What Does Consecration Mean?
Consecration is a miracle of grace that allows us to offer back to God what we receive from him, bringing us closer to our blessed God.
Andrew Murray explores the profound meaning of consecration, emphasizing that it is a divine privilege to return to God what is inherently His. He reflects on David's prayer in I Chronicles 29:14, highlighting that all we possess comes from God, and our ability to give back is a miracle of grace. Murray outlines four key insights: God's ownership of all, our dependence on Him, the honor of giving back, and the joy God experiences when we return what He has given us. He encourages believers to apply these truths to their lives, encompassing their wealth, property, and entire being.
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I want us to think about what consecration means. The Lord Jesus thought the heathen world was worth so much that he gave his blood for it. May God give you and me the grace to get a clearer understanding of consecration, and may we come one step closer to the blessed God to whom we belong.
In his prayer (I Chronicles 29:14) David expresses his astonishment that God should allow the people to give back to him what is in fact his own: 'All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.' It is a mystery that we are able to offer anything to God. Consecration is a miracle of grace. Four very precious thoughts are suggested by David's words:
1. God is the Owner of everything and he gives everything to us.
2. We have nothing except what we receive - but we may receive from God everything that we need.
3. It is our privilege and honour to give back to God what we receive from him.
4. God has a double joy when he receives back from us what he has given us.
If we can apply these thoughts to our lives - to our wealth, to our property, to our whole being with all its powers - we will then understand what consecration ought to be.
(Excerpted from Consecrated to God, pg. 3, 4)
Sermon Outline
- Introduction to Consecration
- David's Prayer (I Chronicles 29:14)
- Applying Consecration to Our Lives
- Wealth and Property
- Our Whole Being and Powers
- Privilege and Honour to Give Back to God
- God's Double Joy in Receiving Back
Key Quotes
“All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” — Andrew Murray
“Consecration is a miracle of grace.” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- We should strive to understand and apply the concept of consecration to our lives, including our wealth, property, and whole being.
- Recognizing God's ownership and our privilege to give back to him can bring us double joy and deepen our relationship with God.
- Consecration is a mystery that requires faith and trust in God's sovereignty and goodness.