Anglican Devotional 9 July 2022 – Consecration: An Assurance Of God’s Presence

By Godwin Emmanuel - July 9, 2022 | Categories: Devotionals Tags: Religion

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The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 9 July 2022 – Consecration: An Assurance Of God’s Presence

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TOPIC — Consecration: An Assurance Of God’s Presence

READ: Exodus 19:9-25 (NKJV)

And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
“And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
“You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves [that] you do [not] go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
‘Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot [with an arrow;] whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.”
So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.
And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near [your] wives.”
Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who [were] in the camp trembled.
And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
Now Mount Sinai [was] completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.
Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the LORD, and many of them perish.
“Also let the priests who come near the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them.”
But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ “
Then the LORD said to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest He break out against them.”
So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

THE MESSAGE:

Today’s passage reveals what we need to do to enjoy God’s presence every day. God’s people were divinely instructed to be sanctified, with their clothes washed at least two days before the appearance of God to them (verse 10). They were asked to set boundaries in relation to where they could go and what they could touch (verses12 & 13). People were thus sanctified and washed (verses 14,15). This sanctification did not exempt the priests (verse 22). Thereafter, God’s presence was made manifest (verses 16-20). From the call of Moses in Exodus 3:1-6, God had emphasized consecration which had no alternatives. Both the leadership and followership in the Church are enjoined to be consecrated for divine service.

We are called to be holy. A lot has happened to the present-day Church as everyone wants to be involved in God’s work in one way or the other and painfully, without consecration. Holiness, despite its scarcity on our pulpits today, remains the major prerequisite for enjoying the presence of God (2 Chronicles 5:11-14). It is still the basis for continuous victory spiritually and physically (Joshua 7:1ff; Isaiah 52:11; Matthew 5:48 & 1 Peter 1:15,16). Consecrate yourself unto the Lord and you can never regret it!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I consecrate my life to You today, help me to remain holy unto You all the days of my life. Amen.