Have we ever wondered why all that we think about, plan, talk and, do in life has people, and material things in mind? Have we ever asked ourselves why we have no thoughts and deeds outside the realm of people and materialism? Most of us do involve ourselves in thoughts and plans about life, but are rarely careful to follow up and understand the origin of those thoughts which result to our deeds. This carelessness in most cases, leaves us with uncertainty about almost everything we do, and this causes us sorrow, fear, and lack of will. Our today’s lives are packed with offences of all kinds. If we may ask: “Is there a way we can live without them; yes, live without stumbling here and there?” If yes, how can we know it? To understand this way, we need to first understand what an offence is, and what causes it. An offence, is commonly a method of an attack, and is mostly caused by a statement, an act, or, an happening towards the offended one. One is normally offended when expectations from the above, turns to be the opposite. If this be the case, what should we do to deal with offences without getting offended? We all agree that, everything we engage in, does have a certain goal. This takes us back to the question we begun to ask when we wondered why people are, people and, material-minded. In all that we do, the aim is to achieve in life. It’s important to know that life and living is about doing things. So, the things that people think, desire, talk about, and do, shows the kind of life one lives, for one is known by their deeds, which springs from their thoughts- Mat.7:15; 15:19.
TWO TYPES OF LIFESTYLE
It is when, what one strives to do meets some opposition that stops it from happening, that they get offended. There are two ways of doing things, two different lifestyles, and each has a goal different from the other. One type is physical in nature, and the other is spiritual ( our message, “ The two trees” has some details please). All of us were created in the physical nature- 1Cor.15:46, but God’s purpose was, and up to now is, not to establish this nature forever ( we have a message named, “ Why the physical bodies”, which has details). God wants to make us spirit beings like Him-Gen.1:26, and this can only be possible, where freedom of choice is applicable. So friends, know and understand that this physical nature we are, is the time God has given us to choose, and to learn to live our choice. For those who choose the spiritual life, God furthers His creation process in them, by putting his spirit in their minds which testifies ( gives us the knowledge) together with our spirits that we are His children-Rom.8:16; Eph.1:13-14. It is this knowledge imparted by the received-spirit which gives us something to do( to live by), for, we are being created( by practising) in God’s likeness in true righteousness and holiness-Eph.4:23-24. For those who choose to reject God’s instructions on how to live( and they do this by Satan’s persuasion), they receive Satan’s spirit which gives them a lying so-called knowledge, which is corrupt through deceitful lusts( of the flesh)-Eph.4:22, and do remain in this physical level, with the capacity to understand physical things only, for, those who live in the flesh think about fleshly things-Rom.8:5. Brethren, we all agree that, Adam, by whose teachings, the today’s world (generation) acquired knowledge which they live by, was deceived (after God gave him room to choose-see Gen.2:16-17), and so chose to live the physical life. There was one choice of, eating all the fruits of the trees in the garden( the tree of life included-Gen.2:9)-the God’s spiritual life, and another choice of, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil- Gen.2:16-17- Satan’s fleshly life. After choosing against God’s life, he was alienated from God’s life-Gen.3:24; Eph.4:18.
OFFENCES
Therefore, know and understand that the today’s generation operates in this physical nature, and this is why, we are mostly, people and material-centred. From kings to presidents, from the most learned to the illiterates, the rich to the poor, old and young alike; all have their thoughts, plans, talks, and deeds on the physical, because, the spiritual things are foolishness to them-1 Cor.2:14, they can’t understand them. So, because all they can know is physical, then whatever they think or do has to do with people and materialism. Now, with the physical-based knowledge, Satan had lied to Adam (and has through him lied to the whole world-Rev.12:9) that, he is like God-Gen.3:4-5. This means that we are perfect and complete, and therefore, whatever we think, say, plan or do is right and true (remember, man has arrived at this conclusion based on the lie). What kind of life has this lie brought to us? Trying the impossible, yes, expecting to get mangoes from an orange tree- Mat.7:16, man has brought to himself, all sorts of offences. Let’s understand please. God is spirit, He is eternal, perfect, wise and powerful above all, owning everything- mention anything you can think about, and you find Him being above everyone else. Even then, God doesn’t boast for his greatness, neither does He live to be seen, praised, worshipped, respected or, feared by anyone- Yes, He is not out for show. He lives that way because truly, that is the way He is, and it is the one he loves above any other.
HYPOCRISY
After man was deceived, he began to live in that effort to do and prove to himself that he is like God. And because it is a lie, his efforts up to now do not achieve. What then will he do, and he still wants to continue living this lie? He has furthered that lie by living a pretended life, covering himself with a sheep’s skin when he actually is a wolf( faking God’s life before the eyes of men)- Mat.7:15. Also in that lie, he believes that, one doesn’t make mistakes (being like God), and because it is not true, he has developed a habit of denying every mistake he makes (still a development of the lie). This is how offences develop and become. In this deceived life, whatever one says or does should be accepted, supported, and so, followed by all. Remember, all these plans are being executed by a mind that can only understand and deal physically. So, based on this mind, to be perfect takes, the acquisition of wealth above others, being a leader, most learned, most powerful of all, feared, famed and adored like God. So, when someone has attained this positions, he thinks in his heart, “ my soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, and drink, and make merry-Luke.12:19”. Since his fellowmen are also in this same physical goal, they do see him as one who has reached the pinnacle of life, and so, they praise, respect, and to a great degree adore him-Psalm.49:18. In this physical life, perfection is seen in the mirror of being famed by people, as accompanied by materialism-yes, they comment themselves, and measure themselves with one another- 2 Cor.10:12. For this reason, everyone is striving to be seen and commented by fellowmen (not God), receiving glory, from each other-John.5:44. Different from God, who doesn’t live to be seen or done anything by anyone, men live, to be accepted and placed by others. So now, every time one measures and compares himself with another person, and fails to measure to his standard, one gets offended. Every time we see others not recognising and commenting our efforts to climb there, we get offended. This brings about, jealousy, hatrate, false accusations, gossips (efforts to assassinate one’s character, to lower his gauge in the minds of those who comment him), and fights, which result even to murder. All these happens as a result of people’s effort to uphold lies, which portray life’s purpose and goal to be, to achieve wealth and fame. God is strongly disapproving this belief, saying that, what we are seeing as success and perfection, will end in the grave-Rom.8:13. Confirming that, Christ is telling this present generation, “ you fool-Luke.12:20; You name properties, leadership positions and, people’s praises after yourself, not knowing that, the grave is your only possession-Psalms.49:11; that you will die and leave these things to others-Psalms.49:10?” If then this is the case, where is the being perfect? And if these things don’t bring perfection, why do we get offended when we fail to get them, or when people refuse to recognise us? It is because we accepted and believed a lie, concerning God’s purpose for creating us in this physical nature. This is the key origin of all offences. Look at everybody, everywhere; great and small, rich and poor, leaders and the being lead, learned and illiterate; and you will find that, everyone’s effort in life is, to be recognised by fellowmen as honourable. The rich wants to be known to be richer than what they truly are; if a president, he wishes to be a ruler of more nations, not just one; if a church minister, he wishes he were the overseer of the entire church; yes, everyone is not comfortable with what one is, and is always pretending to be higher than that. All these because, everyone wants to prove that ( and it is a further deception) the lie he lives by is a truth. This brings fruitage to, competition, boasting, despising others, cheating, practices which amount to a pretended life(hiding from reality), hypocrisy. This is happening as God continues to remind us that this habit comes from lack of knowledge-2 Cor.10:12, last part( for the knowledge being applied here is a lie), and one is only deceiving themselves-Gal.6:3. Christ is wondering before us: “Why are you calling me your commander( Lord), while you continue to be instructed by someone else? For you are rejecting my commandments, and obeying Satan (your own traditions)-Luke. 6:46; Mark.7:8-9?” This is what hypocrisy is my friends, and it is the mother of all offences. Do you believe what our Lord is telling us here? Do you want to live above offences?
KNOW YOURSELF AFRESH
You are not what you have always thought of yourself to be. What you are striving to be is not what you should be aiming at, nor is what you are striving to get, what you should be looking for ( our message, “ What faith?”, has more information). Where do we begin then; and what should we be looking for, which will remove all offences from our lives? There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, for He knows everything-Dan.2:28; and He, in this message is opening the minds of as many as do believe, and go to Him for guidance-Amos.3:7. This God is assuredly telling us that, what we inherited as knowledge is a lie, and so, the whole world is deceived-Jerem.16:19; Rev.12:9. Do we accept that, about ourselves? If yes, then the first step we should take is to, deny ourselves, and totally empty ourselves of any knowledge, desire, feeling or behaviour that we have held all through until now-Mat.16:24; Eph.4:22. Whoever has done, or will sincerely do that, will remain empty minded and is very ready to begin like a new born-baby-Mat.18:2. God precisely confirms that, we are not fully like Him; and that we are in His image only-Gen.1:27. What does this mean? Even though our creator wants us to bear His image and likeness, in order to be fully like Him-Gen.1:26, He is making us so through a process, with the first stage being, these physical bodies we are- 1 Cor.15:46( for more details, read our message, “ man’s creation process”). Right now, every one of us needs to put on, God’s likeness in true righteousness and holiness-Eph.4:22. Once this is fully developed in someone, it will pave way for the last stage in which, the qualifiers will put on God’s likeness and be like Him, even as He is-1 Cor.15:49; Philip.3:21. So, this self-denial involves the acceptance that, we are not like God right now. If we accept that, our right now lives are for searching and learning to be like Him ( by way of accepting His word to be the right knowledge), and if we make that knowledge our thoughts, desires, and our way of doing things, we will have accepted that, we are God’s building; a pot that is in the potter’s hands-1 Cor.3:9; Jerem.18:6, and we will submit to him fully. This being the case, why then, when we find ourselves in a frictious condition, do we tend to forsake God’s instruction and turn to other thoughts (which are actually Satan’s suggestions) and behave as though, God can’t solve that one- yes, He doesn’t know? He is asking us; “ who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Why turn things upside down? can the clay question the potter-Job.38:2; Isa.29:16. Brethren, if we will live above offences, we must understand and put to mind what God is telling us here. We must completely stop thinking and minding about ourselves, in any other way except by what He tells us, for He says, my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are my ways your ways-Isa.55:7-8.
A DIFFERENT LIFE WITH A DIFFERENT GOAL
Now it is very good for those who have this far believed this message. Yes, those who have accepted that they don’t know themselves, that they never knew where they should be going, neither knew the way. And this because, they have discovered how they have lived a lie all through their lives- Jerem.16:19. What is good for such people? They have no problem beginning afresh ( our message, “ A crumbling civilization”, has more). Therefore, from now on, until either when Christ comes, or when we die, we do not, and will never think, desire, plan or do anything outside what God teaches us through His word-Prov.3:5. This is how we will live above offences. How? Bearing in mind that we were not created for these physical life, then we no longer live for the body, that is, what to eat, drink or wear, or where to get wealth to depend on-Mat.6:27, 32. For this reason, the cares or the goodies of this body will no longer have a place in our hearts-Psalm.62:10; Luke.12:15; Gal.1:10-11. In all our ventures, our strive and efforts remains to, seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness- Mat.6:33; Rom.2:7; Eph.5:16-17. All our concern, fears and worries would come only when we find ourselves deviating from the word. With a new goal, then we live to search for that spirit body with eternal life, which God has promised those who will overcome-Rom.2:7; Phillip.3:21. Therefore, our concern, fears and sorrows, have shifted from the physical body and its cares to, the spiritual one. We get concerned only when we find ourselves not applying the knowledge that enables us to develop God’s character. This being the case then, how can we be offended by somebody( the physical)? How can one get offended for lack of recognition and commendation by fellow people (physical)? I ask, how can one be offended by being mistreated or, failing to get rich (physical)? How do all these contribute towards achieving, or failing to achieve our new goal which is spiritual? We have seen that, an offence comes when, someone notices some barrier, which stops them from reaching what they want to achieve. Here, our goal is to achieve a spirit body with eternal life. How then can achieving the physical help one to reach the spiritual? And if they can’t help, how then can lacking them offend someone? What I am saying is this: walk in the spirit and you will not fulfil the desires of the flesh; for every time we walk in the spirit, we reject the flesh; and when we walk in the flesh, we reject the spirit- Gal.5:16-17. Let’s look in every direction; and look at everything in life, and we will see that, offences are fleshly in nature, I mean, they come as a result of, lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life-1 John.2:16. Yes, we get offended when despised, when denied what we want, when defeated in whatever, by a fellow person, when we fail to measure to the human set-standards, proving beyond reasonable doubt that, offences are purely in the physical life. What do we say then? The very first step towards living above offences is for us to know ourselves, according to what God says. What does He say? That we are here in this life( not to get rich), for the very purpose of being created in our minds( acquiring knowledge), by which we do things, thus, developing God’s character, being renewed in the spirit of our minds, and putting on( by practising that knowledge) the new nature-Eph.4:23. Developing mind or behaviour does not need wealth, elevated positions, or any human support. So, having these things or lacking them has no effect in the new life. This is why God tells us that, if riches increase, turn not your eyes to them-Psalm.62:10. Christ adds to it saying, hide your treasure in heaven where rust can’t destroy, nor thief steal- Mat.6:19.
A NEW DEPENDANCE WITH NEW NEEDS
Once we put this step in place, that of denying all there is about the former physical life, then we come to the last and most difficulty step, which once taken, all offences close their offices in our lives. This enables us to arrive at what Christ said, living a free life as a result of knowing the truth-John.8:32. From this point on, we no longer strive to measure to any worldly standard. The life that we are learning now and its standards is of the soon-coming world of which we preach-Heb.2:5, for which also, we were created- Dan.7:27. Having set a new goal then, what do we need to enable us pursue and achieve it? God is here giving a simple answer; if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments-Mat.19:17. For this reason, our fears, sorrows and dread comes only when we see ourselves harbouring thoughts, desires, entertaining talks or doing things, not according to God’s law.
SPIRITUAL TOOLS
Now that we have shifted from the flesh, we can’t use its achievements to deal with the spiritual. We have crucified the flesh. We have been raised with Christ( began a new and different life), and He has made us to sit with him in the heavenly places( and this is possible only if, one is living His word)-Eph.2:6. Which is this world of spirit( heavenly places)? The purpose of God creating us, and continuing to keep us alive is to make us spirit beings like Him, after which, He will give us all kingdoms on earth-Gen.1:26; Dan.7:27. This physical life is the very field and time for training, for, even though we live in the world, in the flesh, we don’t live according to the flesh-2 Cor.10:3( get details of this from our message, “ why the physical bodies”). In our former life, we gave our bodies and their members into wickedness, to practise every kind of disobedience-Rom.6:19, first part. We knew of no other life apart from that of attaining to the worldly set standards. Now that we have transferred our minds from that, and are now pursuing this new goal which is based on the true knowledge, we have also committed our bodies and their members into righteousness, to practise every kind of obedience-Rom.6:19, last part, being the means by which God in Christ is cleansing us from all wrong doing. By God’s spirit occupying our minds, we are removing every lying thought, desire and deeds; removing all the tools that we applied in the former goal. In this case, wealth , recognition by men, exalted positions, high learning and the like, are no longer in use in our lives. In everything we now do, we make sure that, the only tool we apply is God’s word by which, He is teaching us the way to success, leading us in the right way- 2 Tim.3:16-17; Isa.48:17. Every time we do according to this word, we always achieve our aim; for, when you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble-Prov.4:12. Here, there are no offences because, the word is lighting the way( equipping us with knowledge), and guarding our steps-Psalm.119:105,9.
AN EXAM
To this far, we are now living according to knowledge, not by lies; the fruits we are getting are, peace and righteousness; and we are moving from one brightness to another until we reach the full day (become like God who is light)- Prov.4:18. Even then, we are confronted by, the most difficulty position. This is because, we are still living in this deceived world, and among men who live according to the life we have forsaken- 2 Cor.4:4. Also, the ruler of this world- Satan the devil deals with our bodies (which are against the life we’ve chosen-1 Pet.2:11) by which, he is ever trying to capture our minds through its desires-Gal.5:17; Rom.7:23. With all our hearts and minds, we have devoted ourselves to living in the truth as taught by our maker through His word. But now, with us is, a wife/husband, employer, your teacher/pastor, name anybody whom we must deal with, and who is still living that opposite life. They are ever persuading us, at times threatening us, thus, ever awakening the, another mind that works with our bodies against the mind of God’s spirit in our minds-Rom.7:23. This situation is quite an offending one, and most are the times when we get overcome, and instead of accepting our fall, we give ourselves excuses for it. You will hear us say, “ Oh, its my husband/wife, my brother, my employer, (name whoever we may be dealing with), who has made me stumble”. Is it true that somebody can make us stumble against our will? Let’s think soberly and according to knowledge please. Where does the thought that leads to anger, hatrate, fear, sorrow, fight etc, come from? From that other person? Is it from God’s word which in this new life, is our only knowledge? Not at all.
GUARD YOUR HEART
Like God, we chose this life because, nothing can be compared with it-Prov.8:11. So, we love it them with all our heart, mind and body, not for any pay, nor any attachment, but because it is simply our choice which can’t be substituted. God created our bodies in their hostile nature, and allowed Satan around, who has now captivated men to be his agents, because our choice must be tested, and confirmed; must be proven; to know whether, under whatever pressure and threat, we will live like God-James.1:2; 1 Pet.4:12; Judges.2:22; Deut.8:2. Let everyone of us understand this please: Every time one sees themselves, getting angry, hateful, fearful, sorrowing, and such reactions, let them know for sure that they have shifted from the spiritual and gone back to the physical. Don’t blame a person or a situation; repent. If we repent not, we will go back and begin to strive for the worldly, and so, we will get blind to the spiritual goal, for, when at home in the body, we are away from the Lord, and visa vasa- 2 Cor.5:6. God knows very well where the trick is and so, He is here cautioning everyone to; “ guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the issues of life-Prov.4:23”. How will we succeed in doing so? To begin with, its important to bear in mind that, we now have a new goal whose tools are spiritual. This is why Christ is advising us to, lay our treasures in Heaven( where the life of our goal is practiced, and from where we are being instructed-eph.2:6), where rust cant destroy, nor a thief steal( no fleshly interference), for where your treasure is, there, your heart will be-Mat.6:23. If this is our lot, then we will find that, whatever we fight for, which when interfered with, makes us angry, frustrated, hateful and so be offended, is to live God’s word( obey His commandments), which is actually the knowledge and behaviour God is building in us. For this reason, there is no way we can accept to have our minds to be used outside God’s word, by the another law at work in our body, influenced by Satan’s spirit-Rom.7:23; Eph.2:2. Therefore, we are always on watch to, what that person, that body feeling, that thought in the mind, is persuading us to do and, be careful to react, respond, and therefore do what God says should be done in that circumstance-Psalm.119:9. So, whether somebody plunders, insults, ashames, despises-yes, whatever mistreatment, we will not respond according to our former manner, because right now, and in everything, we want to do and live the way God lives, for we are His imitators-Eph.5:1; Mat.5:48; Lev.19:2; 1 Cor.4:11-13. Brethren, this is a proven fact; that, somebody thinks and does according to the mind that works in one’s heart. The world has the mind of Satan which is packed with all destructive and, offending actions. We who have followed God’s way in this new goal have the mind of God- 1 Cor.2:16, one whose reaction and responses brings peace and righteousness, which comes as a result of, being careful to do according to God’s word without deviating to the right or left, by which also, success is sure wherever one goes-Josh.1:7-8. All this carefulness is, because we want to reach our new goal, that of achieving the immortal bodies with eternal life. Therefore, we groan, not that we be unclothed( die), but that we be further clothed, so that the perishable body may be swallowed up by life- 2 Cor.5:6. Will failure to get wealth hinder us from this goal? Will despise and shame by men hinder us from the goal? Will leadership and praises help us achieve it? Friends, if we truly are for this new goal, then our lives are hid with Christ in God-Col.3:1-3; phillip.3:19. In it, we no longer strive to establish the flesh with its worldly life, for our thoughts are transferred to this promised new, imperishable body and all our livelihood is focused there. This is why, we don’t fight against flesh and blood( human beings).we fight against that invading spirit, the opposive thoughts in our minds( Satan and his angels)-Eph.6:12. If this be the case, where are the offences that result from people’s mistreatments, lack of wealth, or, our unmet bodily-desires? It is impossible for anybody whose goal is to gain eternal life to find offence in anything or circumstance. This is because, all his/her thoughts and efforts are geared at that coming world-Heb.11:10; 1 Pet.2:11; 2 Pet.3:13. In everything, such a person deals with, one’s effort and carefulness is to make sure to remain in the word. Once that is in place, one is very sure that, the fleshly needs are assured through success in all that he/she does, for, it is God’s work to care for us; and to bless us in whatever we do in him- Psalm.55:22; 1:3. All this agrees with what Christ said, that, if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then the material things will be with us as well-Mat.6:33. It is God who created our bodies to need this material things and He is aware we need them. But they should be used according to His word-Mat.6:32. Let me finish by reminding you that, every offence comes as a result of applying the fleshly mind. This is why God firmly states that, great peace have they that keep the law; nothing can offend them-Psalm.119:165. Therefore brethren, if we are sincerely pursuing this spiritual goal, then our hearts must be filled with thoughts and desires of how we can get there. And because it is God’s plan to take us there, then His word is the only tool (knowledge) to apply in going that direction; yes, it is the sword of the spirit-Eph.6:17. It is more precious than gold and silver, with nothing that can compare with it-Psalm.119:72;Prov.8:8. Do you want to live above offences, a life of freedom, packed with peace and happiness? If yes, keep the commandments of God, for, this is the only true life there is-Isa.48:17.
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