A life of sanctification and consecration is a lifelong process and very much dependent on how much an individual is willing to die to their flesh and submit to the Lordship of Christ. If we do not renew our minds on these two aspects of our lives, then we may remain as spiritual infants. In fact, if we were to look at the timeline of our lives, we will see there are some recurring challenges that could be results of a lack of these two. Some of the challenges we face in life as Christians could be lessons in faith, lack of consecration and sanctification, and they reveal our character and the depth of our relationship with God.Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
George Müller was a German Christian who lived in England and was the director of Ashley Down Orphanage. He cared for 10,024 orphans in his lifetime, started 117 schools, and offered Christian education to 120,000 children, mostly orphans. Walking along the street, he saw parentless children living on the streets or in state-run poorhouses where they were treated badly. He felt God calling him to open an orphanage to care for the children.
George prayed, asking God to provide a building, people to oversee it, furniture, and money for food and clothing. God answered his prayers. The needs of the orphanage were met each day. Sometimes a wealthy person would send a large amount of money, or a child would give a small amount received as a gift or for doing chores. Many times, food, supplies or money came at the last minute, but God always provided without George telling anyone about these needs. He just prayed and waited on God.
Our lives are made up of one decision after another, some minor, some major. We must invite God to journey with us as pray through these decisions so that we don’t make a misstep. He should not only be the Saviour, He must also be the Lord of our lives. And this should be seen in the relationships we keep; in the activities we partake. We should be reflecting the light that we have received from Him and hopefully becoming more Christlike as we mature in our walk with Him.
One of the ways we practise this is by emulating George Müller. He waited on God and followed God’s leading, instead of going ahead, leading the way and asking God to bless his deeds.
John 5:19 (NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner’.
Jesus kept really close to God and only did what He saw the Father do. May we be like Christ in this, and not put the cart before the horse.
Sermon Series: A Firm Footing (Part 2)
熟能生巧
成圣和分别为圣的生活是一个终身的过程，很大程度上取决于一个人愿意向自己的肉体死并委身于主耶稣的程度。如果我们不在生命的这两方面更新我们的心思意念，我们可能仍是属灵的婴孩。事实上，如果我们看一下我们生命的时间轴，我们会看到一些反复出现的挑战，可能就是缺少这两样的结果。作为基督徒，我们在生活中所面临的一些挑战可能是关于信心、缺乏分别为圣和成圣的教训，它们揭示了我们的性格和我们与神关系的深度。
罗马书12:1-2所以弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，把身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的。你们如此事奉，乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。
乔治·穆勒是一位住在英国的德国基督徒，他是阿什莉·唐恩孤儿院的院长。他一生照顾了10024名孤儿，开办了117所学校，为12万名儿童提供基督教教育，其中大部分是孤儿。走在街上，他看到没有父母的孩子住在街上，或者住在公立救济院里，他们在那里受到虐待。他感觉到神在呼召他开一家孤儿院来照顾孩子们。
乔治祷告求神赐给他一幢房子，照看的人，家具，还有买吃的和穿的钱。神回应了他的祷告。孤儿院的需要每天都得到满足。有时一位富人会送一大笔钱，或一个孩子会给予一小笔来自收到的礼物或做家务的钱。很多时候，食物、供应和钱都会在最后一刻到来，但是神总是在乔治没告诉任何人的情况下供应他们。他只是祷告和等候神。
我们的生活是由一个又一个的决定组成的，有些很小，有些很大。我们必须邀请神与我们同行，同时在做这些决定时向神祷告，这样我们就不会失脚。祂应该不仅仅是救主，祂还应该是我们生命的主。这一点应该在我们的人际关系中和在我们参与的活动中体现出来。我们应该反射我们从祂那里领受的光，并满怀希望在与祂同行的过程中变得更像基督。
我们操练的方法之一就是效仿乔治·穆勒。他等候神，跟随神的带领，而不是走在前面，领路并求神祝福他的作为。
约翰福音5:19耶稣回答说:“我实实在在地告诉你们:子凭着自己不能作什么，惟有看见父所作的，子才能作。父所作的事，子也照样作”。
耶稣一直与神保持亲密的关系，只做祂看见天父所做的事。愿我们在这事上像基督一样，不要本末倒置。
讲章系列: 稳固的根基(第二部分)