Confirmation, Consecration and Celebration

The prophet Samuel called all Israel together in a public ceremony to confirm God’s will in choosing Israel’s leader. Saul’s defeat of the Ammonites led Samuel to call all the people to gilgal, to renew their commitment to their new leader and their new form of government.

We have come to say Amen to God’s will in choosing Rev. Dorothy Isles Smith as the first woman assistant pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church.

This is a new day.

It requires special significance. We have have reached a level of spiritual maturity by recognizing in Christ there is no male or female

Rev. Smith’s history with Morning Star

Her experience with her husband at Blue Hill

Her relationship with Sandra and myself...

She is authentic and dedicated

It means we are ready to eliminate status based on sex and open our minds to God’s grace to effectively work through man and women alike.

Get over the argument that women should be silent in the church. Paul celebrated women and worked with them in ministry (Rom. 16)

God created the circumstances to confirm his new leader.

God created the circumstances for Saul’s leader by allowing the Ammonites to threaten Israel. For Saul defended his people and saved them from harm and danger..

When God does something new, he confirms it so his people can embrace it ()

He confirmed David, by defeating Goliath...

God confirmed Christ his son when the Holy Spirit descended upon him...

Remember, Saul defied the Lord.

Samuel anointed Saul with oil and God filled him with the Spirit (

He began as a humble man, but he changed. Rev. Smith is a humble woman and that will not change.

God confirmed Rev. Smith:

She was licensed to preach at Morning Star around 2005

She was ordained in ministry at Morning Star in 2010

(she challenged me to make a hard decision… she told me, that was the pastor’s job. No one can do that but you…) I realized I had someone who stood for God’s order.

The Lord also confirmed Rev. Smith has wisdom. When I asked him to consider the new role, she took time to pray about it...

God consecrated his new leader before all the people.

They went to Gilgal and stood in the presence of the Lord.

Why Gilgal? Gilgal was one of the holy cities since to time of Joshua ()

The people were present… all the leaders of government and armies

Samuel was present: representing the priesthood

God was present… in the presence of the Lord. They worshipped God with Kavanah-good intention.

Israel offered sacrifices to the Lord. We come relying on the blood of the Lamb

Rom. 3:25;

We come in holy convocation to elevate and consecrate a leader of this church.

We have not had a celebration like this

We will charge, lay hand, pray, place a sacred robe on her shoulders and she will consecrated assistant pastor with all authority.

They offered sacrifices to the Lord and we will offer gifts to the Lord and to her

Israel shared in a great celebration.

Israel rejoiced before the Lord

They sang praised to God and gave thanks for God’s faithfulness.

This is a great day. The elders of Morning Star are looking down and rejoicing....

Smitty is smiling in glory for his partner in marriage and in Jesus Christ has come to a whole new level of ministry...

Let us rejoice in the Spirit. May our hearts are lifted in expectation. God is doing a new thing...

Let us rejoice in the Spirit. May our hearts are lifted in expectation. God is doing a new thing...

We celebrate the fact God is still working in our midst

He is doing great things and we are glad

I was glad when the said unto me

He has made me glad...

He will strengthen us with power through his holy Spirit and confirm his grace upon with signs and wonders in Jesus’ name...

One day, we will celebrate forever in the presence of God.

We will sing a new song and wear a new name...