It can be a challenge to live a consecrated life because our flesh has to submit to the Spirit. In so doing, we are choosing to be yoked with God and allowing Him to be the stronger partner in the calling of our lives. We will come to a situation where we will not do what we like but what is right in God’s eyes and plan. While righteousness may be imputed to us, sanctification and consecration are lifelong processes. God has given Christians the Holy Spirit to help sanctify and consecrate us to Him. However, there are hinderances to living out the consecrated life and they are our pride and lack of faith in God. This lack of faith can be fear of the unknown, loss of control or doubt about the character and goodness of God.
In contrast, Jesus’ lived a daily submission to God’s will, a consecrated way of living which culminated in His last prayer of consecration in the Garden of Gethsemane where He submitted to the will of God at an agonising moment despite His overwhelming sorrow at the thought of dying on the cross. Ultimately, He had to ‘die’ to his flesh nature in order to do what God wanted Him to do for Mankind.
John 6:38 NKJV For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Living a consecrated life is a choice. When we choose to walk in His will by surrendering ourselves to Him, we will want to walk in holiness. We will be set apart for the Lord in holiness just as the Lord is holy. It covers every aspect of our lives; from choosing our life partner to our career, managing our wealth, assets and giving. We will find ourselves always seeking His will and direction for our lives and when we hear and accept His call for us, we will experience joy, satisfaction of the soul and contentment of the spirit.
Sermon Series: A Firm Footing
顺服上帝的旨意
耶稣为我们设立了榜样，就是如何按着神的旨意祷告，并且在面临重大决定时，让祂带领我们做选择。在耶稣被钉上十字架之前，祂来到客西马尼园，心中有两个意念，但当祂离开的时候，祂已是一心一意。耶稣在园中的祷告甚是艰难，因为祂知道祂将经历何等的折磨，这使祂悲痛至极几近崩溃。祂三次求问 神：“倘若可行，就将这杯挪去。”虽是如此，祂仍然三次顺从 父神的旨意。耶稣是完全的人也是完全的神，祂却让我们看见谁才是祂生命的主。祂的祷告是为献祭，为的是寻求神的旨意，而非祂自己的心意。
马太福音26:36~39 耶稣同门徒来到一个地方，名叫客西马尼，就对他们说：“你们坐在这里，等我到那边去祷告。” 于是带着彼得和西庇太的两个儿子同去，就忧愁起来，极其难过， 便对他们说：“我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死；你们在这里等候，和我一同警醒。” 他就稍往前走，俯伏在地，祷告说：“我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。”
过一个成圣的生活可能会有挑战，因为我们的肉身/意念必须顺服圣灵。当我们如此行的时候，我们就是选择和 神同负一轭，让 神成为我们生命呼召里最强而有力的同伴。总有一些时候，我们所要做的可能不是我们所愿意的，但在神的眼中和计划中却是正确的。虽然我们已经被称为义，但“成圣”却是终其一生不停在经历的过程。神也赐下圣灵给基督徒，帮助他们献上自己成为圣洁。然而，我们的骄傲和对神的小信，是妨碍我们过成圣的生命最大的阻碍。信心不足可能来源自对未知的恐惧、对失去掌控的恐惧，或是对神的品格和良善存有疑惑。
反观耶稣，顺服神是祂的日常，这分别为圣的生活方式在喀西马尼园中祂最后所作的献祭祷告中达到了顶点，虽然被死在十字架上的想法折磨得几近崩溃，在极度的悲痛之中，祂依然选择顺服神的旨意。祂必须向祂的肉体“死”，好成就上帝为了人类而差派祂去做的。
约翰福音6:38 因为我从天上降下来，不是要按自己的意思行，乃是要按那差我来者的意思行。
活出成圣的生命是一个选择。当我们降服于神前，选择行在祂的旨意中，我们就会渴望行在圣洁中。因为 神是圣洁的，所以我们就会被分别为圣来归于 神。这涵盖了生活的各个层面，举凡选择人生伴侣、选择职业，对财富、资产的管理和给予。我们将发现自己总是会寻求祂的旨意和对我们生命作出的指点，当我们听见祂对我们的呼召并接受时，我们将经历到内心的喜悦和灵里的满足。
讲章系列：稳固的根基