OVERCOMING ACCUSATION: Burn the Ships

There is so much inside and outside the church that needs to be torched and incinerated with holy fire. So much in modern Christianity we don’t see in Christ crucified.

We are in a defining hour of history. The Lord Jesus Himself is reshaping our understanding of what it truly means to follow Him. He is stripping away dis-tractions, false comforts, and powerless religion to reveal this one truth: He alone is the answer. “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her,” (Luke 10:42, NKJV, emphasis added).

He is calling us to a place few have been willing to go—a place where first love for Jesus fuels our every breath, where His presence is our very oxygen, and His Word is our unshakable foundation. This is not a casual invitation. It is a radical summons to surrender, to forsake every lesser pursuit, and to live consumed by the fire of His love.

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This interaction between Mary, Martha and Jesus is more than a message; it is a mandate, an invitation to powerful simplicity and clarity. There, in the place of holy first love, the greatest revelation of human activity is highlighted as both the solution and the answer for the church at the end of the age. Jesus truly is looking for people who won’t leave Him alone—people of presence and obsession with Him.

It is also in this interaction that we discover how the spirit of accusation seeks to take the focus off Jesus and put it on oneself. While Mary is noticing Jesus, Martha accuses Jesus of not noticing her.

There is resistance to first love. The spirit of accusation has been unleashed against the church like never before. Lies, division, and deception seek to weaken the body of Christ from the outside—and from within. The enemy whispers to believers, distorting identity, fueling insecurity, and keeping them bound in fear and self-doubt. Many live under the weight of accusation, both external and internal, not realizing that Jesus has already shattered those chains.

Why is only one thing needed? Because only one person is the answer for all the pain, all the suffering, all the injustice, all the hate, all the lies, all the evil.

Jesus Outweighs Them All

There is one thing you must have—not should have—to live a fulfilled and meaningful life. That one thing is revelation, and it comes only through the Holy Scripture—and the Holy Spirit—concerning who Jesus is in every way. “Just be balanced and take it easy; you might burn out” is a cute, clever excuse for compromise. We must behold Him.

It is time to return—to rediscover the simplicity and power of a life wholly given to Jesus, to confront both the accusations attacking the church and the internal lies that keep us from stepping into our true identity in Christ. The tactics of the enemy are ripe to be exposed, to silence the voice of accusation and learn to stand firm in the freedom, authority and victory Jesus has already won for us.

Everything we need—every longing, every solution, every breakthrough—is found in Him alone. The question is, will we answer the call?

False Accusation Is Real Spiritual Abuse—Terms and Definitions Matter

There are many things being called spiritual abuse today that are not actually spiritual abuse. There are many things being called trauma that are not actually trauma. A friend of mine recently put it this way: We have a generation in a love affair with trauma. I am not saying it does not exist. What I am saying is that new definitions have exploded in recent days to match one’s experiences. If we are not careful, we will allow ideology to shape our theology, what we believe and know about God. We will hand over authority to something other than the Word of God and Spirit of God.

False accusations will come into the life of a believer at the hands of another. This is spiritual warfare.

Please see that one’s worldview shapes one’s definition. This is why, when discussing issues of the day, it is critical that we understand what someone means. Cultural ideologies are shaping the church more than we know. Marxism and critical race theory have crept into the church in undeniable ways.

We must beware of the wolves that come into the church—not in shepherd’s clothing but in sheep’s clothing. Here are the facts: If you see the world as oppressed and oppressor, you will never discover the power of redemption and the power of the cross. You will excuse your actions of accusation because you no longer see God as the one who vindicates. Justice becomes your responsibility instead of God’s.

We need to get back to the basics.

What is sin?

What is repentance?

What is forgiveness?

Many who want to talk about how leaders are not kings like David, and yet they see themselves as Nathans, who are supposed to speak correction (2 Sam. 12). Those who want to throw away the prophetic want to be prophets of a different kind. We do not need a certain type of YouTube prophet who can’t wait to upload the next video attacking someone else. Truly, God is looking for intercessors more than influencers.

God does not use accusation to reform the church. Jesus—and Jesus alone—reforms the church. The church does not need to be trauma-informed. The church needs to be Jesus-consumed.

The churches in Revelation reveal clearly that Jesus is the answer to every-thing facing the church. His invitation for reform comes from within, not without. I personally believe that Donald J. Trump overcoming the lies and accusations against him is a sign to the church and believers not to succumb to the lies and accusations facing them.

Listen, this isn’t theory. This is war. Each of these five stages is a divine recalibration and realignment for the life you were called to live and the elite version of yourself God created you to be. The stages were designed to snap you out of confusion, strip off false identities and awaken the unstoppable fire God put inside you. Now is the time to get back to who you really are in Christ—undeniable in His purpose in you fueled by limitless passion for Him. The kind of passion and fire that makes others uncomfortable.

This is your time to rise.

Stage 1: Awareness Stage—Our Words Influence Us

We must recognize the power of words in shaping our beliefs and actions.

We must understand how words can either build up or tear down.

We must overcome the negative impact of accusations, gossip and destructive speech.

Stage 2: Wisdom Stage—Our Discernment Guides Us

We must learn to distinguish truth from deception.

We must develop spiritual and emotional discernment to avoid false accusations.

We must cultivate wisdom to respond rather than react.

Stage 3: Foundation Stage—Our Identity Controls Us

We must understand who we are in Christ—our core beliefs.

We must recognize how accusations attack identity and create in-security.

We must stand firm in a truth-based identity, not others’ opinions.

Stage 4: Action Stage—Our Choices Empower Us

We must take responsibility for our responses and decisions.

We must choose faith over fear, truth over accusation and forgiveness over bitterness.

We must walk in freedom by making intentional, empowered choices.

Stage 5: Growth and Transformation Stage—Our Questions Unlock Our Purpose

We must ask the right questions to challenge false narratives.

We must use questions to seek wisdom, clarity, and deeper understanding.

We must transform accusations into opportunities for growth and breakthrough.

I don’t know about you, but this sets my soul on fire. Why? Because I know real and lasting transformation that defies all logic and overcomes all critics is possible. It has nothing to do with talent, money, connections or titles. It has everything to do with hunger and the answer to these simple questions:

Will you decide today to rise?

Will you decide to do very hard things? The things others won’t?

If so, let’s run. Let’s stop being the managers of our circumstances—let’s be the creators of our lives. Let’s get ready to throw down in the battle we were born for.

Time is short. We don’t know the day or the hour of Christ’s return or when we will breathe our last breath, but we do know the mission. It’s time to wake up, stand up and show up with a fire that won’t quit.

The call of God isn’t optional—it’s urgent.

Let’s move with relentless passion to see His kingdom invade this earth and His bride rise in power, purified and unstoppable.

This is your moment. This is our moment. Don’t hold back. Burn the ships. Let’s go.

Malachi O’Brien, DMin is the unofficial Guinness World Record holder for consecutive daily marathons. He is the former VP of the Southern Baptist Convention, former president of OneCry, and founder of NFT Kansas City. In addition to this, he is addicted to Jesus, fasting and prayer. His new book, Time to Rise, is available now at amazon.com.