Consecration

Consecration

A Complete Surrender

Consecration is the route to everything we receive from God. The sinner who comes to God in repentance must give his life to God and promise to serve Him with his whole heart. Then the Blood of Jesus is applied and that soul becomes a new creature in Christ. This is justification.

At that point, consecration is only ­begun. The converted heart desires sanctification and makes a deeper consecration, deeper than words can tell. The power of the Blood comes down and sanctifies wholly, giving the experience, which purifies the heart.

Then a still deeper consecration must be made to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and it does not stop here. The Apostle Paul said: “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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

Under the Mosaic Law, the Israelites brought animals, laid them on the altar, and slew them. But Paul said that Christians are to present their bodies a living sacrifice. How can that be? Paul also said, “I die daily.” In other words, I offer myself, my service, my talents, everything I am, to the Lord daily.

Is the Lord asking too much? Sometimes it may seem God is requiring more than you are able to give, so far as your natural abilities are concerned. You see your own shortcomings and inabilities, but with God, all things are possible. The requirement is that you be willing, that you offer your life to Him, and let Him take care of it. Paul said that such consecration is “a reasonable service.” It is reasonable because the Lord paid the price of your redemption by His death.

The word consecration means, “to offer, to devote, to yield, or to set apart for some holy purpose.” God requires His people to submit to Him continually in consecration. This is what brings God’s blessing and makes Christian progress possible in our lives.

It takes heart searching to know what the Lord requires. As you yield your life to God, give Him any specific area He shows you. God demands that all be surrendered to Him—your time, your thoughts, your everything. It will abundantly pay in blessings on your own soul, to say nothing of the channel of blessing you will become to others. God will give you your desire, the deepest spiritual desire of your heart, when you make a full consecration. Let God control your mind, your heart, and your soul.

If you have anything in your life that you fear to trust into the hands of God, you have not made a complete consecration. When your consecration is complete, God may put you to the test. Then you will know if you are fully consecrated. Many have believed that they had committed all to God, but when they were put to the test, they failed to keep their offering on the altar. When you are completely consecrated, God can send you where He will, try you as He may. Your heartstrings may be wrung, but you will say, “God, I promised and I am in Your hands to do Your bidding.”

Sincere seekers will make their consecrations to God, saying in essence, “God, I dedicate my life to You and everything I have or ever expect to have.” God demands such a consecration in order that you might progress spiritually. There is grace for the one who is willing to submit to the mighty hand of God. Consecration makes room for the fullness of God by emptying out the heart.

Consecration is not a one-time, all-inclusive commitment to God. Christian living takes daily consecration. You must keep surrendered, keep your will in God’s hands and your life unspotted from the world, obeying the Word of God.

David said, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). The most sacred place on earth, to every soul, should be in the center of the will of God. Many say they long to know His will, but they do not live in close touch and constant communion with Him. A consecrated heart and life open to God are necessary for Him to continually reveal His will. There is great joy in knowing God’s will and doing it.

Jesus’ whole delight and mission on earth were to do the Father’s will. He said, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” He knew the Cross lay before Him, and that He must give His life’s Blood for the salvation of the world, but the joy that was always before Him was to do His Father’s will.

Every child of God can make that unreserved consecration. Throw yourself into the arms of God, and yield yourself to Him. It does not matter what your failures have been. If you can get to the place where you wholly yield yourself to His will with a true and honest heart, He will give you His best and make you an instrument in His service.

God honors a holy, consecrated life. It is essential to Christian growth and will bring down God’s blessing. Consecrations made years ago will not suffice. Continuously, daily and hourly, your life must be yielded to God.