On Taking Offense

The spirit of offense is wreaking havoc in the church, in individual lives, and in the world today. Taking offense stops growth, prevents miracles, and fights against the spread of the gospel. Taking offense is perseverating (thinking over and over) on what someone else did wrong. A better definition might be that taking offense is when you keep thinking about your hurt feelings based on your judgment about what someone else did wrong. People who want to be strong in the Holy Spirit, will resolve never to take offense.

Matthew 11: 6, Matthew 26:53, John 15:25, 23, John 16:1, I John 2:9

Indeed, if you do a study of offense, and compare the King James Version with the New American Standard version, you will discover that “taking offense” equals “falling away” or “stumbling.” This is so, because when you take offense, you are choosing to take care of your flesh instead of be obedient and end up finding yourself worshiping the accuser. If you instead, keep your eyes on Jesus, making no provision for your flesh, then you stay in forgiveness and find forgiveness and the favor of God having a clear channel to you.

Notice the definition of offense above. You make a judgment. You nurse hurt feelings. You keep thinking about it. Then satan, casts fiery darts through you to hate, to divide, and you are now a very good catcher or target while you are nursing your flesh like this.

There are a lot of weak links in this chain. The first is that your judgment may be way off. Next, let's think about what nursing wounds often looks like: coddling the flesh.

Notice that coddling your flesh is practically the same as being immature. Maturity calls and impels you to set aside your own small interests, consider others, and so move in a higher level. I have seen a lot of very immature behavior lately. I urge you to ask yourself if what you are fussing about is really the fault of the persons you are blaming or if it is not really your own fault. I ask you to ask yourself, when you are privileging yourself not to take responsibility, if you are not really only arguing that YOU can be a small child if you want. I urge you to ask yourself, when you are being challenged to stand up and be a soldier ofr the kingdom and you have some good sounding excuse, if you are not really merely only giving an excuse. You might get away with all of these things in conversation in the church, because people know that they are supposed to “be nice” in church. Nevertheless, they may clearly see that you have chosen to be immature and are advertising this. God for sure sees.

Let me show you then, what taking offense looks like.

Baby throws down cookie from high chair and screams because she doesn't have the cookie anymore.
I see this all the time. People are not happy with their results, but don't see that their choices caused those results. Somehow it feels better to blame others, even God, instead of making different choices. Only that, however, will work.

Toddler is mad because daddy has gone off to work.
I have seen this recently. People tend to see things from their own perspective. If they had a larger, more mature perspective, they would see that daddy needs to go to work and is doing precisely what daddy is supposed to do – even for them. Somehow throwing a fit seems like a good idea, but sitting and crying really does not accomplish anything. Stop blaming, and get up and play (doing your own work) until you learn a larger perspective.

Elementary kid is angry at teacher because she points out that he needs to turn in his papers.
I always see this. Correction from someone who cares about you is a great gift. Some people, instead of choosing to acknowledge this, because they would rather not take responsibility, then feel like it would be a good idea to hate the teacher. Then they don't turn in their papers. Then they make bad grades. Then they fail the class. Then they say, “you see, she just had it in for me.”

Teen is angry because parent does not loan her the car.
I see this a lot. Why should a teen assume that the car is hers? Go out, work, and buy a car. Then you will have one to drive. The fact that you are angry because someone is not letting you drive their car shows that you are not ready to be lent the car.

Young married is angry because he or she is not getting enough attention from the spouse. “I will love you if you love me.”
A better solution would be to inject some love into the situation, because you sow what you reap. If both partners act list this, the marriage will soon wither. An entitlement mentality is creeping everywhere – comically, especially where people speak against it. Charity has become a bad word in our icicles today, but it is the translation of the word agape, divine love.

Blaming others, instead of taking responsibility is immature. It is also the heart of taking offense. Even when someone has clearly, blatantly, knowingly, repeatedly wronged you – the best course of action is to move on. Forgive, and turn toward God. Otherwise, you too will be prey for satan. The original hurt becomes like a Nazgul dagger (from the Lord of the Rings story), that once sticking in you, poisons your system. Even if someone did do something dastardly, and they will, even brothers will, you must choose to go with God. Don't let Satan pick you off.

When you find yourself taking offense, repent, turn around. If you are into a spirit of offense, cast it down, off of you and ask the Lord's forgiveness, choose by force of will to forgive if there really is some wrong done to you (but as we have seen, most is nothing of the kind), and ask God the Holy Spirit to fill you, guide you, teach you. Resolve to listen and to do.

Cleanse yourself of offense. Forgive. Even forgive God, if it comes to that. Only in this way will you have a clean, clear channel for your prayers to be answered. -- GSB

Build Character to Carry the Anointing - Be David and Not Saul

I am seeing a dramatic problem across the Body of Christ, across the folks in the moving of the Spirit in this city and among my own team. I believe that there is no greater problem that needs attention to at this time. It is the problem of not being diligent in character while expecting the anointing. You need character to carry the anointing. If you don't, you will not continue to carry it, the ministry will be harmed, the gospel may be discredited, and it God will judge you more harshly because you have had access to the holy things.

Think of Saul. The text says that God sent an evil spirit upon him. We don't believe that God ever is the author of evil. On the contrary, this simply was the way of things, that Saul had access to the anointing, and did not continue behavior in the fear of the Lord. He was presumptuous, he lied, he did not obey what he was told. He was fearful; he was self-concerned, he was self-willed. He became miserable and died. In the end, he even was sitting with witches. This is the end of those who seek anointing without godly character – practical witchcraft.

I see people choosing the path of Saul all around me. Oh, never meaning anything but choosing the sweetness of God, they want only that and never the dictates of discipline and the outcome of character. They choose their convenience. Then they cover up their shortcomings, and flatter themselves that they are not really being deceptive. They do not keep their word. They ignore it. They presume to tell the anointed what to do, when they do not have that assignment, that experience, that training, and they persist after indication that they are off the mark. This is lack of fear of God. They do not seek teaching and are deaf to correction.

People have begun to move in the supernatural. Good. But where is it going? Have you seen a wilting? Have you seen an lack of increase? What do you think is the problem? Is it we need to pray more, maybe fast more, maybe cut ourselves? Maybe God has taken the day off? I don't think so.

Are you finding yourself tempted to focus on other people's sins? Gossip? Be distracted into being against something or someone? Have you heard of projection? Well known in psychology, projection is the tendency of people to identify in others the problem that is resident in themselves that they wish to deny. Liars think everyone is lying. Disrespectful people see everyone as disrespectful. Irresponsible people tend to think, identify, and --- really by surrounded by -- irresponsible people. And petty. And little. And fake. Is this what you want?

So what should you do? First off, go immediately to the Father and discuss your discomfort at reading this. Do this now. Ask Holy Spirit to judge you and root out your shortcomings. Ask for direction and wisdom on how to apologize. Do more than resolve to start being diligent to be honest, respectful, and industrious; make structures, idiot proof plans, channels for your time and behavior. Make plans and work the plan and the plan will work.

Stop making excuses. Stop saying, “well the Spirit is not moving now.” Stop saying, “well, they are blessed.” No, people whom you see as blessed are more hardworking and that is why they have results. People whom you see as blessed are more willing to take correction and teaching. People whom you see as blessed are those who are willing to take responsibility. This is true in the workplace. This is true in school. This is true in health. And for sure it is true in the life of the Body of Christ.

The truth is that there are no locks on the doors of heaven. The truth is that Hell can't keep you in unless you permit it. The truth is God is willing to let you get as close to Him as you want to get. The truth is that you can have as big a ministry as you are willing to have. But you can't get there if you don't work with the Shepherd.

Choose now if you want to be in the Saul group or the David group.

Not everybody could tell the difference. Notice how Nabal chose the power of Saul and therefore treated David poorly. Abigail, by contrast, saw character that carried anointing. One was blessed and the other not. You be Abigail. You be David. Don't just be entertained by the Word and song! Be changed! Yes, seek the anointing, but be diligent to be diligent, truthful, industrious, respectful, and obedient. Build character so you can carry the anointing, keep the anointing, be increased and very blessed in the anointing and the harvest that it will grow. -- GSB

New breed of educators coming

HALLELUJAH!!!!  I am so excited I can hardly sit still.  I heard Joseph Prince say that a new breed of educators is coming who will speak blessing and not anger/wrath over their students.  YES! Amen. That is what we are working on. Spread the news.  (his sermon #167 disclaimer I don't know Joseph Prince and he doesn't know me. I just appreciated his comments today on a television broadcast.)

Say what you PRAY

The message for our Spring Intercessors Team meeting was from Mark 11:22-26 on the centrality of prayer. It is a familiar passage. It is worth reading again.  

Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Mar 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mar 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Much has been said about the prominence of “saying” in this verse which we appreciate. There is power in our words. Even nonbelievers know this. Psychologists are talking a great deal now about “positive self-talk.” New Agers are using affirmations to improve their lives. However merely much repeating has limited power. Human words do have power, but no one suggests that such can miraculously change things outside that one human's system.

However, this passage is clearly about miraculous power. Jesus commands us to have faith in God. Mark 9:25 records Jesus as saying “Everything is possible for him who believes.” This too, is an extremely important insight. Jesus says things are possible to the one who believes – not to the one who is perfect, who studies the most, or who .... whatever action you wish to mention. Jesus repeatedly mentions faith. However, I submit it is not just any faith. It is faith in God.

There is another insight in this passage that I have never heard preached. It is a central insight. Right in the very center of this verse, read in Greek, is the word “prayer” or “proseuxomai.” Mark is written in a chiastic form that always points to the most important thought right in the middle. In the middle of the book is the passage about who Jesus is and the saying “take up your cross and follow me.” That middle passage is the point of the book. The middle of this passage is the word prayer. That word for prayer means “coming before God.” It is sometimes used of worship and often used for prayer.

The insight is that it is our coming before God, our connection to God, our reliance/trust/faith in God/ our speaking the words of God that make the whatsoever possible, that create miracles. Yes, let's have faith. Yes, let's speak in line with that. But very centrally, let's get close to God.

We can face the biggest thing in our lives with our connection to God, our faith, and our word, and command it to be gone, where we will never see it again. Not moved across the road. Not merely taken down a notch, but a mountain rooted up and thrown into the sea – of forgetfulness. Amen. Our commands have power because we move in the authority that Jesus brought back to us, that God gave humans at creation. It was always God's plan that humans have authority to spread the Kingdom, the Garden of Eden throughout the earth.

Similarly, in this ministry, let's keep prayer – a real connection to God – the center of what we do. Yes, we believe for miracles. Yes, we attempt to speak blessing. Yes, we are going to remember to forgive and accept forgiveness. Especially since we are just learning. We are still young in this, children in training and not yet Sons fully grown. So please forgive our shortcomings. But we, we will resolve to come before God. Our reliance to, connection with, authority from God is the central point.

Please join with us, in blessing children, educators, and parents. Let's say what we pray. Let's have faith in God.   

Money Modeling and Teaching

Okay, I couldn't resist getting on a soap box and talking about the adult world of money and the situation of the nation. However, I will argue that if adults don't handle money well, then we are poor roll models for our children.  Modelling is maybe more important than direct teaching. Direct teaching is powerful if it comes after modeling.

I heard a howl when I said my family didn't get into debt. Well, okay, the Sarles have sometimes taken mortgages, but only on conservative deals.  We don't do consumer debt. We don't typically buy cars or any other depreciating asset with debt.

I have certainly given some car salesman apoplexy. I notice they are not normally very interested in talking to me about the car; they want to talk about financing. I want to know how safe the car is.  How expensive it is to fix. They want to talk about financing. What is it, then, that they are really selling?

When the bank made a mistake and started charging me like a debtor -- wow! -- how badly they treated me. I couldn't get anyone to help me.  Until through connections I talked to a vice president. Then it got fixed and I got an apology.  Who wants to be treated like a debtor? Get wise. Teach your children.

Now, if the debt war isn't enough, there is the porn war. Next week Dani Johnson will be with us. We loved her last time. Tell your friends. Write on your calendar. Have a party just to listen to the broadcast. No one speaks more credibly on this topic than does Dani.  She herself is a master marketeer. She herself is a modern mother.  Her background informs her of the tragedy for children when there is addiction in the home. Protect your children. Listen in.

Resolutions for the New Year

We are making some resolutions here at The Great Shalom.

First we are resolving to be Biblically based and in align with Holy Spirit,

sensitive to Holy Spirit's wakeup calls,

have continuous improvement in our purity,

to be rigourous in our honest and keeping of commitments,

and do to the best in loving service as we possibly can.

Will you join me in such resolutions? Already, a couple of weeks into the year, most New Year's Resolutions are broken. Falling down is not the real problem. The real problem is not getting back up. It would be an even bigger problem to fail to try to get up.

Alright, so I am resolving. I am challenging you to make these resolves. Want to?

Jesus has done a lot for us. Too much for us to just laze around. Too much for us to be overburdened by just mere business. Too much to be guided by just anybody who comes along. Isn't this what Jesus would want. I invite you to come along.

Thanks.

New Year's Resolution

We have the custom of making New Year's Resolutions. It is a fine idea to intend self improvement. However, self-improvement seems to be very limited. New Year's resolutions seem to last a few weeks, don't they?

But real commitment, real calling out to the Lord has transformed lives.

How about commit to a year of prayer, of listening, and of doing what God has instructed us to do?

God has told us what we are to do in the Bible, yet even the most dedicated, more professional Christians largely ignore the Bible. We hear so very loudly our own tradition when we read the text, become confused, ignore it, and often fail to apply the Word in our busy life.

However, look, doesn't God really get it? Aren't we the ones who really need instructions?  Wouldn't listening to the instructions of the Maker and Redeemer God be the best strategy?

So, when we hit a text we know we don't understand, let's ask Holy Spirit to teach us.  Then let's listen. When we are going on auto pilot, on good tradition and custom, let's ask the Holy Spirit to show us in the Bible what God really told us to do.  Then let's realize the big picture, what it looks like to God -- that we would be so much more blessed if we really DID what God tells us to do.  Knowing, or thinking we know, or doing good stuff, but not God's will, really is just junk.  Real blessing comes from hearing, attending, doing.

Make 2010 your best year ever. The challenges will be great. Victory is available.
Blessings and love to you and yours.