Walking in faith and a Life of Consecration

The Lion. It is one of the fiercest and fearsome feline creatures to walk the face of the earth. Lions are seemingly weakness-free. What in the world can really stop a lion? Well, little rodents that are no match for it! Yes! A lion can only be killed by a creature 10 times smaller than itself. If a lion goes after rats and rabbits instead of the antelopes and the deer that are its appropriate diet, it will be killed! What happens is that its paws become sore owing to incessantly missing its target in a bid to hit and kill it. Then, in order to ease the pain, the lion licks its paws and eventually gets infected on the mouth, leading to death! 

Likewise, the believer is a lion at heart! The Bible declares that the righteous are as bold as lion (Proverbs 28:1). However, focusing on the insignificant things (rats and rabbits) instead of the significant things (antelopes and deer) leads to death!

In an instructive expose on the first night of the final week of the 40 days of Exploits of Faith, Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah taught congregants how to walk in faith and a life of consecration. 

He began, "Christianity is not just any lifestyle. A life of consecration goes hand in hand with the lifestyle of the believer. You can't live anyhow as a Christian...Faith pleases God but it goes with a life of consecration. If you really want to be effective as a believer, live a consecrated life."

The man of God went on, "You can't mix the Holy Spirit with alcoholism- it is like mixing petrol with water. Don't live in immorality. The Holy Spirit does not tolerate immorality. To live immorally is to deceive yourself. Please God with your lifestyle."

Reading from Psalm 55:17, Bishop noted that a lifestyle of consecration goes with fasting and prayer. He indicated that living a life of prayer and fasting draws us closer to God. He challenged the congregants to learn to fast on their own and pray on their own and not only to wait for the Church to call for a corporate fasting and prayer period. He further noted that prayerless Christians are ineffective. Bishop taught that, "It takes prayer and fasting for you to be sharpened in faith...when you pray God will sharpen your tongue and when you speak things will happen."

He quoted the late Elder Debrah as saying that the reason the 4 Hebrew boys were unscathed from the fiery furnace was that they were full of the fire of the Spirit.

He admonished congregants to be focused on the Lord and to forget about the past weakness.

He also said that faith makes you look like a lion, just like Judah (Genesis 49:8). He explained that when you walk in faith you don’t wait to be attacked. Rather, you seize your blessing aggressively! Faith makes you proactive and sensitive in the Spirit.

Prayer and consecration make you ready at all times. He announced, “God is looking for lions that the devil cannot play with because they are sensitive to the Spirit…rise and focus on the bigger things!” Allow the lion in you to arise through consecration because sin will always quench your fire (2 Corinthians 4:2-4).

The man of God went on to challenge the brethren not to lie. Adding, he shared that we should denounce craftiness. He also noted that our lifestyle should be the light to lead somebody to Christ.

Reading from Romans 6:1-4, 11, the man of God urged the congregants to take advantage of the grace of God to do something in the house of God. Adding, he challenged attendees to use the grace of God to do amazing things for God. He said, “Sin will make you a slave such that instead of being in charge, you’re under control. Don’t be a slave to sin. The life of consecration is good for lions.”

In closing, Bishop taught attendees how vital it is to speak in other tongues. Reading from 1 Corinthians 14:2, he explained that speaking in tongues leads you to fresh revelations. Speaking in tongues is powerful because it allows you to walk in the mysteries of God. He challenged, “Speak in tongues for 1 or 2 hours when dealing with specific issues…sometimes, just speak in tongues and sleep off. Healing can come through speaking in tongues. God can reveal deep business secrets to you as you speak in tongues”

He admonished the congregation to speak in tongues for extended periods, saying, “Big problems demand bigger and larger tongues…it will bring you deliverance.”

The man of God read Numbers 24:7-9 to the brethren as they prayed intensely in other tongues.

Several brethren received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for the first time after the Service.