Loving God, Loving Each Other
Loving God—Loving Each Other
Offering Ourselves to God
Today’s Focus: God’s people have devoted themselves fully to Him
My Decision: I will surrender myself completely to God.
Paul says in Romans 12 that spiritual development involves giving yourself so completely to God that you are a “sacrifice.” The New International Version says that offering your body as a living sacrifice “is your spiritual act of worship.” It is a normal, reasonable response to God’s mercy. The King James Version said that this sacrifice is “your reasonable service.” The word reasonable means “rational” or “intelligent.” Giving yourself completely to God as a sacrifice is a reasonable thing—it is intelligent—it is the smart thing to do.
CONSECRATING YOUR LIFE TO GOD IS A REASONABLE ACTION:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. v. 1
1.Consecration to God is reasonable when you take into view God’s _____________ .
. . . in view of . . .
2.The phrase, “from Him” speaks of _____________.
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Romans 11:36
3.The phrase, “through Him” speaks of _______________ .
CONSECRATING YOUR LIFE TO GOD IS A REASONABLE RESPONSE:
Do not confirm any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. v. 2
1.Consecration is a response of an individual’s ________________ .
After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3
2.Consecration involves surrender to a ______________ or principle.
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Romans 6:13
CONSECRATING YOUR LIFE TO GOD PRODUCES INCREDIBLE RESULTS:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:3-4
1.When we are completely consecrated to God, He makes us “______________ ”.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:2-5
2. The surrendered life is the ______________ life.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:9-11