Are You Consecrated?

When God gave Moses the Law for the people of Israel, He gave many rules and regulations. Among those rules were the laws governing how a priest was set apart for his priestly duties. Before anything could be used for holy purposes, it had to be made holy itself, or consecrated.

Some Bibles translate it as sanctification, but it means the same. Consecration was the process by which something was set apart as holy for a special use. Just as all the items and furniture of the tabernacle had to be consecrated before being put to holy use (Numbers 7:1), so the priests, likewise, had to be consecrated.

The process of consecrating a priest is described in Exodus chapter 29.

1. By Washing (Exodus 29:4)
The priest would be immersed as part of the consecration process. After this washing, he need never be baptized again, but only wash his hands and feet each time before he entered the tabernacle or offered a sacrifice. (See Exodus 30:18-21) The idea of a ceremonial washing of someone or something as part of the consecration and cleansing process was not just for a priest’s ordination. (See also Exodus 19:10, Leviticus 1:9, Leviticus 13:54, Numbers 31:24).

2. By Clothing (Exodus 29:5-6)
After the washing, the priest would then be clothed in the priestly garments as described in the Law. He would be dressed in the linen tunic, put on the gold breastplate with the twelve jewels which represent the twelve tribes of Israel. He would put on the turban with the sacred diadem which read, “Holy to the Lord.” Then, he would be waring the sacred garments of the priest as prescribed by the Law.

3. By Anointing (Exodus 29:7)
Now that the priest was washed and clothed, he would be anointed with the special oil of the priesthood. This was a special recipe of oil (Exodus 30:23-24) that only the priest could use. It was sacrilegious for anyone else to use it, and if they dared, they would be punished with death (Exodus 30:32-33). This sacred oil would be poured on the priest’s head as part of the consecration process.

4. By Blood (Exodus 29:21)
After offering sacrifices according to the regulations, the blood would be placed on the right ear, right thumb and right big toe. Then, they would shower the priests with anointing oil and blood mixed together. This would consecrate the priest and his clothing. In fact, most thing were consecrated with blood (see Hebrews 9:19-22)

The Old Law is done away with (Colossians 2:14). You might wonder what relevance this information has for us today. The answer is EVERYTHING! Christians are priests of God today. The Bible teaches that the Old Law was a shadow or analogy of the New Covenant in Christ.

Colossians 2:17 says that the Old Law’s regulations were a “a shadow of things to come.” Hebrews 10:1 says, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming— not the realities themselves.” Colossians 2:17 tells us that “the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Therefore, we realize that the Old Law’s ordinances about how a person becomes a priest, are an analogy of how we become priests today. The way they were consecrated and set apart as Holy is a shadow of how we are to be consecrated.

The Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 2:5 that Christians are “like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” So, Christians are the true temple and true priests of which the Old Law was only a shadow.

Peter goes on to say in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” But how do we become royal priests of God? We must consecrate ourselves for the priesthood the same way the Old Law commanded. We are washed. We are clothed. We are anointed. We are covered with blood. The Old Law’s regulations were shadows of the reality in Christ. How are you consecrated as a priest today?

1. By Washing
Before you can be cleansed of sin and enter the temple (the church) you must be washed. Hebrews 10:22 says “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Therefore, to become a priest we are baptized in water (see Acts 10:47). As the preacher said to Paul in Acts 22:16, “Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’” There is a spiritual, not physical, cleansing that happens in Christian baptism (see 1 Peter 3:21-22). Paul said to the former sinners in 1 Corinthians 6:11 who were now priest of God, “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” We are sanctified and consecrated in our baptism as we wash our sins away.

2. By Clothing
Ephesians 4:24 tells us to, “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Romans 13:14 commands us, “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ!” But how do we clothe ourselves with Christ? How do we put on a new self? The Priest would put in the priestly garments, but how do we put on the fulfillment of those priestly robes, which is the Christ himself? Colossians 3:27 says, “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” So the way we are clothed in Christ is to be baptized into Him.

3. By Anointing
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says, “He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” We are anointed with the Holy Spirit. Anointing oil has often represented the Holy Spirit in the Bible (See 1 Samuel 16:13). And the anointing we receive today is not by the shadow of literal oil, like they did under the Old Law, but the reality of the literal Holy Spirit living within us. In this way, our washing is connected to our anointing, because they both involve the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” So the Holy Spirit washes and anoints us at our water baptism when He is received as gift, as promised in Acts 2:38.

4. By Blood
Nothing is cleansed without blood to pay for sin. Hebrews 9:22-23 teaches that, “the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” We must be sprinkled with Jesus perfect blood. Hebrews 12:24 says we have come “to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” The blood of sinless Jesus could do what Abel’s could not. It can save from sin. In this way, our washing is connected to our sprinkling of Jesus blood. Hebrews 10:22 says, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Notice, our hearts are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus as we are washed in the pure water.

The washing away of sins, being clothed with Christ, our anointing with the Holy Spirit, and being covered by the blood are all connected to our baptism. Have you become a priest? Have you been made Holy and set apart for His use in fulfillment of the shadow of the Law. Have you obeyed the reality found in Christ? Are you washed? Are you clothed? Are you anointed with the Spirit? Are you covered by His blood? Are you consecrated?

1 John 5: 6-8 “This is the one who came by water and blood— Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

A Good Mom Is Like A Tree Planted By A River

There is a large tree in the very middle of some woods near Huntington, Indiana which my friends and I often played in when I was a boy. Someone, long before us, had named this tree “Big Momma.” All paths in the woods led to this tree. It was our meeting place. It was by far the largest tree in the forest. It towered over the others. Often, when we played “cowboys and Indians” or “hide and seek” in the forest, I would climb “Big Momma” to see where the other boys were. From the vantage point of that tree you could see the whole woods. I don’t know who named her “Big Momma,” but that was not the only time a tall tree was compared to a mother.

In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is often compared to a mother, and the Israelites were seen as her offspring. One such passage in Ezekiel speaks of “Mother Israel” and compares her to a tree planted by a river. A mother is in many ways like a tall tree planted by a river. It has been said that, “the hand the rocks the cradle rules the world.” And another true proverb is, “An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.” How true! A godly mother has so much power and strength. A godly mother has a lasting effect and eternal legacy. A godly mother is a source of life, nourishment, comfort, training, wisdom and beauty.

Ezekiel 19:10-11 says, "‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water. Its branches were strong, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches.”

Though this passage is about the nation of Israel as a mother to God’s people, it is also a description of what a good mother is like. I would like to look at the spirit given analogy of a mother as a vine or tree.

First of all, a good mother is like a well rooted tree. She is “planted by the water” and is bountiful in her health, growth and production because she has “abundant water.” A good mother is like a well watered tree. This illustration was not lost on the culture of the Middle East, where the arid climate allowed only trees by water to grow to their full potential. They understood the concept of an oasis or lush river valley like those along the Jordan, Tigris or Nile. The abundant water caused the blessings of fruitfulness, multiple branches and height.

In similar fashion, a good mother is well rooted in the river of life. She is rooted in the tree of life. She is a well watered student of the Word of God. She is well connected to the people of God. She is an active citizen in the Kingdom of God. She is a dedicated worshiper in the church of God. She is a member of the family of God. She is a pillar in the house of God. She is a consumer of the water of life at the fountain of God. She is grounded in the One Faith by the Spirit of God. And only a well rooted and well watered woman can be a mother, who is like a tree planted by a river. A good mother takes time to drink deep from the river of life, so she can produce much fruit and feed the needs of many. Before she can feed others, she must be well fed herself from the water of life.


Second, a good mother is like a fruitful tree. A good tree is a productive tree. When Jesus saw a unfruitful fig tree, he cursed it and it withered. He told the parable of a tree that produced no fruit and how it was pruned and fertilized. If it did not produce fruit, it was to be cut down and thrown into the fire. Fruit trees are made to produce fruit. In an economy that depended upon substance farming, produce bartering and trade for income, the Israelites understood the value of a very fruitful tree.

Likewise, a good mother is productive. If you read Proverbs 31:10-31 you will see how productive the woman of noble character is. She is a doer of good. She is fruitful on many branches. She is faithful on many levels. She works with eager hands, helps support the family, works into the night, provides food for the family, has several entrepreneurial endeavors, generously gives to the needy, clothes her family, support her husband in his work, buys and sells to make profit. She shows strong character, views the world optimistically, teaches others with wisdom, and makes sure her family’s needs are met. She can multi-task with many branches and produces much fruit. Many are they that come and eat from the fruit of the many branches of her service to God. She can do this because she is so well grounded and watered by the river of life.

Third, a good mother is like a tree with strong branches. Even more than today, wood was a valuable resource in ancient times. Trees were so valuable in ancient times that God gave rules in the Law of Moses about which you could and could not cut down. A good mother is like a tree with strong branches, “fit for a ruler’s scepter.” In ancient times a king would hold a scepter in his hand as an emblem of his strength and power. The Egyptians had a scepter with the image of their snake god’s head on the top to represent his power. When a king’s power was taken, they would speak of his scepter being broken (see Isaiah 14:5 and Jeremiah 48:17). So the Israelites understood that Ezekiel was saying that the mother’s branches which provided provision to her children, were as powerful an influence as a strong king’s rule.

Likewise, a mother’s acts of service can have more influence than laws, punishments, jails, sermons, preachers, youth ministers, or school systems. It is like the influence of Moses’ mother on him when he was young, which taught Moses to be a man of faith in opposition to all Egyptian influence and enticements of wealth and power when he grew up. Another example is Hannah, who taught Samuel in seven years to be a man of faith in spite of the bad example of Eli and his wicked sons. She draws her strength from God. Her hope is in Him. She can sing Psalm 73:26 which says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” And she gives shade, strength, and sustenance to those who take shelter in her strong fruit laden branches. When necessary, one of her strong branches may even be a switch for discipline. Proverbs 29:15 “The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” Her branches impart wisdom and life.

Finally, a good mother is like a tree known for its height and beauty. A tall tree is a thing of wonder and awe. Many thousands of people travel thousands of miles to see the Redwood Forests in Northern California. There you can find the tallest trees in the world. They are objects of beauty, wonder and awe. They are inspiring to behold. The Redwood forest supports more life per square inch than any other place on earth. It is even more lush than the rainforest of South America. The thick, lush vegetation and animal life are all supported by these wondrous Giant Redwoods. The Israelites had never seen the Giant Redwoods of California but they new all about the famous Cedars of Lebanon (Isaiah 2:13). They knew the wonder and beauty of a tall tree, especially in their arid climate which contained so few of them.

Likewise, a good mother is “conspicuous” for the height of her faith. She stands out in a crowd. She towers over the problems of this world. Many mothers get choked out in the underbrush of passing doubts, momentary suffering, and immediate busyness. But a good mother is well watered and grows above the momentary scrub-brush of this mortal world. She provides a view beyond the river and into eternity. Those who climb her limbs to find the fruit of her wisdom gain a wonderful view beyond fleeting vanities of this present moment. Not only is she a source of beauty from a distance on the horizon of humanity, but also when embraced in her loving branches you gain a view of the “big picture” that comforts the soul. She mothers you under the canopy of her healing provision and comforts you in the consolation of her protection from dangers below. On the strength of her wisdom, you can ascend to the heights of faith above the low earthly things that obstruct your view of eternity. At high altitudes in her arms she shares a beautiful view of God’s world. As you behold her uncommon beauty, you can stand in wonder of her strength. You can climb to otherwise unseen vantage points of faith on her strong and fruitful limbs, all because a good mother is like a well-rooted tree, planted by the river of life.

Listen to your Mother...

Proverbs 1:8 says, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother‘s teaching.” The Word of God is telling us to heed our mother’s advice. Proverbs 6:20 says, “My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother‘s teaching.” We are not to forsake our mothers teaching? But how many of us despise our mother’s advice?

If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all. Eat your vegetables. Wash your hands before you eat. Brush your teeth. Have on clean underwear incase you get in a wreck. Chose your friends wisely, don’t let them chose you! Put God first. Go to church each week. That smoking will kill you. Don’t run with those boys who get drunk. Proverbs 15:20 says “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”

Do you listen to your momma? Some might say, “But I am an adult now! I don’t have to listen to her now. She is just an old lady who is trapped in old fashioned ways! Right?" Proverbs 23:22 says, “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
Lemuel was a king. He was full grown but he listened to his mother’s wise advice.

Proverbs 31:1-3 says, “The sayings of King Lemuel— an oracle his mother taught him: 2 "O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, 3 do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.”

The first piece of advice to Lemuel from mom was not to spend his strength on women who ruin kings. The wrong wife can ruin a man. A wicked lover can destroy his future and damn his soul. How many men in this world have been ruined as leaders because of a sinful relationship with a woman? She was teaching her boy not to spend his life in pursuit of the vanity of illicit sex.

“Do not forsake your mother‘s teaching.”

Proverbs 31:4 -7 says, "It is not for kings, O Lemuel— not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more."

Next she tells Lemuel that wine and beer are for losers. Wine and beer make people “forget what the law decrees.” It also causes you to become an abusive person toward others and deprive people “of their rights.” Beer and wine are for those who are perishing. If you want to have “poverty” and “misery” by all means drink alcohol. But beer and wine are not for children of the King. It’s not for royal princes to be craving that which causes poverty, misery and oppression.

“Do not forsake your mother‘s teaching.”

Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Finally, she tells King Lemuel to be a defender of others and their rights. He is to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Like those children who will be aborted in their mothers wombs. We are to speak up. Like those who do not know the love and grace of God and do not understand they have the right to become a child of God. We must speak up and tell them. Like the poor children across this world who have never been taught about family relationships, truth of God’s Word, or educated to make a living for themselves. We must rise up and speak and defend the cause of the poor, the lost, the dying.

John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God!”

Some people don’t know that they have this right. The devil has blinded their eyes and kept them in the dark lonely world of sin. They don’t know that they can be children of the king. They are unaware of their rights. We must “Speak up” and “defend the rights” of those Satan has deceived.

“Do not forsake your mother‘s teaching.”

King Lemuel got some good advice from his mother. This year for Mothers Day remember it yourself.

1. Don’t spend your life on sexual relationships which will ruin you
2. Don’t spend your life on beer and wine which will destroy you
3. Do spend your life speaking up to defend the helpless and protect their rights.

Questions? scripturist@hotmail.com