WALKING IN CHRISTIAN CONSECRATION. “ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the masters use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21 DEFINITION. In Biblical context consecration means being set apart for God’s purposes-normally for effective Christian ministry/service. It means total submission or dedication in Holiness (purity) to allow God’s will and purpose to be effectively carried out in our lives. It involves separating or reserving certain persons or objects or places of worship in holiness for God’s useful purposes. The Christian believers represent the spiritual temple (house) of God and therefore should be kept or set apart, in purity and complete obedience for God’s use in Christian stewardship (ministry). Consecration is a compulsory Christian experience and any Christian believer who does not want to go through this spiritual experience cannot enter a holy heaven to see and worship a holy God. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Isaiah 52:11; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; 2 Corinthians 8:5; Romans 12:1 Our Lord Jesus Christ placed great importance on consecration all through His earthly ministry; He taught that all we own and every aspect of our lives must be dedicated or submitted to God, His Heavenly father. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Luke 18:18-27 As Christian believers, we should not allow the wealth or material things (treasures) of this wicked world to take God’s number one position in our hearts (lives). God is the sole owner of all things and have committed them into our care. We should therefore, consecrate (dedicate) them to Him, so He can give us the wisdom to appropriate(use) them judiciously (correctly). SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Matthew 6:24; Luke 14:18-19; Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:20; Luke 9:57-62; Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-36 Our lives as true disciples or followers of Christ has been completely consecrated /dedicated to God to fulfil His divine purposes both for our lives and His divine will. The life we live now as believers is a divinely programmed one, directed and sustained by the Holy Spirit of God which dwells in us. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Philippians 1:20-30; Acts 11:23; Romans 8:28; 2 Timothy 3:10; Romans 15:15-16; 1 Peter 2:5, 9 Brethren, God wants to consecrate us as spiritual temples in Holiness, purity of life and complete obedience to offer Him renewed and lasting worship. Remember God created man for fellowship and the first man lost that sweet, uninterrupted fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden through the sin of disobedience and unfaithfulness. Through complete obedience, God restored that fellowship with man. Brethren our God is a relational being who loves to fellowship with His redeemed children. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Thessalonians 4; 3-7,2 Timothy 2; 19-22, 1 Corinthians 6; 19-20 As dedicated Priests of the Most High God, faithfulness and accountability is demanded of us by God. The perfect sacrifice Jesus performed on our behalf on the cross of Calvary, over two thousand years ago, which subsequently brought us Salvation, has made us consecrated priests and servants of His divine stewardship. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6;1 Thessalonians 5;23 Consecration increases the degree/level of Holiness in our lives- therefore the higher the consecration in the life of a Christian believer, the greater the level of Holiness or purity of life in his/her life. This automatically beautifies and cements our fellowship (relationship) with a Holy, embracing and loving God. This, without any shadow of doubt, generates divine power to win this unending supernatural battle with satan and his kingdom of darkness. Consecration is a valuable weapon the Christian believers must earnestly desire to acquire if they stand a credible chance of making mess of the enemy-the devil. Brethren, as Christian believers, God has separated or set apart us to serve, honour and glorify Him all the days of our lives here on earth and through eternity in Heaven, if we qualify to enter. “Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 43:25-27 The unclean vessels or persons cannot serve God in a state of uncleanness (impurity) and so must be willing to be cleansed and empowered for divine service/worship. Ezekiel 44:9 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.” SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Isaiah 52:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Timothy 2:19-22, Zechariah14;20-21 The main goal or purpose of Christian consecration is to be spiritually qualified to serve and honour God and as a consequence to remain in an enduring fellowship with Him. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: 2 Timothy 2:21-22 Brethren, as Christian believers we must be reminded that our consecration (total submission to God’s purpose) must include all aspects of our personality/life-body, spirit and soul( mind and heart) , will and purpose (actions). We must be warned that, as we await the soon second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, our consecration must mean a total renewal of our life styles, in Holiness, righteousness and true knowledge of God that conforms to the image of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This involves our internal and external conducts that includes our code of dressing, communication and our relationships with the world of sin. Remember we all shall, as victorious Christian believers, look like Him when he returns in glory. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: 1 John 3:1-3,9-10; Romans 8:28-30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3,7; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2,30; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18,Deuteronomy 22;5,2 Corinthians 7;1 SOURCES OF CONSECRATION 1. The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the main agent or source of consecration. Submitting to the divine will of God’s Spirit, helps the Christian believers grow in Holiness, spiritual power and the desire to live, serve and honour God in every aspect of our Christian lives. Consecration is a divine process which only the Holy Spirit of God initiates, directs and sustains. We must, therefore, unreservedly need the help and ministry of the Holy Spirit to grow in Christian consecration, obedience and perfection. This is principally because, it is the Holy Spirit that consecrates and transforms us into the full image or nature of Jesus prior to the rapture. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7; 1 Peter 1:2. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God ( the sword of the Spirit), in the divine process of consecrating the Christian believers to God and that makes for why we must not grieve or offend the Holy Spirit through a life of Sin. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Ephesians 4:23, 30; John 17:17; 1 Timothy 4:5 2. The word of God. Another agent of consecration is the anointed and the transformative word of God. The presence of the word of God in the life of a Christian believer separates him from the world of sin and thus consecrates (dedicates) him to the divine presence of God. Jesus came to the world to consecrate His followers (disciples) to His father by feeding them with the word of His father -the Holy Scriptures. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: John 17:6-8, 14, 16-17, 20 It is highly instructive to note that all the messengers (servants) God has sent on divine assignments, both in the old and the New Testament dispensations (periods) were separated from the larger world and consecrated to the ministries He gave them through the ministry of the word: He commanded Joshua not to allow His words to depart out of his mouth. ‘’This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.’’Joshua 1;8 Ezekiel was commanded to eat the scroll (the word of God); Jeremiah was equally enjoined to feed tirelessly on the word. “But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak,9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. Jeremiah 1:7 David had to hide the word of God in his heart to avoid sinning against God, and thus consecrated himself to the God of his fathers. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Psalm 119:9, 11, Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 81:10, Hebrews 4:12, Ezekiel 2:7, 9-10, Ezekiel 3:1-5 The word of God is a powerful agent of consecration, and thus increases the level/degree of Holiness in the lives of Christian believers; The higher the volume of the word of God,the greater the level of consecration and Holiness in the life of the church of Christ on earth. I strongly believe that the level of Holiness in the church has dramatically reduced or extinct in some of our churches, the world over, because the ministry of the word (teaching) has been grossly (massively) neglected or completely extinguished. Melodramatic shows, worldliness and human wisdom have taken over the strategic positions of God’s word. I earnestly pray that the church of the living God should make a detour and return to the ministry of the word and prayer like the first apostolic church (brethren) did, and experienced genuine open doors and supernatural increase and approval. “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6 :1-7 3. Blood of Jesus Brethren, the glorious and sin-free blood of our Lord Jesus Christ shed (poured out) on our behalf on the cross of Calvary has saved, separated us from the world of sin and thus has consecrated us to the ever abiding presence/kingdom of God. It has made us Holy and living spiritual temples where God, through the ministry of His Holy Spirit, desires to live and fellowship forever: It has therefore made us a Holy community of priests and messengers. “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” REVELATION 1:6 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” 1 PETER 2:9-11 We must therefore strive at all cost to maintain these temples in absolute Holiness and purity of life -not assumed or self-righteousness. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: REVELATION 5:10, REVELATION 20:6, HEBREW 9:13-15,26-28, Hebrew 10:10,19-20 EFFECTS OF TRUE CHRISTIAN CONSECRATION. When true consecration occurs in the life of a disciple of Christ, certain noticeable effects Show in his Christian walk with the Lord, Jesus Christ. The first observable character is the image or nature of Christ in the life of a Christian believer. We should be reminded that God is consecrating and transforming us to conform to the image of Jesus before He returns to the earth. What this suggests, therefore, is that Jesus is coming to rapture or take home only those Christ-like Christian believers. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30 I pray that we will all make ourselves available for this transforming work of the Holy Spirit: what a glorious and everlasting fellowship we shall have with our Lord Jesus in Heaven if we eventually make Heaven: May He enable us all in Jesus precious name, Amen. The following are the other divine attributes (characters) that follow a true Christian consecration: 1. HOLINESS; Holiness is a compulsory heavenly requirement which qualifies one entrance to heaven .Without it no one shall see a holy God in heaven. It is the nature and condition of heaven. We are therefore commanded to produce this fruit of the Spirit of God. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: 2 Corinthians 7:1, Matthew 5:48, Matthew 5:8, 12 1 Corinthians 1:30 2. HUMILITY (BROKENNESS); God expects us to manifest child-like humility to be able to make it to heaven. It is one vital and noticeable effect of true consecration. Humility is brokenness and willingness to surrender our will/desire to Gods dealing,direction and use. It is compulsory Christian experience for every heaven-bound believer. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: PHILIPPIANS 4:5, PHILIPPIANS 2:5, GALATIANS 5:22-24, MATTHEW 5:3,5, 1 PETER 4:5-6 3. DIVINE POWER (ANOINTING) ; Consecration produces the divine power the Christian believers need in running this heavenly race and in winning this supernatural battle against satan ,the enemy. It is one of the effects of true Christian consecration. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: 1 JOHN 2:20, 27, LUKE 10:19 4. CONSISTENT FLOW OF DIVINE REVELATION; Total submission to God produces consistent flow of divine revelation from the holy throne of God. It is one of the effects of true Christian consecration which must show in the life a truly consecrated child of God. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: JOHN 16:13-15, EPHESIANS 1:17-19 5. DIVINE GRACE; This is a powerful effect of true Christian consecration that must be evident in the lives of genuine Christian believers. God supplies this divine empowerment to enable them secure victory over sin and satan. This is therefore a true mark /evidence that consecration has truly occurred. Grace located and brought us out from the horrible pit of sin/worldliness and propels us along the narrow way to heaven. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: HEBREWS 4:16 6. INCREASE IN GOD’S WISDOM; Divine wisdom of God is yet another evidence that Christian consecration has taken place in the life a believer and He wants us to bear this spiritual fruit in regular basis ,until our Lord ,Jesus Christ returns. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: EPHESIANS 1:17, PROVERBS 4:1, ECCLESIASTES 2:26 7. EFFECTIVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD; God has chosen us to be consecrated for his divine service/ministry. When our fellowship with the Lord is smooth and up and running, it is an indication that we have experienced true Christian consecration and that we have totally submitted our wills and purposes to that of the superior will of God. SCRIPTURAL SEARCH; James 4;6-10 (quote in full) 8. FAITHFULNESS; Faithfulness is one clear evidence of true Christian consecration. We must have absolute trust in God to be able to do the work He has given us to perform for Him. Without faith in God we cannot lay claim to Christian consecration. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: HEBREWS 11:6, JOHN 15:4-5 9. READINESS (AVAILABILITY) ; The willingness and zealousness to serve the Lord unconditionally , demonstrates a clear evidence of true Christian consecration and our resolve to obey God in all things. We must prove to God that, come what may, we are ready to pay the price of the high calling in Christ, Jesus. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: ISAIAH 6:8-13, GENESIS 1:26, ISAIAH 1:19, DEUTERONOMY 28:1 10. COMPLETE OBEDIENCE; Obedience is ample evidence that we are truly consecrated to the service of the Lord. It would be practically impossible to work for God if we are not ready to humble ourselves and do what He tells us to do .It connects us to the absolute will and programme of God. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: LUKE 6:46, JOHN 14:15, ECCLESIASTES, MARK 16:20, JOHN 14:21, JOB 36:11 11. TEACHABLE; Ability to humble and learn under God and his instituted authorities, like Mary did in the book of Luke chapter ten, is a true evidence that genuine Christian consecration has really taken place in our Christian lives .It positions us towards the path of Christian maturity and growth. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: LUKE 10:39, 42 12. DIVINE LOVE AND COMPASSION; Divine love is a true mark of complete consecration which separates a disciple from the world of sin/evil. Jesus told us in the book of John chapter fourteen that divine (Godly) love shows clear evidence that we are truly submitted to him and as a result ready to represent Him and his heavenly father acceptably. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: JOHN 14:21-24 13. BOLDNESS: Divine boldness is one of the sterling qualities of a true consecrated child of God .When we saved and consecrated to the Lord he strengthens and gives us the heavenly boldness to fight the devil in this unending and damaging war of the supernatural. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES 1 Timothy 1:7, Daniel 11:2, proverbs 28:1 BENEFITS OF CONSECRATION Brethren our heavenly father, being a good and mindful pay master, rewards true Christian consecration. Consecration builds and sustains our divine bond (union) with God, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This unquestionably increases the grace and power of God in our Christian lives. It increases the divine energy we need in running this Heavenly race set before us. The other benefits include the following: 1. Removes sins and iniquities. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: 1 John 3:5-9, John 15:2, Ezekiel 36:25-26, 2 Timothy 2:19,21, 1 peter 1:18-19, 22-23, Ephesians 5:26-27 2. produces true Holiness/righteousness SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: Hebrews 1:9 3. Divine approval/acceptability. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 1 John 2:28 4. Abundant grace made available. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: Hebrews 4:16, 12:2, Matthew 11:28-30 Brethren we need God’s grace to remain effective and finish this race of eternal life: we must therefore not frustrate this grace God is willing to release, through a life of sin. 5. Divine power SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: 1 John 2:14, 20, 27, John 1:12, Luke 10:19 6. Divine provisions SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: John 15:7, John 14:13-14, Philippians 4:19, John 16:23-24, Deuteronomy 28:1-14 Brethren, God is calling us, the church, to a higher level of consecration: He wants us to return to our first consecration- the very first time our love and zeal for Him and His kingdom work became our top-most priority: He is rebuilding the fallen foundations (walls) of the tabernacle of David- the church of Christ on earth-which He founded and built upon the once and for all perfect sacrifice of the blood of His precious son, Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary: He is calling and enlisting His end-time army/labourers to finish this divine task. And I know, without any Iota of doubt, that His mighty power and infinite wisdom would enable him perfect this work. “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old.” Amos 9:11 Let us rise from our spiritual slumber/idleness to actively participate in this great work of the end-time Harvests which is already going on. “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.” Isaiah 52:1-3 “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” Joel 2:1-11 May He enable us,heed the prophetic voice of His Holy Spirit which is presently calling the church to return to its first consecration, In Jesus mighty name: God bless all – Be encouraged always in the Lord. Pastor Martins Okonkwo An excerpt from the BookSalvation-A Weapon Against The Enemy.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:03:17 +0000
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