THE BELIEVER'S PART IN BECOMING SPIRIT FILLED IS YIELDING


A. IN OUR LAST BIBLE STUDY WE CONSIDERED CLEANSING AS A PREREQUISITE TO THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AT THIS TIME WE DESIRE TO CONSIDER STILL ANOTHER NECESSITY TO RECEIVING THE GIFT OF GOD; NAMELY, YIELDING
  1. That word - yield - is used quite freely in the writings of the apostles:
    1. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey . . . for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness." - Rom. 6:16, 19
    2. "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." - Rom. 6:13
  2. Yielding is so important on our part that we shall do well to enter this subject with a deep desire to know and appreciate this truth in our lives:
B. LET US CONSIDER WHAT IS IMPLIED BY OUR YIELDING TO GOD AND HIS HOLY WILL
  1. Yielding is the definite, deliberate, voluntary transference of the undivided possession, control and use of the whole being, spirit, soul and body from self to Christ, to whom it rightfully belongs:
    1. We are His by creation - Col. 1:15-17; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:3
    2. We are His by reason of redemption - Isa. 63:15; Ps. 34:22; Rev. 5:9; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 1:18
  2. Let us remember that consecration does not confer ownership; it presumes it: 1 Chron. 29:14. It is not in order to be His, but because we are His. It is the purchase that gives title; delivery simply gives possession! The question is not, do I belong to God; but, it is very serious, Do I yield to God!?
  3. Yielding is the glad, joyous, willing response of love to love. We love because He loved us!
    1. Our Lord yielded His life because He loved us.
    2. We, too, will gladly yield all, if need be, in response to His love - Acts 21:13
C. THE LIFE YIELDED, WHAT?
  1. This sermon would not be complete without bringing its truth closer home:
    1. "Yourselves" - ". . . but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." 2 Cor. 8:5
      1. That is what our Lord did - ". . . who loved me, and gave himself for me." - Gal. 2:20
      2. "Submit yourselves therefore to God." - Jas. 4:7
    2. "Your members"
      1. Body - Rom. 12:1
      2. Soul
      3. Spirit - 1 Thess. 5:23; 1 Pet. 3:15. This makes it very clear that all I am and all I have and all I will be belong to Christ my Lord.
    3. The life yielded How?
      1. In seeking an answer to this question we must remember that yielding is not an empty gesture, but an act that will affect our whole being.
      2. It simply involves everything entrusted to our stewardship - Luke 16:1-9
    4. Yielding to God is threefold -
      1. It is voluntary, an act of our free will - Rev. 22:17
      2. The act of marriage will illustrate my point.
      3. Yielding is a continuous act! Moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year.
      4. Yielding is a final act! That is true in marriage unto death; but for us it is for good. Nothing in this world can change that attitude - Rom. 8:35-37.


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