all that we have in willing service to God in the Spirit. This is true dedication.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
We have already seen that dedication (v. 1) is something which we are to do as having apprehended and appreciated what God has done for us. Then in verse 2 we see that our dedication is maintained by sanctification. Both these verses speak of that which is from our side, what we are to do, whereas consecration refers to what God supplies from His side to enable us to carry out our dedication in devotion to His will. There is no suggestion that we are consecrated only as the result of our being dedicated and sanctified. Verse 3 would show that that is not so; but if we are to walk in the power of our consecration we must be both dedicated and sanctified.
Dedication unto God, His Principles and Kingdom business of church building and soul winning is what makes us true and worthy Ambassadors / disciples out of us meant for success and global relevance. We must remain dedicated towards living consecrated life, it is this that makes us worthy candidates of Spiritual empowerment in Anointing.
10 area of our Christian Calling we must remain dedicated if we will remain Consecrated honourable vessels fit always for God’s use, if the rewards of Consecration, which are good success, fulfilment, upliftment, promotion, breakthrough will be evidential in our lives in one or more spheres of influence we may belong.
Dedication to The Word of God & Obedience:
Mat 7:24-27
Build Your House on the Rock
“So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock.
“But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!”
It is word practitioners that will enjoy the flow of the unceasing blessings of God
Walking in the light of the scriptures in absolute obedience will disannul all satanic opposition that may want to come your way.
You can’t get a Godly Blessing without a dedicated Godly life only The Word Of God reveals.
Dedication to the Active services of /unto God:
Exo 23:25-32
You shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.
None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you.
I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you.
Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.
And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.
You shall make no covenant with them and their gods.
John 12:26 Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be with me where I am. And my Father will honor anyone who serves me.
Dedication to Fellowshipping with God and the brethren:
John 17:3 And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
1Jn 1:3-4 says What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We write this in order that our joy may be complete.
We must be dedicated to fellowship of saints with one another,
in duties (Rom_12:5; 1Co_12:1); in ordinances (Heb_10:25; Act_2:46);
in grace, love, joy, etc. (Mal_3:16; 2Co_8:4);
mutual interest, spiritual and temporal (Rom_12:4, Rom_12:13; Heb_13:16).
Dedication to life of righteousness & integrity: God has called us in righteousness
Isaiah 42:6 says “I the Lord have called thee bin righteousness and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee and give thee for a covenant of the people, and for a light of Gentiles…”
Isa 54:14-17 says
“In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the destroyer to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
Dedication to righteousness also brings elevation.
Go about your work (Business) in righteousness.
Isaiah 32:17 “And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever”.
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The only means to remain established in righteousness is to remain dedicated towards keeping God’s principles at heart.
Psa_119:11 says “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
The righteousness of God is the essential perfection of his nature, and is frequently used to designate his holiness, justice, and faithfulness Gen_18:25; Deu_6:25; Psa_31:1; Psa_119:137; Psa_119:142; Isa_45:23; Isa_46:13; Isa_51:5-8; Isa_56:1). The righteousness of Christ denotes not only his absolute perfection (Isa_51:11; 1Jn_2:1; Act_3:14), but is taken for his perfect obedience unto death as the sacrifice for the sin of the world (Dan_9:24; Rom_3:25-26; Rom_5:18-19; Jer_23:6; Joh_1:29). The righteousness of faith is the justification which is received by faith (Rom_3:21-28; Rom_4:3-25; Rom_5:1-11; Rom_10:6-11; 2Co_5:21; Gal_2:21). Righteousness is sometimes used for uprightness and just dealing between man and man (Isa_60:17), also for holiness of life and conversation (Dan_4:27; Luk_1:6; Rom_14:17; Eph_5:9). The saints have a threefold righteousness:
(1.) The righteousness of their persons, as in Christ, his merit being imputed to them, and they accepted on the account thereof (2Co_5:21; Eph_5:27; Isa_45:24);
(2.) The righteousness of their principles, being derived from, and formed according to, the rule of right (Psa_119:11);
(3.) The righteousness of their lives, produced by the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, without which no man shall see the Lord (Heb_13:24; 1Co_6:11).
Dedication to Evangelism and Soul winning:
Mat 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mar 16:15-18
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Dedication to Giving your resources unto God:
Dedication to the Love of God:
Rom 8:35-39
Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?
As the scripture says, “For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!
For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.
1Jn 2:6 if we say that we remain in union with God, we should live just as Jesus Christ did.
Dedication to Prayer: Prayer of faith is what moves God and not prayers of lamentation or murmuring.
1Th 5:17-18 “pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.”
John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Dedication to Success:
Study & Work diligently. Have a proper work Proverb22:8-9, John 4:36, Proverb 21:17, Prov. 24:27. Be dedicated to labour first in integrity of heart, then pleasure will follow, but when you desire pleasure first, treasure will forfeited and pressure will end such a life. and Relentless pursue distinction legitimately. Good success don’t come to those who cut corners, they ended up being cut short in life. Dedication to success requires discipline.
Discipline how you eat,
Discipline how you speak Mathew12:36-37, Eccl 5:6, 1Peter 4:13,
Discipline all you do with your time,
Discipline how you sleep, never spend all hours sleeping off your destiny on the pathway of success.
Discipline yourself to think creatively.
10.Longing of Heart, Hunger of the Spirit for Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts
1Co 12:1-end
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
One Body with Many Members
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
If all were a single member, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Do you desire to consecrate your entire life to God today? Come to Jesus now. You need Jesus now. For Only Jesus can cleanse you with His blood and save you from sin.
Song: All you need is Jesus,
Saviour of the world,
He will save you from your sins,
You’ll become God’s righteousness.
Another good example of consecrating oneself is that of David upon confessing his sin of adultery. He bathed and changed clothes before he worshiped the Lord (2 Samuel 12:20). This same imagery is also used in the New Testament (Colossians 3:5-14; Ephesians4:26-27). The Bible tells believers to be a holy people, separate from the worldliness: “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). Being consecrated is a critical component in our relationship to God and to those in the world. Paul tells us, “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. Do 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” (Romans12:1-2). In other words, as true believers in Christ, the act of consecration involves our lives being a living sacrifice to Him; we are totally separated from the defilement of the world. Each day, we are to live out our lives as a “holy” and “royal” priesthood to the glory of God, for we are now God’s people and likewise still reign on earth (that is in all spheres of influence we may occupy in whatever capacity, either as students, apprentice, professionals, or as a business owner) (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
Eph 3:14 For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father,
Eph 3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name.
Eph 3:16 I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves,
Eph 3:17 and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love,
Eph 3:18 so that you, together with all God’s people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’s love.
Eph 3:19 Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.
Eph 3:20 To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of:
Eph 3:21 to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.
ADENIYAN OLAOLU JOSEPH 