Part 1: The 5 Stages of Consecration – A Journey of Surrender and Growth

Are you ready to go deeper?

Over the next five weeks, we’re walking through a powerful spiritual journey—The 5 Stages of Consecration, inspired by Bruce Wilkinson’s teaching series on RightNow Media. This isn’t just a teaching series. It’s an invitation to transformation. Whether you’re new in your faith or have walked with Jesus for years, these stages will challenge you, stretch you, and call you into greater surrender.

Consecration isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. Each stage builds on the last, guiding us from salvation to spiritual maturity, from ownership to obedience, from chaos to clarity.

This series will help you:

• Understand what it truly means to be set apart for God

• Identify where you are in your spiritual walk

• Take intentional steps toward deeper intimacy and purpose

So lean in. Open your heart. Let the Holy Spirit speak. We’re starting with Stage 1: Salvation—the Starting Point of Consecration.

Stage 1: Salvation – The Starting Point of Consecration

What is salvation?

It’s not just a moment—it’s a surrender. A complete, unconditional yielding of our heart to God. Salvation is the beginning of our consecrated life, the first step in a journey of obedience, transformation, and spiritual maturity. It’s not earned. It’s not achieved. It’s received.

Born of the Spirit

Jesus said, “You must be born again” to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3). This new birth isn’t something we can manufacture—it’s a gift from above. While being born is passive, belief is active. We must choose to believe in Jesus, to trust Him fully, and to surrender our lives to His lordship (1 John 5:1).

Salvation is the moment we are rescued from God’s wrath—not by our good works, but by faith in Christ alone (John 3:14–16, 36). It’s a divine exchange: our sin for His righteousness, our bondage for His freedom.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8–9

A Change in Ownership

Salvation isn’t just a rescue—it’s a purchase. Jesus paid the price for our redemption with His own blood (1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Revelation 5:9). He didn’t buy us with silver or gold, but with His life. Our sin was too great for anything less.

This is the heart of propitiation—Jesus paid until the Father said, “It is enough” (Romans 3:24–25; Titus 2:13–14; 1 Peter 1:18–19). Through this ransom, we became God’s possession (1 Peter 2:9). Not slaves of fear, but slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:22).

So the question becomes: What kind of slave will you be? Will you fulfill God’s plan for your life, or will you stray?

Salvation Is the Beginning, Not the End

Just because we’re saved doesn’t mean we automatically grow. Salvation is spiritual birth—but growth requires intentionality. Like newborns, we must learn to thrive (Ephesians 4:14–15). Some believers remain spiritual infants, not because they weren’t saved, but because they never pursued maturity (Hebrews 5:12–13).

Consecration begins at salvation, but it deepens through surrender, obedience, and spiritual discipline.

Your Next Step

Don’t overcomplicate it. If you’ve never made the decision to believe in Jesus as your Savior, now is the time.

“To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” —John 1:12

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” —Acts 16:31

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” —Romans 10:9

A Prayer of Salvation

Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I surrender my life to You. Forgive me, cleanse me, and make me new. I receive Your gift of salvation. Be my Savior and my Lord. I am Yours. Amen.

If you’ve already made that decision, take a moment today to write a thank-you letter to Jesus. Reflect on the price He paid, the freedom He gave, and the journey He’s invited you into.