CONSECRATION IS BEYOND OUR POWER!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JANUARY 09, 2022.

SUBJECT: CONSECRATION IS BEYOND OUR POWER! 

Memory verse: So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel; ‘Not by might not by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4 vs 6.)

READ: Zechariah 3 vs 1 - 5:

3:1: Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 

3:2: And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?" 

3:3: Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

3:4: Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, "See, I have removed your  iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes." 

3:5: And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.

INTIMATION:

Consecration implies a life of devotion or dedication, usually setting yourself apart for God’s use. Consecration or leading a consecrated life is beyond our power. It takes spiritual empowerment to lead a consecrated life. We are spiritually empowered to overcome the spiritual forces of desecration. 

The passage we read today tells us the source of the conflicts we face in our desire to lead a consecrated life. Joshua, the high priest, did not choose filthiness. It was forced on him by satanic forces in the unseen realm. Satan is always accusing people of their sins before God. But he greatly misunderstands the breadth of God's mercy  and forgiveness toward those who believe in Him. 

Many people believe that to survive in this world a person must be tough, strong, unbending, and harsh. But God says, “Not by might not by power, but by My Spirit.” The key words are “by My Spirit.” It is only through God’s Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished. As you live for God, determine not to trust in your own strength or abilities. Instead, depend on God and work in the power of His Spirit!

The illustration in the passage reveals that most of the habits that destroy people are remotely controlled by spiritual forces—they are the works of Satan. That is why no matter how hard the victim tries to come out of it by personal physical efforts, he finds himself going deeper into it, against his wish. There has to be a heavenly means of destroying such satanic hold. It took the intervention of the Angel to stop the activities of Satan, and to put a change of raiment on Joshua. You know we release the Angels through prayers (Matthew 26 vs 53.)

As we communicate with God in prayer, He sends Angels down as private emissaries. They remove the filthy garments from us, give us a change of raiment and cause our iniquities to pass from us. No matter how genuine your desire to please God is, or how sincere you are in your longing to live right, you must understand that it is not possible by your power or might; you need divine help. That is why people who lean on personal efforts to live right live frustrated lives. They put themselves under all manner of bondages: they go about with long faces, looking very pious, not greeting anybody on the way, nor shaking hands with anybody, yet they are not free. 

By your might and power you can't live a consecrated life. So, unless you can send your heart ahead of you to heaven through prayer, your physical affords in the conflict with sin is useless. In Matthew 26 vs 41, Jesus said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Do not trust on your flesh, but rather on the unfailing, strong, and willing Spirit of God. Prayer is very essential because God's strength can shore up our defenses and defeat Satan's power; “For His strength is made perfect in our weakness.” (Second Corinthians 12 vs 9.) 

Look at what happened to Peter before he denied Jesus. When Jesus said, "Simon Peter, you will deny Me three times tonight," Peter said, "Even unto death I will stand by You." And he really meant it. Jesus also knew he meant it. But He meant to tell Peter, "Man, you don't know the things fighting against you. Satan desires to have you and that had nothing to do with whether you are determined or not. There is satanic forces organizing your destruction. Satan has concluded the plan to devastate your destiny and sieve you like wheat, but I have prayed for you" (Luke 22 vs 31 - 34). Jesus recognizes Satan as being behind Peter's fall, and knows the only remedy is standing on the gap in prayers for him, so the Spirit of God would offer the needed help.

That is why God gave us the weapon of prayer, to pull down all strongholds of the enemy that stand against our walk in righteousness. When we ask in prayer for God's mercy, He removes our filthy garments (our clothing of sin) and provides us with His goodness; new, clean, rich robes (the righteousness and holiness of God (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21; Ephesians 4 vs 24; Revelation 19 vs 8), making us worthy to draw near to Him. All we need to do is repent and ask God for forgiveness in prayers. My prayer is that the Spirit of the living God will always lead you in your journey of life, in Jesus’ Name. 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your Word says, “By strength shall no man prevail.” And without You I can do nothing. Endue me with the spirit of utmost dependence on You, even in my quest to lead a consecrated life in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!