Consecrated - Message 5: God's Benefit Plan
INTRODUCTION: Turn to Psalms 1
For the past four weeks we’ve been looking at what it means to be CONSECRATED TO CHRIST. We’ve looked at issues of what it means to have a consecrated:
Body
Mind
Wallet
And Heart
Today the Lord wants me to talk to you about the BENEFITS OF LIVING CONSECRATED TO CHRIST. In other words – what should a person expect to GAIN if they follow Jesus as Lord?
PRAYER
LOOK AT PSALMS 1
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalms 1:1-6, NIV.
GOD says: There are certain benefits, certain blessings that come to those who follow me.
Verse 1 says: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
Have you ever been to the LA County Fair? Or any other large fair? At those fairs they sell the coolest stuff that you do not need. Mops, car wax, inkjet refill kits, ladders, Those “As Seen on TV” products – anything you can possibly imagine is right there for you to purchase – and at ‘Special Fair Prices’. Those companies employ salespeople whose job it is to get you into their booths. If they can DISTRACT you from where you were going, ATTRACT you to themselves, it won’t be long before you are signing the CONTRACT to purchase their item.
This is exactly what God is telling us in verse 1:
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked” – your life is better when you do not allow the temporary to DISTRACT you from the eternal! DISTRACTION from your purpose as a child of God is one of the first tools that the enemy uses to ‘get you’.
You are walking along with God, just fine, then suddenly, you have an extremely busy week. Work goes into hyperdrive, the cars break down, you forget to make a deposit and you are bouncing checks, your toilet backs up – whatever – and suddenly you are not focusing your life on the goal of being in Christ – you are focusing your life of putting out the latest fire – and you are DISTRACTED by the world.
As soon as the salesperson has you distracted – he will try his best to ATTRACT you.
God says: “Blessed is the man who… does not stand in the way of sinners…”
You’ve stopped walking and you are now standing, listening to what the salesperson has to say and looking at what he has to sale. If they are smart, they let you touch it, maybe they’ll give you a sample of what you can cook with it…
God says – you are better off not to stop and listen to what this world is trying to sell you. Keep moving forward. Because as soon as you stop – they will have ATTRACTED you to what they’ve got.
Because – when you allow DISTRACTION and ATTRACTION to work… it won’t be long before you are signing the CONTRACT.
God says: “Blessed is the man who… does not sit in the seat of mockers…”
When you stop walking, and stand – you’ll soon be seated. You’ll soon join in. You’ll soon be signing the CONTRACT.
God says: Your life is benefited by staying focused on the goal of being with me! Don’t allow yourself to get DISTRACTED, ATTRACTED and CONTRACTED! You’ve got to stay CONSECRATED TO CHRIST – He is the goal. He is the objective. He is the purpose. Nothing else matters!
Look at verse 2:
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” V.2
Instead of allowing the world systems to distract, attract and contract you – away from your true purpose…
• The Consecrated Christian Life Enjoys God! V. 2
Delight in God! – The result of living consecrated to Christ is that you will come to really, truly enjoy your relationship with God! No kidding – simply being with Him is way better than anything this old world has to offer!
The Hebrew word for ‘delight’ in verse 2 is: “kayfets” – and it means: “pleasure, delight, enjoy”
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalms 37:4….
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4, NIV.
When being with God is my greatest desire – when He becomes the object of my life – then of course He will meet my heart’s desire!
What is the desire of the consecrated believer? Look at verse 2 again:
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” V.2
What is the law of the Lord? It is His revelation to mankind! In other words – the desire of every consecrated Christian is to hear the voice of God!
When you’ve begun to hear the voice of God – in worship, in prayer, in the Bible, in prophecy, in stillness – nothing else can top that!
To know that you are hearing the voice of the One who made all that there is – the voice of the One who is Almighty – the voice of the One who loves me with a perfect love – what can possibly compare?
Now that is a benefit that is hard to beat!
Now, look at verse 3 – because God reveals some more benefits to the consecrated Christian:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” v. 3
• The Consecrated Christian life is planted deep and fed well! V. 3
What makes a tree strong? Water going to its root system! God says: If you will consecrate your life to me – I will nourish the deepest parts of you! How does He do this?
“Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says." (He said this in regard to the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive.” John 7:38-39 Message
God gives us His Holy Spirit to live within our spirit – The Spirit gives us counsel, guidance, power, gifts, the ability to hear the voice of the Lord! The Spirit enables us to be involved with God in the miraculous!
Nothing will feed you – nothing can be more satisfactory than to participate with God in His miraculous works!
Now – look at verse 3 again:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” v. 3
• The Consecrated Christian life produces fruit! V. 3
You see, when your life is given over to Christ – consecrated – this enables the Holy Spirit to work within you to develop you, to mature you, to overcome your childish ways, to take back the rightful leadership over your body and soul – so that then, and only then, the fruit that God intended from the beginning can grow in your life!
You were created to live a glorious, beautiful, and powerful life. As you walk with Christ, the flesh is put off, the soul is under God’s control – and the Authentic You – that God created in His image begins to be revealed!
You know those character traits that the Authentic You desires? Returning anger with love, Forgiving those who harm you, Habits that glorify God – these desires can be realized! This is the fruit of the Holy Spirit living within!
You cannot produce these fruits, that’s not your job. Your job is to do what Jesus said in John 15:5…
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5, NIV.
Be consecrated to Christ – live in Christ – He will produce the fruit!
Look at verse 3 again:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” v. 3
• The Consecrated Christian life stays strong and healthy! V. 3
The evidence of a healthy tree is the condition of its leaves. Leaves that are strong and beautiful show that life is flowing within the tree!
Christ wants your life to be strong and healthy – up the very end of your days on earth!
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16:
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
Every one of us – will face death. If you live long enough, you’ll face old age. Your body will wear out. But – your Spirit – that’s another issue! God promises that so long as you remain consecrated to Christ, your spirit will stay strong and healthy! You will soar!
Too many Christians think that its okay to get bitter, brittle and beligerant – I’m hear to say: God has a better plan for you as you walk with Him! He promises that your leave will not wither up and die! You can become better! You can become beautiful! Why? Because you are the Beloved!
One last promise in verse 3: “Whatever he does, prospers!”
• The Consecrated Christian Accomplishes His Purposes! V. 3
And how could it be any other way? When you are sold out to the purposes of God – rest assured that the purposes of God will be fulfilled in your life!
Too many Christians are willing to settle for scraps from God’s table, when you are invited to sit with Him at the banquet! Your life matters! You and God can do anything He sets His mind too! All you’ve got to do is be consecrated to Him and His purposes, and He will do in you and through you exactly what He has planned.
Acts 13:36 says:
“For David served God's purposes in his own time, and then he died…” Acts 13:36
This can be said of each of us as we live consecrated to Christ!
Verses 4 & 5 tell us what the fate will be of the stubborn self-willed people who do their own thing:
“Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”
What happens to the self-willed?
• Their lives have no substance – ‘chaff’
• Their lives cannot withstand storms – ‘the wind blows away…’
• They cannot stand in the Presence of God!
• They cannot stand being with Authentic Christians
Do you know why Christians are persecuted? Because are lives demonstrate the need for submission to God!
Verse 6 says: “For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Your personal choices determine outcomes!
• Chose to be consecrated to Christ – and you are guaranteed the watchful eye of God all the days of your life! Every stretch of the road of life – a constant companion and one who knows the road. He will see you through the death of loved ones, he will see you financial uncertainty, he will see you through marital problems, miscarriages and malignancies! There is nothing that comes as a surprise to Him and there is nothing that He cannot overcome for you!
• Chose to live self-willed – and you will not enjoy life! Self-willed means self-directed. And frankly, you don’t know the way through life. You cannot do it on your own. You can try, but you will fail.
CONCLUSION:
God says: Your life will be blessed when you give it over to me! I will pour out real life in exchange for your worn out life! Everything you ever dreamed can come true – only better!
Consecration is daily choice. A CHOICE that no one can make for you – it is personal and it is yours to make.
Joshua stood on the banks of the Jordan River and addressed the people of Israel, just prior to going into the Promised Land:
“If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you'd rather serve - and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you're now living. As for me and my family, we'll worship God." Joshua 24:15 Message
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
For the past four weeks we’ve been looking at what it means to be CONSECRATED TO CHRIST. We’ve looked at issues of what it means to have a consecrated:
Body
Mind
Wallet
And Heart
Today the Lord wants me to talk to you about the BENEFITS OF LIVING CONSECRATED TO CHRIST. In other words – what should a person expect to GAIN if they follow Jesus as Lord?
PRAYER
LOOK AT PSALMS 1
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalms 1:1-6, NIV.
GOD says: There are certain benefits, certain blessings that come to those who follow me.
Verse 1 says: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
Have you ever been to the LA County Fair? Or any other large fair? At those fairs they sell the coolest stuff that you do not need. Mops, car wax, inkjet refill kits, ladders, Those “As Seen on TV” products – anything you can possibly imagine is right there for you to purchase – and at ‘Special Fair Prices’. Those companies employ salespeople whose job it is to get you into their booths. If they can DISTRACT you from where you were going, ATTRACT you to themselves, it won’t be long before you are signing the CONTRACT to purchase their item.
This is exactly what God is telling us in verse 1:
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked” – your life is better when you do not allow the temporary to DISTRACT you from the eternal! DISTRACTION from your purpose as a child of God is one of the first tools that the enemy uses to ‘get you’.
You are walking along with God, just fine, then suddenly, you have an extremely busy week. Work goes into hyperdrive, the cars break down, you forget to make a deposit and you are bouncing checks, your toilet backs up – whatever – and suddenly you are not focusing your life on the goal of being in Christ – you are focusing your life of putting out the latest fire – and you are DISTRACTED by the world.
As soon as the salesperson has you distracted – he will try his best to ATTRACT you.
God says: “Blessed is the man who… does not stand in the way of sinners…”
You’ve stopped walking and you are now standing, listening to what the salesperson has to say and looking at what he has to sale. If they are smart, they let you touch it, maybe they’ll give you a sample of what you can cook with it…
God says – you are better off not to stop and listen to what this world is trying to sell you. Keep moving forward. Because as soon as you stop – they will have ATTRACTED you to what they’ve got.
Because – when you allow DISTRACTION and ATTRACTION to work… it won’t be long before you are signing the CONTRACT.
God says: “Blessed is the man who… does not sit in the seat of mockers…”
When you stop walking, and stand – you’ll soon be seated. You’ll soon join in. You’ll soon be signing the CONTRACT.
God says: Your life is benefited by staying focused on the goal of being with me! Don’t allow yourself to get DISTRACTED, ATTRACTED and CONTRACTED! You’ve got to stay CONSECRATED TO CHRIST – He is the goal. He is the objective. He is the purpose. Nothing else matters!
Look at verse 2:
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” V.2
Instead of allowing the world systems to distract, attract and contract you – away from your true purpose…
• The Consecrated Christian Life Enjoys God! V. 2
Delight in God! – The result of living consecrated to Christ is that you will come to really, truly enjoy your relationship with God! No kidding – simply being with Him is way better than anything this old world has to offer!
The Hebrew word for ‘delight’ in verse 2 is: “kayfets” – and it means: “pleasure, delight, enjoy”
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalms 37:4….
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4, NIV.
When being with God is my greatest desire – when He becomes the object of my life – then of course He will meet my heart’s desire!
What is the desire of the consecrated believer? Look at verse 2 again:
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” V.2
What is the law of the Lord? It is His revelation to mankind! In other words – the desire of every consecrated Christian is to hear the voice of God!
When you’ve begun to hear the voice of God – in worship, in prayer, in the Bible, in prophecy, in stillness – nothing else can top that!
To know that you are hearing the voice of the One who made all that there is – the voice of the One who is Almighty – the voice of the One who loves me with a perfect love – what can possibly compare?
Now that is a benefit that is hard to beat!
Now, look at verse 3 – because God reveals some more benefits to the consecrated Christian:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” v. 3
• The Consecrated Christian life is planted deep and fed well! V. 3
What makes a tree strong? Water going to its root system! God says: If you will consecrate your life to me – I will nourish the deepest parts of you! How does He do this?
“Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says." (He said this in regard to the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive.” John 7:38-39 Message
God gives us His Holy Spirit to live within our spirit – The Spirit gives us counsel, guidance, power, gifts, the ability to hear the voice of the Lord! The Spirit enables us to be involved with God in the miraculous!
Nothing will feed you – nothing can be more satisfactory than to participate with God in His miraculous works!
Now – look at verse 3 again:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” v. 3
• The Consecrated Christian life produces fruit! V. 3
You see, when your life is given over to Christ – consecrated – this enables the Holy Spirit to work within you to develop you, to mature you, to overcome your childish ways, to take back the rightful leadership over your body and soul – so that then, and only then, the fruit that God intended from the beginning can grow in your life!
You were created to live a glorious, beautiful, and powerful life. As you walk with Christ, the flesh is put off, the soul is under God’s control – and the Authentic You – that God created in His image begins to be revealed!
You know those character traits that the Authentic You desires? Returning anger with love, Forgiving those who harm you, Habits that glorify God – these desires can be realized! This is the fruit of the Holy Spirit living within!
You cannot produce these fruits, that’s not your job. Your job is to do what Jesus said in John 15:5…
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5, NIV.
Be consecrated to Christ – live in Christ – He will produce the fruit!
Look at verse 3 again:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” v. 3
• The Consecrated Christian life stays strong and healthy! V. 3
The evidence of a healthy tree is the condition of its leaves. Leaves that are strong and beautiful show that life is flowing within the tree!
Christ wants your life to be strong and healthy – up the very end of your days on earth!
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16:
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
Every one of us – will face death. If you live long enough, you’ll face old age. Your body will wear out. But – your Spirit – that’s another issue! God promises that so long as you remain consecrated to Christ, your spirit will stay strong and healthy! You will soar!
Too many Christians think that its okay to get bitter, brittle and beligerant – I’m hear to say: God has a better plan for you as you walk with Him! He promises that your leave will not wither up and die! You can become better! You can become beautiful! Why? Because you are the Beloved!
One last promise in verse 3: “Whatever he does, prospers!”
• The Consecrated Christian Accomplishes His Purposes! V. 3
And how could it be any other way? When you are sold out to the purposes of God – rest assured that the purposes of God will be fulfilled in your life!
Too many Christians are willing to settle for scraps from God’s table, when you are invited to sit with Him at the banquet! Your life matters! You and God can do anything He sets His mind too! All you’ve got to do is be consecrated to Him and His purposes, and He will do in you and through you exactly what He has planned.
Acts 13:36 says:
“For David served God's purposes in his own time, and then he died…” Acts 13:36
This can be said of each of us as we live consecrated to Christ!
Verses 4 & 5 tell us what the fate will be of the stubborn self-willed people who do their own thing:
“Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”
What happens to the self-willed?
• Their lives have no substance – ‘chaff’
• Their lives cannot withstand storms – ‘the wind blows away…’
• They cannot stand in the Presence of God!
• They cannot stand being with Authentic Christians
Do you know why Christians are persecuted? Because are lives demonstrate the need for submission to God!
Verse 6 says: “For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Your personal choices determine outcomes!
• Chose to be consecrated to Christ – and you are guaranteed the watchful eye of God all the days of your life! Every stretch of the road of life – a constant companion and one who knows the road. He will see you through the death of loved ones, he will see you financial uncertainty, he will see you through marital problems, miscarriages and malignancies! There is nothing that comes as a surprise to Him and there is nothing that He cannot overcome for you!
• Chose to live self-willed – and you will not enjoy life! Self-willed means self-directed. And frankly, you don’t know the way through life. You cannot do it on your own. You can try, but you will fail.
CONCLUSION:
God says: Your life will be blessed when you give it over to me! I will pour out real life in exchange for your worn out life! Everything you ever dreamed can come true – only better!
Consecration is daily choice. A CHOICE that no one can make for you – it is personal and it is yours to make.
Joshua stood on the banks of the Jordan River and addressed the people of Israel, just prior to going into the Promised Land:
“If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you'd rather serve - and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you're now living. As for me and my family, we'll worship God." Joshua 24:15 Message
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
posted by Doug Love at 10:22 AM
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