Taking Off the Mask
Spirit of Offense
Let’s deal with the mask of Offense.
How many of us have been offended or been the offender?
Here’s the definition of offense:
Offense – annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one’s standards or principles
Proverbs 18:19 – A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle.
Matthew 18:7 – Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!
Wearing the mask of offense as being the one offended, we put people in the position of walking on eggshells around us or either not saying anything at all. Wearing this mask causes people that could really be a blessing to you even if it’s in the form of correction to back up from you. Wearing this mask can cause you to face unnecessary situations or encounter things that you would not have to if you would listen without being offended. You may have people around you full of wisdom, but if you are wearing that mask of offense, you will not be able to maximize the withdrawal or the pour that has been God ordained for you!!! A lot of times the offended person does not want to deal with the issues, which keeps them in this offended state. Sometimes we want to deal with others’ behavior but not deal with our own. Why am I offended and how long will I stay in an offended state? Sometimes the offender is the extreme of the offended. Sometimes not all times, a person has been offended so many times until their defense mechanism is to be sharp tongue and cut others to avoid being cut 1st. The offender may be correct in their point or even the word that they are delivering but because it was not mixed with love but mixed with a part of them that has not been delivered. There is a difference between a person that has been anointed to push you to your next even if it means being firm than a person that is just offensive. Discern the two and don’t miss your God ordained opportunity! I’ve worn the mask of being the offended one. But I have to learn if I plan on taking this journey I’m going to have to use the word of God to allow it to toughen me up and allow the love of God to wrap my heart and go through deliverance and deal with the root of things. Keep in mind the word of God says offences will come. So we must not be naïve to think nothing will come, but have spiritual intelligence and intel, that these things will take place but we have already been given the blueprint on how to deal, handle and overcome! Take that mask off and let’s thrive.
So how are we going to deal with this?
Prayer & Fasting
Sobriety in mind and in spirit
Apply the word as an ointment and let it begin to heal these wounds
Deal with the root cause of things; so many times, we act okay when we really are not, and we create these mask
Seek the love and timing of God
Surround yourself around people that will not let you stay offended – no they should not have done you that way but now that it has happened how are you going to handle it; how are you going to maintain and work in freedom vs. that’s a shame, they sure were wrong and keep reminding you of the offense and keeping you in that quick sand instead of reminding you of the deliver
Make a conscious choice not to be offended and keep in mind the enemy will challenge you especially if you deal with this spirit. But this is the opportunity to not quote the word but apply the word! Make a conscious choice to choose the Word of God every time! Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world!!
TAKE THE MASK OFF AND LET’S THRIVE!!!!
