“UNTO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH!“
We had a glorious service a few Sunday’s ago in Balanti, as we gathered to celebrate and dedicate our church facilities there to the glory of the Lord (see pics below). “UNTO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH!” (Ephesians 3:21) was our special theme.
IMPORTANCE OF DEDICATION
In Scripture we see how important dedication and consecration are.
DEDICATION AND THANKSGIVING SERVICE
There are many instructions in the Bible about dedicating and consecrating things, and lands, and people. One I would especially like to highlight is found in Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 20:5
“Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying: ‘What man is there who has built a new house and has NOT DEDICATED it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man DEDICATE IT.
What that reveals is that when a new house is built, it should be dedicated to the glory of God. It was so important to the Lord that this be done, that if it had not been done, a soldier was to return from the battlefield to do it, so he personally could be there for its dedication.
Not just the dedication of the new house was important, but their presence at the dedication ceremony was important, for those able to attend.
We are so thankful for those who participated with us in our dedication and thanksgiving service. The Lord was truly glorified, and we give Him all the praise!
DEDICATION / CONSECRATION
For those that may not be very familiar with this kind of a meaningful dedication ceremony, here is a simple explanation:
DEDICATION
Dedication means that something or someone is exclusively allocated (set apart) for an intended service or purpose — to be devoted to a task or purpose; having single-minded loyalty and dedication to it.
CONSECRATion
To consecrate is to devote to a purpose with DEDICATION- : to make or declare sacred: to devote irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony…(of a church or land) having been made or declared sacred.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Tabernacle of Moses
When they finished setting up the tabernacle, they anointed and CONSECRATED it and all of its furnishings, and DEDICATED them… (Numbers 7:1,10-11; 11:84).
Temple of Solomon
When the temple of Solomon was finished, they gathered together for a sacred assembly, to observe the time of DEDICATION (2 Chronicles 7:9).
2 Chronicles 7:1-3
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the GLORY OF THE LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the GLORY OF THE LORD had filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and THE GLORY OF THE LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: “for HE IS GOOD,
FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.”
SCRIPTURAL WARNING – judgment
Don’t dedicate to anything or anyone other than the true and living God! It brings God’s displeasure and judgment!
God’s people were taken into captivity, and the temple was destroyed because of the Lord’s judgment upon their rebellion, disobedience, and idolatry.
Rebuilding the Temple
In due time the temple was rebuilt. It was a time of great joy and gladness. They celebrated with praise and thanksgiving. Once again they gave “PRAISE TO THE LORD FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER“!
There is something special that resonates in the heart of God when His people “PRAISE HIM FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER”!
Jehoshaphat’s army
A mighty, miraculous victory!
2 Chronicles 20:21-23 – when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “PRAISE THE LORD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.” 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
LIVING SACRIFICES
We are encouraged to live holy lives that are lived in continual dedication and consecration to the Lord, as living sacrifices.
Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
WE ARE THE TEMPLE
I Corinthians 3:16,17 – Do you not know that you are the TEMPLE OF GOD and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the TEMPLE OF GOD, God will destroy him. For the TEMPLE OF GOD is holy, which TEMPLE YOU ARE.
I Corinthians 6:19 – Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
2 Corinthians 6:16 – And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
Ephesians 2:21 – …in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
The Lord has GREAT PLANS AHEAD!
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
PROPHETIC VISIONS
There are several recent visions from the Lord, that have been very encouraging!
OCEAN AND SHORELINE OF SAND — PEOPLE
One of our pastors was given a vision of people coming in like the ocean, and the shoreline instead of sand was people (like the sand) – multitudes of people!
STADIUMS OF PEOPLE
My wife has had numerous dreams and visions of stadiums of people – by the multitudes, in different places and all kinds of people…
“VICTORY” Flag
Another pastor had a vision of open heavens, and of angels dancing and rejoicing. One angel was waving a flag back and forth. It was a white flag with red letters written across it, on a golden pole that was hand-held. The red letters on the flag spelled “VICTORY”! Hallelujah! (Praise be to the Victorious One)!
“MULTITUDES WITHOUT NUMBER”
We continue to ask in prayer and believe God’s promises for multitudes of people to be in heaven — without number! That is the heritage of the glorious church!
Revelation 7:9 – I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
ABRAHAM’S SEED
The Lord told Abraham that his seed would be as the stars of heaven, and as the sand, and dust of the earth.
Genesis 26:4 – And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…
Genesis 28:14 – your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Genesis 13:16 – I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
Galatians 3:16, Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ… And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
“Praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever!”
This was one of our special theme songs for our dedication service, as we celebrated the Lord’s goodness with GREAT JOY, AND GAVE THANKS!
“UNTO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH!
Ephesians 5:27-28 – …Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
