2# Greater Things

Tithe & Offering

James 1:5 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

WEEK 2: CONSECRATION

Title: Surrendering all and Embracing God's Call to Holiness

Introduction:

the profound theme of purity, consecration, and holiness.

Consecration - a word that carries weight and significance in our spiritual journey.

But what does it truly mean?

definition: Consecration is the act of dedicating oneself completely to the service and worship of God, setting oneself apart from the profane and ordinary for divine purposes.

OT - (qādaš). vb. to be holy, to be hallowed, to be sanctified. Signifies being set apart and separate, either intrinsically (in the case of God) or secondarily (through rituals or contact with what is already holy).

The core meaning of this verb is “to be holy.” In liturgical contexts, things and persons (Exod 29:21, 37 are holy (qādaš) when they have been set apart through priestly rituals so as to be made acceptable for divine service.

Exodus 29:21 (NIV)

And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated.

God himself is intrinsically holy (Isa 65:5), and thus whatever belongs to him must be holy.

Isaiah 65:5 (NIV)

who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me,

for I am too sacred for you!’

Such people are smoke in my nostrils,

a fire that keeps burning all day.

People touched by God or in touch with sanctified objects also become holy (qādaš) in the sense of becoming ceremonially pure (e.g., Lev 6:18 and therefore become acceptable to God (Exod 28:41).

Leviticus 6:18 (NIV)

Any male descendant of Aaron may eat it. For all generations to come it is his perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord. Whatever touches them will become holy.’ ”

God commanded the Israelites to consecrate (qādaš) Mount Sinai by establishing boundaries around it; this served to keep out all that might have profaned God’s holy presence.

The tabernacle was consecrated (qādaš) by the presence of God’s glory (Exod 29:43).

It's a deliberate choice, a sacred commitment to prioritize God above all else, allowing His presence to permeate every facet of our lives.

NT - ἅγιος (hagios). adj. holy, set apart, consecrated, dedicated, saints. Refers to the quality of God who is transcendently distinctive, unique, majestic, perfect, and pure.

The Spirit of God is also referred to as the Holy (hagios) Spirit, which emphasizes that God’s Spirit shares in God’s holiness and is distinguished from other spirits.

The adjective can be used as a noun to denote people, things, or places that are set apart for divine purposes, such as the sanctuary (Heb 8:2) or the holy ones—i.e. believers or angels (e.g., Phil 1:1 2 Thess 1:10

2 Thessalonians 1:10 (NIV)

on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

Philippians 1:1 (NIV)

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

Christians and Christian fellowship are to be holy (hagios) because they are called out from the world by the holy (hagios) God (1 Pet 1:15–16 and sanctified (ἁγιάζω, hagiazō) by the work of Christ (1 Cor 1:2) and the Holy Spirit (Jude 20).

1 Peter 1:15–16 (NIV)

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

In the fast-paced chaos of our world, the call to consecration often gets drowned out by the clamor of competing voices and distractions.

Yet, it remains as essential as ever, beckoning us to pause, reflect, and reorient our hearts toward the One who calls us to be holy as He is holy.

quote from A.W. Tozer, who beautifully encapsulates the essence of consecration. He said,

'The consecrated Christian is sure of victory because of the indwelling presence of Christ. His moral purity, his genuine humility, his unselfish motives, his sacrificial acts—all stem from the presence of Christ within.'

With these profound words in mind, let us delve deeper into the Scriptures, seeking to understand the profound significance of consecration in our lives and how it leads us closer to the heart of God."

Explanation:

Daniel 1:8 illustrates Daniel and his friends' consecration to God's principles in the face of cultural pressure. These examples underscore the importance of consecrating our lives entirely to God.

Daniel 1:8 NIV

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

1. Commitment to God's Standards:

Daniel and his friends demonstrated a strong commitment to God's standards of holiness and obedience, even in the face of great pressure to conform to the ways of Babylon.

Despite being offered the king's rich food and wine, which may have been associated with idolatry, they chose to remain consecrated to God by abstaining from defiling themselves with these provisions (Daniel 1:8-16

Daniel 1:8–16 NIV

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

Their unwavering commitment to God's commands teaches us the importance of prioritizing obedience to God above all else, even when it may seem difficult or unpopular.

in order to life greater things you need to reject the good.

2. Dependence on God's Provision:

Throughout their experiences in Babylon, Daniel and his friends consistently depended on God's provision and guidance.

When faced with the challenge of interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel sought God's wisdom through prayer and received divine revelation (Daniel 2:17-23

Daniel 2:17–23 NIV

Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Similarly, when confronted with the threat of being thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to worship the golden image, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego placed their trust in God's deliverance (Daniel 3:16-18

Daniel 3:16–18 NIV

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

“EVEN IF”

Their reliance on God's provision teaches us the importance of trusting in Him completely and seeking His guidance in every situation.

3. Witnessing through Consecrated Living:

The consecrated lives of Daniel and his friends served as a powerful testimony to the greatness and faithfulness of God.

Their integrity, wisdom, and unwavering faith in God's sovereignty drew the attention of Nebuchadnezzar and ultimately led to his acknowledgment of the God of Israel as the supreme God (Daniel 2:47; 3:28-29

Daniel 2:47 NIV

The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Daniel 3:28–29 NIV

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

By living consecrated lives even in the midst of a pagan society, Daniel and his friends became powerful witnesses for God and brought glory to His name.

This teaches us the importance of living in such a way that our lives reflect God's character and draw others to Him.

In summary, the story of Daniel and his friends illustrates the importance of commitment to God's standards, dependence on His provision, and witnessing through consecrated living. As we seek to live lives of consecration and dedication to God, may we emulate their example of faithfulness and trust in God's faithfulness and provision in every circumstance.

Conclusion

"As we conclude our exploration of the story of Daniel and his friends, we're reminded of the enduring relevance of their example of consecration and dedication to God. In the face of immense pressure to compromise their faith and conform to the culture around them, Daniel and his companions remained steadfast in their commitment to God's standards, trusted in His provision, and bore witness to His greatness through their consecrated living.

Their story challenges us to consider the level of consecration and dedication we exhibit in our own lives.

Are we willing to stand firm in our faith and uphold God's standards, even when faced with opposition or temptation?

Do we fully trust in God's provision and guidance, seeking His wisdom in every decision and circumstance?

And are we living in such a way that our lives reflect the character of God and draw others to Him?

As we ponder these questions, let's also consider what actions we can take to deepen our consecration and dedication to God.

Perhaps it involves committing to a lifestyle of prayer and seeking God's guidance in every aspect of our lives. Maybe it means making intentional choices to prioritize obedience to God's Word, even when it's challenging or countercultural.

And it could involve actively seeking opportunities to bear witness to God's faithfulness and goodness through our words and actions.

Let's take a moment to reflect on these questions and consider how we can apply the lessons from the story of Daniel and his friends to our own lives. May we be inspired by their example of consecration and dedication to God, and may our lives continually reflect His glory."

Reflective Questions:

1. How does the story of Daniel and his friends challenge your own level of consecration and dedication to God?

2. In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's provision and guidance?

3. Are there any compromises you've made in your faith or values due to pressure from the culture around you?

4. What practical steps can you take to deepen your consecration and dedication to God in your daily life?

5. How can you bear witness to God's faithfulness and goodness through your words and actions in your community and beyond?