Transformative Love: A Call to Consecration and Community

The gathering at Apostolic Church Dallas focused on the themes of fellowship, consecration, and the transformative power of love within the community. The message emphasized the importance of nurturing a deep relationship with God and understanding His covenant with His people. The congregation was encouraged to meditate on Psalm 25:10-15, which speaks of God's paths of mercy and truth for those who keep His covenant and testimonies.

The community is entering a season of consecration, a time dedicated to spiritual growth and deeper communion with God. This period involves increased prayer, fasting, reading the Word of God, and cutting out worldly distractions. The aim is not spiritual warfare but rather to foster a deeper love and connection with God. The community is encouraged to participate in this season of consecration by engaging in these spiritual disciplines and by reading recommended literature, such as "The Power of Consecration" by Jeremiah Johnson, to further guide their journey.

The message also highlighted the upcoming one-year anniversary of the church, which is seen not as a celebration of the church's achievements but as an acknowledgment of what God has done and will continue to do. The focus remains on Jesus Christ, who is credited with building the church and ensuring that it stands strong against all adversities.

A new initiative, Sunday school, was announced, which aims to provide strategic teaching to build up the body of Christ. This teaching will come from the five-fold ministry, including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, to edify the saints. The first session will focus on Apostolic Doctrine, particularly the Oneness of God and the new birth, and will include a Q&A session to delve deeper into these doctrines.

The core message of the gathering was the power of love and its ability to transform individuals and the community. Love is presented as the antidote to fear, pride, and bitterness. The community was reminded that love is not just a feeling but an action that requires intentionality and sacrifice. The love of God is what should mark the church, and it is through this love that fear is cast out. The community was encouraged to act out this love in tangible ways, such as giving generously and serving one another.

The message also addressed the issue of bitterness and pride, which can hinder spiritual growth and the flow of God's love. The community was called to release any bitterness and to forgive those who have wronged them, allowing God's love to flow freely through their lives. The importance of humility and the dangers of pride were underscored, with a call to live in a way that reflects God's love and righteousness.

In conclusion, the gathering was a call to action for the community to consecrate themselves to the Lord, to prioritize prayer and love, and to prepare for a season of spiritual growth. The community was encouraged to support one another in this journey and to be accountable to each other as they seek to deepen their relationship with God and embody His love in their daily lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Consecration is a time for the community to deepen its relationship with God, not through spiritual warfare but through love and devotion. This season is an opportunity to focus on prayer, fasting, and the Word, cutting out distractions to fall more in love with God. [01:56:29]

- The upcoming anniversary of the church is a moment to reflect on God's work rather than human achievements. It's a reminder that the foundation and growth of the church are attributed to Jesus Christ's actions and His continued presence in the community. [01:58:33]

- Sunday school is introduced as a means to strengthen the church through strategic teaching from various ministry roles. This initiative is designed to equip the community with a deeper understanding of foundational doctrines and to foster spiritual maturity. [01:59:28]

- Love is the defining characteristic of the community, not just towards those outside the church but within it as well. This love is active, sacrificial, and transformative, casting out fear and creating a space where God's presence is felt and His righteousness is pursued. [01:41:00]

- Bitterness and pride are obstacles to experiencing God's love and can prevent spiritual growth. The community is encouraged to let go of these hindrances, forgive those who have wronged them, and embrace humility to allow God's love to work through them. [01:45:00]

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Psalm 25:10-15** - "All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net."

2. **Colossians 3:12-14** - "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

3. **Matthew 22:37-40** - "And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 25:10-15, what are the characteristics of the paths of the Lord? How does this passage describe the relationship between God and those who fear Him?
2. In Colossians 3:12-14, what virtues are believers instructed to "put on"? How is love described in relation to these virtues?
3. What are the two greatest commandments according to Matthew 22:37-40? How do these commandments summarize the Law and the Prophets?
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of love within the community. What specific actions were suggested to demonstrate this love? [01:41:43]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of steadfast love and faithfulness in Psalm 25:10-15 relate to the idea of consecration and deepening one's relationship with God as discussed in the sermon? [01:54:18]
2. Colossians 3:12-14 speaks about virtues that believers should embody. How do these virtues help in overcoming bitterness and pride, as mentioned in the sermon? [01:45:00]
3. The sermon mentioned that love is not just a feeling but an action that requires intentionality and sacrifice. How does this align with the teachings of Matthew 22:37-40? [01:43:37]
4. The sermon highlighted the transformative power of love within the community. How can the practice of love, as described in the Bible passages, lead to a stronger and more united church community? [01:41:00]

#### Application Questions
1. The sermon called for a season of consecration involving prayer, fasting, and reading the Word. What specific steps can you take to participate in this season of consecration? [01:56:29]
2. Reflect on a time when you held onto bitterness or pride. How did it affect your spiritual growth and relationships within the church? What steps can you take to release these hindrances and embrace humility? [01:45:00]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of love in action. Identify one tangible way you can show love to a fellow church member this week. How can this act of love help in building a stronger community? [01:41:43]
4. The upcoming anniversary of the church is a moment to reflect on God's work. How can you personally contribute to the church's mission and growth in the coming year? [01:58:33]
5. The new Sunday school initiative aims to provide strategic teaching. How can you actively participate in these sessions to deepen your understanding of foundational doctrines and foster spiritual maturity? [01:59:28]
6. The sermon mentioned that love casts out fear. Think of a situation where fear has held you back. How can you apply the principle of love to overcome this fear and move forward in faith? [01:41:00]
7. The sermon called for the community to support one another in their spiritual journey. How can you be more accountable to your fellow believers and encourage them in their walk with God? [01:54:18]

Day 1: Embracing a Season of Consecration
Consecration is a sacred time to seek a closer relationship with God, setting aside distractions to focus on spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting. It's a period to cultivate a deeper love for God, allowing His Word to shape hearts and minds. This intentional season is an invitation to experience God's presence in a more profound way. [01:56:29]

James 4:8 - "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What distractions can you eliminate from your daily routine to create more space for prayer and reflection on God's Word?

Day 2: Reflecting on God's Faithfulness
The anniversary of the church serves as a milestone to reflect on God's faithfulness and the work He has accomplished through the community. It's a time to recognize that the church's foundation and growth are the results of Jesus Christ's sustaining power, not human effort. This reflection leads to a deeper appreciation of God's sovereignty and grace. [01:58:33]

1 Corinthians 3:7 - "So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
Reflection: How have you seen God's faithfulness in your own spiritual journey over the past year?

Day 3: Equipping Through Strategic Teaching
The introduction of Sunday school is a strategic step to equip the congregation with a solid understanding of core doctrines. This initiative aims to build up the body of Christ through teachings from diverse ministry roles, fostering spiritual maturity and unity within the community. It's an opportunity for growth and learning that will strengthen the church's foundation. [01:59:28]

Ephesians 4:11-12 - "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
Reflection: What foundational Christian doctrine do you feel you need a better understanding of, and how can you actively seek to learn more about it?

Day 4: Love as the Hallmark of Transformation
Love is the defining mark of the Christian community, a powerful force that casts out fear and transforms lives. This active, sacrificial love is a reflection of God's love for us and is meant to be demonstrated in tangible ways within and beyond the church walls. It's through this love that individuals and the community are changed, embodying the presence and righteousness of God. [01:41:00]

1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate sacrificial love to someone in your community this week?

Day 5: Overcoming Bitterness and Pride
Bitterness and pride are barriers to experiencing God's love and can stifle spiritual growth. The call to release bitterness and forgive those who have wronged us is a step towards freedom and allows God's love to flow through our lives. Embracing humility is essential in living a life that reflects God's love and righteousness. [01:45:00]

James 3:14-15 - "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic."
Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive to let go of bitterness, and how can you take the first step towards reconciliation today?

Hallu, Hu! [Applause]

I only feel led to do one more thing. I don't feel led to do much more. I don't feel led to speak, but in prayer today, as a church prayer, the Lord laid upon me that His word says His house will be known as a House of Prayer.

I think that this church, we have done our best to prioritize that. Yesterday, we recorded some stories for a video we're putting together for our one-year anniversary, and the prevailing theme from almost every person was, if you had to describe this church, it was a House of Prayer.

His house will be known as a House of Prayer, but He says in Matthew, they will know you are my disciples by your love one toward another—not love toward people that don't know who I am, but your love one toward another.

The Bible also says that perfect love casts out all fear. Pastor Justin just hit on it. There are going to be prevailing things in this season, and I'm not trying to forecast doom and be a Debbie Downer and boohoo that the world's falling apart. That's not what I'm trying to say, but there will be the spirit of fear in operation.

The counter to that is not just praying it away; it is acting out in love. That word there, love, is agape love. Agape love is a choice, and you and I, as Colossians 3 says, need to put on love because it binds everything together.

There needs to be a spirit of love—not just in love towards those that are lost, and yes, we need that—but this will be a place that is marked by the love of God because it will be a House of Prayer. We will be disciples who are known for our love one toward another.

So we've prayed this prayer a moment ago, but I am praying for an impartation of the love of God. Let me be clear: we cannot pray away what it is that we are called to do in action. So I am praying right now, and we are going to pray that an impartation of the love of God fills us.

It is not just something we feel, but it is going to be something that you and I begin to act out in a way that has never happened. Here's what's going to happen: when you and I begin to act in love, fear will be cast out.

In 2013, I interned at a church, and in 2011, Pastor Justin interned at the same church. It's the Pentecostals of Alexandria. That church marked my life deeply. At the end of that internship, I can remember this Saturday before it was our last Sunday. I can remember, as an 18-year-old kid, sitting in the back weeping, crying. I was so sad that I had to leave.

It wasn't because of who I got to be around; it wasn't about the messages I heard, but it was because of the deep love of God that was in operation. Every time I stepped on that campus, all fear I had left, worry I had left.

Here is what God wants to mark this house by: when people encounter you, when people encounter your neighborhood, when people encounter this church, there is no fear. Why? It's not because of something we're doing that's special, but it is because we have decided that nothing can stand in the way of loving my brother and my sister.

There is no bitterness, there is no divide, there is no pride that is greater than the love of God. He says this: the greatest commandments are these: love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and love your brother as yourself. On this, all the law and the prophets hang.

Everything we've done in the prophetic, everything that's been spoken of this church, all of that hangs on the love that you have towards God and towards your brother and your sister.

I feel this in the Holy Ghost: there are some of you right now that are holding on to things, and God is trying to move in this church, and God is trying to move in your life, but because of pride and bitterness, God cannot move.

There's a pastor that I've heard say this: the moment you get bitter is the moment you stop growing. You're wondering why the gifts can't unlock in your life; you're wondering why God can't operate in your life, and it's because of bitterness that you've held on to.

Let me be clear: you might be justified. What happened to you may be justified in the flesh, but let me be very clear: what we did in sin, we are not justified for the grace that God has given unto us.

The Bible says, how can you love God, who you have not seen, and hate your brother, who you have seen? Bitterness has to be uprooted tonight. I don't know the situation; I don't need to know the situation. God knows, but it is time to uproot bitterness and pain so that the love of God can flow through your life.

There are blessings that God wants to pour out into your life, but bitterness has taken root, and you cannot see them, and you cannot receive them. There are some in this room who have a divide against people in this room.

You know why God hates pride? It's because you think you're better than the other person. It's the exact opposite of love. We think the exact opposite of love is hate. No, the exact opposite of love is pride, because where there is pride, God cannot operate.

I've seen a lot of people run their life all up and down, making mistake after mistake, and God's righteousness and love were there, but I have seen people who thought they were better, who thought they were justified, lock up in pride, and God quit moving.

I've seen churches that have been locked up in pride, and God no longer moves. By the prayer and the grace of God, this will not be a church that gets locked up in pride. This will be a place where the love of God lives.

It's not just on Pastor Justin; it's not just on someone singing up here. It is on you and I to love in operation. It's a House of Prayer, but we're known by our love one to another.

So we're going to pray a few prayers real quick. Number one, we're going to pray if you have bitterness and woundedness in your spirit. We are going to pray that God would uproot that. Lastly, we're going to pray that an impartation of the love of God would fall in this room.

But here's the thing: Colossians 3 says you have to put it on. It is an action; it is a decision. It is when that person that really frustrates you frustrates you even more, and instead of operating in pride, you operate in love.

It's when you're down to your last $20, and God tells you to give that last 20, but you don't feel like you need to give it because In-N-Out's waiting for you, but you give it. It's that type of love.

It's the Church in Acts 2:42. They had all things in common and gave everything so that everyone was equal. I know that's not popular—definitely not popular in America—but that is how God started His church: in and through love.

An end-time revival isn't going to come with crazy explosions; it's going to come through love.

So right now, if you have bitterness and woundedness in your spirit and in your heart, I want you to lift your hands. Let's all lift our hands together, and we are going to pray that God begins to uproot those things. We are going to pray that those things are removed.

Lord, in the name of Jesus, all bitterness, everything that we are withholding, known and unknown, come on, Church, let's pray. Let's push in prayer.

Lord, we uproot those things. We release the person; we release the people who have done wrong to us. Lord, we may be justified, but Lord, we release it to You. We release them to You, and Lord, we pray that You would forgive them and not hold anything that they have done to us against them.

Lord, I pray God that You would forgive me, that You would forgive us, oh God, for withholding in pride against our brothers and our sisters.

Lord, forgive us for not being fully operational in Your love, oh God. And Lord, I pray God over this room right now. I pray that an impartation of the love of God would operate in this room, that it would fall on individuals in this room, and that as we leave, oh God, Lord, that love would be active in us.

And Lord, as we are going about our days and our weeks, in our neighborhoods and in our homes and in this church, oh God, Lord, that we would live out that agape love—that love that You have loved towards us, oh God.

And Lord, I pray God that this would be a church that is marked by the love of God, that we would be Your disciples not because of anything special we're doing, but because of our love one toward another—that we would follow Your greatest commandment to love our brothers and our sisters as ourselves.

This is the last thing I'm going to say, and then I'm going to shut up and get out of the way.

Matthew 6:33, a very common verse, says this: "But seek ye first the kingdom and all of its righteousness, and all of these things shall be added unto you."

That's a very common verse; we're pretty familiar with it. Seek ye first the kingdom; we get that. But it also says, "and His righteousness." When you study that word righteousness, it's a deep, long pit of just information about what righteousness actually is.

But when you pin it down, it is the justification that God gave to you and me—not because we were deserving, but because of His justice of what He did on the cross. You and I have life and life more abundantly.

When you chalk all that up, my understanding is this: the true righteousness of God is His nature, and you cannot have love without righteousness, and you cannot have God's righteousness without His love.

I pray that in this year, we, the righteousness of God—look, we pray all the time, "in Dallas as it is in heaven," His kingdom in Dallas as it is in heaven. But the kingdom cannot come without His righteousness, and it's not our righteousness; it's not your righteousness; it's not mine. It is His righteousness.

I pray that in this year, we would seek His kingdom, but we would seek His righteousness. We would seek His nature, and it would be imparted to those in this room—the love of God and His righteousness—that His kingdom would come, His will would be done.

In Jesus' name, we pray.

In Jesus' name, there have been a few common words that have been echoing tonight, even among our intercessors team here at the church—words like love, the fear of the Lord, abiding in Christ. Last week, the word faithfulness.

I want to read a passage of scripture. I was standing here, and the Lord quickened a scripture to me. I opened up my iPad Bible, and I began to read. Every time I read the next scripture, I was like, "Surely it's not going to talk about that," and then it did.

The next one, like, "Oh my goodness, this is a confirming passage that the Lord wants to speak to us." I sent a message to our team today that opened with "Turn Your Eyes On Jesus."

Psalm 25:10—do you have it back there? Great.

"All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth." The ESV says "steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies."

I'm going to read the ESV: "For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will He instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land."

"The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net."

I want us to meditate upon this passage this week. We'll have our communications team send this passage out—Psalm 25:10-15. I want us to meditate upon that.

Tomorrow, you know, next week is our one-year anniversary service. I'm pumped about that! So glad that we made it to year one. Praise the Lord! Amen! And you're still here! Hallelujah!

A lot of times, anniversary celebrations and stuff, that's like the main focus, but we felt like the Lord directed us to enter into another season of consecration.

So beginning tomorrow, on the 8th through the 28th, the last Sunday of this month, we will be in a season of consecration. If you want to know what that means, if you were here in October, we just did it. We're going to do it again. That's fine; that's what we do.

"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you," the Book of Joshua says.

This season looks like this: pray a lot, fast more than you do, read the word of God, and meditate upon it day and night. Cut out the things of this world for a season that might be speaking into your life.

I'm going to go very extreme during this season. There will be zero media in my house. I told you I already took the TV off the wall; that's a great step in the direction.

There will be zero social media in my house. There won't be any movies, any TV shows, anything like that. We will be reading the word of the Lord alone, as well as a book that I have recommended. I sent it out to the whole church; it's called "The Power of Consecration" by a man named Jeremiah Johnson.

I would encourage you to read that book. If you need the link, we'll send it out again in the morning; our communications team will do that.

For the next number of days, we are going to be fasting. A lot of times when we do this, people think that we are doing it for the purposes of spiritual warfare. I want you to know this is not about spiritual warfare.

This season of consecration is about love. This season of consecration is not about taking territory; it's not about pushing back demonic forces. There's a time for that. This season of consecration is for the bride to fall in love with her groom. That's what this season is about.

So I want to encourage you. I don't know how many days you want to fast. You may have a health condition that doesn't allow you to fast; maybe you should intermittent fast. If you can fast food, I encourage you to do that.

Take a day, two, or three days a week. Some of us are going to go on extended fasts. If you're going to go on an extended fast, do it in partnership with somebody. Tell somebody about it. It's not wrong to do that if you tell someone in humility for accountability's sake.

I want to make sure that you know this: if you're going to go on an extended fast, you need to prepare your body. You can't go eat In-N-Out tonight and start a 21-day fast tomorrow; it will hurt you.

Prepare your body for this, and also a rule of thumb to keep in mind: for every three days that you fast, take a day to come off. So if you fast for three days, please don't go to Salt Grass and get a big old steak. Don't do that; you're going to hurt yourself.

You'll shock your digestive system, and it won't be good. For every three days, take at least a day to come off. Please get this book; read it with us together. I read it in two hours the other day—two or three, two and a half, somewhere around there. It's a very easy read, and I believe it is a word that is good for this church to hear in this time.

Also, beyond the consecration season, next Sunday being our one-year service, hey, bring some people with you to the one-year service. It's going to be a celebration of what God has done.

But remember, we are not celebrating us. A lot of times, people do these anniversary services, and they're about us. I just told somebody earlier today, we've done nothing. We've done nothing. We've just been faithful.

The one who has done something is Jesus Christ, who builds His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. So we're going to celebrate what God has done, and we're coming to direct our eyes toward Jesus.

We're not going to focus on our accomplishments; we're going to focus on what the Lord has done and will do.

Okay, and then the last thing I want to announce: everybody say Sunday School! This is going to be awesome!

This is the teaching ministry of Apostolic Church, the first and third Sunday of every month at 4 o'clock p.m. right in this room. Please be on time; we will start at 4 o'clock. You will miss it.

It's going to be strategic teaching to build the body of Christ—teaching from the five-fold ministry: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the growing up of the body, the edification of the saints.

The first one that we will have is a teacher of the word of the Lord; his name is David K. Bernard. We are very, very pumped about that.

The 21st, the first Sunday that kicks off our Sunday Schools, will be a Doctrine Sunday. We are going to be focusing on the apostles' doctrine—namely, the oneness of God and the new birth.

I believe what we will be doing is having a rapid-fire Q&A session where we can just really dig into some things regarding Apostolic Doctrine. He will also be preaching in the service immediately following Sunday School.

Okay, everybody good?

I want you to find two or three people and encourage them on the way out the door. We have coffee waiting outside. I love you. God bless you. Have a great week. Consecrate yourself to the Lord. Turn the voice of the world off for a little bit and hear your Father.

Love you. God bless you.

1) "This season of consecration is for the bride to fall in love with her Groom. That's what this season is about." [01:56:50] (Download)

2) "The true righteousness of God is his nature and you cannot have love without righteousness and you cannot have God's righteousness without his love." [01:51:42] (Download)

3) "They will know you are my disciples by your love one toward another, not love toward people that don't know who I am." [01:40:16] (Download)

4) "The moment you get bitter is the moment you stop growing. You're wondering why God can't operate in your life and it's because of bitterness that you've held on to." [01:44:16] (Download)

5) "This will be a place that is marked by the love of God because it will be a House of Prayer but we will be disciples who are known for our love one toward another." [01:41:21] (Download)

6) "An end time Revival isn't going to come with a crazy explosion; it's going to come through love." [01:48:02] (Download)

7) "We've done nothing; we've just been faithful. The one who has done something is Jesus Christ who builds his church and the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it." [01:58:33] (Download)

8) "We are going to be focusing on the apostles Doctrine on Apostolic Doctrine, namely the Oneness of God and the new birth." [01:59:28] (Download)

9) "We cannot pray away what it is that we are called to do in action. So I am praying right now that an impartation of the love of God fills us." [01:41:43] (Download)

10) "We are going to pray that God begins to uproot those things. We release the person we release the people who have done wrong to us." [01:48:43] (Download)