DO AWAY WITH OFFENCE

Today I want to talk about what God has laid in my heart. The Lord loves you, the Lord who never sleeps nor slumbers loves you. He has you wrapped around His hand, His arms, and His forever with you. You are an apple of His eye; He is forever watching over you.

I’m going to minister about the offense. Every time we teach about offense, we always talk about how one must not be offended because offense kills the anointing because offense removes you from the presence of the Lord. We always talk about the effects of offense and what those effects can do to a person, how dangerous offense is because the minute one takes offense, it is like one blocks their ears and the Holy Spirit from communicating with you. We all know what offense can do and how we must always be sensitive towards offense and never take offense.

Today as I was reading this verse, I want to make you aware of what offense does to other people and the dangers of offense. We must realize that we as the Lord said: “Go ye unto the world, make disciples, preach the Word, heal the sick” Jesus Christ gave us an instruction to do all those things. The problem with us Christians is that we sometimes feel like other responsibilities are mainly for other people and not for us. For example; other things are for Prophets, other things are for Apostles, but God called us all into one faith. He called us all and gave all of us a mandate to become disciples, to become as He is; holy as He is.

We must grow and reach the standard height of Christ. He gave each and every one of us the same standard across the board. Every instruction that the Lord spoke upon our lives is the same for all of us, it is not based on the title. When God sent through the disciples to go heal the sick, to go perform miracles, signs, and wonders He was speaking to each and every one of us and not just the disciples.

I want you to understand your position as a believer, your position is of power. Your position is from the top, it’s the highest rank.

Meaning each and every word spoken by you and each and every action that is taken by you has power. In the spiritual, realm there is nothing that you do that doesn’t have an effect. In the spiritual realm, you’ve got power and you’ve got influence. It does not matter who are you or how old you are or how long have you been a Christian; it does not matter, in the Spirit we are all called to one Gospel, one Lord, one baptism and we carry the same power.

Remember the power of God is not determined by the carrier, the Holy Spirit is without measure; He comes as He is. It is not about the container or the carrier but it is about whom or what you carry. Do not measure the power that you have based on who you are but measure the power based on whom the power is. We all carry the same power. We have been called the same way. God’s calling is not based on “other callings are greater than others” it is not like that.

When you are called to worship; it is the same calling as the person who is called to start a ministry, it is the same calling as an usher, the Sunday School teacher. All of us are ministers; unless you can tell me that the eye is greater than the hand or the ear is greater than the leg. We have been called to one, we carry the same thing. The minute you understand who you are, what you are called for, what to do, and understand that everything that you do has power and an effect; it’s the time you are going to live your lives with reference; honouring who you are and the position God has placed you in.

[Mathew 10:11-25]

We sometimes quote this scripture: “when you are with Gentiles, do what Gentiles do and when you are with Jews, do as they do so that you can save them”. But verse 11 says: “Now whatever city or town you enter, enquire who it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.” Meaning, it is not every household, it is not every friend, it is not every colleague who is worthy of your presence. Know who you are and what you carry, and know the position that you are in. Every time you enter into a town; enquire, ask, find out, seek the face of the Lod and ask who’s worthy of your presence and time. Understand who you are and what you carry.

Understand who you are. Enquire who is it that’s worthy. Not everyone is worth your time, not everyone is worth your company. They must first be worthy to receive you, they must be ready and prepared to receive you. You first enquire before entering which household is worthy. When you enter the household, after you have greeted, discern if the household is of your own and if they speak the same language as you. Like Mary when Elizabeth came and greeted; if the baby does not agree with the greeting, if the baby doesn’t leap for joy after greeting, then the person isn’t worthy of your presence. Enquire first who is worthy.

Understand what your presence carries, understand who you are and what you carry.

This verse does not say “if the household welcomes you”. After greeting; discern the greeting and check if the household is still worthy. If the household is still worthy; let your peace not the peace of the Lord but your peace guard from the offence. So, you carry the peace of the Lord. Whatever household receives you, give them your peace. If you are forever worried and stressed, what peace are you leaving that household with? What peace are you carrying if you are offended?

Such power, power to give a house your peace. If that household is worthy; give them your peace, if they are not worthy; leave with your peace. It says if that household doesn’t receive you; shake off the dust. We always concentrate on you shaking off the dust, guarding your heart away from offense because when you have to remove dust/offense it goes away with anointing, the oil. It means that when you let offense or dust come upon you, you lose a part of yourself when you have to remove that offense.

You as a son, as a daughter, carrying the power and presence of God, carrying the peace that surpasses all human understanding, if there is a home or a city that does not receive you and you can shake off the dust then woe unto that city.

(Verse 15) Imagine God comparing that city to Sodom and Gomorrah; the most adulterous and sinful city that God had to instantly destroy by fire, just by rejecting the Gospel you bring, just by rejecting the presence that you bring. Today I want you to realize who you are and what you carry so tomorrow when you think of having an offense when you think of disliking or not giving out your peace or taking offense from any person; remember what you are doing to that person. Remember the effect that you are giving to that household by not leaving them your peace. Remember how you affect that person by them not receiving you.

God tells us not to take offence, knowing very well what He has called us to. Where He has sent us. God wants us to guard ourselves against the offence, knowing very well the situations that we are going to come across with.

(Verse 16) “Behold, I send you out as a sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” He says I’m sending you out like sheep amongst wolves, God knows that you are going to be vulnerable. He knows that you are going to be placed in situations where you will be vulnerable, surrounded by people who want to devour you, destroy you, and kill you. People who are nothing but bad for you, situations and challenges that want to kill you and want to take away your faith, that wants you to take offence but God expects you to shake off the dust and not take offence.

Get how important is what you say when you are in the midst of challenges and problems. Be careful and guard what you say at all times. The bible says that “In your anger, do not sin” meaning that in that trial, tribulation guard each and everything that you are going to say. If there is a time where you need to be directed in what to say is when you are persecuted when you are delivered to councils, and when you are challenged. That is the time you need to guard what you say and be led. God knows that if you just blindly open up your mouth and just say whatever, you can destroy what God is doing. It can cause offence. It can cause you to curse that person, to curse that city.

(Verse 18) “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles” So, they will be doing this just to show forth, you will be made a spectacle, an embarrassment for the whole world to see and watch when they deliver you. You don’t prepare what to speak or to do but it will be given to you. It will not be given to you beforehand but will be given right there in the midst of anger, confusion, hurt, and trouble. In the midst surrounded by all sorts of trouble and spirits. In that midst, you must be able to hear the gentle soft voice of the Holy Spirit when He speaks.

It compels us to trust and have faith in the Lord, “even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil because I know that the Lord is the one that leadeth me” No matter how loud other voices are, I will still be able to hear the voice of the Lord in the midst, in that very hour. How many of you are still able to hear the voice of the Lord when you are angry, sick, or when things don’t go well? Next time you are angry or disappointed and you want to take offence remember my words that God speaks and it will be given to you what to say.

Imagine being delivered in front of such highly regarded people; governors and kings. It does not matter the severity of the situation; God will give you a word of what to say. Remember the word that God gives you is not just to encourage you but is a word of direction, of breakthrough, and a word that changes. God can come to you and say: “God bless you” but that “God bless you” is your deliverance, it is your healing. Whatever word that God speaks is not about what he utters but for the mere fact that you have received a word, it comes with power, it comes to change your situation and it becomes relevant. Even if you hear “God bless you” or God says: “I’m with you” what it does is not just I’m with you; God’s presence can break the chains and change your situation.

Do not worry, do not meditate, do not fear, and do not be shaken. The problem with us is that we tell ourselves that there is a certain limit we are willing to persevere. We measure ourselves according to ourselves but God doesn’t measure our strength and perseverance according to us but according to Him, according to what He has made us be, according to His perspective. Do not limit yourself, do not look at yourself through your own eyes but see what and who God has made you be. That very hour is not determined by you, it is known by God. God is never late nor too early. Trust in the Lord until the very hour and do not take offence.

Do not be tempted nor be pushed to speak, to answer nor be pushed to prove yourself to anyone. God will speak. Not a minute nor a second earlier. It is not you who speaks but God who speaks. We all know that the Holy Spirit is so sensitive but instead of waiting upon the Lord you are carrying the offence, instead of having faith and trusting in the Lord and having peace; you are having offence. How is God supposed to speak to you when you are in that position? How will you even recognize that the hour has come? How will you hear the Lord? How is He supposed to perform in you when He is supposed to speak through you?

 

(Verse 21) Now God has given us the worst-case scenario. God has prepared us for the worst things that could ever happen to us and He says do not worry, do not be dismayed. Do not worry about what you have to say.

(Verse 22-23) Do not expect to be loved by even one person, not even the world. Everyone will hate you, and that’s what we should expect. Let us not be surprised. When they persecute you in this city, flee to the other. It means that whatever happens in your life must not stop the work of God, it must not stop your calling and your ministry. We as disciples of Christ, Christ being our teacher and our Master, are not above Him. It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher. It is good and proper for you to be equal/like your teacher.

If they called Him Beelzebub, the highest demon, who are you? In persecution, it is enough for you to be like your Master. In hate, rejection, and being called names it is enough for you to be treated like your Teacher.

So, what is God saying? God is saying “I produce sons, I make disciples who are of My caliber, I produce after Myself nothing less. I have taught you, produced you, molded you to be nothing less than Me.”

He trusts that His words that He has spoken are enough for us to be like Him, to be equal like Him. Is it enough for us to endure and withstand everything that He has gone through and even more? We will do all that He did and even more, we will be persecuted like He was persecuted and even more.

How much more will they call those of His household? Meaning, that it will be greater. You who are just mere disciples, just mere learners it will be more unto you. It will be greater. God has faith in what He has made, He trusts those of His own. Therefore, do not fear, do not be troubled, do not be worried, do not be offended, and do not be depressed. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and nothing hidden that will not be made known. God is saying that there is no poverty, situation, sickness, or hurt you are put in and He will not turn around. For there is nothing under the sun that the devil has tried to do and God will not turn around.

 

Before you reach the turning point, there is a time for you to be still and know that He is God. Before the hour comes, there is time for you to not worry. Before the turnaround time comes, before the breakthrough there is time for you to be still and know that He is God. There are no shortcuts in salvation. There are no easy ways to receive patience. There is no easy way, for when the test comes, you need to produce results.

In the exam room, you need not to worry, when the exam comes you need to perform. During your problems, hurt, disappointments and disapprovals; do not speak and do not worry, for it will be given to you what to say because what you say in that very hour can kill and destroy. It will be delivered to you what you need to speak and say.

 

Your father through the Gospel

Abigail Unknown

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YESHUA, A CITY ON A HILL, LIGHT THAT CANNOT BE HIDDEN.