PERSEVERANCE IN CONSECRATION
Leviticus11:44-45; 20:7-8; Mat.5:8;
Rom.6:13
Consecration
is the setting apart of people, things, places and times for God to use. The
people of God, from Israel of old to Christian believers of today are set apart
as holy. Every set apart, consecrated person, is holy to the Lord. That is why
God commands such people to be holy because God is holy. Are you in that number
that have been set apart as Holy unto the Lord? How shall we now live when we
have been set apart as holy to God? We are going to consider three aspects of
consecration.
1. THE PURPOSE OF CONSECRATION
Lev.11:44-45;
20:7-8; 22:32; Mat.5:44-48
The
ultimate reason for consecration and holiness is God. Holiness is the nature of
God, and everything that is related to him shall be holy (Lev.19:2; 20:26). To
be the people of God, as believers we must consecrate ourselves, set ourselves
apart from the rest of the people and be special to Him. This is the root and the
principle and the purpose of Holiness.
Holiness
is the character of God and it reflects what God is:
(i)
God is Good (Psalm 34:8; Exod.33:19;
Lam.3:25; Mat.19:17)
Goodness
is the character of God which is displayed in everything God does and is. God
is the final standard of good. Anything God approves is good. His creation was
very good. His actions are good. His forgiveness and salvation is good. His forbearance
is very good. He is perfect in goodness (Mat.5:45, 48).
(ii)
God is Holy (1Sam.2:2; Isa.6:3;
43:15; Ezek.39:7; Rev.4:8)
(iii)
God is Faithful (Psalm 36:5;
Deut.7:9; 1Kings 8:56)
God
is faithful to His word. He is faithful to His promises. You can trust in Him
to keep and to do what He said He will do.
(iv)
God is Merciful
(v)
God is Love
(vi)
God is Peace
(vii)
God is Righteous
All
of God’s moral attributes are linked together and may be compressed into God’s
goodness. All those God has chosen from the rest of men and called to be His own
must consecrate themselves and be like Him in these attributes (Mat.5:1-8)
2. THE PRACTICE OF CONSECRATION
Lev.11:44-45;
20:1-8; 1Cor.6:20; Rom.12:1-2; 1Pet.2:9; Rom.6:13; 1Cor.3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor.6:16.
Personal
consecration is a process by which a redeemed person, a believer, imitates
God’s character. And if the believer fails to imitate God’s character, then
he/she falls into backsliding and is in danger of being cut off from the
presence of God. Whenever God wants people to serve Him He would order them to
consecrate themselves and to be consecrated (Num.6:5; Judges 13:5). When He
brought Israel out of Egypt to serve Him, He commanded the whole nation to be
consecrated and sanctified (Lev.20:2). The Nazarite vow was a special form of
consecration to God (Num.6:5). Samson was a Nazarite (Judges 14:5). John the
Baptist was a Nazarite (Luke 1:13-17). As God brought Israel out of Egypt, He
brought believers, you and I out of the bondage and slavery of sin, through the
blood of Jesus, into the freedom of the sons of God in Christ, and, He also commanded
us to be consecrated and be Holy. Consecrate your spirit soul and body
(Rom.12:1-2), because we are a chosen people (1Pet.2:9). Our Father would have
us different from the rest of the world. If by any chance the message of
consecration and holiness means nothing to you, read the following scriptures
(1 Cor.3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor.6:16). Only those who have been truly saved can
receive this message. If you haven’t been saved you can be saved today. If by
any chance, and I mean by any chance, you have received the grace of God in
vain, you can repent and that situation can be remedied today.
3. THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE CONSECRATED
Lev.11:44-45;
Mat.10:21-22; 24:12-13; Luke 13:23-28; Rev.2:1-5, 7, 11, 17, 24-29; 3:1-6,
11-13; 14-22
Without
continued consecration, there is no one who can really serve the Lord. Total
consecration to the Lord will cause persecution but he that edureth till the
end shall be saved. You may suffer family betrayal and persecution but he that
endureth till the end shall be saved. Many who started the race with you may
turn back, their love for Christ and His Church may wax cold, but he that
endureth till the end shall be saved. Consecration to God is a lifetime
commitment. Many will run the race but only few will get the high prize of
eternal salvation, so strive to be among the overcomers, for many will not be
able to make it in the end (Luke 13:24). Jesus, the Master of time and eternity
brings an eternal revelation to us in this verse that many will try to get in
but will not be able to!
Are
you a consecrated believer? Are you imitating the character of God – holiness,
purity, goodness, love, peace, righteousness? Are you in possession of the
fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23) – love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance? Have you crucified the
flesh with the affections and the lusts? Are you persevering till the end;
enduring hardness as a good disciple of the Lord? Take C.O.N.S.E.C.R.A.T.I.O.N.
as an acronym. To be consecrated you must be:
C
– CHRIST-LIKE CHRISTIAN
O
– ONWARD EVER CHRISTIAN
N
– NON-COMPROMISING CHRISTIAN
S
– SEPARATED UNTO GOD CHRISTIAN
E
– EXPECTING CHRIST’S RETURN CHRISTIAN
C
– CRUCIFYNG THE FLESH CHRISTIAN
R
– RESTING IN THE SAVIOUR CHRISTIAN
A
– ABIDING IN CHRIST CHRISTIAN
T
– TOTALLY COMMITTED CHRISTIAN
I
– INDEFATIGABLE CHRISTIAN
O
– OVERCOMING CHRISTIAN
N
– NEVER GIVING UP CHRISTIAN.
The
Lord Jesus is encouraging as well as challenging us in the book of revelation,
the closing of the canon of scripture, saying, “(i) He that overcometh will eat
of the tree of life. (ii) He that overcometh shall not be hurt by the second
death. (iii) He that overcometh will eat of the hidden manna and his name
inscribed eternally on a stone. (iv)He that overcometh and keepeth His works
till the end shall rule over the nations. (v) He that overcometh shall be cloth
in white garment, his name will remain permanently in the book of life and will
be confessed before God the Father. (vi) He that overcometh will be made a
pillar in the Temple of God, upon him shall be written the Name of God and the
New name of Christ’s. (vii) He that overcometh will sit with Christ in His
throne! Will you be in that number? Will you overcome? Let us pray.
