Be Not Offended

I'm speaking to Children of God. 

Have you felt it? That twinge? That moment of embarrassment? That moment of hesitation? You know what I mean. That feeling that you get, anytime you are out of Church, somewhere in Public, when someone says the Name Jesus. Or when someone starts talking about God, the Bible, or Salvation.

Oh, in Church it's just fine. You may even say Praise Jesus after ever other Sentence. You may talk about God for an Hour following the Service. You have no problem being as "Spiritual" as everyone else that is there for that moment.

However, AFTER Church, at the Mini-Mart, Grocery Store, Mall, or whatever and wherever you had to do or go, following Church? At work on Monday, School, or whatever or wherever you do or go during the Week, when you hear someone talking Jesus, The Bible, or God, you have that moment of cringe.

Why? Because you "know" that if people hear you talking that way, they will think that you are a backwoods, simpleton, that is old fashion, and not as smart as the average person. You are afraid to be labeled a Narrow Minded, Chauvinistic, Homophobic, Hate Filled, person, that does not like anyone that does not look like and think like you.

Why? Because that is the stereotype that has been thrown out there, and repeated so many times, some actually believe it. You do not want to be one of "Them." You don't want to be seen in this light, so you remain silent. You say nothing. If someone else brings up God, Jesus, or the Bible, you may agree with them quietly, looking around to see if anyone is looking. You may even whisper "Amen," as softly as you can.

What is that? Why? That twinge? That moment of embarrassment? That moment of hesitation? Why, that outright denial, in some cases? Is it Uncertainty? Is it Pride? Is it Fear? Why would you, a Child of God, act out in this manor, ever?

Jesus Himself knew that this would be the case. He told us...

"And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."{Matthew 11:6}

He foretold us that the World would hate us, because it hated him First.

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."{John 15:18}

We instinctively know this is the case. Some of us have experienced this.

Uncertainty?

Sometimes Children of God become Offended, because they are uncertain of certain things. You say, "Jesus is the only way." They say "Why? You narrow minded fool. My Grandma was a great lady. She was Jewish. She did a lot of good in the World. She fed the Homeless. She helped all those in need. She read her Tanakh every day. You telling me that just because she did not believe in 'your Jesus,' she is in Hell?" If you are not grounded in The Word, you may not know the, nor how to, answer.

Uncertainty can lead you to become Offended. It can lead you away from God all together. Uncertainty can become a powerful tool of the Devil. "Are you really sure you are saved? Are you really sure there is a God at all? Seriously, look and Mr. Lucky. He is a Billionaire. He spends more in an hour than you make in a year. He doesn't even believe in God. You do. Right? You cannot even pay your electric bill. What is this God you believe in doing for you anyway?" If you are not sure of what you believe, you may fall for this trick. You MUST read the Word, Pray, and have Faith, that those things you read and learn in Church are True. You must lay yourself a solid foundation. One that is unmovable.

Pride?

We have a President that called those of Faith "Bitter Clingers." He said, "And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them " Children of God are consistently Mocked, and Ridiculed in the Media. Children of God are labeled "Racist, Narrow Minded, Chauvinistic, Homophobic, Hate Filled, Simpletons." Anyone that speaks Jesus's name are thought too stupid to know what is best for them. They are made fun of. They have been forced to remain silent in a lot of places. You would not want to be thought of as one of "Those People." Would you?

Fear?

All around the World, there are knocks on the door. They burst in. They Rape and abuse the Women and Children. They torture and kill the Men. They burn the house, and Churches to the Ground. All around the World this can happen to you, for no other reason than this. You believe in the name Jesus. You wouldn't want a knock on your door. Would you?

Look at Peter. Right before they came to take Jesus, Peter told Jesus he was with Him to the end, even to death itself. Jesus knew better...

"Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples."{Matthew 26:31-35}

You know the story. Peter was asked three times if he was "One of Those" and Peter denied Jesus thee times. Why? Out of fear.

When you first say the Prayer.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

You are Saved. You...

"have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."{Romans 8:15-17}

You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You

"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

You must come to fully understand what that means. You must learn who you are NOW as a Child of God. You need to find a Church teaching these things. Be Baptized the way Jesus commanded us to be. KNOW you are a Child of God, and if God, is now your Daddy, you no longer have to worry about what anyone else says or does. You should also no longer have any fear.

Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians..

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."{2 Corinthians 12:10}

It is no longer about us. Once you become a Child of God, it should become, all about Him. Once you have done all you can do, and you can do no more, THAT is when God begins. When you are the weakest, that is when God is working in your life the strongest. We must follow Jesus's example..

"“who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth”; who when He was reviled, reviled not in return; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously; who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed."{1 Peter 2:22-24}

Paul wrote to the Ephesians...

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"{Ephesians 5:1-8}

Those that know not God, are not of God. Those that revile you, mock you, insult you, hate you, do these things unknowingly. They do not know what it is that awaits them. They have no idea what awaits us. If they did, they would be one of us. But they would rather believe the lie. No God. No God, no Devil, no Hell, no Sin. They like to believe these things because it becomes easy then, to do what you will. No Sin, no Hell, no reason for a Savior. No reason for a Loving God. No rules no Morals.

So whenever someone attacks you, for no other reason than your Faith in Jesus, do not become Offended. Just understand that,,,,

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."{John 3:18}

We are not the fools.,,,

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good."{Psalm 53:1}

There is nothing that they can do to separate you from the love of God...

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."{Romans 8:31-39}

Are you a Child of God? Are you sure? If God is your Daddy, The SAME Spirit that Raise Jesus from the Dead is IN you. You are Blood Bought. You are Blood Cleansed. You are Saved. They do not deserve the power to offend you. They do not deserve the power to put fear in you. They are nothing. They will come to nothing. Be the Child of God you are. Be certain. Be humble, knowing that it is not about you at all. Have no longer ANY fear. God is now your Daddy. Do not allow any to offend you. Do not allow any to persuade you. What do they have that you see as so precious that you need to forsake who you have become for their approval? They will try to offend you. Just remember, you are the one Saved..

Be blessed. Be a blessing. Be the Child of God you are...

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}