Seven Ways to Foster Consecration
The ministry of Jesus was marked by transformation.
Every individual who encountered Him was transformed by His words, love, and compassion. Jesus came to earth to fulfill a specific mission. He came to give His life as a ransom for our sins and shortcomings. He shared with us kingdom principles aimed at changing our lives for the better, with the goal that we would also impact others by living out the same principles.
The rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-27 is a classic example of Jesus dealing with a good law-abiding citizen, righteous and faithful to the scriptures. When Jesus mentioned a few commandments from the Torah to see if had obeyed them, the rich young ruler responded to Jesus by saying he had kept them all!
Jesus, Who sees through religious acts and deep into the heart challenges the young man with a kingdom principle. The book of Mark records it this way, Jesus looked at the young man:
“Jesus showed love to him and said to him…sell all your possessions and give them to the poor.”
WOW! How many of us would actually respond with yes to that? To sell ALL? “Probably not everything Jesus, maybe I can leave some money in my savings account to accrue more interest, so I can continue to bless people? Nope, all! When it comes to surrender, with Jesus, He ultimately asks all or nothing.
I am so glad that Jesus does not condemn us for our lack, and even while sharing eternal principles, He loved the young man. He had been truthful with Jesus, and yes, he had been obedient to the Word of God, but Jesus went deeper than the surface.
Kingdom principles are diametrically opposed to our mindsets, and human nature. Generally speaking, we like to receive more than we like to give. That is why it is critical for us to know the Word of God, to understand how His principles work and what He asks of us. Isaiah was right when under divine inspiration he wrote in Isaiah 55:8-9:
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
The word consecration can be a misunderstood biblical concept in Christian circles. We often equate consecration with a list of rules and dos or don’ts, imposed on us by religious people. Traditions, rules, and regulations will not necessarily put us in better standing with God. God’s heart for us, His children, is for us to love Him, and to consecrate ourselves for His use. God does not demand perfection, but He knows that a consecrated life is fertile ground for kingdom effectiveness, as we become a reflection of the divine on the earth, Christ in us!
Consecration is not a requirement of salvation. Salvation is free, consecration is costly. A weak consecration to God will produce weak kingdom effectiveness. We must be willing to pay the price of commitment in order to experience the blessings that result from consecration.
In Romans 12:1, Paul spoke some clear and serious words:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Paul launches an appeal that is both serious and sacrificial. He is urging all believers, male and female, young and old, to offer our bodies to God as an integrous and living sacrifice. This is consecration in a nutshell. This is a willful, personal, and costly sacrifice that produces the aroma of worship to a world in need of sincerely committed followers of Jesus.
When we commit ourselves to our Father with wholehearted devotion, we will reap blessings God so enjoys bestowing on His children. In short, some of these are:
Intimacy with God (read Psalm 15:1-2a). We understand that intimacy is the doorway into God’s presence. We are blessed by this incredible privilege.
Chosen by God (read 1 Peter 2:9-10). We are chosen to display the goodness of God to everyone around us.
Used by God (read 2 Timothy 2:20-21). We are vessels used for special purposes, made holy and useful for the Master.
Fruitful for God (read Ephesians 5:8-11). We become mature and fruitful followers of Jesus. We will influence people around us for Christ, and not the other way around, allowing the pleasures of this life to make us fruitless.
A consecrated life is a blessed life. The key however is not simply to make a one-time commitment to living a consecrated life for God and then just merely surviving spiritually. What follows are some ways we can foster a deeper desire for consecration.
7 Ways To Foster Our Consecration To God
1. Be aware of God’s presence
God knows your heart and thoughts, even during times when we are tempted, He is always there. He hears every conversation, sees every action, and He is there to help us in time of need. Being aware of His presence can give us assurance and encouragement that we are never alone. Being aware of His presence during those times can be a lifeline to the strength needed to overcome.
2. Be in the Word
We can’t live by God’s standards if we don’t know God’s Word. Reading the Bible is more than just acquiring knowledge and getting information. The Word of God IS the Word of God, the daily bread, and the nourishment we need. The Word of God is quick and powerful, living and active, and sharper than a double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, (Psalm 119:105), it is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16), it is a hammer (Jeremiah 23:29), it is life (Isaiah 40:8), it is flawless (Psalm 18:30), it is right and true (Psalm 33:4), and the list can go on. Let’s all feed on His Word daily!
3. Be focused on worship
Bask in God’s presence, revel in His love, and enjoy the pleasure of His goodness as you spend time in worship. Worship is the expression of a heart that is in love with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we focus on worshiping God, everything else fades in the background. The enemy will lose His hold on us, as we release to God any area of struggle we may be facing. As it happened on the mount of transfiguration, and also a song we sing says, “let all the other things fade away, until there’s only you.” May this be our collective prayer.
4. Be proactive in your struggle
Ask God to help you recognize patterns of sin in your life. The enemy is relentless in his attacks. He prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) But while the devil is cunning, and he relentlessly looks for opportunities to attack us, his plans and schemes are not new. Taking the time to look at patterns in our lives where the enemy has repeatedly tried to break down our defenses, will help us overcome. We are not ignorant of the devil’s devices and plans (2 Corinthians 2:11). Most importantly, we have the Word of God, and God Himself on our side. Being proactive in our struggle is just another step forward toward overcoming.
5. Be responsive to the Holy Spirit
When the Holy Spirit whispers to our spirits “take a step,” “say no,” “do not go in that direction,” “worship,” “read the Bible,” etc., we must be quick to respond to His promptings. Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) and obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit can breathe life into difficult situations where the enemy would like to have the upper hand. May His whispers become the loudest cries our spirits hear and obey.
6. Be thankful in the trials
God uses trials to shape and transform our faith. (Romans 5:3-5) Trials produce perseverance and build character so that we can have hope for the future. Sadly, I have personally failed to learn valuable lessons whenever I have tried to look for a way out of a difficult situation when Jesus would have jumped into the fiery furnace with me and strengthened me through it. How about you? Can we together rely on God and trust the process of trials and battles we may face? With Jesus by our side, even in fiery trials, we will come out on the other side not even smelling like smoke.
7. Be focused on eternity
Finally, we need to remember that this life is temporary. Struggles won’t last forever, battles will come to an end, and we will enjoy eternity with God. Contrary to aiming at escaping the daily grind and struggles of this life, eternity with God is a biblical reality. This world will not last forever therefore, we must stay focused on the bigger picture. Don’t allow the enemy to consume you with the challenge of each day until you become completely frazzled. Of course, we still live our lives, but we serve a God who is very much interested in all of the details of our lives; therefore, we live with eternity in our hearts, and we face our daily struggles with Jesus by our side.
Consecration is a process and so is life. I close with the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:12 who declared:
“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” (NLT)
Let’s keep pressing! Let’s keep fighting! He who calls us is faithful and is fighting right beside us.
Davide Colletta
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Davide is the Senior Leader at Mission Community Church.