TOPIC: CONSECRATION
ANCHOR TEXT: Romans 12:1-2

Rom 12:1 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 12:2 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.

AIMS
 To understand what consecration means
 To emphasize that it is possible to live a holy life.
 To understand generic and specific consecration

INTRODUCTION

It is difficult; it is not easy. I’m not used to it. “It is my own nature… we are different…” says
who? We live in a confused world where men find it difficult to yield and obey; where men want
to do what they want; where bodies, mindsets, and what you feed on supposedly do not really
matter. A world where everyone wants to take charge of their own lives. Where the things of this
world fascinate people. Some people will say, “It is my body; I own myself.” As believers, we do
not own ourselves—we are sold out. We have a standard, which is God’s standard: purity and
holiness. We are in this world but not of this world, and this should be our constant state.

CONSECRATION

God is holy and pure, in whom no blemish or stain can be found. God is so intentional about this state because
He is our God, and we must look like Him (Deut. 7:6, Lev. 19:2, Lev. 20:7). For you to be on the same page
as God, you must consecrate yourself (Ps. 24:3–4).
Consecration simply means setting apart—separation.
Consecrate is from the Greek word nâzar which means abstain (from food and drink, from impurity,
specifically to set apart (to sacred purposes), that is, devote: – consecrate, separate (-ing, self).
(Exo. 29:22, Exo. 29:26, Num 6:7, Lev 22:21, 29, Num 6:12, I Chr 29:5)
Num_6:12 And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of
the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was
defiled.
Exo_29:33 And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to
sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.
We can see how God separated or chose Israel out of many; how He gave commandments to the priests, the
animals, and some stated things. In the Old Testament, we repeatedly see situations where the people were
sanctified—everyone, even the animals.
Lev_22:21 And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow,
or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
Lev_22:29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.
Consecration in the Old Testament involved physical things: the temple, the body, animals, garments, etc. But
to what end?
Consecration also means to make a choice in spite of other choices available and then be committed to it. It
is not doing something out of mere compassion, but compelling yourself to carry out a duty, responsibility,
or instruction to the letter in spite of other options.
.
GENERAL AND SPECIFIC CONSECRATION

There are things we do personally when it comes to consecration—there are personal dealings. We may
receive a general instruction, but some things are peculiar to individuals. We do not carry the same type of
instruction. Consecration involves obedience, determination, sacrifice, discipline, self-control, letting go of
your conveniences, and self-denial. Its end is to honour Jesus. It means being conscious of God. (Ps. 119:11).
1Pe 2:9 -10 – Tells us about who we are as believers.
Dressing – I Peter 3:3-4, I Tim. 2:9-10, Abstinence from fornication- I Thes 4: 3-4, Marriage I Cor. 7:1-2,
Some specific ones are:
Samson – Jdg 13:4-5
Daniel – Dan. 1:8, Joseph –Gen. 39:9, Samuel – I Sam. 1:11, Act 16:6 Now when they had gone
throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word
in Asia,
Act 16:7 /Mat 28:20

SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY

Man is a tripartite being which is made of the spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The part
of man that is born again is his spirit. Man’s spirit receives eternal life—the life of God, and the nature
of God. It is man’s spirit that is made a new creature in Christ. But man is a spirit being. We need to
be spirit-conscious. Spiritual things will become more real to us the more spirit-conscious we become.
God’s Spirit leads us through our spirits. I am a spirit being. I have a soul. And I live in a body. With
your body, you contact the physical realm, with your spirit, you contact the spiritual realm, with your
soul, you contact the intellectual realm.
1 Cor. 14:14 – For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is
unfruitful. The Amplified translation reads, “For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the
Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive….”
Our understanding, our natural human mentality, is a part of our soul. What you feed on is what will
nourish you and what you will become.

LIVING SACRIFCE

Sacrifice is a way of offering things unto God, living sacrifice means you must continue with it, it
is a continuous process. In the Old Testament, animals are used as sacrifices.
Deu_12:27 And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of
the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the
LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.
God is saying you should bring yourself as a sacrifice unto him, you are the best sacrifice you can
give into God. Let your whole being showcase his glory. It is a continuous thing
Man’s soul is saved, or restored, when his mind becomes renewed with the Word of God. It is the
Word of God that saves our souls, that renews our minds, that restores our souls. Eyes, ears, mouth
etc, your entirety is to be consecrated. This world is corrupt and as believers we are priest we are
not to compare ourselves to this world (I John 2:15-17). You will have to contend with the body,
the flesh, as long as you are in this world. This is why renewing of the mind is a continuous thing
(Rom. 12:1-2, 1 Cor. 9:27).

CONSECRATION IN OUR DAILY LIVES

As said earlier, consecration should be applied to everything that concerns us. As believers, we are meant to
maintain the integrity of Christ; we are not to defile ourselves with the things of this world.
 Food: We must be disciplined in what we consume (Dan 1:8; Pro. 23:20–21).
 Activities: The events and occasions we attend also reflect who we truly are — whether we belong
to God or to the world (1 Cor. 6:14; Ps 1:1).
 Clothing & Dressing: There is a saying that the way you dress is the way you will be addressed.
Our dressing should reflect godliness and modesty (1 Pet 3:3–4; Col. 3:12).
 Sex: We must abstain from all forms of sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:18–20; Mat. 5:28; Heb. 13:4;
Mat. 6:23).
 Seeing & Hearing: We eventually resemble whatever we continually feed our eyes and ears with
(Job 31:1).
 Character: Our behaviour should always reveal the nature of Christ (Gal. 5:22–23).
 Words: We must be like Christ in the way we express our words and communicate with others (1
Pet. 2:22; Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6).
Brethren, note this: 1Cor 10:31 says Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God.

HOW TO MAINTAIN A CONSECRATED LIFE

No matter what you have purposed in your heart, no matter the standard you have set for yourself,
you must obey, be determined, be fervent, and yield (I Pet. 1:15-16, I John 3:2-3).
 Our gaze should be fixed on God. .
 Whatsoever the level of your sacrifice, you must obey God’s instruction.
 Be thirsty and be hungry for him always – “As the deer panteth for water, so my heart
longeth after the things of God.”
Finally, Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed…

CONCLUSION

Life is all about choices but know this, everything you do, do it to the glory of God. The baseline
of sin is independence (you do whatever you like, you lack control and all). Salvation brings you
from independence to total dependence and total submission to God. We are not permitted to do
what we want but what He wants. We are in this world but not of this world. Jesus is Lord over
our lives, don’t lose sight.