Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit audio. The Nazarite vow, seen in Numbers 6:1-21 and supported by Amos 2:11, Ephesians 2:1, and Revelation 3:15-16, shows us that consecration was open to anyone who desired a deeper walk with God. It involved separation in private life, public witness, and avoidance of spiritual death. Most importantly, it was a voluntary decision of how close one chose to remain to the Lord. The challenge for us today is the same—to reject lukewarmness and embrace the fire of His presence.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Audio
(I apologize for the audio, but the teaching is worth it)
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Scriptures used in this lesson:
Amos 2:11, Numbers 6:6-12, Ephesians 2:1, Numbers 6:13-20, Revelation 3:15-16,
The Call to Consecration
This is a place where you want to step away from the world and draw closer to God. It is about being consecrated and entirely devoted to Him. The Levites were set apart by birth. They were automatically placed in ministry and into the service of God. But what about those who were not Levites? Did God make a way for anyone—man or woman—to come closer to Him?
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
The Nazarite Vow—A Path for All
He did. This way was through the Nazarite vow. The Nazarite vow allowed anyone to have a deep experience with the Lord. It was a time of setting yourself apart, separating from distractions, and giving yourself fully to God. At the core of it, what you truly desire is Him. The Nazarite vow was simply a path to express that longing and to dwell in God’s presence.
Amos 2:11
“Then I raised up some of your sons to be prophets And some of your young men to be Nazirites. Is this not so, O sons of Israel?” declares the LORD.
In Amos chapter 2, verse 11, it says, “And I raised up your sons for prophets, and your young men for Nazarites.”
Numbers 6:6-12
6 All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.
7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.
8 All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
9 And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.
10 And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
11 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.
12 And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.
This passage reminds us that the Nazarite vow was for anyone, not just the Levites. It applied to both men and women. The key principle is that the person, not the Lord, decides how long they will remain consecrated. The individual determined the amount of time to dedicate to God.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
The same applies to us today. We decide how long we stay close to the Lord. Our hearts long for His presence, and we want to seek His face. Yet our flesh, our busy schedules, and our daily distractions often resist that desire. We find ourselves pulled away by work, family responsibilities, fatigue, and many other cares of life. One of the most significant challenges, however, is not just personal distractions but also people. Relationships and interactions often interfere with our closeness to God.
Separation Unto and From
The passage highlights two separate actions. First, the individual was to separate themselves unto the Lord. Second, they were to separate themselves from certain things. This is the mystery and the secret—separation is not only about leaving something behind, but also about moving toward God. To truly seek Him, we must push past the cares of the world, people’s demands, and every other distraction, so that we can rest in His presence and look upon His face.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
The Nazarite vow involved a double separation. First, they separated themselves unto the Lord. Second, they separated themselves from certain things. These included their private life, shown by what they ate and drank. Their public life, shown by their long hair. And their associations, shown by avoiding contact with the dead.
The principle is simple: if we truly want to draw near to the Lord, we must deal with these areas. The reference to “dead people” was not only about corpses, but also about separating from people who live in spiritual deadness. To experience God’s presence, we must make these separations.
Separation in Private Life
The first area relates to private life. For the Nazarite, it meant avoiding wine, grapes, and certain foods. For us, it reflects the truth that no one sees what happens in our homes. We may present ourselves as spiritual in public, yet if our private lives are in disorder, we cannot truly seek God. Many people project devotion in church, but at home they have chaos—arguments, rebellion, financial struggles, or laziness. The principle is clear: to seek the Lord sincerely, we must first set our private lives in order. Only then can our devotion be real.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Separation in Public Life
The second area of separation was public life. For the Nazarite, this was shown by their long hair. During the vow, no razor touched their head unless an exceptional circumstance occurred. With time, their appearance was noticeably different. It gave testimony to others that they were set apart for God.
The principle for us is that our public life should also reflect our devotion. People should not have to spend much time with us before realizing we belong to the Lord. Our words and actions should make it clear that our lives are centered on Christ. If someone can be around us for an extended period and never hear us mention the Lord, then something is out of order. Being consecrated means our lives should bear evidence of His presence.
So, separation has both private and public dimensions. Privately, we must remove things from our lives that hinder devotion. Publicly, our lives should demonstrate that we are given to the Lord. And finally, the vow also involved avoiding dead bodies, which points to another level of separation we must consider.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Separation from Spiritual Death
The third area of separation dealt with dead bodies. In scripture, death is often used as a picture of sin. The New Testament teaches that the wages of sin is death. So, when we look at this part of the Nazarite vow, it points us to the need to separate from sin.
This separation was not only about avoiding physical death but also about avoiding spiritual death. It means staying away from the things that corrupt, defile, or draw us out of God’s presence. In essence, the call is to live set apart from sin in order to remain close to Him.
Ephesians 2:1
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Ephesians 2:1 says that we were once dead in our trespasses and sins. This shows us that death in scripture refers to sin. So when the passage about the Nazarite vow warns against touching dead bodies, it points to avoiding involvement with sin and those who live in it.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Entanglement with Sin
This is not about casual contact, like working around unbelievers or offering a witness. The phrase “come at no dead body” means to be over, under, and against—to be fully involved. In other words, it is a warning against getting tangled up in sin or close relationships with people who are consumed by it. That kind of entanglement makes a person unclean.
For a Nazarite, touching a dead body meant their vow was broken. They had to start over, shave their heads, and rededicate themselves. Spiritually, this teaches us that when we become entangled with sin, it disrupts our closeness to God, and we must return to Him in repentance.
It is essential to see that we make ourselves unclean in these situations. The sin itself is already present in others, but when we open ourselves to it—through listening, agreeing, or partaking—we bring defilement upon ourselves. Even something like listening to gossip can corrupt us just as much as speaking it. This is why sin is so destructive—it doesn’t just affect the one caught in it, but it spreads to whoever entertains it.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Family Challenges in Consecration
This passage emphasizes that even close family ties could not come before a Nazarite’s consecration. The vow required separation even from father, mother, sister, or brother if death was involved. If the Nazarite touched a dead body, they became unclean and had to start the vow all over again with offerings and purification.
The principle is that involvement with people who are not walking with the Lord can cause us to lose progress. It may seem harmless at first, but becoming deeply tied to those not consecrated derails our spiritual growth. Instead of moving forward, we find ourselves having to start again.
Relatives are often the most challenging test of this principle. Family can easily influence us, and sometimes even spiritual brothers or fathers can hinder our walk. This does not mean neglecting or abandoning them, but it does mean maintaining healthy boundaries so they do not draw us away from God.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
The lesson is clear: if we want to stay on fire for God and experience His presence, we must examine three areas. We must check our private life, our public life, and our associations. Without guarding these areas, our consecration will lose strength, and our passion for the Lord will fade.
Staying Fired Up for God
What I am pointing to here is how we can stay fired up for God. Many people get stirred in their spirit, but the excitement does not last. It quickly fades after a challenging conversation, a fight at home, or time spent back at work around the wrong influences.
The Nazarite vow shows us that staying devoted requires both separation unto God and separation from certain things. It was never an option to choose one or the other—it had to be both. The same principle applies to us. If we want to keep our passion for God alive, we have to commit to both sides of separation.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
This requires wisdom and alertness. We must recognize when we are slipping, cooling down, or losing our zeal. Maintaining fire for the Lord does not happen by accident; it takes intentional choices, discipline, and awareness of the things that drain our spiritual fervor.
Numbers 6:13-20
13 And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
14 And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings,
15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.
16 And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering:
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
17 And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering.
18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.
19 And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven:
20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.
21 This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
When the days of separation were fulfilled, the Nazarite himself decided the length of his vow. This shows us a key truth: we choose how long we stay close to God. We determine the state of our private life, our public life, and the people we allow to influence us. Our closeness to God, whether strong or weak, depends on the choices we make.
The Danger of Lukewarm Faith
Most believers struggle with wanting a middle ground. If one side is hot and the other side is cold, many try to walk in between. They want to feel the warmth of God, but also keep hold of some worldly pleasures. This middle ground, however, leads to lukewarmness. It is not a safe place, but it is where many Christians live today.
The Lord still calls, “Seek my face.” Our hearts often respond, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Yet our flesh and our minds frequently say something different. The battle is between what we truly desire in our spirit and what our human nature pulls us toward. The choice of how close we remain to God rests with us.
Revelation 3:15-16
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Cold, Hot, or Lukewarm
Revelation 3:15 warns about being neither hot nor cold but lukewarm. At first, it may seem that lukewarm would be better than cold. Yet spiritually, it is the most dangerous place to be. When something is cold, at least it is clear where it stands. When something is hot, it can burn with passion. But when something is lukewarm, it appears safe and comfortable, yet it is powerless.
Those who are hot for God are on fire. They love His word, love His presence, and burn with desire to serve Him. On the other hand, those who are cold can still be reached because they know they are far away from God. In that state, God can convict and draw them back.
But lukewarm is different. It produces apathy. People in this state do not respond to God’s Spirit, do not move at the altar, and do not pursue worship. They say, “I’m fine,” when in truth, they are not. Lukewarmness creates a wall where even the Lord cannot work effectively in their lives.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
This is why Jesus says He would rather us be hot or cold, but not lukewarm. In the middle place, spiritual progress stalls. It is one of the most challenging conditions to break free from, and it leaves a person in great danger of drifting away from God’s presence entirely.
When the Lord says, “Seek My face,” our response reveals our heart. Sometimes the flesh answers, “I’m fine, leave me alone.” That is lukewarmness. The tricky part is that when you finally realize you are lukewarm, you are usually colder than you thought. By that point, your fire has already faded. And being in that place is especially dangerous for those in ministry, because people expect pastors and leaders always to be burning for God.
There came a time when I knew I was no longer hot. I was going through the motions—praying, reading, showing up—but I did not sense God’s presence. My heart felt dry. I knew the steps of obedience but had lost the fire. Even attending a seminar did not fix it—because the answer is never just another event, service, or meeting. Transformation does not come from programs but from the condition of the heart.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
The True Answer: Unto the Lord
The real key is found in the repeated phrase in scripture: “unto the Lord.” Over and over it says the Nazarite separated himself “unto the Lord.” That is the core truth. It isn’t about activities or appearances—it’s about personally coming to God and pressing into His presence. The answer for lukewarmness is not busyness in church life but consecration “unto the Lord.” True renewal comes when we seek Him above everything else.
The Secret of Renewal
You can go to church every Sunday, attend every seminar, and sit through every Bible study, but unless you truly get to the Lord, nothing will change. Being in the right place or hearing the proper teaching will not ignite a lasting fire in your heart. The real key is opening your heart to God and drawing near to Him. The secret is always this: getting unto the Lord.
Exciting moments in services or special meetings may stir us for a time, but they cannot keep us burning. Only truly seeking His face will. When the Lord says, “Seek My face,” our response must be, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek.” The answer is not in programs, money, or activity. The answer is in personally seeking God and remaining in His presence.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Once we truly get to the Lord, everything else can be put in order. We can then work on our private lives, nourishing ourselves with the bread and water of life. We can shape our public witness so that people see Christ in us. Then we can correct unhealthy relationships, separating from what brings death. But none of this matters unless we first get to Him.
So the question becomes personal: Are you seeking the Lord? Are you cold, lukewarm, or hot? If you want to be hot, stay close to the fire—for our God is a consuming fire. Getting near to Him is the only way to keep the flame alive.
I believe the Lord is speaking clearly for the coming weeks. He is calling us to return to Him with fervency and with the love we once had. More than activities, programs, or gatherings, He is drawing us to closeness with Himself.
Returning to His Presence
In scripture, when the Nazarite fulfilled his time of separation, he came to the door of the tabernacle. There, he offered his hair as part of the sacrifice. Spiritually, this points us to what happens when we consecrate our lives and separate unto the Lord. We are brought back into His presence. We step out from the distractions of the camp and return to the nearness of God.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
That is what so many long for—to sense His presence again, the way it once was. But the answer is not found in a particular church or location. The answer is not in a person. The answer is in Him. He says, “Come unto Me,” and when we draw near, He restores the warmth and intimacy of His presence.
For those who carry heavy burdens, pain, or hurt—He knows. And the solution is not in more effort or others trying to fix it. The mystery and the answer are getting to the Lord Himself. In His presence, the weight lifts, the pain loses power, and the heart is satisfied. What matters most is knowing that He is near and dwelling within us.
I want us to reach that place where the Lord can minister to our wounds and heal our hurts. He desires to bring us close to Him again.
The Price of God’s Presence
At the end of Numbers 6, we see the sacrifices required when the Nazarite’s vow was completed. They had to bring a he-lamb, a she-lamb, a ram, bread, wafers, oil, and accompanying offerings. This was costly. It required money to buy the animals, time to prepare the sacrifices, and effort to bake the bread and wafers. Drawing near to the Lord has always been costly. It requires a real sacrifice of time, energy, and resources.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
The presence of the Lord does not come cheaply. Three animals that were spotless and blameless had to die so the Nazarite could come near to God. This points us to Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, who gave His life so we could have access to the Father’s presence. His sacrifice paid the ultimate price, but our walk with Him still calls for surrender and sacrifice.
Throughout church history, men and women of God have paid great prices to remain near to Him. They laid down dreams, ambitions, comfort, and even their very lives. The pattern is clear: intimacy with God always requires a cost. The sacrifices point to Christ, the bread symbolizes His Word, and the oil represents His Spirit. We must have both Word and Spirit if we want to live in His presence.
Word and Spirit Together
Many people enjoy sitting and being taught the Word of God, and that is good. But what we truly need is both the Word and the Spirit. The Nazarite offerings remind us of this balance. The unleavened wafers symbolize carrying the Word with us daily—like little portions stored away to be taken out and meditated on as we walk through life. We are called to dwell on God’s Word, speak it often, and hide it in our hearts so it sustains us.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Guarding Our Joy
The drink offering was always wine, and wine represents joy. Joy is vital to experiencing God’s presence. One of the greatest thieves of His presence is a heavy heart filled with worry. When joy is stolen, the kingdom of God—which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit—feels far from us. Losing joy is like being pulled out of His presence and placed back outside the covering of the kingdom.
That is why we must guard ourselves from anything that robs our joy and from anything that pulls us away from the Word. These are subtle robbers of God’s presence. Keeping His presence alive in our lives requires constant attention, discipline, and sacrifice. It does not come easily. There is always a price to pay, but the reward of living in His presence is far greater than the cost.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Counting the Cost
Jesus told of a man who found a great pearl, and it cost him everything he had to possess it. That pearl represents the kingdom and the presence of God. On the other hand, Judas sold Jesus for a price. The question we must ask ourselves is—do we also have a price? Is there something we are willing to trade for His presence? For some, it may be a job, money, family, or even hurt feelings. Many times, simply getting our feelings hurt can steal away God’s presence if we let it.
The Lord warned us to count the cost before following Him, because discipleship is never cheap. It will cost us everything. Nothing can be held back. Even Ananias and Sapphira tried to keep back part of the price, pretending to give all while holding some for themselves. But their deception cost them their lives.
This is the caution we must hear—God’s presence requires full surrender. We cannot hold back part of the cost and still walk in His fullness. The call is to give everything, no matter the sacrifice. To carry His presence means to count the cost, pay the price, and withhold nothing.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Withholding Nothing
Ananias and Sapphira tried to keep back part of the price, and it cost them everything. Many believers today do the same thing. We want closeness with God, but we hold on to parts of our old nature. We try to give most of ourselves while keeping just a little back. But it does not work that way. Valid consecration requires the full price.
We claim to be living sacrifices, but are we? We say we belong to Him, but do we truly give it all? The truth is, whatever we want most, we will pay the price to obtain. So the real question is—how badly do we want His presence? The Lord says, “Seek my face,” and our hearts must answer, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek.”
Return to First Love
The call is to return to our first love. When we first received Christ or were filled with the Spirit, the fire of God was alive in us. We were eager, joyful, and could not keep silent. That fire lit up every part of our lives. Scripture often links light and fire because in those days, light came from flame. That same fire of God once burned brightly in us, and it can burn again. Wouldn’t it feel good to return to that place, to be renewed in His presence and filled with His fire once more?
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Remembering His Presence
There are moments when the presence of the Lord becomes so real that it marks us. John, you remember that night at camp years ago when God moved so strongly? You walked around crying, hugging everyone, declaring your love. The Lord touched you deeply, and it was real. But it has been a long time since then.
Don, you remember at the Assembly when God worked in your heart and everything shifted? The Word became alive, you received the baptism of the Spirit, and you began to grow in a new way. It was warm and exciting, but that too feels like a long time ago.
The Lord spoke to me about you and Paula—your love for Him is clear, and you have paid a price. Yet your hearts still say, “Lord, I want more. I want Your presence above everything else.” That longing is the mark of actual devotion.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
And Druan, you remember that powerful night when Diane Palmar called Valerie forward, and the presence of God was so strong? The excitement and closeness you felt then were unforgettable.
What I’ve tried to stir tonight is this remembrance. We so easily forget His presence—how tender, loving, and overwhelming it was. In those moments, nothing else mattered—not words, not actions, not struggles—only Him. His presence was all that mattered then, and it is what we must long for again.
I remember spending an afternoon with a man on a golf course. In just nine holes, he poured out his heart, confessing his sins as God was moving on him. Soon after, he got his life straightened out and began leading in youth and children’s ministries with great fire. Those kids were ignited for the Lord. But with time, private life got tangled, public life grew messy, and too much time was spent around spiritual deadness. That fire began to fade.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
This is what often happens to many of us. But scripture calls us back. In Luke 11, Jesus says to ask, to seek, and to knock. Then He reminds us that if earthly fathers give good gifts, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. The Spirit is the fire we need.
Stirring the Fire Again
What we truly need is not just outward signs but an inward stirring of the Holy Ghost. The call tonight is to let God kindle that fire again. If your spirit witnesses to this word, the invitation is to come and let prayer and laying on of hands stir the flame within you. Like logs placed together on a fire, the Spirit can ignite us once more until His presence blazes mightily again. The Lord wants to refresh us, renew us, and set us back aflame with His holy fire.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Fire Catches Fire
Turk, remember when you all first came? Someone was telling me this week how they remembered that first service. They said the place was so full there wasn’t even room to sit. Everyone was worshiping, speaking in tongues, praising God, and dancing. That’s how they remembered it, because at that time their heart was on fire for God. They weren’t worried about others—they just wanted His presence. That fire stirred me up, too, because fire catches fire. When one stick burns, it ignites the next, until all are burning. That’s what God wants for us.
If you’ve caught the spirit of what I’m saying and you truly desire that fire again, then step forward. Don’t come because everyone else is moving; come because the Spirit has stirred your heart. I desire to pray for you, to lay hands on you, and ask the Lord to touch you in a fresh way. Let Him visit us tonight with His Spirit and presence.
Father, we want You, Lord. We hunger for Your Spirit and long to be filled with Your presence again. Set us on fire for You. Hallelujah. Praise Jesus.
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
Book Of Numbers 6:1-21 – How to Embrace the Nazarite Spirit
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