This morning we continue our journey into this year, focusing on making “Intentional Progress.” I shared six steps to intentional progress with you, and I will continue to walk through them over the next few weeks. As a reminder, here are the six steps.
Here are the steps again:
1. Pray/Discern
2. Plan/Prepare
3. Wait/Discern God’s Timing
4. Execute/Measure Progress
5. Wait/Faith & Patience
6. Receive When Harvest Time Comes
Over a week ago, I introduced you to what I consider to be the actual “Lord’s prayer.” It is a prayer Jesus prayed in John 17. We are more than halfway through the prayer now, having covered the first 16 verses. Today we will look at verses 17-19.
Jesus prayed, “Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I’m consecrating myself for their sakes, so they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.”
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. The Word of God is consecrating truth.
In His prayer for us, Jesus said, “Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth.”
We don’t use the word consecrate much today, so many may not know what it means. I will share a few definitions from the Noah Webster American Dictionary of the English Language from 1828.
Consecrate:
— To make or declare to be sacred, by certain ceremonies or rites; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service and worship of God; as, to consecrate a church (Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons, Exo 29).
— To set apart and bless the elements in the eucharist (for communion).
— Sacred; consecrated; devoted; dedicated.
Consecrated:
— Made sacred by ceremonies or solemn rites; separated from a common to a sacred use; devoted or dedicated to the service and worship of God; made venerable.
Consecrating:
— Making sacred; appropriating to a sacred use; dedicating to the service of God; devoting; rendering venerable.
Jesus was talking to people who were accustomed to the rites, rituals, and routines of The Law. Under The Law, people and things were “set apart” or “consecrated” by some sort of ceremony. But Jesus was saying, “Father, we are making them holy and consecrated (set apart), by the Word.” The Word of God is consecrating truth.
Let’s think about how this applies to us today.
— Not only did God make plans for you before you were born, but He actually set you apart for those plans before the foundations of the world (Jer 1:5).
— Without are born without any knowledge of what God destined you to do. You are born ignorant of everything He already stored up for you to walk in. But you then get Born-Again. Once you are Born-Again, the Holy Spirit begins to teach you through His Word.
— The Word of God contains the character, attributes, and nature of God Himself. As you read God’s Word and submit to the process of mind renewal (transforming the way you think, feel, and make decisions to align with God), you get changed by the Word. Another thing that happens is that you learn, from God’s Word, that you are have been made holy by the Blood of Jesus, and you are set apart for God’s use. The Word of God helps you to accept and align with the consecration God destined for you. In this way, God’s Word is consecrating truth.
— The more you get the Word down in your heart, and the more you allow the Word of God to frame the way you think and act, the more set apart you will be from the ways of this world and the more prepared you will be for the Master’s use.
— It’s such a blessing that you don’t have to go through a ritual to be made clean, holy, or set apart. We are made clean by the Blood of Jesus and the Word of God.
2. You are here on a divine assignment.
In His prayer for us, Jesus said, “In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.” Another translation reads, “Just as You sent me into the world, I send them into the world.”
— You are not a mistake. You are here for God’s divine purpose. The Father is sending you out into the world, just like Jesus was sent out into the world: to accomplish His Kingdom plans and purposes.
— You are on a mission from God. You are not on this planet to do your own thing. However, if you choose to live a self-centered, self-absorbed, and self-pleasing life, you run the risk of missing your purpose and failing to complete your divine assignment.
— I will keep driving home the importance of dying to self because that is the only way we will allow God to freely flow through us. If we minimize our humanity, God’s divinity will be manifested and seen in/with/through us. This is the goal. This is part of the MISSION God assigned us.
— You are on assignment. God is sending you out into the world on a MISSION. Are you ready? To be honest, the only way to be ready is to STOP relying on yourself. God lives IN you. If you yield to the Holy Spirit, you will be ready because God is already ready, and He will live through you!
— Head into this day ready to change the world! Walk with God, and He will walk with you. Together, there is nothing you can’t do. As Jesus is, so are you in this world!
3. Jesus paid a great price for YOU.
In His prayer for us Jesus said, “I’m consecrating myself for their sakes, so they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.” Another translation says that Jesus did what He did so that we “might be fully qualified for the Lord’s service.”
Never forget what Jesus did for you. He fully qualified you for the Lord’s service!
— Jesus died on Calvary’s cross for YOU!
— Jesus paid a debt He did not owe because you owed a price you could not pay.
— Jesus took your place on the cross, He paid your penalty, and He did it willingly so that you could be free from the power of sin and death.
— Jesus made you free. He qualified you for the Lord’s service with His own blood! He did this so you could operate on the earth as a healed, healthy, blessed, prosperous, successful, righteous, anointed, and appointed child of the Most-High God. Please don’t waste, neglect, devalue or disrespect what Jesus did for you.
— The more you understand the price Jesus paid for you, the more you should want to live for Him and the more apt you will be to pursue your purpose with bulldog-tenacity.
— Jesus took your place on the cross. You now take His place in the world. You out there and live like Jesus lived! He fully qualified you for the Lord’s service!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for making plans for me before the foundations of the world. I am not a mistake. You thought about me before my mother met my father. You sanctified me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. You assigned me to a particular purpose before the world began.
You knew I would be born under the dominion of satan, ensnared by the power of sin and stifled by the fear of death. With this in mind, You sent Your Son Jesus to die for me. Jesus paid my penalty. Jesus paid a price I could not pay for a debt He did not owe. Jesus gave His life for me by grace.
I heard the gospel message. I responded to it, and I accepted Jesus as my Lord. As soon as I did, I was translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Your dear Son. Sin and death have no power over me. I am covered by the Blood of Jesus, filled with Your Holy Spirit, and called according to Your purpose.
You sent Jesus into the world, and He now sends me into the world. I am not here to perform my own will. I am here to perform the will of Him who sent me. Jesus paid too great a price for me to live like it means nothing. I accept the gift of righteousness I have through Christ Jesus. I accept the abundance of grace You give me to accomplish Your divine assignment. I pursue my purpose with bulldog tenacity. I will change the world. Not because I am perfect, but because I am forgiven. Because of Your grace, I can boldly declare: GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
