08/21/2024
What kind of service is the consecrated Christian called to perform? Most find that it is much more than routine. Zacharias became a prophet the moment he named his son John (the Baptist) and his lips were unsealed. He was then called to do more than burn incense in the temple... He was called to a life of such magnitude that only scripture speaks of lives like his. These are his words from the Benedictus (Luke 1:57-79)...
“That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”
Luke 1:74-75 KJV
Pastor E. M. Bounds comments on the life of the consecrated using these words...
"Prayer is the tool with which the consecrated person works. The prime purpose of consecration is not service in the ordinary sense of the word. Consecration aims at the right sort of service, the scriptural kind.
It seeks to serve God, but in an entirely different way from that which is in the minds of church leaders and workers." – E. M. Bounds
The apostles were consecrated and were called to travel the world and deliver the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations. As a result of their acceptance, every one of them was killed in some horrific fashion for his efforts, save John, but even he suffered great hardship. Being consecrated not only dedicates a life, but it can also call a person to lay that life down in the service of The Lord. As mentioned, John died of old age, but the others died in the following ways....
Simon Peter - was crucified upside down
Andrew - was scourged, then tied to a cross where he hung for 2 days before dying.
James the greater - was beheaded by a sword.
Phillip - was scourged, thrown into prison, and then crucified.
Bartholomew - was either beaten and then crucified, or, skinned alive and beheaded.
Thomas - was run through by a spear.
Matthew - was stabbed in the back with a sword.
James the lesser - was beaten, stoned, and then hit in the head with a club. He was 94.
Thaddaeus - was crucified.
Simon the Zealot - was crucified.
Matthias - was stoned to death.
So consecration isn't necessarily a life of earthly ease and peace. It is a holy and righteous life, but full of hardship, suffering, faith, and prayer. The life of Christians is not necessarily one of milk and honey... we continue to face hardship, but we face it with the help of God, and in the full understanding of what awaits us in heaven. Our God sustains us and gives us strength and He blesses us as well. We never face our troubles alone, but in this life we will face trouble.
The certainty of death and of the presence of our God should embolden us in our faith and worship... and in the determination to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is the wisdom that comes from a consecrated life; it flows from the knowledge that this life means nothing without faith in Jesus and God, and it is rooted in the love, grace, and mercy of God himself.
In April of 2015, we witnessed a group of saints as they were martyred on a beach in Libya by Muslim extremists (ISIS) and as we watched the video, we wept, and marveled, at a faith that wouldn't allow them to denounce Jesus Christ. This strength of faith bore testimony and witness to their consecration.
Not every consecrated Christian is called to martyrdom, John stands as an example to that truth, and many, many, others since the time of Christ have too. The object is not to become a martyr, but to have the faith and determination of a martyr... It is to love and serve God in a fashion that is biblical in its intensity and proportion. It leads us in our roles as children, husbands and wives, parents, friends, prophets, and saints; it ignites the light of God that others see in us. It makes us holy.
So this morning I pray for your dedication to a life of service and consecration. I pray that the Lord leads you through the hardships of your life and strengthens your faith as you face each of these troubles with His help. I pray that God will bless you with a long and prosperous life in His service, and that your family, friends, and others see the value of your journey and the light of God emanating from you. And finally, I pray that Jesus stands with you on judgement day before God and knows you as his heir and joint heir in God.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for our desire to seek you always, and the faith that drives us towards a consecrated life. Thank you Lord for the transformation that our faith brings us through Jesus Christ, and the strength we gain in Him that allows us to drink from your cup as He did. Thank you Holy Father for removing our fear of death, and replacing it with a peaceful trust in you, and a firm belief that what lies ahead for us far outweighs the death of our bodies. Fill us with your Spirit, and let Jesus abide in us as we follow His example of what a consecrated life entails. Help us Abba to love you as we should, and to obey your will without fail. Help us as we pray so that we ask first and foremost for your forgiveness as we prepare to kneel before you, hear your will, and obey your every Word. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us always, and holy is your Son Jesus who is with us to the end of the age. Give us your comfort, joy and peace, as we go into the world, and face your enemies. Though they hate us, reassure us in the fact that they first hated you and Jesus… and that despite their hatred you allowed Jesus to overcome them and the world. We pray that our faith will be like the faith of Jesus, and that the fear we once felt will fall from us like scales. In our moment of consecration we long to hear you say that we are your children, and that you are pleased with us… even as you said this of Jesus. Call us into your service Father, and consecrate us. Judge us as worthy to kneel before you, and let us pray to you, and call out “Holly, Holy, Holy”, with all the heavenly host… for all eternity, and forevermore.
Edifying Scripture:
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
““If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
John 15:18-19 ESV
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:16-17 ESV
Father, we praise you now with all we are… with all our body, mind, and soul. Let your will be done through us, that you will be glorified before all creation.
Amen
Rich Forbes