BE YE HOLY!
Four Weeks Towards Consecration
A Time of Consecration
by Pastor Don W. Lewis
"And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord. So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." 1 Kings 8:10,11
Over three thousand years ago, the great and wise King Solomon completed the work his father David had dreamed of doing, "building the house of the Lord", the temple unto The Most High God. The King oversaw the work of more than 183,000 laborers: hewers of stone, cutters of wood, craftsmen of gold and silver. Seven years later the temple was ready. The priests brought in the ark of the covenant, drew out the staves, began to come out of the holy place, and then the greatest, most sacred event occurred. The Lord's Presence filled the temple.
"And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord..."
Today we hunger and thirst for the" glory of the Lord" filling our yielded vessels. We are now the temples of The Most High God. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, has completed the work His Father desired. By becoming the Seventh Man, this perfect and last Adam, has shed a blood that transforms the sinner into a saint, the weak into the strong, the lost into the found. A work that took Solomon seven years to build becomes complete in a moment of surrender to the Lord our God. Now the very Presence of God has come not only upon us but within us.
With our past behind us and the future set before us, we remain steadfast in looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. We look to our Lord as our "all in all" just as the Old Testament priests looked to the Cloud for direction, protection, and comfort. He has guided us this far and the journey is not about to end. We are anticipating a year of prevailing faith and unimagined victory.
Before the cloud filled the house of the Lord, the priest had to come out of the holy place. We must enter into the holiness of God. Is the ground we stand upon holy, or has it been compromised? Are we attending to the holy things of God in the holy place or are we busy on a self-made mission without God? Before the cloud filled the house of the Lord, the temple had to be dedicated, set apart for a special divine use.
The Bible still speaks to our hearts the words Moses spoke over 3500 years ago:"Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day." Exodus 32:29
The word "consecrate"means to devote, separate, dedicate, give wholly over to God.
Consecration accomplishes these three major results:
- Reveals God's plans for our lives.
Psalm 40:8, 143:10
- Empowers us to finish the work to which we are called.
Isaiah 40:31; 41:10
- Brings prosperity into our lives and others.
Numbers 32:11-12
Let us begin by consecrating our spirit, soul, and body unto the Lord. We suggest periods of prayer with fasting as we focus on four basic areas of consecration: surrender, purification, vision, and faith. By focusing on these four areas, we are assured the victory that Christ has promised us in His Word.
First Week - Surrender
During these precious initial days of consecration, we surrender all to the Lord: our hopes and plans, our hurts and disappointments, our emotions and thoughts, our families and friends, our concerns, our careers -everything.
"Lord, I humble myself in Your presence, knowing that You will exalt me in due time. I cast all my cares upon You because You care for me."
Second Week - Purification
During this second week, we seek the Lord for purification from the hidden sins or "separators from God": unfruitful attitudes and perspectives, fears and anxieties, negative thinking and speech, insecurities that rob us of true Christian fellowship, slothfulness, feelings of defeat and loneliness.
"Lord purify me by the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Holy Presence. Make me fit for the Master's use."
Third Week - Vision
During this third week, we seek the Lord's vision for our lives. We are asking for clarification of God's perfect will for us; "nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done." As the Lord speaks to us we dedicate ourselves to His vision, His hopes, His will.
"Lord show me Your vision that I may make it plain, write it down, and run with it."
Fourth Week - Faith
During this final week, we seek the Lord for the increase to our faith. With our lives surrendered, purified, and dedicated unto the Lord, we are now in need of prevailing faith to finish the race. We are the "just" and we live by faith in God's Word, Character, and Power.
"Lord, increase my faith, fill me with an unrelenting trust in Your presence and Your promises. I want to fight the good fight of faith and finish this race. I want to bear much fruit so that You shall be glorified"
"...And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?"
1 Chronicles 29:5
Our answer is, "Lord we are most willing!"
Action Plan for Consecration
Please follow this action plan for consecration. May God bless you richly.
- Meditate daily upon the suggested scriptures.
- Pray each day asking and thanking the Lord for a greater manifestation of His Presence in your life.
- Remain Focused on each week's theme:
- 1st Week - Surrender
- 2nd Week - Purification
- 3rd Week - Vision & Dedication
- 4th Week - Faith
"And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord. So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." 1 Kings 8:10,11
First Week - Surrender
During these precious initial days of consecration, we surrender all to the Lord: our hopes and plans, our hurts and disappointments, our emotions and thoughts, our families and friends, our concerns, our careers -everything.
"Lord, I humble myself in Your presence, knowing that You will exalt me in due time. I cast all my cares upon You because You care for me."
Meditate daily upon the following scriptures:
DAY 1 - Psalm 23
DAY 2 - 2 Chronicles 7:12-14
DAY 3 - Philippians 4: 6-8
DAY 4 - 1 Peter 5: 6,7; Jeremiah 31:3
DAY 5- Proverbs 3:1-6
DAY 6 - Romans 12: 1,2
DAY 7 - Psalm 18:1-6; Psalm 91
"And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord. So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." 1 Kings 8:10,11
Second Week - Purification
During this second week, we seek the Lord for purification from the hidden sins or "separators from God": unfruitful attitudes and perspectives, fears and anxieties, negative thinking and speech, insecurities that rob us of true Christian fellowship, slothfulness, feelings of defeat and loneliness.
"Lord purify me by the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Holy Presence. Make me fit for the Master's use."
Meditate daily upon the following scriptures:
DAY 8 - 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
DAY 9 - Psalm 51:1-13
DAY 10 - Isaiah 1:18, Amos 3:3
DAY 11 - 2 Timothy 2:19-22
DAY 12 - James 4: 7,8
DAY 13 - 1 John 3:1-3
DAY 14 - John 17:13-17
"And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord. So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." 1 Kings 8:10,11
Third Week - Vision & Dedication
During this third week, we seek the Lord's vision for our lives. We are asking for clarification of God's perfect will for us; "nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done". As the Lord speaks to us, we dedicate ourselves to His vision, His hopes, His will.
" Lord show me Your vision that I may make it plain, write it down, and run with it."
Meditate daily upon the following scriptures:
DAY 15 - Jeremiah 29:11; Habakkuk 2:1-3
DAY 16 - Isaiah 55:6-12
DAY 17 - Psalm 40:8; Psalm 143:10
DAY 18 - Romans 8:28; Matthew 7:24-27
DAY 19 - John 4:31-34; Mark 14:35-36
DAY 20 - Matthew 6:33; Matthew 12:50
DAY 21 - James 1:22-25
"And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord. So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." 1 Kings 8:10,11
Fourth Week - Faith
During this final week, we seek the Lord for the increase to our faith. With our lives surrendered, purified, and dedicated unto the Lord, we are now in need of prevailing faith to finish the race. We are the "just" and we live by faith in God's Word, character, and power.
"Lord, increase my faith, fill me with an unrelenting trust in Your presence and Your promises. I want to fight the good fight of faith and finish this race. I want to bear much fruit so that You shall be glorified"
Meditate daily upon the following scriptures:
DAY 22 - Hebrews 11:1-6
DAY 23 - Romans 4:16-21
DAY 24 - 1 John 5:4; 1 Samuel 17:34-37
DAY 25 - Mark 11:22-24
DAY 26 - Psalm 23
DAY 27 - Mark 5:25-34
DAY 28 - Habakkuk 2:1-4, Romans 1:16-17