Exodus 19:9-15; Leviticus 8:5-12; 20:7

Day 1

Note: This devotional is taken from the 2022 Midyear Prayer and Fasting Week.

Start to Connect

One sign that you are serious and determined about a certain task, or even a calling, is that you consecrate yourself to it in the presence of the people whom you care about and whom you trust to hold you accountable. Have you consecrated yourself to be holy?

Truth to Ponder

1. At the least, as the people of God, we should not take for granted that our God is holy. To consecrate ourselves, as we approach him, is to be mindful of the condition of our heart, our inner life. Israel was asked to wash their clothes (and themselves?) and to be ready (Exodus 19:9-15; Leviticus 20:7). How then should you prepare yourself as you approach our Holy God? (i.e., Muslims wash their hands and remove their shoes/sandals before entering the mosque.)
2. A special consecration is required for the priests. (Aaron and his children, Leviticus 8:5-12) The breastplate Moses placed over Aaron is a reminder for the priest to always carry the nation Israel’s life and its future in his heart in prayer. (The Urim and Thummim [“light” and “truth”, v.8] are meant to seek and indicate the will of God for the nation Israel.) We are God’s Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation (1 Peter 2:9) for the world! We carry its life and future, its “light” and “truth” in our heart! How does this truth impact your spiritual life?

Examine The Word

1. Read Exodus 19:9-15 and Leviticus 20:7 prayerfully. What was God’s instruction to His people before He meets with them? (vs. 9-11) Is this a one-time requirement, or something that is demanded because of who God is? (Leviticus 20:7) What is your reaction?
2. Perhaps “be ready” (or prepare, v. 11) is something we can relate to?  But do we usually prepare (or ready) ourselves when we approach God in prayer or even read His word? What is your reaction?
3. Given the fact that the Israelites were in the wilderness, is washing their clothes (or even themselves) as an act of consecration easy? (The Lord told them to prepare 3 days ahead!?)
4. Their act of consecration is communal. This means they consecrate themselves before their significant others who can hold them accountable! What is your reaction?
5. Consecration is setting oneself apart for God. Thus, Moses adds “do not go near a woman” (v. 15) What is your reaction?
6. Read Leviticus 8:5-12 prayerfully. As priests, Aaron and his sons’ consecration carries other “requirements”. What are these? (vs. 7-8, 10-12)
   Vs. 10-12 indicate their place of work was also consecrated! What is your reaction?

Personal Application

1. The first step to be holy is to consecrate oneself, to set oneself apart for God, in the presence of witnesses, of people who can hold you accountable. What step(s) would you be taking to apply this in your life?
2. How does point #2 of Truth to Ponder above apply to your prayer life (if not the whole world, at least for our own nation.)
3. At the least as a Royal Priesthood, we need to be praying (as a continuing act of consecration) for our places of work and/or study. What step(s) would you be taking to apply this to your life?
4. Would it be possible to have yourself consecrated in the presence of your cell group or Bible Study group? What step(s) would you be taking to apply this to your life?
5. Ask God to help you consecrate yourself in your desire to be holy.

Prayer List

 NATION

Praise God for outgoing leaders (President, Vice-President, Senators, Congressmen/women, Party List representatives) — for their specific accomplishments during their respective terms.
Pray for those duly elected in the May 09, 2022 elections:

• President, Vice-President —God’s wisdom for important programs like platform of government for the next 6 years and for actions to unify the nation.
• Senators (12) and Congressmen/Party List Reps. (316). God’s wisdom to make important bills that will enhance economic recovery and political stability; wisdom to approve/reject key appointments by the new president, wisdom in authorizing the new president to carry out national policies like those for national emergencies.

 CHURCH/MINISTRIES

Praise God for His sustaining grace, for the leaders’ commitment and service; guidance and strength as members of the policy-making body of the church.

• Continuing Elders: Dulce Abutal, JD Belandres, Miriam Daway, RJ Gonzales, Billy Muñoz, Renfred Silva, and Eireen Villa.
• Incoming Elders: Third Fermin and Mark Benedict Uy

 FAMILY/HEALTH/PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGHS

Pray for: a. Holy Spirit’s intervention for healing and restoration of relationships (within the church, family; among friends, neighbors, workmates, etc.) that were strained due to the elections and other issues;
b.  breakthroughs for healing of sicknesses;   
c. breakthroughs for sharing the good news of salvation and for discipleship opportunities within circle of influence and beyond.

 MISSIONS/EVANGELISM

“World Christians focus their prayer toward God’s global purpose and pray about things that will be a blessing to all the nations.”  – David Bryant (Founder of Concerts of Prayer International).
Pray that as believers of Jesus Christ, we will all mature into Christlikeness and truly be a church after God’s own heart. (Mark 8:34-35)

Pray that as we heard and received the Gospel from someone else and had been discipled by someone and grew spiritually through God’s work in our lives, we will also have the boldness to share the Gospel with others and become disciple-makers who in turn will disciple others as well (2 Tim 2:2).

Pray that as a Church, we will have unity with Jesus and the Father, and with one another, that we might be empowered in obeying the Great Commission (John 17).

Pray that as a Church, we will continue to spread in our missions work in ever-widening circle from Jerusalem to Judea and then into Samaria and continuing to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).