justsayingJesusBless

Proverbs 18:19

“A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.”.

At my church on Saturday mornings, we have corporate prayer, and we began to discuss the body of Christ loving each other in more of a sincere way. While in the middle of prayer, the title of this message came to me. And I began to think and reason with myself and the Holy Spirit –

1. How has the spirit of offense affected me?
2. And what must I do to overcome this?

For the things that may have given me courage at one time, may also be the thing that hinders my walk with the Lord now. What do I truly seek? The approval of man? Or the approval of Christ? And yet, have I spared the offender of their offense for… “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11, and “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Proverbs 10:12.

I internalized my frustration of feeling like I’ve been overlooked or passed over and utilized it to serve a purpose not of God. And in doing so, I’ve put trust in my ability, and not in God’s plan for me. I’ve utilized anger to accomplish many things and self-determination to overcome the odds and patting myself on the back saying to myself job well done. I’ve justified my anger and turned it into something that affirms my self-worth, even when others don’t see it. And yet what have I gained? Holding the offense only burdens me. “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:11. The Lord was telling me at that very moment in prayer to lay your burdens down because I’m the giver of life and I desire mercy. Cover your brothers and sisters in prayer. The memory of their trespass against you binds you, but I called you to be Free.

A Much Heavier Weight

Is it right for the victim to pray for the victimizer? Or is it right for the person who was attacked to have mercy on the attacker? The world would say no, but our Lord Jesus Christ says …

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22.

In our world today the mighty are called to violence. In His Kingdom, the mighty covers the oppressor in mercy. The call to be righteous (in right standing with God) is far heavier than being just a good Christian. To be used by Christ is to give up one’s life that he may gain new life in Him. “And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” Luke 17:22-33. We must bear our own cross. Jesus Christ was found guilty of nothing before Pontius Pilate, but He still took on our guilt and shame and all our iniquities. He gave His life so that we may have life and life more abundantly. But for those who are in Him, you must consider His ways and it’s not just about being Good, but it’s about obeying His Word and His calling. I know it’s a heavy weight to bear, but if you give it to God, He will make your heavy weight light.

Excuses, Excuses

So, what then, do we just let the victimizer continue to abuse us? Do we let the offense go unpunished? There are certain things done on the earth that God will have justice for. Other things must be addressed, but the initial outcome may not be what you want it to be. Even if you get the favorable outcome you were looking for, do you think it would please you long term? And if justice was served, do you think you would have peace? In all situations seek Jesus, there may be some things He wants you to release so that you put your full Trust in Him.

The Power of Reconciliation (The Love of God)

The spirit of offense works to stifle the power of forgiveness and the power of reconciliation. It puts a blinder before you and if that blinder remains on your face, you cannot see what God has for you and what He wants to do in your life. You were made to live life as an overcomer because He has overcome the world. The spirit of offense puffs up and it magnifies the smallest of disagreements. However, the spirit of offense could never overcome the Power of Reconciliation, but that power can only be found in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:6-1.

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.

The power of reconciliation restores broken relationships and unites the body of Christ. The Righteousness of God overcomes the spirit of offense. The power reconciliation doesn’t count the trespass, but it makes a way for redemption. The power of reconciliation uplifts and hold fast to the Word of God. To operate in the power of reconciliation is to be like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To operate in the power of reconciliation is to not just consider your own thoughts and concerns, but to consider others just as much. It looks to give first before receiving. It’s unearned and unmerited favor and forgiveness.

Consider Jesus Christ’s Love for You

Where would you be without Christ? And who were you before His love was made known to you? Jesus Christ humbled Himself to save you! Jesus wasn’t received in His hometown, but He pressed on. He knew His mission and who He was in the Father El Shaddai (God Almighty). Do you know Him? Know that only in Him is true contentment. No matter the offense, you were called to a greater purpose, a Kingdom responsibility to uphold your brothers and sisters just as He upholds us in His Right Hand. Let forgiveness be your portion. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:7-9. You have become heirs to the kingdom of God, no longer just servants but friends of God. “You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” John 15:14-17. He found you and paid the ultimate price for you. When feelings of offense arise, give yourself time to reflect before you act. Take your offense to God, leave it there, and pray that he forgives you and the other person. Lift them up in prayer and wait and see what the Lord will do next in your life. Give no place for the enemy, and don’t conform to your sinful nature but let the goodness of His Spirit overcome your heart.