The Full Story
Bethel Apostolic Temple
New Year's Consecration 2025
Consecration is the sanctification of something by setting it apart as dedicated to God; it's making a solemn commitment of your life or your time to some cherished purpose (to a service or a goal).
Our Consecration for the New Year begins Monday, January 6 – , January 24, 2025. Wednesday, January 8th is Vision Night, concluding with a Consecration Celebration Service on the Sunday, the 26th.
Why do we consecrate at the beginning of the year?
1. To get clear direction for the year.
2. For spiritual growth in our lives.
3. To obtain personal breakthroughs.
4. To see the supernatural hand of God released in our lives, in the life of the church and the community.
5. To cover our children in the educational system & society.
6. For financial breakthroughs.
7. To see blessing in the covenant relation of marriages.
8. For our City, County, State and Country’s Leaders to both know and do God’s will.
We will observe this consecration through:
-
exercising the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting;
-
corporate study of scriptures,
-
seeking God for areas of change / growth and the determination of strategy for manifestation of the same;
-
journaling our insights and revelations and;
-
keeping our motives and attitudes pure throughout the remainder of the year.
Fasting
There are three types of fasts:
•“Normal” / “Day” Fasting – Abstaining from food from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32; 1 Kings 19:8; Mt. 4), however, water may be consumed.
•An Absolute Fast – Abstaining from food and drink (Acts 9:9, est. 4:16, Ezra 10). Rarely is an absolute fast practiced for a long period of time.
•A Partial fast / Daniel Fast - (Daniel 1), where food is consumed, but restricted. This is the kind of fast that we will undergo in the New Year.
There are also called or congregational fasts, where we fast as a church family. There may also be times when God calls you to fasting individually.
We get our fasting guidelines from Daniel 1:3-20.
Fasting is to strengthen the total person:
•Your body will benefit from healthy eating
•Your soul (emotions, intellect and will) will benefit from the spiritual discipline of fasting
•Your spirit will grow in strength and in the knowledge of Christ and His ways.
OUR FASTING GUIDELINES:
•Increase your water intake, in effort to flush the body of toxins and decrease hunger pangs.
•Refrain from red meat (beef, oxen, as well as pork) along with any meat that is fried or processed, as well as starches, breads, desserts, along with food made with dairy products (products coming from cows).
Also, please eliminate caffeine / stimulants (e.g. coffee, non-herbal tea, soda and chocolate.).
This means that our partial fast will consist of:
•Baked/broiled poultry and fish
•Fruits, nuts, vegetables, whole grains and soy products
•Soups, juices, herbal teas and of course, water.
SUGGESTIONS:
•Limit your TV watching to the news, preaching / gospel / inspirational videos and / or positive educational programming. Only watch that which is edifying to the mind and Spirit.
•Feel free to utilize our Empowerment Library for books, CDs, videos and DVDs to feed your spirit man during this or any time
•Please make every effort to attend bible classes, worship services and shut-ins held during the consecration, along with our Consecration Celebration Service on Sunday, January 26, 2025. Assembling with the people of God adds strength.
“Fasting is not just about getting a handle on what you’re eating, but what’s eating at you—it’s not just about abstaining from food, but from negative attitudes, thoughts, habits, and behaviors that keep you from maintaining a healthy relationship with God, with yourself, and with the world at large. “
Trimm, Cindy. The 40 Day Soul Fast: Your Journey to Authentic Living (p. 26). Destiny Image.