Consecration: Reviving our Credibility

(Joshua 3 to 8)
“Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will
do amazing things among you.”” (Joshua 3:5)
Introduction
Mentions of Consecration in the Bible
i. “Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his
holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who
does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.” (Psalm 24:3-4)
ii. “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.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)
iii. “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be
holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)
iv. “Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow
the LORD will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3:5
v. Ezekiel; 36:25-27

Consecration - “the separation of oneself from things that are unclean,

especially anything that would contaminate one’s relationship with a perfect
God.” (gotquestions.org)
Symbolic and cultural relevance
Israelite Culture in the Bible places a great significance with the act of
consecration, they were commanded to bathe and change their clothes.
Remember that in ancient times, water was considered a luxury and wasn’t
used often for personal hygiene. The bathing and changing clothes
symbolized making a new beginning with the Lord. (Psalm 51:2 and 7)
One of the reasons or cultural significance of Water Baptism.
It has two (2) aspects/elements:
a. Genuine repentance – majority of terms pertaining to repentance in
the Bible is also translated to “return” or “turn”; it has two
requisites:
i. turn from evil
ii. turn to the good or to turn to God.
(Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology)
 b. Genuine sanctification – means “the state of proper functioning” it
is the condition where a thing or a life is used according to the
purpose God intends.

Initial Observations
i. Sometimes, the reason as to why God’s plans are not fulfilled is not
because of the Enemy or unbelievers – but rather, it is because of
believers themselves.

ii. Christianity is already a faith that is 2000 years old. It has seen
countless iterations. And it has also seen Great Christians who had
given glory to God with their lives and Terrible Ones who caused
misery and ill repute to our Lord.

iii. “Christians” who fail to live up to the standard of living Christ had
showed us destroys not only our credibility but that of Christ and sows
the seed of unbelief to the world.
a. “When we Christians behave badly or fail to behave well, we are
making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world” (C.S.
Lewis).
b. “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians
are so unlike your Christ.” (Mahatma Gandhi)
Key Points
1. Consecration is never a superficial act – Joshua 5 (Circumcision at Gilgal)
c. Circumcision is a form of consecration as the act separates the
Israelites during its time of Conquest from the Canaanite peoples, they
would make war with.
d. Circumcision and Consecration consequently, however, is not a
primarily outward (foreskin) act, but an inward (heart) one:
i. “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of
your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul, that you may live” (Deuteronomy
30:6)
ii. The Apostle Paul provides a discussion on the true idea of
circumcision and its relation to consecration in Romans 2:25-29.
2. Consecration requires us to make a difficult decision – Joshua 7 (Achan’s
Sin)
 a. Achan was one of their kin, yet, they had to make a hard decision to
follow Christ for if not, they would betray their word and thus betray
God.
b. Achan represented the unwillingness of a believer to give to God what
is his. Do remember in Joshua 7:1 the word “devoted things” were the
things of value that Israel’s enemies possess which would, upon the
former’s victory, would give over to God by destroying it. The reason
for this can be found in Deuteronomy 7:2 and 20:17
c. While it is troubling to modern readers that Achan’s family and
household are killed with him, one must keep in mind the communal
aspect of ancient Israelite life. One’s actions affected one’s family, for
good or ill. Rahab’s actions saved her whole household. Achan’s actions
destroyed his.
d. There would be lines we can no longer cross, things we can no longer
enjoy, and thoughts we can no longer indulge in. All this, because we
are already set apart It is a sometimes initially ugly and difficult time
for we would have to confront our frailties and surrender all of it in
order to serve our Lord and Master.
e. Sometimes, we would have to forego relationships especially if it would
endanger our relationship to the Lord and our lives.

3. A Consecrated Christian is an empowered Christian – Joshua 3:5 and

Joshua 3:14-16; Joshua 7:1-5 and Joshua 8.

a. When a consecrated believer prays, speaks, and acts, signs, wonders,

and miracles will follow.
i. Consecrated – Acts 19:4-12
ii. Unconsecrated - Acts 19:13-16
b. Signs, Wonders, and Miracles do not happen because of us. Although
this is an important fact to separate the true believers from charlatans,
they only happen upon God’s direction; and He would only allow such
things, if His people are consecrated.
CONCLUSION:
We have to give back the credibility of our faith. In our era of superficiality
and clout chasing, the world needs something to believe in BECAUSE IT IS
TRUE. The salvation we now enjoy is that Something, we cannot live in
reckless abandon and deprive the world of what it needs only because of our
negligence to retain the credibility of our faith.
POSSIBLE PASTORAL SONGS
1. Napakaligaya at Kahanga Hanga
2. Fill this Temple
3. It is You/Ikaw Lang
4. Itatawid mo sa Landas