Offense: From Pitfalls to the Pit

An ongoing Kingdom work of building foundations under the people of God is a progressive work, from glory to glory, from faith to faith. One of the toughest tests to overcome in the “times of firsts” is often in learning how to yield our hearts to God in times of deep hurt or wounding. In many applications of simply living the Word of God, the prophetic reveals how God will offend our minds to reveal our hearts. When the Light of Truth shines on our own heart, it’s one thing to be wounded through the act or actions of another. It’s entirely another thing to reveal where we are in offense. We can become broken and wounded in the pain of wounding and be healed by carrying this to God. Offense reveals that we have a spirit, or worse, a part in an offense. These things become illuminated by the wound itself. Offense must be dealt with and cast out so that the wound it caused can be healed. The prophetic picture of offense appears as broad division between two or more parts or people. When one is in offense, the path for all involved suddenly becomes divided. One who is offended, and in offense, will draw the innocent into a breach that they have no part in. False accusations come from darkened perceptions and worse follows to become the works of iniquity. Declaring one’s innocence by playing the victim often becomes a pomp display of self-righteousness of one’s importance or stance to defend a thing. As disciples, who are raised to sonship, we are led by the Holy Spirit to learn of “the middle ground” that is represented in Ministry of Reconciliation to the Ministry of Restoration. Even where we are thrown into the pit (of division), the redeemed have the power to redeem and restore those who are truly fallen from the Nature of Christ. This same middle ground is that which Jesus was raised up on the Cross between heaven and earth to pay the sin debt of man. Because of the Cross of Christ, we now have eyes that see and ears to hear how to exalt Jesus above the breaches so that people can be reconciled into him. Many people see sin as an outward obstruction that prevents them from entering the Kingdom of God. We all clean up our lives so that we may follow Christ more easily. However, the real tests often come to the hidden, unseen recesses of the hearts of man. Here is where offense reveals where one is raised above another in their judgment of them, to lead others into the same. These can hinder others from entering the Kingdom of God for themselves. What is in deception can even displace those who were already positioned in the Lord’s Righteousness and on the true paths of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 1:21, the word says that “she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” The Greek word for sins is hamartia. Hamartia means to miss the mark; to err, be mistaken. To miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong. To wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin. Hamartia is also used in the context of 1 Peter 2:7 where this passage speaks of the Rock of Offense. 1 Peter 2:7 For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, And the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, “A stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief cornerstone,” 8 and,“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed. The Building of Zion Where the Holy Spirit is moving to raise the framework of Zion over what is in division, the Workers and Builders who labor together for this cause come together to raise a pure standard. The hearts of the Laborers are the first to be tested! These hearts must remain unoffendable to what is breached. The heights of Zion will exceed the width and depth of the offense that is present in what needs to be redeemed. Once the work (purging) is done, the same Word will then go out and accomplish what it will in what needs to be healed.

The present state of our cities and nations gives a prophetic account of many people in offense; one with the other. Where are the Gatekeepers who will set the needed order though true standards that need to be raised at our City Gates? How is it that the Church Body could be divided by what is dividing our cities and nation? Titus 1:5 – For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint Elders in every city as I directed you.