SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES 21-07-2019

RECAP OF OUR LAST STUDY “The Transforming Power of the Gospel”: The gospel always brings transformation of lives. To realize this, we must uphold its truth and defend its purity against falsehood and false teachers. Believers are called to be saints. We are to be faithful to God, to our calling and to the gospel. Our priority in prayer should be on spiritual blessings. This enables our fruitfulness, usefulness and continuity till Jesus comes.

TODAY’S STUDY: LESSON 752: THE SURRENDERED CONSECRATED LIFE MEMORY VERSE: …… “All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord” (Numbers 6:8). TEXT: Romans 12:1,2; Colossians 3:5-10; Num. 6:1-8

INTRODUCTION Consecration is central to the Christian life and walk. It determines the height of our relationship and fellowship with God. Many believers stay at the edge of the ocean of God’s grace, power and revelation because they are unwilling to give their all to Him. Consecration sets us apart for God’s use and service. A believer who is set apart for God will experience the depth of His love and power. QUESTION 1: Why are some believers not effective in their ministry? – Revelation 2:4; 3:16

CALL TO CONSECRATION AND TOTAL SURRENDER Romans 12:1; Exodus 32:29 Paul calls believers to the supreme act of surrender, consecration and devotion to the Lord. Those who are saved by grace are called to offer themselves unto God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him. God does not accept half-hearted service; nor does He demand anything less than entire consecration. To know and receive His best, we must lay ourselves on the altar of sacrifice. QUESTION 2: Who are those called to offer themselves as living sacrifice? – 1 Corinthians 6:11,20; Ephesians 4:23-24

REASONS FOR THE BELIEVER’S CONSECRATION Romans 12:1; Titus 3:5 Believers owe God a debt of gratitude, first, for His saving grace that delivered us from sin and the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. Second, we must be grateful to God for His manifold mercies (Lamentation 3:22). Having enjoyed God’s mercies, the only reasonable service we can offer to the Lord is to present ourselves unto Him, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. QUESTION 3: What can the believer render unto the Lord for all His benefits? – Romans 12:1; Proverbs 23:26; Proverbs 3:9

THE REASONABLE SERVICE OF SURRENDERED BELIEVERS Romans 12:1; Proverbs 23:26 “…. that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). To present is to yield, surrender or give as an offering. What we are to give is our body. The heart is the most important of all the parts of our body. When are our heart is given to the Lord, we are cleansed and purged. Without this, consecration will be worthless and unprofitable. Also, all members of the believer’s body: eyes, ears, tongue, hands, feet, etc. must be daily and continually presented to the Lord in a definite act of consecration.

OUR HOLY AND EXALTED PRIESTHOOD Numbers 6:1-8; 1 Peter 2:5,9 Old Testament priests offered sacrifices daily unto God. Similarly, we should “offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). We are not to bring animals but present our bodies a living sacrifice. It should be unconditional, unreserved and wholehearted offering of our time, talents and resources. QUESTION 4: How can the members of a believer’s body be offered as sacrifice to the Lord? – Hebrews 10:7; 2 Corinthians 8:3-5 QUESTION 5: How can a Christian bear his cross daily? – Luke 9:23; Matthew 5:11-12

THE CHRISTIAN’S NON-CONFORMITY TO THE WORLD Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Our service to God cannot be acceptable if we are still unequally yoked together with the world. The true believer will not be conformed to the spirit of this age, which manifests itself in pride, sinful entertainment or sensual pleasure. We are delivered from the world never to be conformed to it again. We must keep ourselves unspotted from the world for our religion to be pure. QUESTION 6: What is the Christian’s position in relation to the world? – Romans 12:2; Galatians 6:14; 1 John 2:15

CONCLUSION Consecration is to be set apart for God’s use and service. A consecrated believer will experience the depth and height of God’s love and power. We are called to offer ourselves unto God a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him. We are delivered from the present evil world never to be conformed to it again. We must keep ourselves unspotted from the world for our religion to be pure.