This is Part 10 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.
ELEMENT 9: THE OFFERINGS OF CONSECRATION
Numbers 7:1-3, 10-11 records the leaders’ offerings:
“On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached and brought their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle… And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar. And the LORD said to Moses, ‘They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar.'”
Notice what happened: All the leaders brought offerings over twelve days. Each tribe brought the exact same offering—there was no competition, no comparison, no one trying to outdo the others. This showed unity in worship.
UNITY BEFORE BATTLE
But here’s what this reveals: Before Israel could move forward into battle, they had to demonstrate unified worship of the one true God.
Division in worship means division in battle. When God’s people are fragmented in how they approach Him, when there’s competition instead of cooperation, when there’s pride instead of humility in their offerings—they cannot stand together in warfare.
Psalm 133:1-3 declares the power of unity:
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, and life forevermore.”
“There the LORD has commanded the blessing.” Unity in worship isn’t just nice—it’s where God commands His blessing. It’s where His presence manifests most powerfully.
JESUS’ PRAYER FOR UNITY
John 17:20-23 records Jesus Christ’s prayer for unity:
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
Notice what Jesus prayed for: “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you.”
The unity Jesus desires isn’t organizational unity—churches all using the same programs or following the same structure. It’s spiritual unity—believers dwelling in the same Spirit, worshiping the same God, submitted to the same Lord, pursuing the same purpose.
This unity is only possible through the Holy Spirit.
THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 4:3-6 commands us to maintain this unity:
“Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Notice: “the unity of the Spirit.” Not the unity we manufacture through compromise or organizational structure. The unity that the Holy Spirit creates among those who are genuinely in Christ.
One body. One Spirit. One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One God and Father.
When this unity exists, worship becomes powerful. When believers come together with the same heart, the same Spirit, the same focus on glorifying God—His presence manifests.
But when division exists, worship becomes empty performance.
THE WARNING AGAINST DIVISION
1 Corinthians 11:17-20 warns about divisive worship:
“But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.”
Paul says when there are divisions among you, “it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.” You’re going through the motions of worship, but it’s not true worship because you’re fragmented.
THE QUESTION FOR BATTLE
The question for the battles ahead: Are we unified in our worship?
Not: Do we all agree on every doctrinal detail or every ministry method?
But: Are we one body, animated by one Spirit, worshiping one Lord, pursuing one purpose?
Here’s where this breaks down in practice:
Pride in offerings—”My ministry is more important than yours. My gifts are more valuable. My service matters more.” This destroys unity.
Competition in worship—Churches competing for numbers, leaders competing for recognition, ministries competing for resources. This fragments the body.
Division over preferences—Worship style, teaching emphasis, ministry focus becoming grounds for division rather than diversity within unity.
Sectarianism—”We’re the real Christians. We have the truth. Those other believers are compromised.” This grieves the Holy Spirit who unifies the body.
The Numbers 7 principle was simple: Each tribe brought the same offering. No one tried to outdo the others. No one withheld because they felt less important. They came together in unified consecration before they could move forward in unified battle.
ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE
Acts 2:1 shows this principle in action:
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.”
“All together in one place.” Unified. Waiting. Worshiping. And then the Holy Spirit fell with power.
Acts 4:32 describes the early church’s unity:
“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”
“One heart and soul.” This is the unity of the Spirit. Not forced uniformity, but genuine unity produced by the Holy Spirit among those who are truly in Christ.
THE WARNING FOR BATTLE
The warning for the battles ahead: You cannot fight effectively in a fragmented body.
When believers are divided over non-essentials, competing for recognition, prideful in their offerings, sectarian in their attitudes—the enemy has already won. He doesn’t need to attack a body that’s attacking itself.
But when God’s people come together in unified worship:
His presence manifests powerfully His blessing is commanded His power flows unhindered The enemy cannot stand against unified faith
ONE VOICE
Romans 15:5-6 gives us the goal:
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Together… with one voice.” This is the consecrated offerings principle. Not twelve different voices competing for attention. One unified voice glorifying God.
APPLICATION
- Are you contributing to unity or division in the body of Christ?
- Are your offerings (your service, your gifts, your worship) given in humility and unity?
- Is there pride, comparison, or competition in how you approach ministry?
- Do you see other believers as partners in the same body or competitors for recognition?
- Are you seeking to be recognized, or seeking to glorify God alongside your brothers and sisters?
The tribes of Israel came together in unified offering before unified battle. The same is required of us. Division in worship means division in battle.
But unity in the Spirit—one body, one heart, one voice—that’s where God commands the blessing and manifests His power.
TOMORROW: Element 10: The Lighting of the Lamp – Maintaining the Light
We’ll discover why preparation isn’t a one-time event but an ongoing discipline.
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Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.
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ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org