JOINING JESUS ON HIGHER GROUND

 TEXT: LUKE 19:1-10

PLUMBLINE DEVOTIONAL: COLOSSIANS 3:1-11

 TEXT: COLOSSIANS 3:1-11

1  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your  life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

SERIES ON PRAYER: "CREDIBILITY OF THE CONSECRATED"

One of the Webster’s dictionary definitions of the word “Consecrate” (a verb) is “to devote to a purpose with or as if with deep solemnity or dedication”. There are other definitions of the word, but this one applies perfectly to what Scripture requires of the Child of God. It also ties right in with the Biblical word, used by the Lord, for the same word “consecrate”. The original Hebrew word is “Qadash” which literally means to dedicate, purify or cleanse oneself, the purpose of which is to achieve the Holiness of God in our lives, so our prayers reach Heaven at warp speed.

The bible says in Leviticus 20:7-8 “You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord Who sanctifies you”.

To the immature Christian eyes, this sounds “too Old Testament” and for pastors and priests maybe, but not for Mary, Joe or Jenny or Juan. Really? Here is the great Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:15-16 “…(but) like the Holy One Who called you, be holy yourselves also in your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, as I am holy”.

To be consecrated with the goal of attaining to the holiness of God has everything to do with prayer, even if it does not appear to be, on the surface. The command from God to “consecrate” (NASB) unto the Holiness of Yahweh, needs a closer look. Words mean things and God does not waste one single syllable.

In the original language, consecrate – Qadash – is a verb. Thus, there is an action required from us.  When you expand this command to 1 Peter 15-16 (see above), this action becomes really clear to us. It requires us to watch our conduct, actions, speech, emails, texts, social media postings, videos etc – ANYTHING which reflects on our character.  When something reflects on the character of a child of the Lord, it immediately points to Him.

Therefore, the purpose of this pro-active move (Qadash) is to mind our conduct while growing in spiritual maturity in bible study and fellowship. This is enough to drive us to our knees in prayer.  It is the consecrated woman or man who makes the best prayer warrior. For instance, you will not find someone who is seeking to walk closer to the Savior down at the bar swilling shots with the locals or renting distasteful movies at the video store, in addition to watching R-rated garbage on Netflix or HBO. The consecrated man or woman is actually the person whose reputation as trustworthy, loving, caring and dependable as a praying person whom God listens to, precedes them.

The reason for the Credibility of the Consecrated is Qadosh! Qadosh is the adjective, while Qadash is the verb.  Qadosh means holy, the second part of the command from Leviticus 20:7-8 and 1 Peter 1:15-16. This is the adjective, in this instance, which immaculately defines the permanent attribute of our Heavenly Father. He is holy. Holy means set apart. There is none like Him.

The person who is walking in the fullness of His Word, as prescribed here, is moving in the same direction as the Lord. Here is the amazing thing,  while we can move closer to the KNOWLEDGE of Him as we study His Word – the Bible – it is only through prayer, that we can achieve full relationship.

Qadash and Qadosh are the beginning and end of the power prayer life! We are not passive in this. We must do our part via the steps (consecration) described above.  To emphasize, the equation is this:

• The Holy Spirit lives in us, who are born again.
• The Holy Spirit directs us to the Word of God
• The Word says in many places that we MUST behave ourselves. Why? Because God is Holy
• Conduct becoming a Christian ALWAYS leads us to pray.
• Therefore, let us develop a straight, moral lifestyle, in keeping with Scripture, which will cause us to repent of our shortcomings and move closer towards the Holiness of God
• Closeness to the Fire of His Holiness will purify us, cleanse us and thus consecrate us more and more, as we become more like Him
• Pray as if He is right next to you, looking over your shoulder....because He is
• Conduct of the true Christian leads to a closer walk with Christ, which allows us to pray more like the consecrated man or woman of God, that He has called us to be
• This characteristic in us can then be used by God to pray, intercede and basically, just love others, who are not as sold out yet, as Christ loves them. Amen.

KEYS TO A GODLY LIFE PART 9/12 - MATURING IN GRACE

THE DAWN OF GLORY SERIES:

PLEASE READ THE PASSAGE, THEN - WATCH THE BRIEF EXPOSITION FROM THE PLUMBLINE VIDEO:

2 Peter 1:3-11

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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