To the Offended All Things are Offense-able: Learning to Live Unoffended

A few weeks back, deep out of my spirit I heard the phrase, “To the offended all things are offense-able.”  I knew God was speaking and had something to say on the matter of being offended.  

The word offend means “to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause to feel upset; cause resentful displeasure in.”  Therefore, one who is “offended” is irritated, annoyed, angered, easily upset, and is resentfully displeased.  And, something that is “offense-able” is irritating, annoying, angering, upsetting, and resentfully displeasing.  All of that sounds. . . well, to be quite blunt, offensive!  

It seems that everywhere one turns the cries of the offended resound.  At the root of virtually every “war” - be it family wars, culture wars, worship wars, political wars, or even international or ideological wars - the issue is almost always, if not always, offense.  From the ridiculous, “Susie didn’t call Joey on his birthday,” to the sublime, “it is not real worship if not ________ (at the risk of offending someone, I will let you fill in the blank!)” reasons to be offended abound.  

A woman who writes a blog called, “Living in His Grace,” writes, “Basically, we become offended most often by unmet expectations and when something does not fit within our thinking of what is “normal” or fit within our worldview.”

Jesus wrote, “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” (Matthew 11:6) when answering the disciples of John the Baptist when they came asking if He was indeed the Son of God.  You see, things were not turning out according to their expectations of what would happen when the Messiah showed up.  In fact, John the Baptist was in prison and about to be beheaded.  Into that context, Jesus says… “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”  That is a call to live unoffendable! 

In 2 Corinthians 6:2-10, the Apostle Paul writes, 

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— 3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

Notice that Paul does not talk about being offended (even through much that typically causes great offense), he speaks of “giving no cause for offense in anything.” Paul had crossed over in his maturity to the place of being more concerned about hindering the advancement of the Gospel than in being offended over the way people were treating him.  

If Jesus or Paul had become offended because of the offensive ways they were treated, their purpose would have fallen prey to Satan’s schemes.  When we become offended, we cut ourselves off from the grace that is available to live victoriously, even joyfully, in the face of great trials, tribulations, and a multitude of reasons to be “irritated, annoyed, angered, easily upset, and resentfully displeased” - offended!  

In Proverbs 18:19 we read, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.”  This is a critical word of wisdom to understand the power of offense to divide even the closest of relations.  It is also crucial for us to understand the need to guard our own heart from being offended and from causing offense.  Both are absolutely necessary!  

One of the key problems with offense or being offended is that once offense comes it becomes increasingly difficult to break out of the cycle of offense.  Once offended everything is seen through the lens of offense.  You may even begin to imagine things being said or done to you that are not real, yet the offended heart perceives it as real as a brick wall.  A secondary problem is that for the one through whom the offense came, whether intentional or not, the journey of winning back the relationship of the offended is incredibly difficult - even impossible - apart from the amazing grace of the Lord. 

Another key problem with offense or being offended is that once offense is taken up it quickly progresses into a “root of bitterness.”  Hebrews 12:4-5 says, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”  

Bitterness obstructs the pathway to God’s grace, causes trouble, steals joy, makes one hardened and brittle, eats away at the soul and defiles many.  Bitterness is a killer that is sown through seeds of offense. 

Here are a few simple practices to help us all break the cycle of offense.  If it is true, and I do believe based on Scripture and experience, that “to the offended all things are offense-able” then we must find ways to break out of the cycles of being offended.  

1. Forgive quickly when offenses come.  Forgive, not just in word, but in heart.  This is the best preventative key to keep from living offended.  
2. Intentionally operate in the opposite spirit of the “offense” that came your way.  Make this practical!  If you were cursed, speak blessings.  If you were dishonored, honor.  Avoid self-defense and give room for God to work, remember He is your vindicator! 
3. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal if there is a root of offense within your soul that needs to be uprooted.  This is crucially important if you find yourself being easily offended (upset, irritated, frustrated, angered) over even the smallest of things. Also, if you find yourself offended by something that you know does not match the heart of the person that you are tempted to be offended with. . . check to see if there is a lingering issue that needs to be uprooted. 
4. Repent, ask and receive God’s forgiveness, then by His grace move forward in a new way refusing to live offended for even one more minute.  Be brutally honest with yourself and with God over the reality of being offended…. It is a time waster, relationships buster, and a killer! 
5. Be reconciled.  Scripture says that we are to live at peace with all men as far as it is possible with us.  Jesus has given to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5), reconciling God to man and man to man.  Pursue reconciliation and know that you are only responsible for doing your part and trusting God to work in the heart of the others involves. 

In closing, I  will leave us with the words of the Apostle Paul to the Romans that provide keys of wisdom to live unoffendable in an offensive age.  

Romans 12:14-21  “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but [n]associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but [p]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Father, I pray that we may all grow in grace to live unoffendable, to deal with the offenses of the past that cause us to be easily offended, and to be instruments of reconciliation by Your love in every arena of life that will break the power of the enemy who always seeks to trap us in the snares of offense that steal, kill, and destroy.  Lord, grant that we might grow in maturity to not only live unoffendable but to live free of giving reason for offense to others that the power of Your Gospel may go forth unhindered in Jesus’ mighty name.  Amen.  

©2015 Jacquie Tyre

Calling Forth the Sons of Zadok

But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok,
who kept charge of My sanctuary 

when the children of Israel went astray from Me, 

they shall come near Me to minister to Me;"
Ezekiel 44:15

There is a cry rising across the land for authenticity.  The younger generation seems to be leading the charge, though I dare say they are not alone.  Many of us from other generations are raising our voices with them.  And, we are not alone!

There is a call coming out of heaven.  It comes forth as a pure tone, much like a tuning fork, that is sounding forth with the very voice and character of the Godhead, and the honor of heaven's worship.  It is a pure.  It is perfect. It is trustworthy. It is holy and altogether authentic.

For weeks now, the Lord has had me looking at Ezekiel 44 to see the contrast between the priests who have strayed away from the ways of the Lord that He disciplines and limits in their approach into His presence and in their ministry among His people, and the "sons of Zadok priests" who are welcomed into His presence to minister unto the Lord and who are charged with leading God's people. There is much to be unlocked within this passage of Scripture, but for now I simply want to present a simple contrast between the two in order to reveal the sound of "authentic" Spirit-filled lives that both God and many are looking for today

Those who Stray from the Lord	Faithful ones as the Sons of Zadok
False Authority, produces an atmosphere of control and domination	True Authority, releases an atmosphere of liberty and security
False Worship, produces fast spiritual encounters and experiences	True Worship, releases genuine encounters and experiences with the Lord in love
False Anointing, produces "results" (manifestations, numbers, etc)  without lasting and enduring fruit of transformation	True Anointing, releases the grace of the Lord that exalts Christ and bears lasting fruit of transformed lives

Let's all commit to pray and seek the face of the Lord that we might be found to be faithful ones, as the sons of Zadok were, and that a holy remnant of faithful "Zadok" men and women will rise in the land resounding with the authenticity of the Lord.  It is such as these that will release the sound of heaven into the earth by lifting up the Christ in everything that do or say.  It is this pure and holy sound that will awaken the harvest in the land and bring about the lasting and enduring changes that are desperately needed in our day. 

Can you hear the sound of heaven?  

Can you see rising of the Zadoks? 

Can you hear the rumblings of awakening and reformation in our land?  

I believe you can.  Now let's press in, for now is the season and we were born for such a time as this!

What are you hearing?  Let's talk about it!  

Kingdom MinuteMen: Rapid Mobilization Forces (Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network)

HAPN Minute Men: Rapid Mobilization Forces

Recently through divine leading of the Lord, I found myself standing in a Confederate Cemetery as a part of a state and nationwide prayer initiative. One of the intercessors that was with our team called me over see a monument that was set to honor the genealogy of the Gaines family. What she did not know was that that monument turned out to be to a part of my family lineage from my maternal grandfather's family. The genealogy listing went back to the mid-1600's, and right in the middle was this inscription: "Richard Gaines, Revolutionary War Minute Man.". I cannot accurately describe what Holy Spirit began to drop into my spirit in those few moments.

Needless to say, this encounter began a season of seeking the Lord to discover what He was trying to speak to me regarding being a part of a company of "Kingdom Minute Men." This journey is just beginning, but I felt it was time to begin sharing what I am discovering, and invite you to begin a dialogue with you in hope that the Lord will birth a greater clarity of God's call for us to raise up a company of Kingdom Minute Men across this nation from state to state.

The following information was taken from a Wikipedia site and it provides an amazing picture for us to consider for this hour of revolution for the heart of this nation.

"They (revolutionary leadership) recommended to the militia to form themselves into companies of minute-men, who should be equipped and prepared to march at the shortest notice. These minute-men were to comprise one-quarter of the whole militia, to be enlisted under the direction of the field-officers, and divide into companies, consisting of at least 50 men each. The privates were to choose their captains and subalterns, and these officers were to form the companies into battalions, and chose the field-officers to command the same. Hence the minute-men became a body distinct from the rest of the militia, and, by being more devoted to military exercises, they acquired skill in the use of arms. More attention than formerly was likewise bestowed on the training and drilling of militia." [Source: Sparks, Jared: The Life of George Washington, page 134-135. F. Andrews, 1853]

As a specialized force within the Body of Christ that need to be mobilized quickly and kept informed and prepared for special initiatives, and kept employed in ongoing activity to stay sharp and prepared for speedy deployment to action, we are faced with a need to recruit, train, position/assign to "battalions", fortify the troops, and develop means of clear communication that alerts, rallies, and mobilizes the troops into their positions at a moments notice.

As modern day expressions of the King of King's messengers or couriers releasing the decrees of the Lord to mobilize the people of the King's domain to be prepared for what is coming and to mobilize the social militia for quick response and rally the troops for concerted efforts across the land....Will we answer the call and determine to pay the price to be the Kingdom Revolution MinuteMen in this crucial hour in our nation?

Expanding Our Horizons of Faith

L'Shanah Tovah!

At this beginning of the Biblical New Year, I pray for each of you the richest blessings of the Lord that draw you closer into communion with His majesty and into a place of knowing the wonders of His glory as He finds a place of welcome in your heart to tabernacle with you.  And, I pray that this year, as we surrender to His Lordship together as One New Man, that His dwelling among us will increase in manifestations of His grace, love, glory and power.  He is looking for a people among whom He might tabernacle in fullness, and I pray that among us He might find such a place prepared for His majesty.

As I sat down to write this email the phrase "Expanding our Horizons of Faith" exploded within my spirit as a word I sense from the Lord as a call for us to lift our gaze up and look again.  This is a call to not just look again the same way we've looked before but to look again in a new ways.
Consider these possibilities as you "look again":

• Look Higher
• Look Further
• Look Deeper
• Look Broader 
• Look Around 
• Look Above
• Look Beneath 
• Look In
• Look Out 
• Look Beyond

These all point to looking in a new way and even to looking beyond what we may have seen in the past.  Perhaps, our view has been blocked by difficulties and challenges, or by fears, doubts and even unbelief.  Or maybe the view has been limited by past failures or disappointments, by circumstances that seem insurmountable or by perceived dangers that trigger paralyzing fear.  Or perhaps, the Lord is simply saying....you've looked in faith and you have seen amazing glimpses of what I have in store for the days ahead, but look again there's still more . . .

Whatever the case, the Lord is asking us to look again and allow Him to expand the horizons of faith for this new year.

Expanded horizons to see our cities, our states, and our nations fully awakened by the Spirit of the Lord and moving in power toward reformation of every arena of culture.  Can you see it?  

Expanded horizons to see family members, friends and associates come to saving faith and to live as radically sold-out disciples of the Lord Jesus. Can you see it? 

Expanded horizons to see relationships restored and broken-hearts healed.  Can you see it? 

Expanded horizons to see the Victorious Church arise to the place Christ intended to rule and reign with Him through worship and intercession, and to bring His Kingdom to bear on earth as it is in heaven. Can you see it? 

Expanded horizons to see believers walking in the fear of the Lord in all holiness, joy, reverence, and love, and demonstrating His grace in power with signs, wonders, and miracles confirming the testimonies and preaching of the Word of God.  Can you see it? 

Expanded horizons to see Christ's high priestly prayer of John 17 answered with genuine unity among those who believe - oneness with the Lord and with one another, with each joint supplying what is needed causing growth of the whole in love (Eph 4).  Can you see it? 

Expanded horizons to see masses of people coming to faith -- the harvest fields that are white unto harvest being brought in for the glory of the Lord.  Can you see it? 

Expanded horizons to see financial provision for you & your family, for businesses and ministries to provide for the fulfillment of the dreams, visions, and purposes of the Lord to advance His Kingdom and establish His covenant on the earth.  Can you see it? 

I encourage you to meditate on Isaiah 60 and invite the Lord to Expand Your Horizons of Faith!
We have several upcoming opportunities planned for us to join together to have our vision expanded for what the Lord wants to do in this season and to join our hearts together in worship and intercession for His Kingdom to come and His will to be on earth as it is in heaven!  I hope you will make an effort to join us.  And, if you would like us to come to your community to help facilitate a gathering for worship, prayer, teaching, or encouragement, please let us know.

For His Glory,

Jacquie Tyre

Kairos Transformation Ministries

State Apostolic Leader

Georgia Apostolic-Reformation Prayer Network

Georgia-US Alliance for Reformation

Overcoming Spiritual Witchcraft, Part 2

The last several weeks during a weekly class we have been taking a look at "Overcoming Spiritual Witchcraft," and in order to know how to overcome we must first understand what "spiritual witchcraft" is and how it operates.  Our focus has not been on the blatant occultic witchcraft that operates in the realm of the world-at-large, but at the religious-type witchcraft that unfortunately operates within many of today's congregations and ministries.

Some has asked, "why do you call it witchcraft?"  And, the answer is quite simple, actually, and is based out of the Word of God.  Consider these passages, (we will look at other passages in future posts):

1 Samuel 15:23 (New King James Version)

 ²³ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
      And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
      Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
      He also has rejected you from being king.”

This passage provides some foundational understanding for our topic of concern.  Here we clearly see that  "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft."  The word "rebellion" comes from a root word that means "to be contentious, rebellious, refractory, disobedient towards or rebellious against."  Which is, according to this passage, equated to 'divination, witchcraft, the practice of divination or being of "false prophets." Such behavior is completely forbidden/prohibited by the Word of God.

Please take note (and this will become increasingly important as we grow in understanding of spiritual witchcraft) that witchcraft is linked to divination which is "the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means."  It is to "discover by guesswork or intuition, or to have supernatural or magical insight into future events or situations" - by a source other than the Spirit of God. Such discovery or insights are completely forbidden by the Lord and His Word.

For confirmation on this assertion, consider these passages:

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (New International Version)

⁹ When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. ¹⁰ Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in ¹¹ or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. ¹³ You must be blameless before the LORD your God. ¹⁴ The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

Secondly, linked to "spiritual witchcraft" is stubbornness which is as iniquity and idolatry.

Sometimes, we have a tendency to excuse stubbornness as just the way some folks are. . . but God defines it in far different terms.  The Hebrew word for stubbornness is "patsar" (H6484) and means "to press, push, be insolent, display pushing (arrogance, presumption)." Not a very pretty picture, to say the least, and this is equated to iniquity which means trouble, wickedness, sorrow, idolatry, trouble of iniquity, wickedness (from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain.  And if that is not bad enough. Stubbornness is equated to idolatry, which reveals the worship or practice of idolatry, idols, and often points to "family idol - a kind of idol used in household shrine or worship."

In both scenarios of rebellion-witchcraft, and stubbornness- iniquity and idolatry, there appears to be a link to determining to do things our own way, apart from submission to God or His delegated authorities, and to dangers connected to generational patterns that pass down through family lines.  Certainly these things can manifest in the realm of clear expressions of blatant witchcraft as seen in the occultic religious practices (i.e. Wiccan, Satanism, various forms of paganism, etc.).  However, for our purposes, we need to expand our understanding to see that these can easily operate within the church when we lean into forms, lifeless traditions, and activities that "look good" but come out of an attitude or heart that is not truly seeking the Lord, but going through the motions out of religious obligation, or of willful disobedience, self-will, stiff-necked stubbornness, or other forms of hidden rebellious attitudes and actions. Unfortunately, it is fairly easy to learn how to "look good" on the outside while concealing heart attitudes that are far from God.

While these things do not automatically equate to operating in spiritual witchcraft (it may simply be immaturity or ignorance), it certainly does throw up some serious warning signs that need to be addressed by repentance and humble submission to the Lord. Therefore, it is important that we remember the words of

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 (New King James Version)

¹¹ Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

For our discussions, let's consider this:

When we replace obedience to the Voice of the Lord, His Word both Logos and Rhema, with religious practices and forms of worship, and justify our actions of disobedience, for any reason, we open ourselves up to the powers of darkness operating in and through our lives as witchcraft, iniquity, and idolatry.

Through these blogs, please know that it is my utmost desire that we all come into greater measures of freedom from the snares of the enemy so that we might be effective vessels in the hand of the Lord to advance His Kingdom and push back the forces of darkness.

Let's discuss so that we might all come to greater measures of freedom in the Lord as instruments of His grace and power in the world today.

Many Blessings!

Jacquie

Spiritual Witchcraft

Well, this is my first step into the blogging-world and am hoping that together we will learn and grow together to advance Christ's Kingdom.

Tomorrow night, I am starting a Kairos Training six-week class on the issue of "Spiritual Witchcraft," specifically taking a look at how believers, congregations, ministries, and even entire communities are affected by what some have called "spiritual witchcraft," "charismatic witchcraft," or even by such names as "Jezebel," "Ahab," "Simon the Sorcerer", etc. Most of us have encountered situations where things just don't seem to add-up right, and confusion seems to have an upper hand. On the surface things look right....but something just isn't right.

The following questions are some that I posed in a promo piece to announce the class, and I would like to ask you to provide some feedback on what you have experienced, how you handled the situation, what you learned through the process, and how you have learned to deal with the operation of "spiritual witchcraft" when you sense the enemy at work in this manner.

• Have you ever found yourself in a swirl of confusion, wondering which way to turn?
  Have you attempted to communicate, whether to an individual or a group, and discovered that every word you spoke was received in a far-different way than what you intended? And there seems to be no way to straighten out the tangled mess.... 
• Do you ever sense that something is wrong...but can't quite put your hands around what it is? And, no matter what you do the situation just keeps getting worse & worse?
• Have you battled with feelings and thought of despair, hopelessness, and defeat -- even to the point of despairing of life itself?
• Do any of the following words fit situations that you are dealing with, either in your own life or in broader circumstances: contentious, rebellious, stubbornness, non-compliance, prideful, arrogant, never-ending trouble, seduction, intimidation, control, manipulation, domination, accusation, or slander?
• Are you ready to learn how to overcome this insideous tactic of the enemy so that you & those you love might be set free to walk in the liberty of the Holy Spirit?
• Are you ready to learn how to war against the forces of darkness that are keeping many in bondage and hindering the advancement of the Kingdom of God in your family, church, and community?

I look forward to hearing from you, so that we might grow in wisdom, knowledge, understanding, discernment, and effectiveness to defeat the enemy and advance Christ's Kingdom in righteousness.