Today, we shall look at the meaning of “BIBLICAL CONSECRATION.”
The idea of consecration is found both in the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament the Israelites were allowed to devote their fields and their cattle, and sometimes the spoils of war, to the Lord. According to the law that God gave to Moses, the first-born, both of man and beast, were to be consecrated to God.
And later, God commanded that the men from the tribe of Levi were to consecrate themselves for His service at the Tabernacle, in place of the first-born men of Israel.
We see a similar thing in the New Testament: All Born-Again believers, like the Levites, are also to personally consecrate themselves to the Lord.
And according to 1 Peter 2:9, God has made us “a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.”
What then is consecration? In general, consecration is the act of “setting apart” an object or a person to the worship or services of God.
What is the Biblical definition of consecration?
1. Consecration means full devotion (loyalty). Loyalty says, “Nothing can make me turn my back on you.” When loyalty is present, a relationship is secure and solid. Loyalty is undeviating commitment.
2. It’s the kind of devotion that sets you apart and makes you “sold out” to the Lord.
3. Consecration is giving up your will to God. For instance, Jesus a model of the consecrated life, gave up His will to the Father.
Jesus praying to the Father said, “…nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39).
Jesus also openly acknowledged that His mission on earth was to do God’s will. “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (Jn. 4:24)
4. Biblically, consecration means living a life completely surrendered to the Lord, accepting His will for us and seeking that will each day in all things.
5. Consecration is a devotion that causes us to lay down our agendas to pick up the Lord’s. For us as New Testament believers, consecration means returning to a life totally surrendered to God.
6. It is a life where Christ is truly the Lord. Romans 10:9 says, “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Many confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour of their lives. But in reality, it is not true because such people are still doing things their own way, and not according to the Word of God.
What does it mean that Jesus is Lord over your life? This means that whatsoever He instructs you to do, that is exactly what you will do irrespective of your opinion.
If He commands you to stand up not minding that you are so tired that you really need to sit down, that is exactly what you will do without delay, etc.
There is no room for compromise in the life of the believer. Christ is either Lord over every department of your life or He’s not your Lord at all.
7. Being consecrated to the Lord means being set apart for His purposes and choosing to live a life that honors and brings glory to Him.
Even today we must choose whom we will serve. In the days in which we are living, it is crucial that we are consecrated, fully committed and devoted, to the One who died to redeem us.
Remember that the ultimate aim of consecration is to help you conform to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). Therefore, Christ calls every Born-Again believer to a life of complete consecration.
8. Consecration is the response of the repentant heart. Just as a child obeys his parent because he wants to please his mom and dad, so does a person that has repented consecrate him or herself to the Lord because of what God did for him.
Because of the prize Jesus has paid for us, because of what He suffered for us, because of what He is doing for us right now, He calls every Born-Again believer to a life of total consecration.
Consider what has happened in our culture over the past few years and the rapid moral decadence we have witnessed. It parallels what we have seen happen in the Old Testament.
The church has let the culture creep in to the point that there’s not that much difference between the average Christian and the world. It’s no wonder there’s so much disagreement, and heartache in the church today.
We have chosen the fake over the real. We prefer the false prophets over the genuine servants of God. Just like the ancient Israelites, we have allowed our culture to influence us and have lost our devotion to the Lord.
On a whole, as a body of believers, we are no longer consecrated. I’m amazed at how many Christians are pro-choice, pro-communism/Marxist, racist, and comfortable with all the parts of the LGBTQ movement.
Those philosophies are all in such great contrast with God’s Word and yet it seems easier to just go along with the culture. That’s exactly the path the Israelites followed.
We must take the path of consecration. We must take a stand and live in a way that shows the world we are set apart. We must live in such a way that points people to Christ.
Our words mean nothing at all if our lives don’t first tell of the truth. That is the only way to turn the tide of this chaos.
We must return to the old paths, reject the world and all it offers, choose today whom we will serve, and then love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
We must follow the example of the Israelites. We should quickly repent, consecrate ourselves, and then cleanse our lives of the evil that has crept in.
Total consecration is required in our walk with God. Total consecration speaks of “total commitment of your life to God on the altar as a living sacrifice.”
Now know this: Because of the prize Jesus has paid for us, because of what He suffered for us, because of what He is doing for us right now, He calls us to a life of total consecration.
9. Consecration is giving up yourself totally to Christ without any reservations as a person bought with a price, no longer your own (1 Cor. 6:20).
True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives, that is, our times and choices to God’s purposes. Because by so doing we permit Him to raise us to our highest destiny.
Conclusion: Every Born-Again believer is called to be set apart (2 Tim. 2:20-22). The life of every Born-Again believer should be consecrated to the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2). Once you are consecrated, you are expected to do all things in line with the Word of God.
Watch out for the next edition of the Good News from the Pulpit!
· Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG). 17.03.2024
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