Embracing Consecration: A Call to Holiness

Devotional

Day 1: Humility and Repentance

Humility and repentance are foundational to consecration. We are called to humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways. This involves a complete change of mind and heart, turning away from sin and towards God. Repentance is not just about changing actions but about a profound transformation of our inner being. It is a call to recognize our need for God and to submit to His will in every aspect of our lives. This humility and repentance open the door for a deeper relationship with God and a life that reflects His holiness. [01:52]

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV): "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Reflection: Think of an area in your life where you need to humble yourself and seek God's forgiveness. What steps can you take today to turn away from sin and towards God?

Day 2: Living Sacrifices

Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices means dedicating every part of our lives to God. This is a call to be holy and acceptable to Him, setting ourselves apart from the world. It's about being vessels prepared to carry His presence, power, and authority. This involves a daily commitment to live in a way that honors God, making choices that reflect His values and priorities. By offering ourselves as living sacrifices, we demonstrate our love and devotion to God, allowing Him to work through us to accomplish His purposes. [06:05]

Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you present your body as a living sacrifice to God today? Consider your actions, thoughts, and attitudes.

Day 3: Alignment with God's Holiness

Like Joshua, we must align ourselves with God's holiness to see victories in our lives. This requires submission and reverence, symbolized by taking off our sandals on holy ground. It's about fully submitting every part of our lives to Him, recognizing His authority and holiness. When we align ourselves with God's holiness, we position ourselves to experience His power and guidance in our lives. This alignment is essential for overcoming challenges and fulfilling the purposes God has for us. [25:03]

Joshua 5:13-15 (ESV): "When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you for us, or for our adversaries?' And he said, 'No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, 'What does my lord say to his servant?' And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, 'Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.' And Joshua did so."

Reflection: What areas of your life need to be brought into alignment with God's holiness? How can you submit these areas to Him today?

Day 4: Freedom for God's Use

Consecration involves untying ourselves from distractions and burdens, much like the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem. This act of untying symbolizes being set free to be fully available for God's use, ready to carry His message to the ends of the world. It means letting go of anything that hinders our relationship with God and our ability to serve Him. By freeing ourselves from these distractions, we become more effective vessels for God's purposes, able to respond to His call and carry out His will. [30:38]

Mark 11:2-3 (ESV): "And said to them, 'Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’"

Reflection: What distractions or burdens are preventing you from being fully available for God's use? How can you begin to untie yourself from these today?

Day 5: Intimacy with God

Consecration is not about legalism but about deeper intimacy with God. The deeper our consecration, the deeper our connection to His presence and purpose. It's a call to be holy because He is holy, allowing His Spirit to flow through us and transform us. This intimacy with God is the foundation of a life that reflects His character and fulfills His purposes. By drawing closer to God, we experience His love, guidance, and power in greater measure, enabling us to live lives that honor Him and impact the world around us. [37:49]

James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: How can you deepen your intimacy with God today? What specific steps can you take to draw nearer to Him and allow His Spirit to transform you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Flame. Today, we delve into the profound subject of consecration. God has been speaking to me about this, and I believe it's a message for all of us. Consecration is about setting ourselves apart for God, dedicating our lives wholly to Him. This is not just a collective journey but a deeply personal one. We began by reflecting on two key scriptures: 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Romans 12:1. Both passages call us, as followers of Jesus, to humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways. This is a call to repentance, a complete change of mind and heart, turning away from sin and towards God.

Consecration involves presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. The Hebrew word "kadash" and the Greek word "hagidazo" both emphasize being set apart, sanctified, and dedicated to God. This is a call to live differently, to be holy as God is holy. The world needs to see this difference in us, to see the hope and moral standards that come from living a life dedicated to Jesus.

We also explored the story of Joshua and the commander of the Lord's army in Joshua 5:13-15. Joshua had to align himself with God's holiness before conquering Jericho. This alignment required submission and reverence, symbolized by taking off his sandals on holy ground. Similarly, we must align ourselves with God's holiness to see victories in our lives.

Consecration is not just about fleeing from sin but also about being ready for every good work. It involves untying ourselves from distractions and burdens, much like the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem. This act of untying symbolizes being set free to be fully available for God's use.

In conclusion, consecration is a call to deeper intimacy with God, unlocking His power in us and through us. It's a call to be holy because He is holy. As we embark on this 21-day devotional journey, let's lay ourselves before God, holding nothing back, and allow Him to make us vessels through which His Spirit flows.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Humility and Repentance: We are called to humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways. This involves a complete change of mind and heart, turning away from sin and towards God. Repentance is not just about changing actions but about a profound transformation of our inner being. [01:52]
2. Living Sacrifices: Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices means dedicating every part of our lives to God. This is a call to be holy and acceptable to Him, setting ourselves apart from the world. It's about being vessels prepared to carry His presence, power, and authority. [06:05]
3. Alignment with God's Holiness: Like Joshua, we must align ourselves with God's holiness to see victories in our lives. This requires submission and reverence, symbolized by taking off our sandals on holy ground. It's about fully submitting every part of our lives to Him. [25:03]
4. Freedom for God's Use: Consecration involves untying ourselves from distractions and burdens, much like the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem. This act of untying symbolizes being set free to be fully available for God's use, ready to carry His message to the ends of the world. [30:38]
5. Intimacy with God: Consecration is not about legalism but about deeper intimacy with God. The deeper our consecration, the deeper our connection to His presence and purpose. It's a call to be holy because He is holy, allowing His Spirit to flow through us and transform us. [37:49]
### [37:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:52] - Introduction to Consecration
[04:00] - Humility and Repentance
[06:05] - Living Sacrifices
[08:32] - Personal and Collective Consecration
[11:05] - The World Needs to See the Difference
[13:12] - Forgiveness and Letting Go
[15:03] - The Cost of Holding On
[17:07] - True Consecration
[19:08] - New Creation in Christ
[21:02] - Joshua's Encounter with the Commander
[22:42] - Aligning with God's Side
[25:03] - Holy Ground and Submission
[27:14] - Removing Sandals as a Sign of Reverence
[29:06] - The Donkey and Being Set Free
[30:38] - Consecration and Readiness
[33:02] - Prophetic Invitation for Consecration
[35:28] - Vessels for Honorable Use
[37:49] - Call to Holiness
[39:49] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the specific actions that 2 Chronicles 7:14 calls God's people to do? ([01:52])
According to Romans 12:1, how are we to present our bodies to God, and what does this signify? ([06:05])
In Joshua 5:13-15, what was Joshua's initial reaction to the commander of the Lord's army, and what did the commander instruct him to do? ([21:02])
How does the act of taking off sandals symbolize submission and reverence in the story of Joshua? ([25:03])

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to humble oneself and seek God's face as described in 2 Chronicles 7:14? How does this relate to the concept of repentance? ([04:00])
How does presenting our bodies as living sacrifices in Romans 12:1 reflect our daily lives and choices? What does it mean to be holy and acceptable to God? ([06:05])
Why is it significant that the commander of the Lord's army told Joshua he was on God's side, not Joshua's side? How does this change our perspective on aligning with God's will? ([22:42])
How does the story of the donkey in Luke 19:31-34 illustrate the concept of being set free for God's use? What distractions or burdens might we need to untie in our own lives? ([30:38])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt called to humble yourself and seek God's face. What steps did you take, and what was the outcome? How can you apply this in your current situation? ([01:52])
In what areas of your life do you struggle to present yourself as a living sacrifice? What practical steps can you take to dedicate these areas to God? ([06:05])
Think about a situation where you were more focused on asking God to be on your side rather than aligning yourself with His will. How can you shift your focus to ensure you are on God's side? ([22:42])
Identify a distraction or burden in your life that is preventing you from being fully available for God's use. What specific actions can you take this week to untie yourself from it? ([30:38])
How can you cultivate deeper intimacy with God in your daily routine? What changes can you make to prioritize your relationship with Him? ([37:49])
Consider the concept of taking off your sandals as a sign of submission and reverence. What practical ways can you show submission and reverence to God in your daily life? ([25:03])
Reflect on the idea of being a vessel for honorable use. What steps can you take to cleanse yourself from what is dishonorable and prepare yourself for God's work? ([35:28])

Sermon Clips

1. "You see, God isn't interested in your sin. God is interested in you being with him. And actually, that word in the Greek is more about a complete and utter change of thought and mind and processing. You see, God deals with sin. He's dealt with it at the cross. It's got no power. Don't allow it to have. So when God says, repent, he's more interested in you turning from that sin to him." [06:05] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We need to be different from the world. That don't come easy. And I'm not standing here pretending I've got it all down. There are people in this world that I'm not too friendly with, that have done my head in, that I've done their head in. But we have to take on the cross. We a lifestyle of consecration where we allow God to get rid of all of that. Not only is it so that others can see the hope and the difference that Jesus makes to our life, but it's also to free us." [15:03] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You are deceiving yourselves if you think you can have a conversation every now and again about God with a friend and a few prayers now and again. That reading passages of scripture, or doing a daily devotional, or posting a few Christian type memes or Bible passages on Facebook is going to cut it. You are deceiving yourselves because God sees what you do in the secret place. Because God sees us when we're not putting on the facade, when we're not putting on the mask, when we're not sat in front of our keyboard typing. God sees us. God hears our hearts. He knows our minds. And he knows that our actions and our words don't regularly meet up." [17:07] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God is asking us to be a people that are set apart for him, focused on him, dedicated to him. One of the things that Mark Pugh brought out in his message at ELS was this story of Joshua. From Joshua 5, 13 to 15. When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, are you for us or for our adversaries? the man said, no, but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come." [19:08] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God's on his side. And actually, the question that needs to be asked is, are you on God's side? fact is, when you are on God's side, you are covered by his protection. When you are on God's side, you are covered in his blessings. When you are on God's side, you get to say, he that is in me is greater than he that is in the world. If God is for me, who can be against me? You get to say all that, but that is not because God is on your side. It is because you need to be on God's side." [22:42] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We need to get off our own sides. And get on to God's side. Because while we are sitting here, standing here, expecting God to be on our side with us, we may very well be missing the fact that God is going that direction and we've gone that direction. God is asking us to be dedicated to him, devoted to him, set apart for him, sanctified for him, for his glory. For his purposes. his plans." [25:03] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Jesus said, greater things than these will you do. I believe that if we are to see those things, we need to take our sandals off. We need to fully submit every part of our lives to him. There isn't a bit in your life you get to keep for you because you were bought with a price. You don't get to keep hold of that old, gnarky attitude. You don't get to keep hold of that old, gnarky attitude. You don't get to keep hold of that bad habit that you like doing. Because God says, I want all of you consecrated, set apart, devoted, dedicated, sanctified." [27:14] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Consecration involves untying the donkey. Setting us free from our distractions. From our burdens. Freeing us. To be fully available for God's use. That picture of the donkey or the colt being set free. Being led back to Jesus so that Jesus could use it to travel into Jerusalem. Is a prophetic picture. That talks of how we need to be untied and led back to Jesus. That we may carry his message to the ends of the world. Just like the donkey carried the Messiah into Jerusalem." [31:48] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "God has plans for Elim. God has plans for flame. God has plans for you. God has plans for me. But he's asking us. He's telling us. We must be consecrated to him first. We must untie the donkey. And yes, I'm calling myself a donkey. Yes, I'm calling you a donkey. We must be untied from our burdens. From the things that hold us back into the old. And keep us from the new that has come." [33:57] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We must be vessels through which God's spirit flows. Consecration unlocks the power of God in us and through us. The deeper our consecration the deeper our connection to God's presence and purpose. It's not about legalism but intimacy with God that produces love life. Flame, I am calling you to take seriously consecration, to take away these devotionals and work through them over the next 21 days, to lay yourselves before your God and give him everything." [35:28] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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