1 Chronicles 29:1-12
The believer’s consecration to God is the sure evidence and the proof of their heavenly-mindedness.
In the same vein, no one can claim to be heavenly-minded if they find it difficult to take their hands off their lives and allow God to take His rightful place on the throne of their hearts.
Consecration and heavenly-mindedness are therefore, two different sides of the same coin – a truly consecrated believer will be heavenly-minded, and a heavenly-minded believer will be consecrated.
“I doubt, indeed, whether we have any warrant for saying that a man can possibly be converted without being consecrated to God” – Ryle.
P1. Explanation of Consecration and Heavenly-Mindedness
Exodus 32:25-29; Colossians 3:1-3; 1 Corinth. 16:15-18; Acts 9:36-41
To consecrate means to be:
Consistently Christlike in life
Obedient and obligated to God
Nonconformist but noticeable to the world
Saintly and sacrificial in service to God
Exemplary in conduct and eternal in focus
Committed and concentrated (focused) to the cause of Christ
Righteous in living and reverential in worship
Addicted and abounding in ministry to the saints
Tenacious in purpose and temperate in appetites
Endearing to the saints and enduring in service
“Serve God by doing common actions in a heavenly spirit, and then, if your daily calling only leaves you cracks and crevices of time, fill them up with holy service” – Spurgeon
P2. 2. Examples of the Consecrated and Heavenly-Minded
Philippians 2:5-11;17-30; Romans 16:1-4;Ruth 1:16-18; Luke 2:36,37
Those who have gone ahead of us were consecrated and heavenly-minded:
Christ
Obadiah
Nehemiah
Samuel
Enoch
Caleb
Ruth
Anna
Timothy
Epaphroditus
David
“…He who loves Jesus consecrates to Him all that he has, and feels it a delight that he may lay anything at the feet of Him who laid down his life for us” -Spurgeon.
P3. Exhortation to Consecration and Heavenly-Mindedness
1 Chronicles 29:3-5; Philippians 2:1-5;12-16; 3:15-21; 4:1-9
The call to consecration and heavenly-mindedness is a clarion and urgent one:
- There is a divine charge to keep
- There are never dying souls to save
- There is the Almighty God to glorify with our lives
- There is Heaven to win at last!
“…And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?” ( 1 Chronicles 29:5)
“If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honour, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?” – Livingstone.