Christian Living
“Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another . . . and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold,” (Matt 24:10-12).
The only way for Christians to resist being permanently offended is to stay "on the altar" and embrace the
unoffendable Spirit of Christ who dwells within you. In those painful moments when your flesh cries out
for its rights or moans as a result of physical, mental or emotional pain, the Spirit waits for those who are
His to turn to Him, embrace Him and seek His help. In so doing we truly allow Jesus to be "Lord" of our lives.
Even Lord of the hurting parts.
Acquiring the attitude of Christ while undergoing an offense is no minor task. As we see in this verse,
Jesus Himself warned that, in the last days, “many” would be offended.
I'll say!
I don't believe that a wounded spirit is necessarily the same thing as an offended spirit. An offense takes
place when we fail to process our wounds in a Christ-like manner. Left unattended, an offended spirit will
soon manifest as betrayal, hatred, bitterness, love that waxes cold, and even illness. Jesus said offenses would
be the ultimate cause that leads many to fall from faith.
I'll state it this way: Jesus seems to link the real cause of apostasy and backsliding not to wrong doctrine, but
wrong reactions.
You see, in every instance, we can ACT like Jesus would or REACT as a carnal man would. Don't misunderstand
me: doctrine is important (especially that of Christ while resisting those of man (traditions) and of demons that
have so permeated Christendom), but doctrinal information is often upgraded and revised. Proverbs 18:19 warns
that someone “offended is harder to be won than a strong city."
Are you living with an offended heart? If so, you are gradually slipping away from true Christianity without
knowing it. Our faith is characterized by its agape love - a love without restrictions or conditions; a love that
shines forth despite being tortured and nailed to a cross.
Often we pray and sing that we want to be more like Jesus.
Really?
His friends betrayed Him.
He was whipped beyond recognition.
His beard was ripped out.
He was shamefully walked naked through the streets and spat upon by those He came to save.
His Holy, Heavenly Father could not look upon Him as He became the sacrificial lamb.
He was totally and completely alone in the universe.
Oh, we love the walk-on-water-and-heal-the-blind examples from His life. We only WISH we could turn water
into wine.
But Jesus knows life can be tough as nails. He was "wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities,"
(Isaiah 53:5).
Transgressions? A revolt against God; Jesus died for every national, moral and/or religious sin ever
committed throughout the entire panorama of human history.
Iniquity? The word means to pulverize, to bruise, to
beat to pieces, crush, destroy, humble or oppress; perversity of the moral kind, mischief. Those initiated BY us and
UPON us.
People will offend people and hurting people are inclined to hurt people. It's called reaping and sowing. He made
the way so we can put a stop to all that hurting of one another. He made a way for all the "one another" verses of
Scripture to become humanly possible. He said that if someone slaps you on one cheek, offer him the other. He
said to love our enemies and bless those who curse us. What He was actually doing is showing us how an unoffend-
able spirit of love overcomes all adversity.
I love the way Jesus offended people, calling the most religious people in town "a brood of vipers" and "white-
washed tombs." He even offended people before he healed them. Face it, if we went to a healing crusade and the
minister was spitting in blind people's eyes or sticking his fingers in deaf people's ears, most of us would leave
offended! Talk about Three Stooges Ministries! Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!
Seriously, there are times when our own pride keeps us from receiving our healing. Our Thursday night Prayer
Clinic in Stephenville receives relatively few visitors because anointing with oil and laying hands on the sick
doesn't line up with someone's sacred church doctrine or personal beliefs. Forget what the Bible says! Physicians,
surgeons, meds and insurance are all some sick people think they need. "God gave us those things,"they insist.
Sure, God can use miracles or medicine. "Be it unto you according to your faith." In contrast, I received a call
from New Mexico last night, a woman who is coming to the Prayer Clinic in May asking for healing ministry.
With that kind of faith, sister, you're healed already (she WAS, too...2,000 years ago at Calvary).
So, what's bothering you? Whatever it is...WHOEVER it is...confrontation is NOT a bad thing so long as you
confront the ISSUE and NOT the individuals. You see, people are NEVER the problem; the problem is the problem. Together, go after the problem. Love your enemies.
Are you able to pray for those who have hurt you? "Father, forgive them...they didn't know they would hurt me
when they did that. I'm sure they had no intention of causing me any harm at all...so, why do I hurt?"
Allow Jesus to heal your pain. Let's get on with the Kingdom's business at hand.
Together.
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
www.YourTown4Jesus.com
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