As the Hart Panteth After the Water Brooks
To enter into a life of consecration, one must first recognize the need for purity, power, and a greater nearness to the Lord.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the necessity of recognizing our deep spiritual needs for purity, power, and closeness to God in order to live a life of consecration. He explains that Christians often face a second conviction, which reveals the power of inward sin and dissatisfaction with their current spiritual state. This awareness can stem from a deeper understanding of God's truth or from trials that expose our limitations. While this realization may lead to discouragement, it ultimately opens the door to hope and transformation, as illustrated by the transition from despair in Romans 7 to triumph in Romans 8. The journey from recognizing our wretchedness to experiencing freedom in Christ is a vital aspect of spiritual growth.
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In order to enter into a life of consecration, there must be a sense of need-the need of purity, of power and of a greater nearness to the Lord. Christians often experience a second conviction. It is not now a sense of guilt and God's wrath so much as of the power and evil of inward sin, and the dissatisfaction with the life the person is living. It usually comes from the deeper revelation of God's truth, from more spiritual teaching, from definite examples and testimonies of this life in others.
Or it may result from an experience of deep trial, conflict and temptation in which the Christian has found his attainments and resources inadequate for the real issues and needs of life.
The first result is often a deep discouragement and even despair, but the Valley of Achor is the door of hope, and Romans 7 with its bitter cry, 0 wretched man that I am (7:24) is the gateway to Romans 8 with its shout of triumph, The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (8:2).
Sermon Outline
- The Need for Consecration
- A Sense of Need
- Purity
- Power
- Greater Nearness to the Lord
Key Quotes
“The Valley of Achor is the door of hope.” — A.B. Simpson
“0 wretched man that I am (Romans 7:24)” — A.B. Simpson
“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Recognize your need for spiritual growth and consecration.
- Seek a deeper revelation of God's truth and spiritual teaching.
- Trust in the power of the Spirit to overcome inward sin and lead you to freedom.