How to Become Unoffendable

(word reposted from 2005)
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).
God has a new heart for us that cannot be offended, an "unoffendable" heart. Beloved, possessing an unoffendable heart is not an option or a luxury; it's not a little thing. Consider: Jesus warns that, as we near the end of the age, a majority of people will be offended to such a degree that they fall away from the faith. Listen carefully to His warning:
"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" (Matthew 24:10-12).
"Many" will be offended; the love of "many" will grow cold. My prayer is that we will hear His words with holy fear.
The Dangers of Harboring an Offense
When we allow an offense to remain in our hearts, it causes serious spiritual consequences. In the above verse, Jesus named three dangerous results: betrayal, hatred, and cold love. When we are offended with someone, even someone we care for, we must go to them. Otherwise, we begin to betray that relationship, talking maliciously behind their back to others, exposing their weaknesses and sins. We may mask our betrayal by saying we are just looking for advice or counsel, but when we look back, we see we have spoken negatively to far too many people. Our real goal was not to get spiritual help for ourselves but to seek revenge toward the one who offended us. How is such action not a manifestation of hatred? For an offended soul, cold love, betrayal, and hatred go hand-in-hand.
People don't usually stumble over boulders; they stumble over stones--relatively small things. It may be that the personality of someone in authority bothers us, and soon, we are offended. Or, a friend or family member fails to meet our expectations, and we take an offense into our soul. Beloved, if we will "endure to the end," we will have to confront the things that bother us.
When Jesus warns that we need endurance, He is saying that it is easier to begin the race than finish it. Between now and the day you die, there will be major times of offense that you will need to overcome. You might be in such a time right now. Do not minimize the danger of harboring an offense.
No one plans on falling away; no one ever says, "Today, I think I'll try to develop a hardened, cold heart." Such things enter our souls through stealth and it is only naiveté that assumes it couldn't happen to us. I know many people who consistently become offended about one thing or another. Instead of dealing with the offenses, these people carry them until the weight disables their walk with God. You may be doing fine today, but I guarantee you, tomorrow something will happen that will inevitably disappoint or wound you; some injustice will strike you, demanding you retaliate in the flesh.
The Root of Offense
An offense can strike at our virtues or sins, our values or our pride. It can penetrate and wound any dimension of the soul, both good and evil. I once brought a series of messages about gossip. Most people saw their sin and repented, but a core group of gossips were greatly offended and ultimately left the church. When the Holy Spirit exposes sin in someone's soul, if we refuse the opportunity to repent, we often become offended at the person who brought the teaching. Instead of humbling our hearts, we are outraged at the pastor or teachers in the church. Truthfully, most of the time, I have no idea who specifically needs to hear what I'm teaching, but God knows.
Paul told Timothy to "reprove, rebuke, exhort" (see 2 Timothy 4:2). He didn't say, "exhort, exhort, exhort," but exhortation is what we receive in most churches. Certainly, we need to be encouraged, but there are also times, beloved, when we need to be reproved and rebuked. Today, there are preachers who are afraid to preach truth, for fear people will react and leave the church. The end result is a church of easily offended people who cannot grow beyond their inability to accept correction.
People don't change by exhortation alone. There are areas in all of us that need to be confronted and disciplined. The pastor who refuses to discipline and correct those in sin is in disobedience to God. He is unable to lead people into any truly transforming changes in their lives; they will not "endure to the end" if they cannot be corrected (see Matthew 24).
We need to become a people who say, "Lord, show me what needs to change in me." I'm talking about growing up. A wise man will receive a rebuke and he will prosper. But a fool rejects his father's discipline (see Proverbs 15:5).
Personal Offense
An offense can wound our pride when we are not recognized for our good works or ministry. This happened to my wife and I long ago while in California. We were young pastors at a conference when the main leader decided to personally greet each minister and wife. He greeted the couple on our right and then turned to his staff to ask a question. A moment later he returned, but passed us by and went to the couple on our left.
Everyone around us saw we were bypassed. We were embarrassed and offended. But my wife wisely observed that we could allow this thing to hurt us or we could see it as an investment in sensitivity toward other people's feelings. The offense taught us how others feel when they are ignored. Do you see this? You must make that offense become an opportunity to become more Christlike.
The occasions for taking offense are practically endless. Indeed, we are daily given the opportunity to either be offended by something or to possess an unoffendable heart. The Lord's promise is that He's given us a new heart: a soft, entreatable heart that can be filled with His Spirit and abound with His love.
Lord, forgive me for being so easily offended and for carrying offenses. Father, my heart is foolish and weak. Grant me the unoffendable heart of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Francis Frangipane
Ministries of Francis Frangipane
Email: francis1@frangipane.org


Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.
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Phone 1-541-926-3250

"HIDDEN TREASURES ARE BEING REVEALED NOW!"

May 22, 2007


Kim Clement:

"HIDDEN TREASURES ARE BEING REVEALED NOW!"


May 10, 2007--Detroit, MI

The Spirit of God said, "I am working things out in a very strange way. Men are saying 'where is it, we've looked?'" But God said, "I've set aside two months of this year now for even greater favor than ever before. This month already great miracles are happening, but it is nothing compared to what I am about to do," says the Lord. "I have charged the atmosphere; I have charged the atmosphere with turbulence. I have charged the atmosphere with turbulence," says the Spirit of God. Why? For there is a cleansing coming in the atmosphere, and God said, "that which has become lofty shall be brought to nothing. And that which is nothing shall be brought to a high place." This month, God says, "That which was impenetrable, that which could not be touched or reached shall suddenly be accessible. You call it My grace, I call it My favor and blessing."

For the Spirit of God said, "It shall come to pass, and very shortly, that the things that I spoke even from this prophet within this city are now about to be unfolded. It is without hesitation that I tell you tonight that even in this month that which has never happened before shall happen. That which was impossible shall suddenly be possible. Therefore I say to you, charge the atmosphere with your praises, charge the atmosphere with your shouts, charge the atmosphere with an adjustment," says the Lord of Hosts!

Let there be a sound, a sound of victory!

God says, "It is likened unto the wells that had nothing to bring forth--suddenly the wells shall come forth." What am I speaking of? I am speaking of that which was absolutely unbelievably difficult; it was like rock to strike into. We could not get there, but suddenly, God said, "The rock shall be turned into mud, it shall be so easy;" God said "It shall then be turned into water. For I am telling you that the soil is about to bring forth that which is necessary for such a time as this."

Look, do not be in despair, for God said, "I have promised, and I shall do it. But that which is impenetrable shall suddenly become easily accessible," and God said, "without a fight, without a battle, you shall acquire what I promised you. Without a fight, without a battle, what I promised will be given to you," says the Lord--"enough, enough fighting, enough battle." God said, "Now it's time to enter the rest and the promise of God. In the month of May you shall say, 'this has never ever happened before, it's a miracle, a supernatural miracle!'"


Kim Clement
Prophetic Image Expressions
Email: hope@kimclement.com



Shipwreck yields historic riches--$500M worth


We at the ElijahList think it is more than just a coincidence that possibly the largest shipwreck treasure ever discovered in history happened to be made public THIS MONTH. It seems to be confirmation that ANYTHING is possible in the natural realm, as God releases His great favor on the earth in this month of May. You might be convinced that something you once greatly desired is long gone, but God is able and willing to stir the waters and bring the treasure you once valued to the surface. Many Blessings!

For details about the shipwreck discovery, click here (CNN.com)


Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250