If this sounds like you, friend, take
heart...you do NOT have to live like this. God, as always, has
an answer. But to understand the answer, it's important to
understand how the problem happens.
We think of evil spirits being
obvious and if we are children of God, we think it can't
happen to us. More often than not, the devil is subtle in his
attack, gradual in drawing you down, a master of disguise and
deceit. he made it all seem normal to me. To all appearances,
I looked like a majority of the world looks- ticked off and
not taking any bull.
But this was a definite plan of
destruction. Here is how the progression went:
First, I was HURT
then, I was AFRAID
next, I was OFFENDED
after that, I was OFFENSIVE TO
OTHERS.
because I was offensive, I became
LONELY.
the loneliness caused DEPRESSION
once I was depressed, I became
mentally OPPRESSED
the mental oppression caused
EMOTIONAL SICKNESS
the emotional sickness spread to my
body and became PHYSICAL DISEASE.
The devil had a plan for my death,
and he almost succeeded. All of this took place before I
encountered Jesus. This is why I understand those who get
offended at the slightest thing, or take offense where none is
intended. They are under attack. They do not realize, they
have a choice.
When I asked God to show me how my
offense caused everything that happened to me, He showed me
some fruit:
'A man's stomach shall be satisfied
from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he
shall be filled.
Death and life are in the power of
the tongue, and those who love it will eat it's fruit.'
[Proverbs 18:20, 21]
I thought of all the things that had
been coming out of my mouth for years. Words that produced
ugly thoughts, feelings and happenings- not only in my life,
but in those lives associated with mine. If you think only
bible words produce, think again.
We are created in God's image. God
SPOKE everything He created into existence. Our words create
as well- Death, or life. Every word we speak creates. That is
why Jesus said-
"-Every idle word men may speak they
will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your
words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be
condemned." [Matthew 12;36,37]
Our WORDS justify or condemn us. Our
WORDS create what we have in our lives- every situation, every
condition, every problem or solution. That is why I push the
spoken Word of God so much. We get to CHOOSE what we say- what
we will create- for one Lord, or the other.
For it is our choice, to be fearful,
or faith-filled. To be offended, or forgiving. You can CHOOSE
to not be afraid. You can CHOOSE to not receive the spirit of
offense. Here is how God had me start the progression out of
bondage into His plan of deliverance:
Whenever fear or offense threatened
me by thoughts in my mind, for the mind is the chosen
battlefield and entry point of satan- and the point
of renewal by God- I would SAY-
"Spirit of fear/offense, I refuse
you! You have to leave me in the Name of Jesus! You are a
weapon formed against me, and you will NOT prosper. I am
delivered from worldly bondages! I am set free from words of
death, and I speak the Word of Life! My mouth shall speak
right things, my lips shall speak Truth---":
You get the idea. No matter where I
was, who I spoke to, when I was tempted- because fear and
offense are temptations- the Holy Spirit brought to my mind
the scriptures I had found and been declaring. Why did He do
this? BECAUSE I ASKED HIM TO.
This is part of the 'renewing the
mind' process. Just realizing you need it won't do it. Just
finding all the appropriate scripture doesn't make it happen.
Only these and praying really, really hard can't cut it.
DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF
THE TONGUE. When death has been your language for any amount
of time, only the language of life will reverse the effects.
To renew your mind, to really come out of the pit, you will
have to create with your tongue- and the Word of God.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so He
could teach us all things, and bring them to our remembrance
[John 14:25,26]- - What a powerful tool He put in our hands!
This speaks of such love for us, to have been given this gift.
One that is sorely under-used.
So, what will you say about your
situation? What will you speak into existence? What will your
tongue create? Who will you let tell you what to say?
It is extremely important that God's
people stay away from offense- we have a job to do, and the
spirit of offense can damage that terribly with the lost. I
urge you, as one who has been in the offense pit, "Let the
words of your mouth, and meditations of your heart, be
acceptable in the sight of the Lord, your Rock and your
Redeemer." [adapted from Psalms 19:14]
