Deeper Christian Life Ministry – Youth Search The Scripture For November 21, 2021 (Lesson 1025) : Topic – CONSECRATION AND SUBMISSION IN THE CHURCH

By | November 20, 2021

Deeper Christian Life Ministry – Youth Search The Scripture For November 21, 2021 (Lesson 1025) : Topic – CONSECRATION AND SUBMISSION IN THE CHURCH


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YOUTH SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE LESSON 1027

CONSECRATION AND SUBMISSION IN THE CHURCH

Memory Verse: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3).

TEXT: Numbers 6:1-9; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 4:32-37; 1 Thessalonians 5: 12, 13; Hebrews 13: 7

Orderliness, peaceful co-existence and progress are prevalent attributes wherever there is submissiveness. Rancour, confusion and crisis, however, characterise wherever self reigns supreme and everyone sees himself as somehow great. The church of God, the body of Christ, is an assembly of the called-out ones, who have tasted of God’s saving grace, who have come out from sin into the marvellous light of the gospel. Ekklesia, the Greek word for the church, is used one hundred and fifteen times in the Bible. Generally speaking, it refers to the body of believers, the universal church.

Question I: What do you understand by the word “Church”?

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (I Peter 2:9). A gathering of the company of believers who meet regularly for Christian fellowship, edification, revival and worship is referred to as a church. For a church to be wholesome, effective and established, the membership has significant parts to play. These parts, depending on how they are played, determine the success or failure of the church. The degree of success achieved by the early Church was not without consecration and submission, the two attributes We are considering in this Study.

CONSECRATION AND SUBMISSION AMONG BELIEVERS (Ephesians 5:21-24; Romans 12: 10, 1 6)

Our memory verse says: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind lee each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3). A church, to a large extent, is what The members make it. A church whose members are consecrated and submissive will experience a great degree of growth, success and holiness. The church has a two-fold task: to the outside world and to individual members of the This cannot be effectively carried out without consecration and submission on the part of the members. Although believers are equal before God, yet there are those He has appointed to exalted positions of Specific calling. This presupposes there must be leadership and followership in the church. To ensure smooth operations among the leaders and followers, therefore, there must be consecration and submission. The Bible frowns at pride, arrogance, selfishness, unco-operative attitudes and insubordination. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17)

Question 2: Mention two major factors that make the church successful.

There are certain essentials which make a church wholesome, effective and established. More than any other factor, the membership of any church is the greatest factor that determines the success or failure of that church. Many encomiums have been showered on the early church because of the degree of success they experienced. The two essentials we are considering today are the factors which made the early Church as well as other Bible churches to achieve great success. These two essentials are consecration and submission. There is a widespread notion among believers concerning what constitutes the strength and stay of the Church. Many believe that it is the pastor or minister that makes the church what it is. This is true to a certain extent. However, the attitude and contribution of members go long way in making the church what it is.

Question 3: (a) What is consecration? (b) Give examples Of young people who were consecrated in the Bible.

God expects every member of a Bible Church to be consecrated. Consecration is the act of setting apart anything or person to the worship or service of God. Consecrated persons are those who despite position, achievement and wealth Yielded their lives unreservedly to the service and glory of God. When the call to consecration comes to the believer and he responds to God by laying all on altar, he becomes a consecrated believer (l Chronicles 29:5; Psalm 1 18:27). From thenceforth, he becomes committed to God to the church and to the progress of the gospel. Examples Of consecrated youths in the Bible include Joseph, Ruth, Samuel, David, Esther, Daniel, Timothy and Philip’s daughters. You too can become one of them today.

SCRIPTURAL PATTERN OF CONSECRATION AND SUBMISSION (Numbers 6:1-8, 13-21; .Mark 10:42-45; John 15:15; Matthew 8:9; Luke 17:10)

“Remember them which have the rule over you, Who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation” (Hebrews 13:7). Divine blueprint for consecration and submission has been given in the Scriptures. Irrespective of their social standing Of any believer, everyone is expected to Esteem others better than himself. Unlike in the world where masters lord is over others, the Christian leader is not to arrogate power or respect to himself. Rather, believers are given the divine injunctions mandating everyone to honour the Lord and the spiritual leader. The Lord lays so much emphasis on the need to honour Christian leaders that He puts a stamp of authority on it. Another express command to all Heaven bound pilgrim is “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17). The fact that disobedience to God’s instruction no longer attracts immediate punishment does not mean that offenders will ultimately escape His punishment. In the Old Testament, a special group of people referred to as the Nazarites were separated unto the Lord. It is evident, in our text, that they were bound by a vow to be set apart from others for the service of God Having vowed “a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord,” they were devoted to God during the time of their Nazariteship, and their time was spent in service and commitment to God. Their whole life and conduct were characterised by separation and Consecration.

Question 4: Who are Nazarites today?

In the New Testament, the emphasis shifts to the believer. In the dispensation of the gospel, all true Christians are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood. The believers now are what the Nazarites then aspired to be, through consecration. In the economy Of God’s programme for the church, every believer is a priest to God, separated from sin and sinners, consecrated to God, and offering — as it were spiritual Services to God through faithful and consecrated involvement in the ministry of the local church. God’s standard for the church is clearly demonstrated and taught in the Scripture. The church cannot be patterned after secular institutions. The world’s concepts of leadership, obedience and commitment will not work for the church. The Bible has outlined instructions and procedures to guide you as a Believers.

CONSECRATION AND SUBMISSION IN PRACTICE (James 1:22; 2: 1-4; Galatians 5: 16,26)

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers Only, deceiving your own selves” (James I :22). In the presence of Christ, carnal glory and earthly distinctions disappear. Consecration and submission transcend mere profession. Every member of the church must show by his actions that he is consecrated and yielded to the Lord and to the church. When someone becomes consecrated to the Lord, he repudiates all claims to personal liberty, opinion, and personal preferences. At the time of conversion, one becomes a newborn baby no matter one’s social status, age, experience and achievement in life. As one continues in the Kingdom one needs to manifest a sense of insufficiency and dependence on God as well as be in subjection to church leadership. Truly consecrated and submissive Christians always see to it that they sink their egos, personal opinions and differences, and accept unreservedly and wholeheartedly the leadership and authority of the church. God places a high premium on obedience and submission. Disobedient Christians or Incorrigible believers are contradictions in terms. According to our text, the early believers were entirely consecrated and submitted to the Lord and the church. They Were neither rebellious nor possessive. They even submitted their property and wealth for common use. They were loyal members who gave proper regards and co-operation to the leadership of the church.

Question 5: What is the place of obedience in the Command to honour and respect church leadership?

The pastor of the local church is the spiritual father of all the members of the church. He should be highly esteemed and honoured as a servant of the Lord and leader of God’s people, There is a reward for honouring and co-operating with church leadership (Matthew 10:41). We are specifically commanded to esteem very highly labour over us in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13), Ministers are to be revered and respected by church members. If we respect our superiors in our schools, how much more those who are preparing us for heaven. Obedience to leadership is the mark of respect. Any respect, so-called, without sincere obedience falls below Cod’s standard. Every member of the church should obey pastors and ministers whom God has appointed as leaders over them. It therefore means that the total membership of a Bible church will obey all instructions given by the pastor, follow the directions to which the church is moving and accept wholeheartedly as well as carry out the visions that God gives the pastor from time to time. This leaves no room for anybody to project a dissenting voice, ora rebellious front. The one who fails to obey and submit himself to the leadership of the pastor stands to incur the displeasure of God. There is blessing in obedience. The Lord knows those who are denying the church of complete loyalty, consecration and submission (2 Timothy 2: 19; I Peter 4:17). God watches our attitudes in and toward the church. Anyone who despises church authority is despising the authority of the living God.

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