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What is Consecration
We hear the Word banded about from time to time, what does it actually mean?Consecration:- it derives from the word [Konsikrei]
Consecration .. There are some 23 words that are Synonyms ~Antonyms ~ idiomatic expressions, as well as other related words for .. Consecration .. such as Dedication; Glorification; making Holy; Anointing; Hallowing; enthronement; Ordination; Immortalisation; Sacrament; Communion.
This was a small selection of related words, which helps to shine a light on to the whole meaning of Consecration, for Christians it is the …
- The action of declaring the ‘bread & wine’ to be, or represent the body & blood of Christ.
- The action of making, or declaring something typically a church action.
- The Ordaining of someone to a sacred office, typically that of the Pope.
Leviticus 20:7 “Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God”
But the heart of consecration is not devotion to this or that of service for Christ, it His the divine will. It’s readiness to do, and here’s the kicker, to do NOT what we want to do in Christ’s service, but what He [Christ] gives us to do. When we reach this state of readiness we shall not need to wait long to find our spirit filled word.
The next condition of consecration, resulting from this is the holding our life directly and always for the will of Christ. Not only must we be willing to do His will, what ever/wherever it is, we must be willing to do it, this is the practical part. . .
Deuteronomy 12:28 “Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the Lord your God”
… The moment Christ wants us for any service, we must drop everything and respond to His Call, just as Abraham did. [Genesis 22]. Our little plans must be made always under His eye, as fitting into, and as part of, His perfect plan for our lives. We must take our arrangements engagements with the consciousness that the Master may have other use or work for us, and at His bidding we must give up our plans for His instead.
Exodus 14:4 “I have planned this in order to display my glory”
Proverbs 19:21 “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”
Whilst at work we all enjoy a ‘good-day’, which brightens our heart. We hope our plans have nothing will spoil our dreams for the day. We anticipate this unbroken day in our jobs, that we very much enjoy. But, the first hour is scarcely passed before, someone calls you. Sadly the call is not one that brings joy, but instead only concern, as so you can’t see how to resolve the problem. It may even seem needless even pointless, like .. ‘A neighbour pops round sit a while, someone whom is without work. They only came around to while away some of their empty hours. Or, though all you seek is rest, but the sound of the phone punches the golden silence...
[NIV] Hebrews 13:15-16 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased”
[NLT] V16 “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God”
. . . It’s Friday evening, you’ve eaten, and slumped into that comfy chair, then let out that end of week sigh to say you made it through a very physical & mentally trying week and am spent. When the shrill of the phone cuts through the air.
Now the Friday before a close friend had led you to the Lord Christ Jesus. At this beginning of the week, you had prayed for the Lord to prosper you, through His plans for your life. It seems very clear to you that the call which has disturbed you has some connection with your consecration. Those people who called you, Christ (in fact) sent you, perhaps they really need you? They may be in discouragement, which you could change to cheer, even changing diss-pair which you can change with help from Jesus, to turn into help. Or, it may be someone facing temptation, having a moment of crisis. Or, it could be someone in desperation, who just wants end it all, as life has become too much, but have just called you on this Friday evening, before hand as a last cry for help. Christ will never give you, or put you in, a situation that you cannot handle with Him working through you.
On the flip side, there is no such need in any of those who come and spoil your planned quite hour, but instead of being a person needing your time, they actually bring you blessings, in the very discipline which comes in the interruption. God wants to train us up in a state or readiness to do His will. So nothing that He sends our way shall ever distress us, or catch us unawares, thus having us in a state of preparedness, to do His will.
Once our Lord took His disciples apart to rest a while, since there were so many coming and going that they had scarcely had time to eat. But no sooner had they reached their place of resting than the eager people, came hurrying around the shore of the lake, began to gather around them, with their needs ~ their sorrows ~ their sicknesses. Christ did not once murmur, when His plan for rest was thus broken .. Q “How many times has your peace time, rest time, been broken in on?” “Did you let out a grumble or say thank you God?” .. He [Jesus] did not say to them, that He had come to this place for a well needed rest, to recharge their batteries. Instead he forgot His weariest, and gave Himself at once, without the slightest reluctance or with holding, with all His hearts loving warmth and earnestness, to the serving and helping of the people who had followed Him, even in most unmannerly fashion to His retirement.
[NKJ]Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him”
Matthew 11:28/30 “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light”
We all become weary, when our time is always being looked for, when all you want is ‘10 mins peace’, but there seems not even that. Remember .. “I will give you rest” .. so don’t fret. We always get examples/lessons of rest from the Master…
- He may follow us to our vacations, with fragments of His will..
- He may call us out into the darkness, or the storm on errands of mercy, after a hard days work, just as you put your slippers on, and are resting with loved ones..
- He may wake us up from sleeing by a loud banging on the front door.
Somewhere out there is a soul God wants our paths to cross. It may be a chance meeting in a shop, or sitting next to someo0ne on a bus/train or even a plane. So don’t close your ears to Hid divine will. Never refuse to answer His call, as this chance meeting might be the tonic needed, and not just for the stranger. Christ has already consecrated this life . .
Hebrews 10:19/20 “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh”
. . there is no place in this life for beautiful which will not work, or splendid visions which will only be just that ~ theories or splendid visions. We can site scripture verses and their pledges, the hymns we sing. These are all pleasing to God, if we cans how our sincerity and become doers of His will.
James 1:22/23 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror”
Another form of ‘Consecration’ is ‘humility’. It does not mean great things , like ‘conspicuous service’, but small lowly things, of which we look for neither ‘praise or thanks’. Just the Lord, we must instead be content, to live a life that is not .. boastful ~ prideful ~ puffed up or look at me. 99 times out of a 100 the work that blesses the World, and which most sets forward Gods Kingdom, must always be inconspicuous, along the lines of common duties, in your home ~ Relationships ~ Personal associations ~ in your streets ~ and being helpful in you neighbourhoods and so on.
To start with ‘Consecration’ must be a spirit within us .. a spirit of love .. a love in our hearts which shall flow out to everyone, in a desire to bless and make better all things in Christ, if only we would follow Christ’s lead. . .
Psalm 31:3 “For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me”
- One days work leads to another..
- One duty leads to another..
We shall always be shown the next challenge, then the next. For if we saw ‘ALL’ of our life’s challenges it would scare the pants of you. If only we would be obedient, there shall never come a time when we cannot know what our next duty is.
“Those who follow Christ's never
walk in darkness”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your living word, that we can use as the road map to our lives. May we be as so bold as to approach your Heavenly throne through the blood of your Son, Christ Jesus, with humility and a thankful heart, for all you have done and are about to do in our lives. As we live by Faith wholly consecrated to you.
Amen.
