LIVING A CONSECRATED LIFE

LIVING A CONSECRATED LIFE

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: 1 Corinthians 6:20

Key Verse: "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." — 1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV)

Supporting Texts: Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Leviticus 20:7; 2 Timothy 2:21; Galatians 2:20

Description: A consecrated life is a life completely surrendered to God, separated from sinful influences, and devoted to His glory and purposes.

INTRODUCTION

Consecration means being set apart for a specific purpose. In the Christian life, it means deliberately surrendering ourselves to God and allowing Him to determine how we live, what we pursue, and how we use the lives He has entrusted to us. Consecration is therefore more than attending church or performing religious activities; it is a total commitment to God.

Paul reminds the Corinthians that they were bought with a price and therefore should glorify God in their bodies and spirits. The price was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Because Christ purchased our redemption, we no longer belong to ourselves. Our lives, bodies, abilities, resources, relationships, and ambitions should be placed at God's disposal.

A consecrated life is not a life without challenges or temptations. Rather, it is a life that continually chooses God's will above personal desires. It is a daily decision to remain separated from sin, devoted to holiness, and available for divine purposes.

1. RECOGNISE THAT YOU BELONG TO GOD

True consecration begins with understanding ownership. We cannot fully surrender to God until we recognise that we already belong to Him.

a) You Were Bought With A Price (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Christ paid the price for our redemption through His sacrificial death. Our salvation therefore gives Him rightful ownership over our lives.

b) You Are Not Your Own (1 Corinthians 6:19)
The believer cannot live according to personal desires alone. We belong to Christ and must submit our lives to His authority.

c) Christ Is Your Lord (Romans 10:9)
Confessing Jesus as Lord means more than acknowledging Him as Saviour. It means accepting His authority over every area of life.

d) Live For The One Who Redeemed You (2 Corinthians 5:15)
Christ died so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and rose again.

Biblical Example: Paul completely surrendered his life to Christ after his encounter on the road to Damascus and immediately asked what the Lord wanted him to do (Acts 9:3-6).

2. PRESENT YOURSELF COMPLETELY TO GOD

Consecration requires intentional surrender. God desires not merely part of our lives but our whole being.

a) Present Your Body (Romans 12:1)
Paul calls believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices. Our physical lives should become instruments of worship and service.

b) Surrender Your Mind (Romans 12:2)
Consecration includes our thinking. A renewed mind enables us to recognise and pursue God's will.

c) Surrender Your Plans (Proverbs 3:5–6)
We must trust God enough to allow Him to direct our paths rather than insisting on our own plans.

d) Surrender Your Future (Jeremiah 29:11)
God has purposes for His people. Consecration means trusting Him with the future and allowing His purposes to prevail.

Biblical Example: Hannah surrendered Samuel to the Lord after receiving him as an answer to prayer, dedicating him to God's service (1 Samuel 1:24-28).

3. SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM SIN

Consecration involves separation. We cannot deliberately embrace sinful influences while claiming to be fully devoted to God.

a) Come Out From Ungodly Influences (2 Corinthians 6:17)
God calls His people to separate themselves from practices and influences that contradict His holiness.

b) Flee Sinful Desires (2 Timothy 2:22)
Consecrated living requires deliberate avoidance of desires that can corrupt our spiritual lives.

c) Put Away The Works Of Darkness (Romans 13:12)
Believers must reject behaviours that belong to the old life and embrace the works of righteousness.

d) Cleanse Yourself (2 Corinthians 7:1)
God's people are called to cleanse themselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Biblical Example: When Jacob returned to Bethel, he instructed his household to put away their strange gods, purify themselves, and change their garments before going to worship God (Genesis 35:1-4).

4. PURSUE HOLINESS DAILY

Consecration is not a one-time emotional experience; it is a continuing lifestyle of holiness.

a) Be Holy In All Your Conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16)
God's holiness should influence every aspect of our lives, including our speech, relationships, decisions, and behaviour.

b) Walk In The Fear Of God (Proverbs 8:13)
The fear of the Lord produces hatred for evil and helps us maintain healthy boundaries against sin.

c) Grow In Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
God's will is our sanctification. We should continually become more like Christ in character and conduct.

d) Follow Peace And Holiness (Hebrews 12:14)
Believers are commanded to pursue holiness actively. It requires intentional choices and perseverance.

Biblical Example: Daniel maintained his consecration in Babylon by refusing to defile himself with the king's food and wine (Daniel 1:8-16).

5. BECOME A VESSEL FOR GOD'S PURPOSE

Consecration makes us useful to God. A surrendered life becomes available for divine assignment.

a) Become A Sanctified Vessel (2 Timothy 2:21)
Paul teaches that those who cleanse themselves from dishonour become vessels sanctified and useful to the Master.

b) Discover Your Spiritual Assignment (Ephesians 2:10)
God has prepared good works for His people. Consecration positions us to fulfil the purposes for which we were created.

c) Serve With Your Gifts (1 Peter 4:10)
Every believer has received gifts that should be used to serve others and advance God's kingdom.

d) Be Ready For Every Good Work (Titus 3:1)
A consecrated believer remains available and prepared to respond when God provides opportunities for service.

Biblical Example: Isaiah responded to God's question, "Whom shall I send?" with the words, "Here am I; send me." His consecration made him available for divine assignment (Isaiah 6:8).

6. LIVE FOR GOD'S GLORY

The ultimate purpose of consecration is God's glory. Our lives should continually point people towards Him.

a) Glorify God In Your Body (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Our physical lives should honour the God who purchased our redemption.

b) Glorify God In Everything (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Every activity, decision, relationship, and responsibility can become an opportunity to glorify God.

c) Let Your Light Shine (Matthew 5:16)
A consecrated life provides visible evidence of God's transforming power and directs people towards Him.

d) Remain Faithful To The End (Revelation 2:10)
Consecration requires perseverance. We must remain faithful even when obedience becomes difficult or costly.

Biblical Example: Paul counted his life as nothing compared with completing the ministry God had given him, demonstrating wholehearted devotion to God's purpose (Acts 20:24).

CONCLUSION

Living a consecrated life begins with recognising that we belong to God. We were bought with the precious blood of Christ, and therefore our bodies, minds, resources, abilities, ambitions, and relationships should be surrendered to Him. Consecration calls us away from self-rule and into wholehearted devotion.

Do not give God only the convenient parts of your life. Present yourself completely to Him, separate yourself from sinful influences, pursue holiness, become useful for His purposes, and live for His glory. May your life continually declare, "I belong to Jesus," and may everything you do bring honour to the One who redeemed you.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, help me to recognise continually that I belong to You because Christ has bought me with His precious blood, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, give me grace to surrender every area of my life completely to Your authority and purpose, in Jesus name.

3. Father, separate me from every sinful influence, relationship, habit, and practice that can weaken my devotion to You, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, cleanse my heart, mind, body, and spirit from every form of defilement and establish me in holiness, in Jesus name.

5. Father, renew my mind and help me to understand and obey Your perfect will for my life, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, make me a sanctified and useful vessel that is always prepared for every good work You have appointed for me, in Jesus name.

7. Father, give me grace to surrender my plans, ambitions, desires, resources, and future completely into Your hands, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, help me to glorify You in my body, relationships, speech, decisions, work, ministry, and every area of my daily life, in Jesus name.

9. Father, keep me faithful when obedience becomes difficult, costly, or unpopular, and give me strength to remain consecrated to You, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, let my entire life become a living sacrifice that continually brings glory to Your name and fulfils Your purpose, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall live with the consciousness that you belong to God, and every area of your life shall increasingly come under the authority and lordship of Jesus Christ.

2. The grace to surrender your plans, ambitions, desires, resources, and future completely to God shall increase upon your life.

3. Every ungodly influence that seeks to draw you away from your consecration shall be exposed, broken, and removed from your path.

4. You shall walk in holiness, and your character, conduct, relationships, thoughts, words, and decisions shall increasingly reflect the nature of Christ.

5. The Lord shall make you a sanctified vessel, useful for His purposes, prepared for every good work, and available for every divine assignment.

6. You shall not waste the gifts, abilities, opportunities, and resources God has placed in your hands; they shall be effectively used for His kingdom and glory.

7. When obedience becomes difficult, you shall receive supernatural strength to remain faithful, and you shall not abandon your consecration because of pressure or opposition.

8. Your life shall become a visible testimony of God's transforming grace, and those around you shall see evidence that you truly belong to Jesus Christ.

9. You shall fulfil the divine purpose for which God created and redeemed you, and your life shall not become a wasted vessel.

10. You shall remain consecrated to the Lord until the end, finish your earthly assignment faithfully, and leave behind a testimony that brings glory to God.