This is Part 8 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.
ELEMENT 7: THE CONSECRATION OF COMMITMENT – THE NAZIRITE VOW
Numbers 6:2-5 describes voluntary consecration:
“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall come upon his head.”
The Nazirite vow was voluntary consecration beyond the basic requirements. This was someone giving themselves wholly to God.
CONSECRATION BEFORE MIGHTY WORKS
Joshua 3:5 gives us the preparation command:
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”
Notice the connection: Consecration comes before God’s mighty works. Before Israel crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land, before they saw God’s power manifest, they had to consecrate themselves. The same is true for the battles ahead of us.
THE LIVING SACRIFICE
Romans 12:1-2—yes, we’re going back to this passage because it applies to both testing and consecration—defines what genuine consecration looks like:
“Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
The testing reveals whether you’re willing to be the sacrifice. The consecration is actually becoming that living sacrifice—remaining on the altar by choice. Not a dead sacrifice that stays put—a living one that chooses to remain there daily. Holy and pleasing to God. Not conformed to this world’s patterns but transformed by the renewal of your mind.
This transformation is the Holy Spirit’s work. The renewal of our minds cannot be achieved through willpower. Transformation cannot be accomplished through religious discipline. The Holy Spirit does the transforming work as you submit to His process through obedience and consecration.
FAITH DEMONSTRATED BY WORKS
But here’s what many miss: Genuine consecration isn’t just internal intention—it’s demonstrated in reality.
James 2:18 confronts empty claims:
“Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
You can claim consecration all day long. The question is: Does your actual life demonstrate it? What would someone see if they examined how you spend your time, your money, your energy, your thoughts?
OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH
1 Peter 1:22 connects consecration to obedience:
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.”
Consecration isn’t a one-time emotional experience. It’s ongoing purification through obedience to the truth. It’s demonstrated in how you actually love others from a pure heart, not just how you feel in a worship service. And this purification happens as the Holy Spirit applies the truth to your life and empowers your obedience to it.
THE QUESTION OF COMPLETE CONSECRATION
What would complete consecration to Jesus Christ look like in your life? Not just doing the minimum. Not just avoiding major sin. What would it look like to be wholly given over to Him?
What would need to change tomorrow if you truly consecrated yourself for the amazing things God wants to do?
PUT AWAY THE FOREIGN GODS
Joshua 24:19-23 gives us the sobering reality of what consecration demands:
“But Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.’ And the people said to Joshua, ‘No, but we will serve the Lord.’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.’ And they said, ‘We are witnesses.’ He said, ‘Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.'”
Joshua’s words are confrontational: “You are not able to serve the Lord.” Why? Because God is holy. He is jealous. He will not share you with foreign gods.
The people claimed they would serve the Lord. Joshua made them witnesses against themselves. Then came the test of their claim: “Put away the foreign gods that are among you.”
Not the foreign gods out there in the pagan nations. The foreign gods among you. The idols you’re harboring. The compromise you’re tolerating. The unauthorized fire you’re offering.
Consecration demands you identify and remove what competes with God for your devotion. This is the heart of the Nazirite vow. This is the heart of our choice today.
APPLICATION
What are the foreign gods among you that witness against your devotion?
- What would complete consecration to Jesus Christ look like in your life—beyond just avoiding sin?
- Are you a living sacrifice that remains on the altar by choice daily?
- Does your actual life—your time, money, energy, thoughts—demonstrate consecration or just claim it?
- What foreign gods are you harboring that compete with God for your devotion?
- What would need to change tomorrow if you truly consecrated yourself for God’s amazing works?
With consecration complete—foreign gods removed, devotion proven, surrender established—God now does something remarkable: He places His name upon His prepared people and gives them His Spirit within.
TOMORROW: Element 8: The Blessing – Carrying God’s Name
We’ll discover how God places His name upon His people—and what it means to carry that name into battle.
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