Church of Hope



LIVING A CONSECRATED LIFE FOR CHRIST

• We are now living in the perilous and lawless times that the bible speaks about

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Jesus Himself said, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)

• In the Parable of the Persistent Widow in the gospel of Luke we read,

“Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said,

“And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?”

“I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:6-8)

• At a time when so many people are desperately looking for hope, more than ever before many Christians are being distracted by the things of this world or experiencing great discouragement

• For the sake of the multitudes that are on the broad path to hell and destruction it is crucial that we choose as believers to live a consecrated life for Christ for their sakes and help point them to Christ

• It is also important that we live a consecrated life as a Christian that we finish our own walk with the Lord well

Towards the end of his time here on earth the Apostle Paul wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

I will now just look at a few thoughts in relation to living a consecrated life as a Christian

1) It is the key to our lives making an eternal difference in the lives of others and bearing much fruit. Without being totally surrendered to the Lord we will invariably be distracted and sidetracked by many other things in life

Jesus Himself said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour.” (John 12:24-26)

2) Living a consecrated life needs to be a daily (even hourly choice) because the world, the flesh and the devil are continually in opposition to the things of Spirit

Jesus Himself said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost.” (Luke 9:25)

3) There are multitudes in the valley of decision.

• The harvest is ripe but the labourers are few. God’s heart is that none would perish. He who wins souls is wise. When we live a consecrated life we will see the opportunities to lead people to Christ

• We need to live our lives knowing the value of every soul to God and be always available to share our faith with others

In the book of Proverbs we read, “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” (Proverbs 24:11-12)

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labour, striving to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:28-29)

4) Being continually committed to doing the will of God for our lives

• We live in a world full of temptations and distractions. The days are evil

• We are the greatest blessing to others when we flow in God’s will for our life

• Being in the will of God is also the key to seeing God’s blessing and favour upon our lives

• Sometimes we can even experience greater trials when we are in the will of God for our life, but we have God’s peace in our heart when we are doing what He has called us to do in life

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

The Apostle Peter wrote,

“For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:17)

• Our lives bear the most fruit when we are flowing in the will of God for our lives

This is why the Apostle Paul wrote,

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

5) The importance of living for the Kingdom Cause and with eternity in mind

• Having an eternal perspective for our life helps us to make right decisions in life

Jesus Himself said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

Jesus also said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

• Living with our life with eternity in mind will greatly influence the way that we use our time and the decisions that we make in life and how we live our life

• The simple fact is that we take nothing with us when we leave this world and go to be with the Lord as believers, except the legacy of what we did for the Cause of Christ during our time here on earth

Jesus Himself said,

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)

6) Being more concerned about pleasing God than man. One day we will all give an account of our life here on earth to the Lord. How we all want to hear the words from Jesus when we one day stand before Him, “Well done my good and faithful servant”

• Being a people pleaser will invariably cause us to make wrong choices in life AND draw us away from God’s best plan for our life. We must simply be committed to just doing what Jesus tells us to do

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

The Apostle Paul also wrote, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

Jesus Himself said, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:27)

7) That Jesus is truly Lord of every area of our life

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

8) That our love for Jesus is always our greatest priority in life. That we never allow things or people to pull us away from our first love for Jesus

In the Old Testament we see how the foreign wives of King Solomon turned his heart away from loving God wholeheartedly AFTER he had previously had two visitations from the LORD in dreams

“And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammorites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David.” (1 Kings 11:3-6)

• Given the lawless and perilous times that we are now living in it is so important that our love for Jesus is always our greatest priority and that we do not allow other relationships and things to distract us in our walk with the LORD

• When our love for Jesus Christ is our greatest priority in life we have great stability in our life

• People will let us down in life at times but we can depend upon God’s faithfulness at ALL times

• If we do not purposely make our relationship with Jesus Christ our greatest priority in life we will invariably be drawn away from living wholeheartedly for Him

This is why Jesus said,

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27)

• Both King David and the Apostle Paul achieved much for God’s Kingdom during their time here on earth. BOTH of them had a great love for God. This can be clearly seen in the following passages of Scripture

King David wrote, “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2) “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

“O GOD, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for you; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.” (Psalm 63:1-3)

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

• It is our love for Jesus that will help to keep us strong during the trials and temptations of life and keep us focused on what He has called us to do in life

King David wrote,

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:3-5)

9) That we prayerfully involve God in all that we do in life. That we continually commit our plans to the Lord in prayer

• Prayerfully involving God in all that we do in life is a great key to seeing all that He has planned for our life coming to pass

This is why the Apostle Paul wrote, “pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

10) That our time, gifts and talents and resources are available to be used by God as He puts on our heart to do so

• The devil would love to get us so consumed with pursuing the things of this world so that we fail to use our gifts and talents and resources for the Kingdom Cause

• The simple fact is that you will never come second putting God first

• Fully INVESTING our life in the Kingdom Cause rather than in the pursuit of the things of this world is a great key to experiencing the life and life more abundantly that Jesus spoke of

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6-8)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)

• We have one gift of life to store up treasures in heaven and to help populate heaven and to plunder hell. For this reason it is so important that we do not continually squander our time, gifts and talents and resources on things that have no real eternal value or significance

11) That we have a clear God given vision and focus for our life in each season of our life

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.” (Proverbs 29:18)

• Having a clear God given vision and focus for our life will help us to live disciplined lives and to bear much fruit in our walk with the Lord

• Having a clear vision for our life also helps us to keep our focus on things above when we are experiencing trials and temptations in life

AND

12) That the consecrated life as a Christian is the key to experiencing the life and life more abundantly that Jesus spoke of

Jesus Himself said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

• God has so much planned for our future

• However to appropriate all that God has planned for our life will require us to live a life that is fully consecrated to the Lord

• How important it is as we see the nearness of the rapture of all true believers that we live a consecrated life with eternity in mind and that we finish our walk with the Lord well

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.” (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

• Here the Apostle Paul was encouraging us to not get distracted and sidetracked by the temporal things of this world, but to keep our focus on things above and the eternal things

I will finish with the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote about our potential in Christ if our lives are fully surrendered to the Lord

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

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