BETHEL UNITED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST (APOSTOLIC)
Jamaica & The West Indies

‘27-DAY’ SPECIAL CONSECRATION - JANUARY 5 –31, 2025

THEME:                    GROWING INTO SPIRITUAL MATURITY SCRIPTURES:  EPHESIANS 4:1-13 & 2 PETER 3:17-18

Ephesians 4:1-13: 1. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3. endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. 9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12. for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13. till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

2 Peter 3: 17-18: 17. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

As we enter this New Year, let us pause to reflect on God’s faithfulness and His abundant grace that has brought us to this point. With hearts full of gratitude, let us embrace the opportunities this year holds for growth, transformation, and a closer walk with our Lord and Saviour.

This year, we will be focusing on “Growing into Spiritual Maturity,” as encouraged in Ephesians 4:1-13 and 2 Peter 3:17-18. The Apostle Paul urges us in Ephesians 4 to walk worthy of our calling, with humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love and striving for unity in the Spirit. He reminds us that the purpose of our faith journey is to grow into the fullness of Christ, no longer being tossed by the waves of false teachings, but standing firm in truth and love.

In 2 Peter 3:17-18, we are warned to be on guard against error and to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. These scriptures remind us that spiritual maturity is a continuous journey of faith, obedience, and a deepening of our relationship with God.

As we embark on this year, we are encouraged to:

Pursue Unity in the Body of Christ

    1. Build one another up in love: let us work together to maintain the bond of peace, support each other in our weaknesses, and celebrate each other's victories. In doing so, we promote unity and reflect the heart of Christ.

Deepen Our Knowledge of God

    1. Commit to studying the Word of God daily. Psalm 119:105 tells us that His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Let the Word shape our thoughts, guide our decisions, and transform our lives.

Embrace God’s Grace for Growth

    1. Growing spiritually is not about perfection but it is about progress. Philippians 1:6 assures us that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion. Let us trust in God's grace to overcome challenges and grow in Christlikeness.

Guard Against Spiritual Drift

    1. Stay alert and prayerful, guarding our hearts and minds against influences that will lead us away from God's truth. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from it.

 

Live Out Our Faith Boldly

 

    1. Let our lights shine before others, so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Let others be drawn to Christ through our lives.

As we grow into spiritual maturity, we will experience the fullness of God’s love, the power of His Spirit, and the joy of His presence. Let us press toward the goal, forgetting what is behind and reaching forward towards what is ahead, as Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13-14.

May this year be a year of spiritual breakthrough, deeper fellowship, and abundant fruit in our lives and the life of our church. Together, let us walk worthy of our calling, striving to become more like Christ each day.

AIM

The January 2025 Special Consecration aims to engage in a 27- day prayer and fasting initiative, fostering a unified focus on collective actions that support every believer's holistic growth and spiritual maturity.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Special Consecration are to:

  1. Engage in twenty-seven (27) days of worship, prayer and fast, involving daily individual and family prayer, as well as weekly corporate prayer meetings. This aims to prepare us for a future harvest of blessings and answered prayers.
  1. Educate believers through four (4) weekly Bible teaching sessions on our theme:

Growing into Spiritual Maturity.

  1. Carry out a seven (7) -day chain fast during the 4th week, culminating in an all-night prayer service on Friday, January 31, 2025

ACTION PLANS FOR LOCAL CHURCHES

  1. Work out details carefully: convene a pre-consecration briefing service to unveil plans and launch the period of consecration. Ensure that handouts for praying and fasting are provided.
  2. Prepare four (4) weekly prayer and fasting schedules. Emphasize the importance of the full participation of the church's membership.
  3. Encourage members to commit to praying for at least thirty (30) minutes, three times a day, preferably during the morning, noon and evening periods. They should be further

 

encouraged to make a prayer list. Likewise, a prayer partner may prove helpful to them. The members should be encouraged to include a prayer session with their family, at least once per week, and where possible, the sessions may be extended to their neighbours.

 

  1. Promote daily prayer in the sanctuary and, where possible, make it available during the days for members and non-members, who may desire to visit and pray.
  2. Convene an all-night prayer meeting on Friday, January 31, 2025. Pastors should use this opportunity to anoint, commission and release believers into active service.

WEEK 1: JANUARY 5-11, 2025

TEACHING TOPIC: STEPS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY KEY VERSES: EPHESIANS 4:17-32

SUGGESTED TEACHING OUTLINE

    1. Renewing Your Mind: A Call to Transformation (Ephesians 4:17-24).
    2. Speaking Truth and Uplifting Others (Ephesians 4:25-29).
    3. Overcoming Sinful Habits (Ephesians 4:28-30).
    4. Embracing Forgiveness and Walking in Love (Ephesians 4:31-32). AREAS OF FOCUS FOR PRAYER AND FASTING
    5. Pray that we will reflect Christ in our actions.
    6. Pray that we will surrender fully to God’s will.
    7. Pray that we will learn to listen for God’s voice in the busyness of life.
    8. Pray that we will be intentional about building healthy spiritual habits.
    9. Pray that we will cultivate a spirit of contentment in all things.
    10. Pray that we will actively seek out opportunities to mentor and be mentored in the faith. ACTIONS OF FAITH
    11. We will reflect Christ in our actions.
    12. We will surrender to God’s will.
    13. We will actively listen for God’s voice, setting aside distractions and seeking His guidance in the busyness of our daily lives.
    14. We will be intentional about building healthy spiritual habits.
    15. We will cultivate a spirit of contentment.
    16. We will mentor others in the faith and seek to be mentored as well.

 

WEEK 2: JANUARY 12-18, 2025

 

TEACHING TOPIC: UNITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST KEY VERSES: EPHESIANS 4:4-6

SUGGESTED TEACHING OUTLINE

  1. What is Unity in the Body of Christ?
  2. What does the Bible say about Unity?
  3. Unity and the Mission of the Church.
  4. Virtues for Achieving Unity.

AREAS OF FOCUS FOR PRAYER AND FASTING

    1. Pray that we will work together to advance God’s kingdom.
    2. Pray that we will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
    3. Pray that we will seek to restore relationships broken by misunderstandings.
    4. Pray that we will support each other through trials and challenges.
    5. Pray that we will celebrate each other’s gifts and strengths, avoiding jealousy and comparison.
    6. Pray that we will speak words that encourage and build up each other. ACTIONS OF FAITH
    7. We will work together to advance God’s Kingdom.
    8. We will be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.
    9. We will seek to restore relationships broken by misunderstandings.
    10. We will support each other through trials and challenges.
    11. We will celebrate each other's gifts and talents and avoid jealousy and comparison.
    12. We will speak words that encourage and build up others.

WEEK 3: JANUARY 19-25, 2025

TEACHING TOPIC: GROWING INTO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST KEY VERSES: EPHESIANS 4:11-13 & 19

SUGGESTED TEACHING OUTLINE

    1. What is the Fullness of God?
    2. Why is it Important to Grow in the Fullness of God?
    3. Steps towards Growing in God’s Fullness
    4. Living in the Fullness of God

 

AREAS OF FOCUS FOR PRAYER AND FASTING

 

    1. Pray that we will hunger for a deeper relationship with God.
    2. Pray that we will grow in the knowledge of God’s Word and truth.
    3. Pray that we will be rooted and grounded in God’s love.
    4. Pray that we will walk in obedience to God’s will daily.
    5. Pray that we will reflect Christ in our actions and attitudes.
    6. Pray that we will be full with the fullness of the power of the Holy Ghost. ACTIONS OF FAITH
    7. We will hunger for a deeper relationship with God.
    8. We will seek to grow in God’s knowledge and truth.
    9. We will remain rooted and grounded in love.
    10. We will endeavour to walk in obedience to God's will.
    11. We will let our actions and attitudes reflect Christ.
    12. We will intentionally seek to be filled with the power of the Holy Ghost.

WEEK 4: JANUARY 26 – 31, 2025

TEACHING TOPIC: GUARDING AGAINST SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY KEY VERSES: EPHESIANS 4:15 & 2 PETER 3:17-18

SUGGESTED TEACHING OUTLINE

  1. What are some Signs of Spiritual Immaturity in our lives or church communities?
  2. How can unchecked Spiritual Immaturity Hinder our Relationship with God and others?
  3. Building a Foundation of Spiritual Growth.
  4. How to Stay Spiritually Alert.
  5. Growing in Christ-like Character.

AREAS OF FOCUS FOR PRAYER AND FASTING

  1. Pray that we will be grounded in our faith and not swayed by false teachings.
  2. Pray that we will remain steadfast in prayer and dependence on the Holy Ghost.
  3. Pray that we will cultivate humility and openness to correction.
  4. Pray that we will cultivate a heart of repentance.
  5. Pray that we will recognize and break free from unhealthy behaviour patterns.
  6. Pray that we will develop a greater sense of spiritual urgency and avoid wasting time on things that do not matter.

 

ACTIONS OF FAITH

 

    1. We will stay grounded in our faith and resist being swayed by false teachings.
    2. We will remain steadfast in prayer and depend fully on the Holy Spirit.
    3. We will cultivate humility and be open to correction.
    4. We will nurture a heart of repentance.
    5. We will recognize and break free from unhealthy behaviour patterns.
    6. We will develop a greater sense of spiritual urgency and focus on what truly matters.

NOTES FOR LEADERS

General

  1. All 27 DAYS should include intense praying and fasting, involving the full membership of the church.
  2. Thorough plans should be made in order to achieve the objectives of this consecration period.
  3. Hold a pre-consecration briefing/launching service and unveil all plans
  4. Provide handouts on praying and fasting (you should have copies from previous years).
  5. Establish a schedule for prayer and fasting; encourage saints to place their names on the fasting schedule.
  6. LEADERS should establish a venue and engage in prayer for all officers at least once weekly.

Fasting

  1. Encourage and promote the fast as a chain for the entire 27-day period; in order to avoid breaking the chain, allow for overlaps, where necessary.
  2. For an 18-hour link – 2 – 4 members should be fasting every 24 hours.
  3. Encourage those who find it difficult to fast, to move progressively: sacrificing one meal, then two, etc.

Prayer

  1. Reinforce the need for each member to commit to praying for at least thirty (30) minutes, twice a day.
  2. Encourage each member to list persons and situations for which they will pray.
  3. Promote daily praying in the sanctuary, and where possible, make it available during the days.
  4. Encourage family prayer sessions, as well as "neighbourhood" prayer meetings.

 

Bible Teaching

 

  1. Conduct at least one weekly Bible teaching session, allowing discussions on designated topics.
  2. Bible teaching should allow adequate time for prayer and study of the Word - striving for a balance between both.
  3. Do not forget handouts etc. - teaching aids will enhance learning
  4. Allow time for questions; interaction with the audience can generate much interest.

Fasting and Prayer Service

  1. Conduct at least one fasting service per week; encourage and implore all members and neighbours to attend.
  2. Conduct a 7- hour all-night prayer meeting to conclude the month of consecration.
  3. Hold a ‘Post - Consecration Testimony and Praise Service’ on the Sunday evening of February 2, 2025 (or nearest convenient date to the close of the consecration period).

SUGGESTED FASTING SCHEDULE

To support the prayer and teaching plans outlined above, we recommend the following fasting schedule that is designed to ensure an un-broken fast from January 5 - 31, 2025. This may be achieved if each member participates in the following ways:

January 5-11

Each member should engage in at least one day link (6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) and at least one evening link (12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.).

January 12-18

Each member should engage in at least two day-links (6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) and at least one evening link (12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.).

January 19-25

Each member should engage in at least three day-links (6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) and at least two evening-links (12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.).

January 26-31

Each member should engage in at least four day-links (6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) and at least two evening-links (12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.).

 

RECOMMENDED PRAYER TIMES

 

Morning @ 6:00 o’clock | @ 12 noon | Evening @ 6:00 o’clock

Psalm 55:17: Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice

Daniel 6:10: Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

FASTING

We encourage every member, including our children, to fast during this period; those with health challenges please consult with your physician, and ensure that time is set aside to focus on God.
Let us all find a way to participate in this fast, bringing glory to God and nurturing our spiritual growth and maturity.

Isaiah 58:6-9: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?... Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer…”

N.B. Not only are we abstaining from food as we fast, but we also fast from television, social media, cell phone use, etc. especially where it robs us of our time with the Lord.

Organization Prayer/Teaching Sessions

“GROWING INTO SPIRITUAL MATURITY”

Each Sunday (January 5, 12, 19 & 26th) @ 7:30 p.m. via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 860 7524 3490; Passcode: PRAYER