by: Bro. Nathaniel F.S,
Consecration in the Holy Scriptures means “to separate”. It also means “to dedicate”because anything or anyone that is dedicated to the Lord is separated from all things that are evil and corrupt. To consecrate means to separate; to separate a person, objects or certain days for exclusive use in God’s work and to be separated from what is wrong, sinful and corrupt. In the Old Testament, we can see a rich illustration of consecration. Priests, people, men, objects, especially objects in the temple, and even days and months were consecrated for the purpose that are exclusively holy and of God. Eventually, it finds its practical application in the New Testament.
Consecration in the Holy Scriptures means “to separate”. It also means “to dedicate”because anything or anyone that is dedicated to the Lord is separated from all things that are evil and corrupt. To consecrate means to separate; to separate a person, objects or certain days for exclusive use in God’s work and to be separated from what is wrong, sinful and corrupt. In the Old Testament, we can see a rich illustration of consecration. Priests, people, men, objects, especially objects in the temple, and even days and months were consecrated for the purpose that are exclusively holy and of God. Eventually, it finds its practical application in the New Testament.
In the New Testament, the Church are a people who are being consecrated. We, who are part of the Church, have been separated from the things that are worldly, vile, corrupt, and sinful and against the word of God. We are being separated from these things so that we can be dedicated to do that which is good, Godly, and righteous. There is a vital connection between our consecration and the work of evangelism. It is not only true in terms of the word of God, in terms of the doctrine, but it is equally true on a personal level.
In 1 Peter 3:15,
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
In the words: “to set apart”, we can see the essence of consecration. To be consecrated is to be set apart; to be removed from what is wrong and sinful, and to be exclusively given to what is right. Once we have set apart ourselves, then we can be prepared to give an answer to the hope that we have. That is what evangelism is about. It is about giving an answer - a response to the world’s iniquity about what we believe. When we go forth to testify, we must be always ready to give an explanation regarding questions about our faith. You must be ready, persuasive, and clear in your reasoning and in your defense.
RIGHT SPIRITUAL CONDITION
We can see in 1 Peter 3:15 the connection of consecration and evangelism. Only those who are truly consecrated can do the work of evangelization. The spiritual condition of a person always takes precedence in doing God’s work. It is a blessing to have talent or skill but in order for us do the work of God effectively, we must see to it that we are having a right spiritual condition.
This is why 1 Peter 3:15 is structured in that way, it says there “But in your heart set apart Christ as Lord”:This speaks of a spiritual condition. We need to see that our inner being is pure. We need to keep our hearts right. This is something that displayed out in the New Testament or even in the Old Testament. For example, when a king was being chosen for Israel, the Lord said to Samuel that he must seek that one whose heart is right in the eyes of the Lord (1 Samuel 16:7). Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.
PREPARED TO DO EVANGELISM
Before we can become effective in evangelism, we need to find ourselves in a position wherein we are spiritually prepared. It is when we've once again consider who Jesus Christ really is. The reason some Christians fall to obey our Lord’s command for personal evangelism is because we do not have God really dominating our lives. We do have Christ really as our Lord but we only know him intellectually but in our lives, Christ Jesus is not being Lord.
The true essence of the Christian faith is not leading, it’s following. The one who is truly a child of God simply follows the will of his master. Apostle Paul, through the entirely of his writings, he would always introduce himself as a slave and servant. As Christians, we are slaves and we have a Master and Lord. Once we get to put ourselves in subjection to that kind of principle, we will find it easier to obey.
Before we can become effective in evangelism, we need to find ourselves in a position wherein we are spiritually prepared. It is when we've once again consider who Jesus Christ really is. The reason some Christians fall to obey our Lord’s command for personal evangelism is because we do not have God really dominating our lives. We do have Christ really as our Lord but we only know him intellectually but in our lives, Christ Jesus is not being Lord.
The true essence of the Christian faith is not leading, it’s following. The one who is truly a child of God simply follows the will of his master. Apostle Paul, through the entirely of his writings, he would always introduce himself as a slave and servant. As Christians, we are slaves and we have a Master and Lord. Once we get to put ourselves in subjection to that kind of principle, we will find it easier to obey.
EMPOWERMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
The Bible says that only the Spirit of God can say that Jesus is Christ and Lord. There is therefore a need for every believer to have a real and deepening relationship with the Holy Spirit. When a believer is having a right relationship with God and with the Holy Spirit, then he will effectively do the work of evangelism. The Holy Spirit will give utterance to us so that we will be able to say that Jesus Christ is Lord and we are His slaves. When a believer starts to backslide and becomes worldly, you cannot see in his life that he is of God. This is because the Spirit of God is not in him.
Our being a part of the true Church does not excuse us from spiritual sicknesses. We must understand what the Bible is telling us in Hebrews 12:1,
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
We cannot under estimate the power of sin and the pull of carnality. Every time God will seek to move in us, carnality will always try to introduce itself and hinder us from doing his work.
In order for us to be consecrated, we need to have that new and fresh desire for the Holy Spirit. We need to be filled once again by the Spirit of God because it is the Spirit of God that will enable us to become effective witnesses of the Lord. In the book of Acts 1:8,
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We must go through a season of consecration. We will seek how we can be more rich in spirituality. Consecration is where everything must begin. This is what the Bible guarantees. The more we have the Spirit, the more there will be life and the more there will be discipleship. - Bro. Nathaniel F.S,
"THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SUCH A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES, AND LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THAT RACE MARKED OUT FOR US. - Hebrew 12:1
EMPOWERMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
The Bible says that only the Spirit of God can say that Jesus is Christ and Lord. There is therefore a need for every believer to have a real and deepening relationship with the Holy Spirit. When a believer is having a right relationship with God and with the Holy Spirit, then he will effectively do the work of evangelism. The Holy Spirit will give utterance to us so that we will be able to say that Jesus Christ is Lord and we are His slaves. When a believer starts to backslide and becomes worldly, you cannot see in his life that he is of God. This is because the Spirit of God is not in him.
The Bible says that only the Spirit of God can say that Jesus is Christ and Lord. There is therefore a need for every believer to have a real and deepening relationship with the Holy Spirit. When a believer is having a right relationship with God and with the Holy Spirit, then he will effectively do the work of evangelism. The Holy Spirit will give utterance to us so that we will be able to say that Jesus Christ is Lord and we are His slaves. When a believer starts to backslide and becomes worldly, you cannot see in his life that he is of God. This is because the Spirit of God is not in him.
Our being a part of the true Church does not excuse us from spiritual sicknesses. We must understand what the Bible is telling us in Hebrews 12:1,
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
We cannot under estimate the power of sin and the pull of carnality. Every time God will seek to move in us, carnality will always try to introduce itself and hinder us from doing his work.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
We cannot under estimate the power of sin and the pull of carnality. Every time God will seek to move in us, carnality will always try to introduce itself and hinder us from doing his work.
In order for us to be consecrated, we need to have that new and fresh desire for the Holy Spirit. We need to be filled once again by the Spirit of God because it is the Spirit of God that will enable us to become effective witnesses of the Lord. In the book of Acts 1:8,
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We must go through a season of consecration. We will seek how we can be more rich in spirituality. Consecration is where everything must begin. This is what the Bible guarantees. The more we have the Spirit, the more there will be life and the more there will be discipleship. - Bro. Nathaniel F.S,
"THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SUCH A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES, AND LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THAT RACE MARKED OUT FOR US. - Hebrew 12:1
