Honoring God Through Consecration

Overview

This sermon focuses on honoring God through consecration, highlighting the specific promises God attaches to lives that honor Him. The message draws from 2 Peter 1 and Malachi 3:16–18, emphasizing both the actions of honor and the resulting blessings.

Consecration and Honoring God

• Consecration means moving toward what God has for us while removing anything that hinders us from experiencing His best.
• The ultimate goal is to live a life that honors and pleases God above all else.
• When honoring God becomes the top priority, Scripture reveals attached promises meant for our encouragement and growth.
• The Holy Spirit leads and guides us through consecration, helping us experience more of God’s goodness and grace than ever before.

Why God’s Promises Matter (2 Peter 1:3–8)

• God's divine power gives us everything required for life and godliness through knowing Him.
• He grants us “precious and very great promises” so we become partakers in the divine nature, escaping the world’s corruption.
• These promises are safeguards that prevent us from being ineffective or unfruitful in following Jesus.
• The process of growth follows this path: add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control steadfastness, to steadfastness godliness, then brotherly affection, and finally, love.
• Knowing and internalizing God’s promises helps us walk in spiritual effectiveness and fruitfulness.

Two Contrasting Conversations (Malachi 3 Context)

• Group 1: Does not honor or fear God. Their talk suggests serving God is pointless, as the wicked seem to prosper. They speak words of cynicism and unbelief about God’s reliability and rewards.
• Group 2: Fears and honors God. Their conversation centers on God’s trustworthiness, faithfulness, and goodness, recounting how God provides, comforts, and never leaves them.
• God listens attentively to conversations that honor Him, in contrast to the dismissive and negative conversations of the first group.

Three Promises When You Honor God (Malachi 3:16–18)

• Honor gets God’s attention: God notices and hears those who fear Him and speak about His character.
• Honor gets God’s applause: God orders a “book of remembrance” to record deeds and conversations that honor Him, signifying their great value.
• Honor receives God’s mercy: God distinguishes between the righteous and wicked, sparing and showing mercy to those who honor Him.

Promises Explained

God’s Attention

• When people honor God in their conversations, He “leans in” and listens closely.
• This applies not only to prayer but also to everyday talks at home, work, or church—anywhere His goodness is discussed.
• Honoring God with our words invites His presence, strengthens us, and glorifies Him.

God’s Applause

• The “book of remembrance” reflects how highly God values acts and words that honor Him, similar to how ancient kings recorded significant events.
• Honoring God becomes the most important thing in every area of life: marriage, parenting, career, or any action done for His glory.
• God never forgets anything done by the Spirit for His praise, even if it seems unnoticed or unrewarded by others.
• Acts of encouragement, evangelism, generosity, or kindness, even if not well-received, are recorded and valued by God.

God’s Mercy and Grace

• Those who honor God become His “treasured possession” and experience His mercy and grace.
• There’s a clear distinction made between those who serve God and those who don’t—God’s mercy “spares” His people, just as a father spares a faithful son.
• This imagery foreshadows the gospel: while the Son (Jesus) was not spared, we are spared and receive God’s mercy through Christ.
• Our identity: chosen people, royal priesthood, God’s own possession, called to proclaim His excellencies and live out His mercy.

Structured Summary of Key Themes

Practical Expressions of Honor

• Regularly speak about God’s faithfulness and goodness in all settings—home, workplace, church gatherings, and daily life.
• Share stories and recount God’s deeds to inspire others, and encourage upcoming generations to honor Him.
• Continue acts of encouragement, sharing the gospel, generosity, and kindness—even if responses are lacking—to please God above people.
• Make it a point to explicitly honor God in marriage, parenting, career decisions, and every aspect of life, knowing these are the most significant actions you can take.

Illustrative Testimony

• Example of someone feeling God’s presence amid suffering in the hospital, noticing God’s nearness and love.
• Such testimonies spark a desire for more of God and lead others to pursue Him more fully.
• Conversations focused on God’s faithfulness and character invite His tangible presence and bolster faith.

Action Items

• Deliberately shift your daily conversations to highlight God’s character, faithfulness, and the good things He has done.
• Study and internalize the promises from 2 Peter 1, striving to add each listed virtue to your faith walk.
• Find practical, concrete ways to bring honor to God in your marriage, relationships with children, and in the workplace.
• Share with others how God has been faithful, using your experiences to encourage and strengthen their faith.

Decisions

• Choose to make honoring God your highest priority in life, guiding all decisions accordingly.
• Be intentional about speech—avoiding cynicism or unbelief, and consistently exalting God with your words.
• Trust God’s ability to remember and reward your faithfulness, regardless of visible immediate outcomes, resting in His promises and favor.