Offendable or Forgiving

The more impossible it becomes for you to be offended, the more powerful you become against your enemies. When you are wallowing in self-pity or anger in response to an attack against your integrity or your creed or your values, your ability to be directed by the Spirit of Holiness into righteous action is severely hampered or completely destroyed.

Most of the people around us, born-again or not, have no more ability to discern right from wrong than a 4 year old child does. Much of their behavior is likely to be offensive, if we allow it. They are likely to be abusive, deceitful, full of accusation, and merciless.

The power available to us for response to their behavior is the power that Jesus exercised when such people nailed His sacrifice to a cross. What He accomplished there was empowered by agapé, kindness, goodness, and joy. Those same powers are available to you. The same powers. Not a watered-down cocktail of them. Full force.

He paid for everyone’s sin against you in that position. Your ability to help someone out of their stupid behavior becomes possible when you account the offense to be paid for by Him. Your power to forgive comes out of His power to forgive. It all happened in the same transaction. He paid it all.

All bitterness, anger and wrath, insult and slander must be removed from you, along with all wickedness. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
(Ephesians 4:31-5:2 HCSB ©®)

Forgiveness is a mighty weapon against the works of evil in the earth, and against the spirits who influence humans to perpetrate them. It has the power to set captives free. Frequently, when healing or casting demons out of people, Jesus forgave them. That weapon – that mantle of reconciliation – has been placed on our shoulders to bring life and liberty to prisoners of sin, sickness, and the grave.