Written by
Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
A consecrated
person is more likely to be used of God to bring healing to the nations. Consecration
means usable by the Master. It is one thing to be used by God to do things in
the house of God without sanctification and another to be used by God, which is
to minister to God and minister the grace of God to the people of God. It is
impossible to be consecrated without being sanctified. You should therefore ensure
that you do not serve around the temple but in the temple. The prophet Samuel
was both sanctified and consecrated. If Jesus sanctified himself, then you should also sanctify yourself. Let this be your desire and commitment.
Schools of
belief and opinions differ on sanctification and salvation. Please see 1st
Corinthians Chapter 6 verse 11 and James Chapter 1 verses 22 to 25.
Sanctification begins with salvation and is progressive based on James Chapter
1 verses 22 to 25. The motivation for sanctification and consecration is
salvation. A life that is not saved
cannot be sanctified and cannot be consecrated.
Justification is
inputted to a believer by God. God gives His righteousness the moment s/he gives his life to Christ. Sanctification is also righteousness but progressive righteousness
that is inputted on a believer by God. There is a difference between
sanctification and consecration. Consecration is to be set apart for divine
use. A believer moves from salvation to sanctification and then consecration.
Anything that is not sanctified cannot be accepted for divine use. Please see
Psalm 4 verse 3, Exodus Chapter 40 verses 9 to 11, Leviticus Chapter 27 verses
14 to 16, and Numbers Chapter 8 verse 7. There is a relationship between
sanctification and consecration. The vessels referred to in 2nd
Timothy Chapter 2 verses 20 to 22 only become vessels of honor when they are
sanctified. It is up to the vessel to decide to be sanctified. A believer has a
responsibility to sanctify himself or herself in order to be used by the master. This
should be the desire of every child of God. Many people seek consecration
without sanctification but God does not work that way. Irrespective of your
financial, social or whatever status or titles, you need to sanctify yourself
before you can be used of God. Sanctification comes before consecration – there
are no shortcuts. Please see Ezekiel Chapter 44 verses 9 to 16.
Sanctification
is progressive righteousness. Please see Isaiah Chapter 35 verse 8. The
foundation of our Christian race is holiness – Revelation Chapter 4 verse 8.
God is holy and He does not change His standards of holiness and because He is
holy, He cannot behold iniquity. In Isaiah Chapter 6 verse 3, to be holy is to be
completely set apart for God internally and externally. It has nothing to do
with pretentious holiness. The people qualified to walk the highway of holiness
are those who have a relationship with God. Those who have no relationship with
God cannot walk this highway. So also are people who are incorrigible – who
always do what seems right in their own eyes. Please see Proverbs Chapter 14
verse 12 and Ephesians Chapter 5 verse 27. Those with spots, blemishes and
wrinkles will not pass through the highway of holiness. So also are fools,
believers who act like the foolish virgins. These are careless believers.
The people
qualified to walk the highway of holiness are those whose hands are clean, those
with a pure heart, people who do not tell lies and those who follow peace with
all men. Please see Psalm 24 verse 3, Psalm 73 verse 1, Matthew Chapter 5 verse
8, and Psalm 22 verse 4. Some of the people who walked in holiness in the Bible
include Abraham, Enoch, Elijah, Paul, Noah, Gideon, Peter.
Success comes by
doing exactly what God wants you to do in the way He wants you to do it and how
He wants you to do it. If He requires consecration from you, why not commence
the full process of sanctification so that you can become consecrated and
usable by the Master for every good work and the success you desire.
kuyoyou@yahoo.com
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