The topic of consecration has been one discussed in the christian fold since the beginning of time. From the days of the Israelites, we see the importance, meaning and need of consecration in our walk with the Lord.

What is consecration?

This refers to the intentional act of forsaking sin, seeking repentance and drawing closer to God with hope to attain a higher level of Christlikeness in our spirit, soul and body.

In the days of Israelites, whenever they were scheduled to meet with God, you see consecration at play when they sanctified themselves, and dedicated their time to becoming more in the image of God, in order to be able to stand in the presence of God.

Joshua 3: 5 – “And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

In today’s study, we will cover the importance of consecration to believers and how we can become true and consecrated believers of Christ.

WHY MUST YOU BE CONSECRATED AS A BELIEVER?

The importance of consecration in the life of a believer cannot be overemphasized. Outlined are some of the reasons why you should pursue a consecrated life in Christ.

1. TO ALIGN TO THE WILL AND PURPOSE OF GOD:

Hebrews 11:6 b – “for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

When you devote yourself to becoming a consecrated child of God, you begin to align yourself with the purposes of God and become conformed to his will.

A life in consecration leads a believer to have God’s interest at heart at all times, and when you continually seek God’s face and direction with a right heart, the spirit of God takes over and rewards you by making known the will of the father.

Armed with that knowledge, and a heart that is perfect towards God, such a believer naturally begins to align with the will and purpose of God in every area of life.

2. MAKES FOR A TRUE CHILD OF GOD:

Romans 8:14 – “ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

When you map out time to draw close to God, do his will and place him as the utmost priority of your life, you become a true child of God, filled with the abundance of God’s spirit.

In that state of true consecration, he begins to guide you, teach, chastise and direct you on the path to go, be it in your business, marriage, or life endeavor. When God deals with a believer in this fashion, he deals with them as sons, and not strangers. Thereby solidifying our identity as a child of God.

Hebrews 12:8 – But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

3. IT BRINGS YOU TO A POINT OF TOTAL SURRENDER:

1 Thessalonians 5:23 – Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Living a life of consecration is a direct entry to living a life of total surrender to God. When a believer gives himself wholly to the things of God, walking day by day in accordance to his word, and bearing true witness of his existence, such a believer is transformed to living a life of total surrender to God.

This is one of the greatest benefits to living a life of consecration because as humans, sometimes, it is difficult to attain that total surrender to God, there are always cases of partial surrender, which can come in the form of compartmentalizing God in your life.

Jesus wants to be invited to every aspect of your life, he wants to be the decision making factor, and wonderfully so because he knows what’s best for us.

When you begin a life in consecration to God, you begin the process of attaining a level of total surrender to God.

4. IT MAKES YOU SPIRITUALLY ALERT AND SOUNDLY SAVED:

1 Timothy 4:15 – Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

When you give yourself to a life of consecration, you become a spiritually alive, sound and alert child of God. Living a consecrated life to God will make a believer to grow in leaps and bounds, learning the sound wisdom of the kingdom and walking in the light of the word.

Such a person will grow to be soundly saved and become a beacon of light to others in their journey with God.

HOW TO LIVE A CONSECRATED LIFE:

Having known the need and importance of living a consecrated life, we must go on to follow actionable steps that can kick start our journey to living a consecrated life in Christ.

1. BY REMAINING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD:

Luke 24:49 – And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

The first step to becoming consecrated is to abide and remain in the presence of God. The start of every consecrated life in Christ must begin with the willing believer ready to remain with the Lord until darkness turns into light.

This might look like staying under an atmosphere of God at all times. Being in service at all times, having a heart full of worship at all times, pondering and meditating on the word of God at all times, having Jesus as the center of it all at all times.

We must learn to remain and retain the presence of God no matter where or what we do. Our assignment is to ensure we have a heart full of his presence and take him with us in all our endeavors.

Until we obtain grace to remain with him, one cannot begin the life of a consecrated believer.

2. CONSISTENCY IN SERVICE TO GOD:

Acts 2:42 – And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

It is not enough to give yourself to God sparingly. It’s not enough to give yourself to service a handful of times, pray when you feel like it, or meditate whenever you have the time.

All things must be done with consistency, passion and a heart that aims to please the Lord. We must develop a pattern of consistency in every service, devotion, observation and prayers.

Living a consecrated life requires devotion to everything that will bring you closer to God, be it in study, prayers, preaching, love, etc. We must obtain grace to be faithful and consistent in our journey to consecration.

3. OBEDIENCE:

Isaiah 1:19 – If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

One key to living and maintaining a consecrated life in Christ is obedience. The need for a believer to be willing and obedient is very important if we must attain full consecration.

With God, comes a handful of rules, principles and directions that demand total obedience in order to partner with his spirit. When you obey the leading and directive of God, you automatically live in favor with God and as a result, he draws closer to you.

As you begin a life of total obedience, submission and consecration today, your life shall never remain the same and you shall be a live presentation of a Carrier of God’s presence.