Choose Not to Take It!
OFFENSE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE YOURS
One thing that is easy for all of us to “take” is offense. Have you ever noticed the wording used when we speak about someone who’s been offended? “She’s taken offense to something I said” or “I took offense to you saying that about me.” One thing that I’ve asked God to do is help me not “take” offense, even if someone is purposely trying to offend me. I know this requires humility, meekness and lots of patience; however, all of these traits are within the Holy Spirit. Like everyone else, each day I will be given my fair share of opportunities to be offended; however it is my choice to “take” it or not.
Webster defines offense as: 1: an act of stumbling: a cause or occasion of sin : stumbling block2: something that outrages the moral or physical senses3 a: the act of attacking : assault b: the means or method of attacking or of attempting to score c: the offensive team or members of a team playing offensive positions d: scoring ability4 a: the act of displeasing or affronting b: the state of being insulted or morally outraged <takes offense at the slightest criticism>5 a: a breach of a moral or social code : sin , misdeed b: an infraction of law ; especially : misdemeanor
I can honestly say that I thank God for the Holy Spirit, as in Him live peace, and He lives within me. The Bible tells us to live in peace and to live peaceable with all men. I know, as I’m sure you do too know, that’s not the easiest thing to do. In fact, it can be pretty difficult to do. Sometimes there are people who just don’t like you because they don’t like themselves. They look at you, and though all you’ve said was “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” to all as you entered the room, somehow people have decided that you were this and that. I have had people, even those whom I was close to, try to tear me down, speak maliciously against me and to accuse me of things that’s far from my character – even on a bad day. I’ve been talked about, been called names like phony, crazy, a witch, and stuck up amongst many other things. Yes, it’s pained me, especially when such things come from people you know or love. Yes, I wanted to “set them straight”. Yes, I felt that I had the right to “let them have it” and yes, I wanted to vindicate myself; however, the Holy Spirit tells me to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord”. I’ve had God tell me several times that He would vindicate me, and each time He did! It is written in Isaiah 54:17 (AMP)
But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.
I’ve seen God vindicate me by using the preacher, that Sunday, if the offending person was at church. The message would be so precise that it felt like the Lord just told the preacher of the hour all of our business. He would set the record straight. My prayer is that the other party would be opened enough to hear God speak; however, God let me know that He wants me to stay focus on Him and not to take offense – as then I will be stepping out of His will for me.
And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity,” –Matthew 24:10-12
This is saying a lot. Distrust and apostasy will abound, people will betray one another (even family) and pursue each other with hatred and more (versus 11 & 12). Notice all this happens AFTER offense has been taken. This is SERIOUS, as the spirit of offense never travels by itself, but with bitterness, resentment, self righteousness, and oftentimes with unforgiveness. This then disrupts the boy of Christ by causing division and strife, which adversely affects your relationship with God. You start off feeling angry, which you do have a right to feel that way given the offense. But the Scriptures say “anger, but sin not.” More often than not, we get the first part right – anger- but we forget the last part – but sin not. Once you’re angry, bitterness and resentment immediately follows, and next thing you know, you feel the need to want to tell someone other than the offending party about the offense. We put our telling under “just venting”; however, we secretly want to expose someone else’s shortcoming and get the other person to agree with you and take your side. If successful, then you just infected a member of the body of Christ with your problem and now they are upset and want to “vent” to one of their friends about it. Come Sunday morning, over ½ the congregation is upset with Sister So & So, who is wondering why everyone seems to be giving her the cold shoulder. Now, instead of hearing the preacher and being edified, you’re busy giving attention to your dislike of Sister So & So. As you know, this story could end in several different ways and most of them are not good.
I remember there was a time in my life when I was easily offended. You didn’t have to say much to set it off. Not only that, I would hold on to the offense for months and sometimes years, periodically reliving the event and getting upset all over again. I’d wake up in the morning and that’s one of the first things on my mind. Back then I thought I was doing the noble thing by not approaching the person who offended me; however, I was harboring all kinds of resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness toward that person– not to mention self righteousness. It took God, and God only, to deliver me from the trap of offense.
I see how people today are offended and my heart goes out to them. Through the life of someone I know, I am witnessing what Jesus spoke about in Mark 4:17, “And they have no real root in themselves, and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful) and they stumble and fall away” He also say in Matthew 11:6: “And blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through Me and is not hindered from seeing the Truth.”
I believe for this person, she’s gotten offended repeatedly by church folk over the years. I believe part of the offense comes from having unreasonable expectations, which is also fertile ground for offense. I am witnessing how it is changing her and putting her in opposition with the body of Christ, inadvertently, because she now questions the work and move of the Holy Ghost, Christ being the spotless Lamb of God and the Bible being the inerrant Word of God. I can but only pray for her and anyone else like her, and let the Holy Spirit reveal to me if there’s anything else I can do.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Eph 4:30
Saints, please know that our enemy uses offense to bait us because he knows offenses upsets your walk with God and hurts your anointing. Here are ways to keep you from “taking” offenses:
1. DECLARE: Decide that you will no longer take offenses from this point forward, with the help of the Holy Spirit, even if someone is purposely trying to offend you. Declare this each day! Please note that you will be tested once you’ve made this declaration.
2. FORGIVE: Decide that you will forgive and forgive quickly! Paul admonishes us to forgive to keep the enemy from gaining advantage over us (2 Corinthians 2:11). Forgive others even if YOU’RE right – as Jesus promises that God will not forgive us if we do not forgive others (Matthew 6:15).
3. MOVE FOWARD: Philippians 3:13-14 “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.”
4. FOLLOW CHRIST: “Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]” Philippians 2:5
Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for every man, woman and child reading this prayer. God, we know that the thief cometh not but to steal, kill and destroy but You, Oh Lord, cometh to give us life and life more abundantly. Help us to receive the abundant life You have bought for us on Calvary. Help us, Oh Lord, to not do anything that would grieve the Holy Spirit nor that would take our eyes off of you. Right now, Lord, we forgive everyone who’s ever sinned against us and we cast down the spirit of offense in the name of Jesus, and seal it with the Blood of Jesus. From this point forward, we choose to operate in the mind of Christ and we forgive any future offenses quickly and completely, remembering their sins no more. By the awesome guidance of the Holy Spirit, we choose to walk in love, peace and joy, in Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.
© 2009, Living Under God's Favor. All rights reserved. This site is part of NWC Ministries.
