Consecrated and Committed – Seed Thoughts

Rhema TeamApril 2017 WOFLeave a Comment

I AM REMINDED of the commitment and consecration of Jesus to fulfill His mission on this earth. I am always moved when I read how He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.

MATTHEW 26:36–44 (NKJV)

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there."
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."
43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

There has never been a prayer to match how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Although Jesus' most committed disciples were nearby, He had to carry His burden alone to the Father.Lynette Hagin

No matter how many times I read this passage, I am profoundly moved. I realize that although Jesus was the Son of God, it still took deep commitment and consecration for Him to obey the will of His Father.

Many people question why their prayers are not answered. I think the reason is often because they have not first prayed the prayer of consecration. Let's define consecrate: to devote or dedicate to some purpose; to devote irrevocably to the worship of God.

The prayer of consecration—committing to live a holy life and committing to do the will of God—often seems to be difficult for people. It's not fun to die to our own will, our own ways, and our own desires.

There has never been a prayer to match how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Although Jesus' most committed disciples were nearby, He had to carry His burden alone to the Father.

This prayer—with all its intensity—didn't just spring up in Jesus' heart at this one crucial time in His life. Although the Garden of Gethsemane experience was the ultimate test of His willingness to die to His own will, Jesus lived His entire life with an attitude of surrender to God.

John 6:38 (NLT) says, "For I have come down from Heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will." John 4:34 (NLT) further confirms this: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God."

Isaiah 1:19–20 declares: "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword."

Willingness and obedience are important to God. If the children of Israel had faithfully followed the plan of God rather than their own plans and desires, they would not have had to experience some of the consequences they faced.

A prime example of consecration and commitment is Abraham. God told Him to leave the land he was inhabiting. God didn't even tell Abraham where he was going. He simply said, "Go and I will show you." But God added, "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing"(Gen. 12:2). Abraham obeyed and was blessed.

When we accept Christ as our Saviour, our desire is to follow His will for our lives. However, if we are not careful, the longer we are saved, our own desires and will become stronger and the desire to do the will of the Father becomes weaker.

During the Easter season, I encourage you to review your consecration and commitment to the Father. And let David's words be yours as well. "I delight to do your will, O my God, and your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8 NKJV).

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
—Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)



[Editor's note: This article was adapted from Kenneth W. Hagin's book Listen to Your Heart.]

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Lynette Hagin

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