CONSECRATION OF ALL TO THE LORD

Matthew 16:24

Morning Meditation 6/30/2014

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

There can be no partial consecration. When we dedicate ourselves to the Lord for His use, there will be some radical changes take place. Some of these changes are:

THE MORTIFICATION OF THE OLD MAN

A saved person is one who has come to terms with sin and remains a constant vigil against it. There are some verses that will help us:

1.. The mortification of the old nature. Colossians 3:5-7, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them."

The Colossians were clear on the truth of the old nature. So Paul says, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth." The word "mortify" translates nekroo and means in this case, "to deprive of power, destroy the strength of." This verb is an aorist active imperative. The aorist tense means to do it in a once for all act. The active voice means that this is a decision that the believer makes. He takes the action. The imperative mood is a command that stresses urgency. There will be no power in the Christian's life if He does not take responsibility. It is urgent because the professing Christian has no power to overcome apart from the power of the Holy Spirit within.

2. Then Paul names the things that need to be put to death i.e., "fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." This list deals with the sinful fallen nature that is without power to serve the Lord. Not only is it without power to serve the Lord, Satan works through man's natural desire to do these things that will effectively neutralize all effective service. These things must be mortified.

3. When the believer sins, in the afore mentioned things, he is doing those things that will ultimately bring swift judgment upon the lost. Paul reminds them in Colossians 3:7 that this is the life they once lived, "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them." This is the life the believer has been saved from. It is senseless for him to claim to be a Christian and do the things he once reveled it.

THE EXPULSION OF ALL EVIL HABITS

These wicked habits are to be put aside. Colossians 3:9 says, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;" Paul clearly shows that lying to a brother in Christ means that he has not yet put aside things that pertain to the past life. Galatians 5:24 deals with this same thought, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

THE DENIAL OF SELF ITSELF

Luke 9:23-24, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."

This acknowledges the "self nature," which is the fallen nature of man. It still tries to get back on the throne of one's life. To bear one's cross is the pain of death to those things that are at enmity with God. James 4:4, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

THE ENTHRONEMENT OF CHRIST IN THE HEART

Ephesians 3:17, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love."

These believers were already the Lord's disciples. Paul is not suggesting that they are unsaved. This being true, there is a deference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation (Eph. 1:13), and the surrender of all areas of life to His Lordship. The enthronement of Christ in the heart means that we give up all rights to disagree with the Lord and invite Him to be a constant Monitor of all our thoughts and deeds.

DELIGHTING TO DO GOD'S WILL

1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Consecration to the Lord definitely brings pain to the natural man but at the same time gives glory to God.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White