Consecration: Setting Your Heart Apart for God

Today, we gathered around the theme of “consecration”—what it means to have a heart set apart for God. We began by reflecting on the journey of the Israelites as they stood on the edge of the Promised Land, after centuries of waiting and wandering. Joshua’s command to the people was simple but profound: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” This call to consecration was not just about outward rituals, but about preparing their hearts for what God was about to do. In the Old Testament, consecration often meant external acts—washing clothes, abstaining from certain things—but in Christ, it’s about the inward work of the heart. A pure heart, as Jesus described, is not a perfect or sinless heart, but an undivided one—one that is wholly devoted to Him.

We explored how consecration is the necessary precursor to breakthrough and freedom. God desires not just our actions, but our motives, our affections, and our willingness to surrender every area of our lives to Him. When we hold back, when we refuse to give Him lordship over certain areas—our relationships, our finances, our future—we find ourselves stuck, unable to move forward into the fullness of what He has for us. But when we surrender, when we set apart even the most personal or painful parts of our lives, God brings growth, blessing, and purpose.

I shared from my own journey—how God called me to lay down my own dreams and reputation, to step into a role I never expected. It was only in surrendering my future that I found true fulfillment and joy. This principle applies to every area: our singleness, our careers, our relationships. God often gives us territory “little by little,” sanctifying us one battle at a time, so that we can steward His blessings well.

We also looked at how God uses trials as a crucible to purify our hearts. The heat of adversity brings impurities to the surface—not to shame us, but to invite us into deeper repentance and surrender. The question is not just whether Jesus is our Savior, but whether He is truly Lord—governing every decision, every desire. True consecration is ongoing, a daily act of setting apart our hearts for Him, trusting that His plans are always for our good.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Consecration precedes breakthrough and growth Setting your life apart for God is the gateway to real spiritual change. When we surrender our plans, desires, and even our pain, we make room for God’s guidance and blessing. Holding back keeps us stuck, but surrender opens the door to the abundant life Jesus promised. [66:27]
• 2. God sanctifies us one battle at a time Just as Israel took the Promised Land little by little, God works in our hearts gradually. He doesn’t overwhelm us with everything at once, but invites us to surrender one area at a time. Each victory deepens our trust and prepares us for greater responsibility and blessing. [75:17]
• 3. Trials reveal and refine the heart God allows the heat of trials to bring our hidden motives and weaknesses to the surface. This isn’t to condemn us, but to purify us—so that we can be molded into His image. The fire of adversity is often the place where true consecration happens, as we finally let go and trust Him fully. [79:06]
• 4. Jesus must be both Savior and Lord It’s not enough to believe in Jesus as Savior; He calls us to make Him Lord over every part of our lives. This means His Word and Spirit govern our decisions, relationships, and ambitions. Only then do we experience the fullness of His kingdom and the joy of a life with no regrets. [84:55]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [37:52] - Connect and Discover Resonate
• [42:34] - Opening and Worship
• [45:30] - Personal Testimony: Surgery and Pride
• [46:18] - Community and Connection
• [46:44] - Series Recap: First Love
• [47:18] - The Call to Be Like Jesus
• [48:23] - Repentance and Obedience
• [49:02] - Consecration: A Heart Set Apart
• [49:57] - Revelation: Returning to First Love
• [51:49] - Joshua’s Call to Consecration
• [54:24] - What Does Consecration Mean?
• [56:59] - Pure Heart: Undivided Devotion
• [58:12] - The Story of Israel’s Promise
• [66:08] - Consecration and Breakthrough
• [75:17] - God’s Gradual Work in Us
• [79:06] - Trials as the Crucible
• [84:55] - Is Jesus Lord of Your Life?
• [91:05] - Responding in Surrender
• [96:41] - Prayer of Salvation
• [97:40] - Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Reading

Joshua 3:1-5 (ESV) — > Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

Matthew 5:8 (ESV) — > “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Proverbs 17:3 (ESV) — > The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Observation Questions

1. In Joshua 3, what specific instructions did Joshua give the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River? What was the reason for these instructions? ([51:49])
2. According to Matthew 5:8, who are the ones that will see God, and what does it mean to be “pure in heart”? ([52:43])
3. In the sermon, what were some of the outward acts of consecration for the Israelites, and how did these differ from what Jesus calls for in the New Testament? ([55:35])
4. What does Proverbs 17:3 compare the testing of our hearts to, and what is the purpose of this testing? ([01:19:06])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves before God did “wonders” among them? What does this suggest about the relationship between our preparation and God’s work? ([51:49])
2. The sermon says a pure heart is not a perfect heart, but an undivided one. What does it look like for someone’s heart to be “undivided” in their devotion to God? ([56:59])
3. The pastor shared that God often gives us “territory little by little” in our spiritual growth. Why might God choose to work in us gradually rather than all at once? ([01:15:17])
4. How do trials and difficulties function as a “crucible” in our lives, according to the sermon? What is God’s goal in allowing us to go through these times? ([01:19:06])

Application Questions

1. The Israelites had to consecrate themselves before entering the Promised Land. Is there an area of your life right now where you sense God asking you to “set apart” or surrender something to Him before you can move forward? What is holding you back from doing so? ([01:06:27])
2. The sermon described consecration as surrendering not just actions, but motives, affections, and even pain. Is there a specific motive or desire in your heart that you have been reluctant to surrender to God? What would it look like to give Him lordship over that area? ([01:07:08])
3. The pastor shared a personal story about surrendering his dreams and reputation to God, which led to unexpected fulfillment. Have you ever experienced a time when letting go of your own plans led to greater joy or purpose? If not, what fears keep you from trusting God with your future? ([01:10:24])
4. God often works “one battle at a time” in our lives. What is one “battle” or area of growth that you sense God is focusing on in your life right now? How can you cooperate with Him in this area? ([01:15:17])
5. The sermon said that trials reveal what’s really in our hearts, not to shame us, but to invite us into deeper surrender. Can you think of a recent trial or difficulty that exposed something in your heart? How did you respond, and what might God be inviting you to do next? ([01:22:05])
6. Jesus calls us to make Him not just Savior, but Lord over every part of our lives. Are there specific areas—like relationships, finances, or your future—where you have not fully allowed Jesus to be Lord? What practical step could you take this week to surrender that area to Him? ([01:24:55])
7. The sermon mentioned that holding back from God keeps us stuck, but surrender opens the door to abundant life. What is one practical way you can practice daily consecration—setting your heart apart for God—this week? ([01:31:05])