As Pastor Shannon continues on preparing for a move of God. This week we will go a step forward after we have cleared the clutter now we move to preparation. We say we want God to move, but we often don't live like we're expecting Him.
Expectation without prepartion is just wishful thinking. We pray for revival, but our lives are unready. We sing for breakthrough but our schedules are too full to carry it.
God doesn't move into chaos. He moves into consecration.
Joshua 3: 5
Joshua spoke these words before the Isrealites were about to cross into the Promised Land. They were about to step into miraculous. They were going to receive what had been promised for generations. Notice God didn't say pick up a sword and fight, he said consecrate yourselves. That means to purify. To set yourself apart for sacred use.
In the Old testament, consecration often involved washing garments, obstaining from certain foods, or offering sacrafices. But in the New Testament, consecartion is not about outward ceremony. Its about surrender your entire life to God through the finished work of Jesus.
How can we consecrate ourselves today?
- Present your whole self to God (Romans 12:1) If He doesn't have all of you, He doesn't have any of you.
- Cleanse your heart through repentance. (1 Corinthians 7:1) This isn't about perfectionism, but our posture of humility before God. Ask him to search you and show you what is not in alignment with Him.
- Repentance is not about guilt. It's about making room for grace. Seperate from sinful patterns ( 2 Timonthy 2:21)
- Renew your mind through the Word (John 17:1) The word transforms us. It renews our mind, reshapes our desires, and aligns our lives witht the truth.
- Stay filled with the Spirit (Galations 5:16) The Spirit of God empowers us to live holy, surrendered lives. Ask the Lord to fill you again each day.
Consecration is not an event, it's a lifestyle.
God always prepares His people before He pours out His power.
Preparation Starts with Expectation
Do you wake up expecting God to speak?
Do you come to church expecting to encounter Him?
Do you approach your week like God might interrupt it with power?
Faith in action is proven by expectation.
Preparation Requires Obedience
Don't pray for rain if you're not willing to plow the ground. Obedience is the plow that breaks the hard soil of our hearts.
Hosea 10:12
Plowing can be painful, slow, personal. Servining Jesus is work, and it sometimes comes with persecution. If you want a harvest then you have to plow.
Preparation looks like repentance, surrender, removing stones of pride and bitterness.
Is there a part of your heart that has grown hard?
Is there a habit God has told you to surrender?
Is there a convesation He's been prompting you to have?
Preparation Attracts His Presence
Isaiah 40:3
Isaiah was speaking of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus.
God moves where people make a way for Him.
A rocky path won't do, God is requiring a straight road.
It means building your week around His presence, not squeezing Him into a corner. It means turning off the noise to hear Him whisper. It means living in such a way that if He shows up, you're not scrambling, but you're ready.
We need to prepare for His presence, expecting it, and not leaving until we know we've been in His presence.
Living It Out This Week
- Clear Space- Reevaluate your schedule. What are you doing that is good, but not God?
- Pick up the plow. Ask the Holy Spirit: What hard places in my heart need to be softened?
- Set the table. Live like you believe God is coming over for dinner. Make you life a place He would want to dwell.