One of the most effective strategy of the devil is that of offence and perceived offence. If I were to point my finger at the most popular reason people stop going to church or stop praying or stop believing in God, it would be this, taking offence. It has been used against us since the time of the Garden of Eden.
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ ” Genesis 3:1"but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” Genesis 3:3
God was and is always right. We now understand that it was spiritual death that God spoke of, but at that time Eve did not know of this. She did not understand sin either and how it corrupts and erodes one's life. Neither Adam nor Eve had experience with sin and death. The serpent told her a half truth. He saw an opportunity to get into her thinking and her emotions and plant doubt. His approach is usually similar to this day.
Many people sound like they care and want to teach or mentor but they are really planning to pull us away from the church by causing doubt and hurt based on an offence that does not even exist. Think about it. How many people do you know stop going to church because the pastor preached a message on giving tithes?
In fact, I have seen many instances where recruiters for terrorism or Islam would enter chats or comment on Christian YouTube channels and use this same strategy. They use hooks to bait the ones who do not the word of God, those who are weak minded and not focused on God.
Some people don't go to church because they cannot sit where they want to. There are many things that are used to create the negative feelings that affect our decision-making. Tithes belong to God. If the pastor cares he will teach on it. It is not a pastor's decision to say, 'Don't give the tithes' because the money belongs to God not him/her. Offering is different. The pastor is not greedy. God will not bless your money if you don't give tithes. It is an act of obedience to God not the pastor.
What is offence? It is when we feel that we are treated less than what we are worth. Sometimes that would be, less than human. In order for the devil to tempt Eve he started with this approach. Firstly, the Bible says he was crafty.
His lead up was what we know as FOMO (the fear of missing out) a marketing principle of making people feel left out and excluded. The way the question was asked, was casual and deceptive enough to cast doubt. He made Eve think that maybe God did not mean for her to be excluded. He was suggesting that she was not included. This is where Eve had a perceived offence.
She thought she had the right to feel disrespected or treated differently. The concept of "perceived" is that it is not real but understood to be true. God's intentions in warning her was not to exclude her, but to keep her pure and holy. He knew man could not handle it.
When we are offended it is usually because we take our eyes away from the principles of living in a kingdom. The kingdom is God's kingdom. Jesus is Lord over the kingdoms of the earth. He is coming to rule with a rod of iron. He is not gentle and merciful alone. He is also judge and King of Kings.
Before you take offence or think about yourself, think about the word of God. What does it say? Of all the fruits of The Spirit who lives in you, humility is key. It is as important as all other fruits. There can be no fault found with humility.
It is unfortunate that so many of us feel offended and not forgiving. We should repent of those feelings that pull us away and separates us from the love of God. Adam and Eve were separated from the perfect will or perfect life offered in the garden. They were living in the abundance and did not know it. When we feel offended or perceive offence, we separate or isolate ourselves. This allows the enemy, the devil, to put us out of the abundance of God.
A lesson of love is also a lesson on offence or perceived offence. We are supposed to show love because God first loved us. We are to forgive because Jesus gave His life for us. By being offended or hurt without forgiving or without repentance we rob ourselves of God being able to judge the situation for us. We rob ourselves of the blessings of God. We rob ourselves of His forgiveness. "Lord, forgive us as we forgive those who have offended us".
I pray you are encouraged in the ways of Almighty God. That you have the strength, courage and boldness needed in this time to keep walking in His word. I pray you are able to put all offences and hurt at the feet of God who is our Father in heaven, in Jesus name.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.
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