I just spent a weekend in a wonderful camp for young people. One of the messages covered was consecration, after which several young people declared a new beginning to mean business with the Lord, including matters such as reading chapters each day from the bible, praying each day, going to bed and waking up at what time, etc.

It was a great atmosphere and it was really touching to see how many young people responded to the messages to give themselves more to the Lord.

There was a great consecration wave in the United States, then in Taiwan, and Malaysia. It has reached New Zealand now, and it's wonderful to see.

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), February 27, 2005

Answers

The word "consecration" comes from two Latin words that mean "making holy" and "with." Let us hope that these youth will cooperate with Gods grace to "make" themselves "holy with" chastity, which you did not mention, Oliver. It does little good for them to read the Bible, pray more, and improve their sleeping habits, if they are going to be committing mortal sins of impurity, getting ready to use contraceptives when married, etc..

-- (KGreene@eireworld.com), February 28, 2005.

There were in fact many items that were mentioned, including future relationships.

To be consecrated means to be set aside as a sacrifice, taken from it's common position and set apart upon the altar wholly for God's satisfaction.

The basis of consecration is God's purchase. Consecration does not have its basis in our feelings, thoughts, or will. If it were, it would not be a solid and provable base. The basis for our consecration is that God has purchased us. Such a basis demands that we hand ourselves over to God.

Accompaning the basis of our consecration is the motive of our consecration, which is God's love. Because we a drawn by God's love, we are stirred up to give ourselves to Him.

These are among the principles which the message was spoken with, and the young people gave themselves. Not just in the matters of chastity.

In the OT, a bullock would be taken from the field to the altar, and offered to God. Then it was burnt with fire. All that remained were a heap of ashes. What is the result of our consecration? We become a heap of ashes, our future is finished. We give everything over for the Lord.

How is it possible for one to give themselves to the Lord? How can one be obedient and chaste? How can one be diligent to pursue Him? It is only by a continual life relationship, fellowship, contact with God, through the Spirit, His word, and prayer, because only Christ is absolute for God's economy. Since we have been regenerated, born of Him, we have this wonderful Christ who is able to be the absolute one lived out of us. But even to merely look at refraining from sins is a low view. God doesn't merely want us to refrain from sins, He has a twofold purpose with man, as seen in Genesis 1:26, which is for Himself to be expressed, and for man to have dominion through reigning in life. This is altogether a matter of the organic union in life with Christ.

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), February 28, 2005.

Oliver, on your words, These are among the principles which the message was spoken with, and the young people gave themselves. Not just in the matters of chastity.

If you re-read my previous message, you'll see that I didn't say anything about JUST "in the matters of chastity." Instead, my point was that if those matters were not raised, the weekend was in vain. In neither of your messages have you mentioned that the young people were trained in modesty of dress, in purity of thought, word, and deed, in the need to prepare for chaste marriages free of contraception and abortion, and other such things. A weekend that avoids all these "tough love" topics is a lost weekend. Other topics related to "consecration" are all very nice, but they are not enough in this day and age.

-- (KGreene@eireworld.com), March 01, 2005.

Oh it certainly did cover such things, and it certainly was not a wasted weekend. I hope there will be many more such camps. It was a thoroughly worthwhile time.

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), March 01, 2005.

What is the significance of bedtime and wake-up time?

-- JJ (nospam@nospam.com), March 01, 2005.

To preserve our bodies for the Lord's use. Rising early to contact and enjoy the Lord. Going to bed early to keep our health for the Lord.

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), March 01, 2005.

Thank you, Oliver.

-- (KGreene@eireworld.com), March 02, 2005.