DeVern emphasizes that our knowledge of the Lord should lead to a deep, inescapable conformity with His heart, mind, and spirit. He explains that true understanding involves seeing from God's perspective, which is different from ours, especially in times of confusion. A key point is that our consecration often hinders us; instead, we should return to His original, eternal heart of giving, rooted in the nature of God Himself, who has always been a giver. DeVern highlights that the work of the cross is not merely about redemption through blood for forgiveness but also about the divine principle of giving and self-sacrifice, exemplified in Christ’s total surrender. He stresses that our final position is to reckon ourselves as crucified with Christ, embracing the finished work of the cross by faith, which leads to a deeper knowledge of Him and His resurrection power. True consecration is rooted in the life of Christ within us, not just human love or effort. DeVern warns against superficial or self-motivated sacrifices, urging believers to rely on the Spirit of life within, which empowers us to give ourselves fully, even in impossible circumstances. Ultimately, he calls for a radical, Spirit-led consecration that aligns with God's eternal purpose, resulting in a victorious, unshakable life in Christ.
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;