Offenses (2)

"Offenses must come!" Here's another statement of fact that Jesus made when He taught on the subject of offenses. With this statement, He highlighted the reality that humans know so well: the world in which we live is saturated with offenses. Whether you want it or not, whether you cause it or not, that evil, corrosive thing called offenses will come your way. The question is, what are you going to do about it?

The very atmosphere of Eden was offense-free, until the spirit of deception, the old serpent, found a way to corrupt the heart of Eve and her husband. Outside Eden, however, offense is the order of day. Whichever way you turn, it is always making its way towards you. Like invisible radio waves, offense is a part of the fallen world - so also is the unregenerate mind of man that so easily picks them up. If only believers will operate in this life as Christ did! He chose not to tune in to the "offense channel", neither did He receive or broadcast worldly offenses. He was tuned to the Father; He spoke words from the Father and responded to earthly words in the way the Father's Spirit led Him - no matter the consequences. He did this always and never for once faltered.

The result of Christ's spiritual disposition was that provocations never provoked Him; accusations never bothered Him; misrepresentations never unruffled Him; betrayals never surprised Him. It did not matter how many times the prince of this world came to Him, nothing of this world could be found in Him.

How unlike the average believer today! We easily offend and are easily offended. Is this not an evidence that we are more attuned to the flesh than to the Spirit? Those who are led by the Spirit always, whose heart are consistently manifesting His fruit, will know the blessedness of an offense-free life. Surely, offenses must come, but we need not be the originators, receptors, transmitters or facilitators of them.

"My little children, keep your hearts from offenses" - GOD!

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Offences! (1)

I recently found in the book Matthew, a statement Christ made about offenses. It just stood out to me and left an indelible mark upon my heart. After seeing this statement, I understood more than ever before why the Lord used very strong words whenever He discussed the matter. The statement I found is strong and true.

In Matthew 18:7, the first part, Jesus said, "Woe to the world because of offenses!" What a precise statement of fact. If there is anything that has caused much moral and spiritual decay in the world today, it is offenses. In fact, the first sin man created was facilitated by an offense at God. The devil succeeded in making Eve think that God was keeping something good from them, and this thought process led to rebellion and sin. What about the murder of Abel by Cain, was it not because of the feeling of offense aimed at God and Abel?

I have found out that some of the most frustrated believers today, not to talk of those who are not in the faith, do not know the reality of peace with God and the peace of God. They are offended at what they consider to be God's slowness or His seemingly uncaring attitude to their predicaments. This offense at God so easily manifests as offense at man - the root of a million atrocities in this life.

Woe to the world because of offenses! How true. Every war, feud, genocide and disharmony since the beginning of time has offenses written all over them. Just a little feeling of offense, real or perceived, is enough to cause unspeakable havoc between people and nations. Offenses have literally tipped us all in the direction of irreversible destruction. If not for the cross of Christ, the rock of offense that corrects this deadly imbalance, the world would have imploded long time ago. The privilege we have in Christ is the ability to lay hold of divine wisdom that can help us maintain an offense-free heart in an offense-ridden world. We need not be victims of the world's woes. We can find refuge in Christ and be partakers of the divine nature of God - our only guarantee of a life of victory over the force of offenses.

Thank you Jesus for this immeasurable victory!

(To be continued...)

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JESUS IS MY LORD! The full implication of this

After Thomas placed his finger in the nail piercings in Jesus' hands, he exclaimed "My Lord and my God" (John 20:27,28). From that moment on, all his doubts about the resurrection of Christ and the glory of His Person faded away. In their place rose faith and a lifelong commitment to the purpose for which Christ had called him. When I declare, "Jesus is my Lord", I would like to believe it is borne out of no less a realisation and resolve.

First, Jesus has ownership over me. I do not own my life and thus cannot determine my course. The devil once owned me but he can no longer stake a claim on me. The blood flowing from the hands of Jesus is proof of His purchase of my life.

Second, Jesus has the rule over me. He directs my going out and coming in. He is Lord over my pursuits. His word is the light guiding all that I do. He establishes my purpose and sends me forth to be fruitful for Him.

Third, Jesus holds all rights to me. I am His through and through. I cannot hold anything back. His rights over my time, treasure and talents are exclusive. There's nothing that I have apart from what He has given me.

Fourth, Jesus is worthy of glory from me. My pursuit of purpose is for His glory. Everything I do is to make His name great in the earth. Every well I dig in this life is for His praise. He is Lord over all I my achievements.

Fifth, Jesus entrusts His authority to me. I am His ambassador in this life. All I do is in His stead. For this purpose, I have access to all that He has. All that my Lord has is mine and I am His. I don't take this lightly but live with a sense of responsibility - as one who would one day give an account.

There is no fear, doubt or pretense as I declare Jesus is MY Lord!

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He makes all things beautiful

God is never too late or too early. He is never in a hurry either. He knows that to everything there is a time and a season, and when the time is right time for the manifestation of a thing, it is always beautiful.

We are the ones who are usually in a hurry. We want everything now. Blessings, now. Promotion, now. Manifestation of prophecies, now. A fruit eaten before its ripe time only causes tummy upsets. It is better to wait for the right season and cease upsetting ourselves and everyone around us.

This makes me recall the dream of a dear friend (who has since passed on to glory). In his dream, he saw himself in a news studio. Cameras were focusing; lights were beaming; it was time for the news to be read. Backstage, my friend was restless - he wanted to be the one broadcasting the news. He kept on saying, "I want to read the news, I want to read the news", and eventually he was allowed to take centre stage and read the news.

As he took his seat in front of the lights and cameras, he suddenly realised he did not have the day's news. "I don't have any news! I don't have any news!" he kept on saying to himself, and then he woke up...

It is better to wait patiently for our ordained season, than to step out prematurely and fail woefully. God makes all things beautiful in their season.

Your season is coming and has now come! No more hurrying; no more worrying! In Jesus' name!

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Get rid of those maggots!

There is a reason why Jesus said we should forgive those who offend us - every time they offend us. Even if we are offended as many as seventy seven times in a day, Jesus said we should still forgive (Matthew 18:21,22; Luke 17:1-4). This instruction is not to make us look weak and foolish; instead, as we shall see, it is for our inner sanctity and strength.

Ultimately, every offence from men is aimed at the heart. The same can be said of every unfavourable circumstance that affects us on the inside. No matter what happens or how it happens, we feel the pain of hurts and disappointment in our hearts. When we retain and process them for any length of time, they turn into bitterness, hatred, rage, depression and other unholy vices. This is why Jesus said we should let go of offences as soon as they occur. And when they seem to linger for a while, the counsel is, "do not let the sun go down on your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26).

Offences and discouragements retained in the heart longer than a day contaminate us on the inside. When we brood upon them, they drain us of strength and become much harder to deal with; they rob us of grace and cause is to defile many (Hebrews 12:15).

When Israel kept the heavenly manna for longer than a day, it turned into maggots and stank (Exodus 16:20). Can you just imagine what happens when we keep offences in the heart beyond the setting of the sun? The truth is, many a believer's heart is full of maggots that keep on multiplying sunset after sunset. Whenever they speak out of their bitter heart, the stench is practically unbearable. It is not a sign of weakness when you forgive others; it is a wise action of someone who understands the value of a clean heart.

"Keep and guard your heart", therefore, "with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23 AMP). In other words, "Get rid of all the maggots in your heart and guard against them finding a breeding place in you. Only out of a maggot-free heart flows the spring of life that builds up others."

Cleanse our hearts O Lord!

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Have you finished digging your first well?

One of your goals in life should be to become a digger of wells, and not just a drinker of water. Many spend all their lives surviving as a mere water-drinker and never experience the paradigm shift of a well-digger. No one remembers the water-drinker for the volume of water that he consumed. However, generations of men will remember the well-digger for the volume of water that he produced.

I want to iterate the need to possess a vision of digging a few wells in your lifetime - structures and establishments that will continue to serve communities of men long after you have gone. The world cannot do without such visionaries, for without well-diggers, the people perish. The survival of many water-drinkers is linked to the significance of one well-drinker. Be the significant one and not the surviving many.

There is one well that is essential before you embark on the digging of more. You cannot overlook this well and busy yourself with others. Your first well will produce the strength and inspiration you need for every other well. This first well is the well of your heart. It must flow with life, wisdom, grace and understanding. It must be free from hurts, offences, filth and burdens. It must be the source of all else you do - the channel through which God's power ceaselessly flows.

So I ask: Have you finished digging your first well? Are you busy with many secondary things and are neglecting the condition of your heart? Until you break through on the inside you cannot experience a breakthrough on the outside. Breakdowns in your circumstances are sometimes traceable to breakdowns on the inside. With all your digging, make sure you finish digging your first well!

Your first well is you; dig it well! Let the real you be seen! Let the life in you be released!

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Watch and pray (4)

This dual activity, watching and praying, was one of the secrets of Christ's victorious life on earth. Everything He did in life and ministry was born out of watchfulness and prayerfulness. If we will follow in His steps, we cannot but do the same.

Jesus did not react to circumstances around Him; He responded by the leading of the Spirit.

Jesus did not entrust Himself to the appearances of man; He was always led by the Spirit.

Jesus did not embrace every opportunity that came His way; He was led by the Spirit.

Jesus was led by the Spirit always because He was watching and praying always.

The message here is simple: when all our actions, associations and decisions are the product of watching and praying, we are being led by the Spirit of God, and those who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God (Romans 8:14).

If we will follow in Christ's steps, we cannot but do what He did - watch and pray!

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