The Prophet’s Margin

This is Part 13 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.

ELEMENT 12: THE PASSOVER – NEVER FORGET THE BLOOD

Numbers 9:1-5 records God’s command to observe Passover:

“And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, ‘Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time; according to all its statutes and all its rules you shall keep it.’ So Moses told the people of Israel that they should keep the Passover. And they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the people of Israel did.”

Never forget where you came from. Never forget the blood that delivered you.

God commanded Israel to observe Passover before they moved forward toward the Promised Land. Why? Because remembering the blood of the lamb keeps you grounded in reality. You were saved by blood, not by your goodness.

WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD

Exodus 12:12-13 explains the original Passover:

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Not when I see your good works. Not when I see your religious performance. Not when I see your sincerity. When I see the blood.

This is the foundation of everything. Without the blood, there is no deliverance. Without the blood, there is no salvation. Without the blood, God’s judgment falls.

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

For believers in Jesus Christ, the blood is even more significant.

Hebrews 9:11-14 contrasts the old sacrifices with Jesus Christ’s sacrifice:

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

The blood of Jesus Christ secured eternal redemption. Not temporary covering. Not annual renewal. Eternal redemption.

1 Peter 1:18-19 reminds us of the cost:

“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

“The precious blood of Christ.” This is what purchased your redemption. Not your effort. Not your religious devotion. Not your good intentions. The blood of Jesus Christ.

WHY REMEMBERING THE BLOOD MATTERS

1. It keeps you humble

When you remember that you were saved by blood—not by your goodness—you cannot become prideful. You cannot look down on others. You cannot think you’ve earned God’s favor.

Ephesians 2:8-9 declares:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

You boast in the blood, not in yourself. You glory in what Jesus Christ did, not in what you’ve accomplished.

2. It protects you from self-righteousness

The moment you forget the blood, you start thinking your religious performance matters more than it does. You begin measuring yourself against others rather than against the cross.

Romans 3:23-25 puts everyone on level ground:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”

All have sinned. The only difference between you and anyone else is the blood of Jesus Christ applied by faith. That’s it.

3. It anchors you in reality during spiritual warfare

When the enemy accuses you—and he will—you don’t defend yourself by listing your good works. You point to the blood.

Revelation 12:10-11 shows how believers overcome:

“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.'”

“They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb.” Not by their perfection. Not by their spiritual maturity. Not by their religious credentials. By the blood.

When Satan accuses you of sin, you don’t deny it—you point to the blood that cleanses it. When Satan questions your standing before God, you don’t list your achievements—you declare the blood that justified you. When Satan tries to disqualify you from service, you don’t defend your worthiness—you proclaim the blood that purchased your redemption.

4. It reminds you that salvation is finished

Jesus Christ’s last words on the cross were: “It is finished” (John 19:30).

The work of redemption is complete. The blood was shed once for all. You cannot add to it. You cannot improve on it. You cannot supplement it with your works.

Hebrews 10:10-14 declares:

“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” The sacrifice is complete. Jesus Christ sat down because the work is finished.

THE BLOOD THAT BOUGHT YOU

The same blood that saves you also sanctifies you. The blood didn’t just cover your past sins—it cleanses you ongoing as you confess (1 John 1:7, 9).

The same blood that justified you also empowers you. You don’t just remember the blood as a past event—you walk in the power of what that blood accomplished.

The same blood that redeemed you also bought you. You’re not your own. You were purchased with blood. Your life belongs to the One who bled for you.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 declares:

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

“You were bought with a price.” The price was blood. Jesus Christ’s blood. You don’t belong to yourself anymore.

APPLICATION

1. Have you forgotten the blood? Have you drifted into thinking your religious performance matters more than it does?
2. Are you measuring yourself by your achievements rather than by the cross?
3. When the enemy accuses you, do you defend yourself—or point to the blood?
4. Do you remember daily that you were bought with a price?
5. Are you glorifying God with a body that doesn’t belong to you anymore?

Never forget the blood. It’s the foundation of everything. Your salvation. Your sanctification. Your authority in battle. Your defense against accusation. Your humility before God and others.

The battles ahead will test whether you truly understand the blood—or whether you’ve drifted into self-reliance and religious performance.

Remember the blood. Walk in its power. Stand on its finished work.

TOMORROW: Element 13: HIS Presence – The Goal of Everything

We’ll discover the ultimate purpose of all preparation: positioning ourselves for God’s presence to lead us.

Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.

THE PROPHET’S MARGIN Truth From the Narrow Place

ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org

This is Part 12 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.

ELEMENT 11: THE CLEANSING OF THE PRIESTS

Numbers 8:5-7 records God’s command for cleansing the Levites:

“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them. Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves.'”

Those who serve in God’s presence must be cleansed by God’s process, not by human methods.

But here’s the critical distinction: The cleansing wasn’t something the Levites did to themselves. Moses sprinkled the water of purification upon them. God prescribed the process. They submitted to it.

WE ARE ALL PRIESTS

As believers today, we are all priests.

1 Peter 2:9 reminds us:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

We are a priesthood. Not just the pastors. Not just the leaders. Every believer in Jesus Christ is called to priestly service. And priests must be clean.

But you cannot cleanse yourself.

WHO DOES THE CLEANSING

Titus 3:4-7 reveals who does the cleansing work:

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

“The washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” God does the cleansing work. Through Jesus Christ. By the Holy Spirit. According to His mercy, not your efforts.

This is the same principle we saw in Element 5 (Confession and Restitution). You confess. He cleanses. You submit to the process. He does the purifying work.

CLEANSED BY THE BLOOD AND THE WORD

Hebrews 10:19-22 describes our access as cleansed priests:

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

“Our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience.” This fulfills what the water of purification foreshadowed for the Levites. Jesus Christ’s blood cleanses our conscience. The Holy Spirit washes us with the water of the Word.

Ephesians 5:25-27 shows how Jesus Christ cleanses His church:

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

THE PROCESS OF PRIESTLY CLEANSING

Here’s the process of priestly cleansing for those who follow Jesus Christ:

1. Initial cleansing at salvation—Titus 3:5 calls it “the washing of regeneration.” When you’re born again, the Holy Spirit regenerates you, cleanses you, makes you new. This is not something you did—it’s something God did to you.
2. Ongoing cleansing through sanctification—As we covered in Element 5, the Holy Spirit continues the cleansing work as you confess sin and submit to His conviction. 1 John 1:9 promises: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
3. Daily cleansing through the Word—As we established in Element 10, the Holy Spirit uses the Word to reveal Jesus Christ and expose what needs to be cleansed. John 15:3 says: “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”
4. Final cleansing at glorification—When Jesus Christ returns, the cleansing process will be completed. We will be presented “without spot or wrinkle”—fully cleansed, fully holy, fully conformed to His image.

WHERE MODERN CHRISTIANITY FAILS

Here’s where modern Christianity fails:

We try to cleanse ourselves through religious performance. We think if we just work harder, serve more, give more, attend more, we’ll somehow become clean enough for God’s service.

But Numbers 8 shows us: The Levites didn’t cleanse themselves. Moses (representing God’s authority) performed the cleansing according to God’s prescribed method. The Levites submitted to it.

Only the Holy Spirit cleanses—your part is submission to His work through the blood of Jesus Christ and the water of the Word, not manufacturing your own purity.

DAVID’S PRAYER

Psalm 51:2, 7, 10 records David’s prayer after his sin with Bathsheba:

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!… Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Notice David’s words: “Wash me… cleanse me… purge me… create in me.” He’s asking God to do what David cannot do for himself. He needs God’s cleansing work, not his own religious effort.

This is the posture of a priest who understands the cleansing process.

THE CLEANSING ISN’T COMFORTABLE

Numbers 8 required the Levites to:

Have water sprinkled on them Shave their entire body Wash their clothes

This was thorough, invasive, complete cleansing. Nothing hidden. Nothing left uncleansed.

The Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work is the same. He doesn’t just clean the surface. He goes deep. He exposes what you’ve hidden. He cleanses what you’ve ignored. He sanctifies what you’ve compromised.

And you cannot rush it or skip steps. God’s cleansing happens on His timeline, according to His process. Your job is to submit to it, not to manage or control it.

APPLICATION

1. Are you submitting to the Holy Spirit’s cleansing work, or trying to cleanse yourself through performance?
2. Are you allowing the Word to expose what needs to be cleansed?
3. Are you confessing sin as the Holy Spirit reveals it, or hiding and justifying?
4. Do you understand that only God can cleanse—your part is submission?

God requires clean priests. Not perfect priests—cleansed priests. Not self-righteous priests—sanctified priests. Not performance-driven priests—Spirit-empowered priests who have submitted to His cleansing process.

Submit to the cleansing. It’s uncomfortable. It’s thorough. It’s invasive. But it’s essential.

Because only cleansed priests can stand in His presence and minister effectively in the warfare to come.

TOMORROW: Element 12: The Passover – Never Forget the Blood

We’ll discover why remembering the blood that delivered you is essential preparation for every battle ahead.

Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.

THE PROPHET’S MARGIN Truth From the Narrow Place

ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org

This is Part 11 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.

ELEMENT 10: THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMP – MAINTAINING THE LIGHT

Numbers 8:1-4 gives God’s command about the lamps:

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses. And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.”

Exodus 27:20-21 specifies the requirement:

“You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.”

The priests kept the lamps burning continually. Light must be maintained. This wasn’t a one-time lighting. It was daily, ongoing responsibility.

LIGHT DOESN’T MAINTAIN ITSELF

Here’s what this reveals about spiritual reality: Light doesn’t maintain itself. It must be tended, fueled, and protected.

In the New Covenant, we are the light.

Matthew 5:14-16 declares Jesus Christ’s words:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Notice: “You ARE the light of the world.” Not “you should try to be.” Not “you might become.” You ARE. If you belong to Jesus Christ, you carry His light.

THE SOURCE OF LIGHT

John 1:4-5, 9 reveals the source of this light:

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

Jesus Christ is the true light. You don’t generate light—you reflect His light. You don’t create illumination—you carry His illumination. But you must maintain what you’ve been given.

WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT

Ephesians 5:8-14 commands us to walk as light:

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'”

Notice the progression:

You WERE darkness (past tense—before Christ) Now you ARE light in the Lord (present reality—in Christ) WALK as children of light (ongoing responsibility—maintain it) Expose the unfruitful works of darkness (active function—use it) Awake from sleep (warning—don’t let it go out)

This is the lamp-tending principle. You have the light. Now maintain it. Walk in it. Let it expose darkness. Don’t let it go out through neglect or compromise.

WHAT DIMS THE LIGHT

1. Unconfessed sin—Sin harbored in your life dims the light of God’s presence. The darkness you tolerate diminishes the light you carry.
2. Neglecting the Word—The lamp oil was pure beaten olive oil. In Scripture, oil often represents the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God is repeatedly called light (Psalm 119:105). When you neglect God’s Word, you’re not refueling the lamp.

Psalm 119:105, 130 declares:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path… The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

3. Compromise with darkness—Ephesians 5:11 commands: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.” When you participate in what belongs to darkness, you dim the light you’re called to carry.
4. Hiding your faith—The basket and the bed Jesus Christ mentioned. When you hide your faith out of fear, convenience, or desire for acceptance, you’re covering the light you’re meant to display.
5. Spiritual laziness—The priests had to tend the lamps daily. It wasn’t automatic. Maintaining your spiritual light requires intentional, daily effort empowered by the Holy Spirit.

THE KEY TO MAINTAINING LIGHT

The written Word (Scripture) becomes the spoken Word (as the Holy Spirit illuminates it to your heart) which becomes the revealed Word (truth applied and lived out in your life).

This is the process of tending the light—the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You don’t just read Scripture as information. You encounter the living Word through the written Word by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that revelation transforms how you walk.

1 Corinthians 12:3 declares an absolute truth:

“Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.”

“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.” To truly confess Jesus Christ as Lord—to recognize who He is, to submit to His authority, to comprehend His deity—this is only possible through the Holy Spirit’s revelation.

APPLICATION

1. Are you tending your spiritual light daily, or letting it dim through neglect?
2. Is there unconfessed sin dimming the light you carry?
3. Are you neglecting the Word that fuels your lamp?
4. Are you compromising with darkness while claiming to carry light?
5. Are you hiding your faith under a basket or letting it shine?

The light must be maintained. It requires daily attention, daily fuel from the Word, daily walking in obedience. The battles ahead require bright, well-tended lamps—not flickering, neglected ones.

TOMORROW: Element 11: The Cleansing of the Priests

We’ll discover why those who serve must be cleansed by God’s process, not human methods.

Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.

THE PROPHET’S MARGIN Truth From the Narrow Place

ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org

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

1. Are you contributing to unity or division in the body of Christ?
2. Are your offerings (your service, your gifts, your worship) given in humility and unity?
3. Is there pride, comparison, or competition in how you approach ministry?
4. Do you see other believers as partners in the same body or competitors for recognition?
5. 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.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.

THE PROPHET’S MARGIN Truth From the Narrow Place

ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org

This is Part 9 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.

ELEMENT 8: THE BLESSING – CARRYING GOD’S NAME

Numbers 6:22-27 records the Aaronic Blessing:

“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.'”

Notice the final verse: “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

God puts His name on His people. This isn’t ceremonial language. This isn’t religious metaphor. This is covenant reality—God identifies His people by placing His name upon them, and He commits to blessing them.

AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

But here’s what most believers miss: Carrying God’s name comes with both authority and accountability.

Exodus 20:7 warns about misusing God’s name:

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

When God puts His name on you, you represent Him. You carry His reputation. You speak with His authority. But you also bear the responsibility of not profaning that name through your conduct.

This is why the blessing comes after the first seven elements of preparation. You don’t get to carry God’s name into battle until you’ve been properly positioned, cleansed, consecrated, and tested.

THE NEW COVENANT REALITY

But under the New Covenant, God does something far greater than placing His name on us externally.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 prophesied what God would do:

“I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

Notice the transformation: God doesn’t just put His name ON us. He gives us a new heart, puts His Spirit WITHIN us, and empowers us from the inside to walk in obedience. This is internal transformation, not just external identification.

YOUR NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST

Revelation 2:17 speaks of the new name we receive:

“To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

Here’s the New Covenant reality: God gives you a new name—a new identity in Christ—AND He places His Spirit within you to transform you from the inside out. You don’t just carry His name externally; you’re indwelt by His Spirit internally.

This is why the Old Covenant couldn’t produce what the New Covenant produces. Israel carried God’s name, but they didn’t have His Spirit dwelling within them to empower obedience. They had external identification without internal transformation.

But in Christ, you have both:

A new name (Christian—Christ-bearer, belonging to Him) A new heart (transformed desires and affections) A new spirit (regenerated, made alive) His Spirit within you (the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, empowering you)

This is the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy.

THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST

Romans 8:9 establishes who truly belongs to Christ:

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”

This is critical: If you carry the name of Christ, you have the Spirit of Christ. The two are inseparable. You cannot claim to belong to Christ while living in the realm of the flesh, ignoring or resisting the Spirit of God who dwells in you.

The new name and the indwelling Spirit are the marks of the New Covenant. You’re not just called by God’s name—you’re transformed by God’s Spirit.

THE RESURRECTION POWER WITHIN

Romans 8:8-11 contrasts those who live in the flesh with those who have the Spirit:

“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Notice what this means: The same Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in you if you belong to Him. You don’t just carry His name externally—you carry His Spirit internally. This is the source of your authority in battle.

THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME

Philippians 2:9-11 reveals the power of the name we carry:

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The name you carry—the name of Jesus Christ—is the name above every name. Every knee bows at this name. This isn’t motivational language. This is spiritual reality.

When you enter the battles ahead, you enter with His name, His Spirit, and His authority.

The enemy recognizes the name of Jesus Christ. Demons tremble at that name. Darkness flees before that name. Not because of who you are, but because of whose name you carry and whose Spirit dwells within you.

THE WARNING

But here’s the critical question: Are you carrying His name with clean hands and a pure heart? Are you living in the Spirit or in the flesh?

Acts 19:13-16 shows what happens when people try to use Jesus’ name without genuine relationship:

“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?’ And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

The demons knew Jesus. They recognized Paul—a man who genuinely carried Jesus’ name and walked in the Spirit. But these seven sons? “Who are you?”

You cannot carry God’s name in authority if you’re not walking in the relationship and obedience that name requires. You cannot invoke Jesus’ name while living in the flesh and expect spiritual power. The enemy knows the difference.

2 Timothy 2:19 makes this clear:

“But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.'”

APPLICATION

1. Do you understand the weight of carrying the name of Jesus Christ?
2. Are you living in a way that honors or dishonors that name?
3. Is the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Christ—actively at work in you?
4. Are you trying to use His name without walking in relationship with Him?
5. Would the enemy recognize you as belonging to Christ—or ask “who are you?”

You carry the name above every name. You have the Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwelling within you. This is your authority for the battles ahead.

But authority without obedience is presumption. The name without the relationship is empty religion.

TOMORROW: Element 9: The Offerings of Consecration

We’ll discover why unified worship is essential preparation for unified battle.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.

THE PROPHET’S MARGIN Truth From the Narrow Place

ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org

This is Part 8 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.

ELEMENT 7: THE CONSECRATION OF COMMITMENT – THE NAZIRITE VOW

Numbers 6:2-5 describes voluntary consecration:

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall come upon his head.”

The Nazirite vow was voluntary consecration beyond the basic requirements. This was someone giving themselves wholly to God.

CONSECRATION BEFORE MIGHTY WORKS

Joshua 3:5 gives us the preparation command:

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”

Notice the connection: Consecration comes before God’s mighty works. Before Israel crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land, before they saw God’s power manifest, they had to consecrate themselves. The same is true for the battles ahead of us.

THE LIVING SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1-2—yes, we’re going back to this passage because it applies to both testing and consecration—defines what genuine consecration looks like:

“Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

The testing reveals whether you’re willing to be the sacrifice. The consecration is actually becoming that living sacrifice—remaining on the altar by choice. Not a dead sacrifice that stays put—a living one that chooses to remain there daily. Holy and pleasing to God. Not conformed to this world’s patterns but transformed by the renewal of your mind.

This transformation is the Holy Spirit’s work. The renewal of our minds cannot be achieved through willpower. Transformation cannot be accomplished through religious discipline. The Holy Spirit does the transforming work as you submit to His process through obedience and consecration.

FAITH DEMONSTRATED BY WORKS

But here’s what many miss: Genuine consecration isn’t just internal intention—it’s demonstrated in reality.

James 2:18 confronts empty claims:

“Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

You can claim consecration all day long. The question is: Does your actual life demonstrate it? What would someone see if they examined how you spend your time, your money, your energy, your thoughts?

OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH

1 Peter 1:22 connects consecration to obedience:

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.”

Consecration isn’t a one-time emotional experience. It’s ongoing purification through obedience to the truth. It’s demonstrated in how you actually love others from a pure heart, not just how you feel in a worship service. And this purification happens as the Holy Spirit applies the truth to your life and empowers your obedience to it.

THE QUESTION OF COMPLETE CONSECRATION

What would complete consecration to Jesus Christ look like in your life? Not just doing the minimum. Not just avoiding major sin. What would it look like to be wholly given over to Him?

What would need to change tomorrow if you truly consecrated yourself for the amazing things God wants to do?

PUT AWAY THE FOREIGN GODS

Joshua 24:19-23 gives us the sobering reality of what consecration demands:

“But Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.’ And the people said to Joshua, ‘No, but we will serve the Lord.’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.’ And they said, ‘We are witnesses.’ He said, ‘Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.'”

Joshua’s words are confrontational: “You are not able to serve the Lord.” Why? Because God is holy. He is jealous. He will not share you with foreign gods.

The people claimed they would serve the Lord. Joshua made them witnesses against themselves. Then came the test of their claim: “Put away the foreign gods that are among you.”

Not the foreign gods out there in the pagan nations. The foreign gods among you. The idols you’re harboring. The compromise you’re tolerating. The unauthorized fire you’re offering.

Consecration demands you identify and remove what competes with God for your devotion. This is the heart of the Nazirite vow. This is the heart of our choice today.

APPLICATION

What are the foreign gods among you that witness against your devotion?

1. What would complete consecration to Jesus Christ look like in your life—beyond just avoiding sin?
2. Are you a living sacrifice that remains on the altar by choice daily?
3. Does your actual life—your time, money, energy, thoughts—demonstrate consecration or just claim it?
4. What foreign gods are you harboring that compete with God for your devotion?
5. What would need to change tomorrow if you truly consecrated yourself for God’s amazing works?

With consecration complete—foreign gods removed, devotion proven, surrender established—God now does something remarkable: He places His name upon His prepared people and gives them His Spirit within.

TOMORROW: Element 8: The Blessing – Carrying God’s Name

We’ll discover how God places His name upon His people—and what it means to carry that name into battle.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.

THE PROPHET’S MARGIN – Truth From the Narrow Place

ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org

This is Part 7 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.

ELEMENT 6: THE TESTING OF COMMITMENT

Numbers 14:22-24 shows God testing Israel’s commitment:

“None of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.”

God tests what we claim to believe. Your commitment will be proven in the battles ahead.

It’s easy to claim faith when life is comfortable. The test comes when following Jesus Christ costs you something real.

A DIFFERENT SPIRIT

Notice what made Caleb different: He had “a different spirit” and “followed fully.”

Caleb saw the same giants the other ten spies saw. He saw the same fortified cities. He saw the same obstacles. The difference wasn’t what Caleb saw—it was the spirit he had. While the ten spies operated in fear and unbelief, Caleb operated in faith and obedience.

Here’s the New Covenant reality: Under the Old Covenant, Caleb had “a different spirit”—a spirit of faith and full commitment. Under the New Covenant, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. It is the Holy Spirit who is the different spirit.

THE ATTACK ON THE HOLY SPIRIT

This is why there is such an attack on—or willful ignoring of—the Holy Spirit and His work in modern Christianity. If the enemy can get believers to dismiss, minimize, or neglect the Holy Spirit, he can neutralize the very power that enables us to follow fully.

Following Jesus Christ fully requires His strength, not yours. Passing the tests of commitment requires the Holy Spirit empowering you. Maintaining faithfulness through the battles ahead requires the Holy Spirit sustaining you.

This is precisely why the Holy Spirit’s role is either attacked or ignored:

Attacked by those who fear His conviction and control Ignored by those who want compromised Christianity without the cost of authentic faith Dismissed by those who prefer religious performance over supernatural transformation

But here’s the truth: Without the Holy Spirit, you will fail the test just like the wilderness generation did. You’ll see the giants and turn back. You’ll face opposition and compromise. You’ll claim faith but refuse to follow fully.

APPROVED BY GOD

2 Timothy 2:15 gives us the standard:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Notice the word “approved.” God is testing whether you’re a worker who can handle His Word correctly, who doesn’t need to be ashamed when examined. This isn’t about earning salvation—it’s about proving genuine faith through diligent commitment empowered by the Holy Spirit.

A LIVING SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1-3 shows us what that commitment looks like:

“Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.”

Here’s the test: Are you a living sacrifice? Or do you keep climbing off the altar when things get uncomfortable?

Are you being transformed by the renewing of your mind? Or are you still conformed to this world’s patterns?

Do you think of yourself with sober judgment? Or are you either inflated with pride or deflated with false humility?

These aren’t theoretical questions. The battles ahead will expose what’s real and what’s pretense.

THE PURPOSE OF TESTING

James 1:2-4 reveals the purpose of testing:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

The purpose of testing isn’t to destroy you—it’s to develop proven character. The testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Those who endure the test come out approved, refined like gold through fire.

But here’s what most believers miss: This steadfastness comes only through the Holy Spirit’s power, not human effort. The testing reveals whether you’re relying on yourself or on the Holy Spirit.

THE REAL TEST

When the test comes—and it will come—will you respond like the ten spies in fear and unbelief? Or will you respond like Caleb with “a different spirit,” empowered by the Holy Spirit to follow fully even when the cost is high?

The test isn’t whether you see the obstacles. Everyone sees the obstacles. Everyone faces the giants. Everyone encounters opposition.

The test is whether you have the different spirit—the Holy Spirit—empowering you to follow Jesus Christ fully despite what you see.

THE DANGER OF NEGLECTING THE SPIRIT

This is why neglecting the Holy Spirit is so dangerous. Without Him, you’re trying to pass tests in your own strength. Without Him, you’re attempting to follow Jesus Christ with human willpower. Without Him, you’re claiming faith while operating in the flesh.

The battles ahead will expose this immediately. Compromised Christianity that ignores the Holy Spirit will collapse under pressure. Religious performance without the Holy Spirit’s power will fail the test. Claimed faith without the Holy Spirit’s work will be proven false.

But those who have the different spirit—the Holy Spirit dwelling within them and leading them—will follow fully. They’ll see the same giants and trust God anyway. They’ll face the same opposition and remain faithful. They’ll encounter the same tests and come through approved.

APPLICATION

1. Do you have the different spirit? Is the Holy Spirit actively working in your life?
2. Are you trying to follow Jesus Christ in your own strength?
3. When tests come, do you respond in fear like the ten spies or in faith like Caleb?
4. Are you a living sacrifice that stays on the altar—or do you keep climbing off when it gets uncomfortable?
5. Are you being transformed by the renewing of your mind, or still conformed to the world?

The commitment required for the battles ahead cannot be manufactured by human effort. It can only be sustained by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in you.

Follow fully. But recognize that you can only follow fully by the power of the different spirit—the Holy Spirit—whom God has given to those who obey Him.

Testing reveals whether you’re willing to follow. Consecration is actually becoming that fully devoted follower—moving from proven commitment to complete surrender.

TOMORROW: Element 7: The Consecration of Commitment – The Nazirite Vow

We’ll discover what it means to be wholly given over to God—not just avoiding sin, but actively devoted.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.

THE PROPHET’S MARGIN – Truth From the Narrow Place

ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org

This is Part 6 of our 15-part series walking through Session 1 of “The Assassins Among Us.” Check out the blog for previous posts.

ELEMENT 5: CONFESSION AND RESTITUTION – MAKING THINGS RIGHT

Numbers 5:5-7 gives the requirement:

“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.'”

This is the obvious progression from what we discussed in Element 4. Once the Holy Spirit exposes the unclean things in your life, once you identify what must be put out of the camp of your heart, then comes confession and restitution.

You can’t just acknowledge sin exists. You must confess it and make it right.

God’s preparation included a specific requirement:

Confess the sin Make full restitution Add one-fifth to it Give it to the one wronged

GOD DOES THE CLEANSING

1 John 1:9 gives us the New Covenant promise:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Notice carefully what this verse says: He is doing the work. We are only acknowledging and assenting to the purifying work of the Holy Spirit to move in our lives.

You confess. He forgives. He cleanses. You cannot cleanse yourself—remember Job 14:4, “Who can bring clean from unclean? No one!” But when you confess, God is faithful and just to do what you cannot do—cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

This is not works-based righteousness. This is the biblical pattern of sanctification. This is the way of abiding that is prescribed by the revelation of God and the witness of the Holy Spirit.

GRACE AND GOOD WORKS

Ephesians 2:1-10 makes this crystal clear:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

You were dead. God made you alive. It is by grace you have been saved—not by your works. But here’s the critical point: We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Confession and restitution aren’t earning salvation—they’re walking in the good works God prepared for us. They’re the evidence of the life God has already given us. You’re not working to become alive; you’re working because you’ve been made alive.

GOD GRANTS REPENTANCE

Acts 5:31-32 shows the order clearly:

“God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

God grants repentance. God grants forgiveness. The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey. Notice the pattern: God does the work of salvation, and the Holy Spirit bears witness in those who respond in obedience.

Confession is obedience to what God has revealed. Restitution is obedience to what God requires. The Holy Spirit witnesses to this obedience—not because you earned anything, but because you’re walking in the good works God prepared for you. And it cannot be achieved outside the supernatural power of God at work in your life.

You’re not earning God’s favor through confession. You’re submitting to His cleansing process. You’re acknowledging and assenting to the purifying work the Holy Spirit is already committed to doing in you.

RESTITUTION, NOT JUST APOLOGY

The hard question: Is there anyone you’ve wronged who needs restitution? Not just an apology—actual restoration of what was taken or damaged?

Most believers want to skip this step. We want God’s forgiveness without making things right with people we’ve harmed. We want to confess to God in private but avoid the humiliation of confession and restitution to the person we wronged.

It doesn’t work that way.

Matthew 5:23-24 makes this clear:

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

God doesn’t want your worship if you’re harboring unconfessed sin against a brother or sister. The restitution comes first. Then the worship is acceptable.

THE PATTERN OF SANCTIFICATION

Here’s the pattern of sanctification:

1. The Holy Spirit exposes the sin (Element 4—separation of the unclean)
2. You confess the sin to God (Element 5—confession)
3. You make restitution to those you’ve wronged (Element 5—restitution)
4. God cleanses you from all unrighteousness (His work, not yours)
5. You continue abiding in His purifying presence

This is how you stay fit for battle. This is how the unclean gets put out of the camp and stays out. Not by your willpower. Not by your religious performance. By the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to whom you’ve submitted through confession and obedience.

THE QUESTION FOR THE OBSTACLES AHEAD

Are you in the pattern of biblical sanctification? When the Holy Spirit convicts, do you confess? When confession reveals harm done to others, do you make restitution? Are you acknowledging and assenting to the purifying work of the Holy Spirit to continue in your life?

Or are you stuck in religious performance, trying to cleanse yourself, refusing the humility required for confession and restitution?

You cannot enter the challenges ahead carrying unconfessed sin and unaddressed restitution. The Holy Spirit will not empower what He has not purified. God’s presence will not lead where His cleansing has been refused.

APPLICATION

1. Is there sin the Holy Spirit has convicted you of that you have not confessed?
2. Is there anyone you’ve wronged who needs more than an apology—who needs actual restitution?
3. Are you trying to cleanse yourself through willpower rather than submitting to the Holy Spirit’s purifying work?
4. Have you been offering worship while avoiding reconciliation with someone you’ve wronged?
5. Are you walking in the pattern of sanctification—conviction, confession, restitution, cleansing, abiding?

Confess. Make restitution. Submit to the Holy Spirit doing the cleansing work only He can do.

Then—and only then—are you walking in the sanctification that prepares you for what’s coming.

But confession and cleansing are only the beginning. What you’ve confessed and been cleansed from must now be tested. The pressure ahead will prove whether your commitment is genuine—or merely emotional and self-serving.

TOMORROW: Element 6: The Testing of Commitment

We’ll discover why pressure reveals the truth about our hearts—and why this testing is essential preparation for battle.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.

THE PROPHET’S MARGIN – Truth From the Narrow Place

ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Calling believers to authentic faith Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org