The Kingdom of God- Living A Life of Consecration Unto God/ Rashea@LLO2 Academy

Living a life of consecration before God requires reconstruction. Things must change, and things will change in our lives. "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit will I put in you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh that is pliable and cultivated to feel and to obey My Word (Ezekiel 36:26)."

The origin and the DNA of our hearts and spirits change. They change, so we change. We become proactively mindful of God. Our hearts affections are toward God, as we spend time with Him dwelling in His presence and studying the Word of God.

Consecration requires cleansing. This purification process goes beyond the body. God washes our hearts through the Word of God, salvation and the Holy Spirit.

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness; and from all your idols will I cleanse you (Ezekiel 36:25).

Then becomes now. Then you were conformed. Now you are reformed and transformed into the image of God in Christ Jesus.

Consecration requires purification through:

.The Word of God.

.Salvation.

.Water baptism.

.The filling of the Holy Spirit. 

.The empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. -Romans 10

The Word of God, Salvation and Water Baptism

4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and where all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 8 Indeed have I baptized you in water: but He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit. -Mark 1

People will be drawn to the gospel, they will hear the gospel and people will receive salvation through the gospel.

The filling of the Holy Spirit

And when He said this, He breathed on them, and said unto all of them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." -John 20:22

In Him also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings of the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. -Ephesians 1:13

Salvation and consecration requires faith and obedience and reliance on Jesus.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judaea and Samaria and to all the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all of the house where they were sitting. 3 And their appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. -Acts 2

It is important to reiterate that the filling of the Holy Spirit and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit are two different impartations of the same Spirit. The breathing upon and sealing of the Holy Spirit in John 20:22 and Ephesians 1:13 are the filling of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8 and Acts 2:1-4 is the empowerment or activation of the Holy Spirit. 

Every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit, but not every Christian is empowered by the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Holy Spirit marks and serves as our identity in Christ Jesus. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is our ability and authorization to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Then Jesus, full of and controlled by (filled with and receiving guidance from) the Holy Spirit... (Luke 4:1). 

Then Jesus returned back full of and under the power (the activation of governmental power and authority; the reigning government; the active flow of power and authority) of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14).

Consecration

Consecration requires cleansing (purification), impartation, faith, activation and demonstration.

Consecration requires a change of mind, direction, heart and spirit towards God and the things of God (Ezekiel 36:23-27).

Consecration empowers us to approach the presence of God in a posture of submission and reverance.

Consecration is sanctification, sacrifice and devotion unto God.

Consecration reveals the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The apostles and disciples of Jesus, under the instructions of Jesus were in a time of consecration when the manifestation and demonstration of the Holy Spirit had come. The manifestation and demonstration of the Holy Spirit's gifts and Personhood produces evidence and edification.

Consecration leads to revival (salvation) and reformation (regeneration).

Consecration gathers together like-minded Christian's to be edified with the evidence and impartation of the Holy Spirit.

There are times where God will call us to a time of devotion and consecration (Esther 4:16; Ezra 8:21-23; Mark 1:35-39; Acts 10), but then there is, also, a continuous lifestyle of devotion and consecration that all believers are called to and purposed to devote themselves to (Ezekiel 36:23-27; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-23, 5:1-18).

We must daily clothe ourselves in the Lord Jesus not as pretenders but rather participants in His life, death, resurrection and ascension as our Lord and Savior. We must regularly cleanse ourselves with the Word of God. We must put off our old unregenerated identity of the world and put on our new regenerated identity in Christ Jesus.

To identify with Jesus does not imply that we are to hide from unbelievers or even Christian's who are straddling the fence per say. However, it does imply that as we are around them in our day to day lives that we reflect the character of Jesus. Jesus was often seen pulling away from the crowds and His circle not because He was anti-social or overly religious. Jesus often times, pulled away from the crowds and His circle to consecrate Himself in order to respond to God and the needs of the people appropriately and efficiently. 

Jesus consecrated Himself regularly and at moments separated Himself from others to seek out clarity in the direction of His purpose, to stay close to the Father and to replenish Himself after a long extensive time doing ministry. We are more effective when we practice a lifestyle of consecration. We are, also, more steadfast in our faith and devotion to God when we practice a lifestyle of consecration.

Rashea@LLO2