So what perspective do we take on offense?

Offense and distancing and correction look awfully the same. The actions can look identical but the matter of the heart is what Jesus is truly looking at.  Do you lean in when people sin? Do you lean away when people sin?

Let’s get real, the only sin that really bothers you or initially offends you is when they choose themselves (ego) over you. When they don’t prefer you over themselves. When they don’t lay their life down for you? (Repenting, acknowledging, pride, refusal to embrace and own their part)

This is a Jezebel Spirit. The very definition of jezebel is: “I choose my way and not your way Lord”

WHY did God refer to jezebel in Revelation 2? Because it is the very nature of an antichrist spirit.

Why did Jesus not bring up other spirits in Revelation (ahab, absolom, pharisee, herod) BECAUSE they ALL fall under the antichrist spirit of jezebel. Ego.

“I choose my manipulative, controlling, self promoting ways instead of you Jesus.”

Sure, we don’t say that! What great Christian who knows the bible would? But our actions sure do! What’s the first sign of that fruit?

Division. Divisive ways. Pain.

Seeing others hurting over your actions. Then instead of laying down in humility…. you rise up with PRIDE. You must protect your decisions and actions and motives because your ego is wrapped around your identity. Like a python, leviathan spirit.

Want some #truth that just might set you free? Wait for it….wait for it…..wait for it….

Your sin and ego driven behavior is NOT your identity!!!!

So, go ahead and admit you were wrong and you hurt them and caused division. Lay down your “rights” cause you had none. Stop fighting against entering into the “sufferings of Jesus” Don’t try to tell me suffering doesn’t exist because, “it was finished at the cross!” As long as there is ego/self in the world, there is a Jezebel spirit at work, there is suffering.

Your identity is rooted in Christ, who is love. Who laid His life down for you. Who preferred you first. Who shared His throne and crown with you. Who sees you from a heavenly perspective.

So, what perspective do we take on others sin? How do we not enter into offense of the Heart?

It’s so simple! Prefer them over yourself!

Discipline and Prayer

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”   Matthew 18:15-20 MSG

Matt 18 protocol: Love others enough to confront their behavior in private, never exposing them, never uncovering them, never humiliating them.

Notice in level 1 of the Matt 18 protocol is the only time God calls them “brother” you wanna know why? Because level one tests the spirit you are dealing with. A true brother who sins will always lay down when confronted. A true brother may have operated out of his brokenness. It’s the beauty of brokenness.

They never meant to hurt you. They were just scared and afraid of being overlooked. This is where real Godly remorse and Unity resides.

So don’t go cross your arms and stand in a corner and hold your breath and make them come chase you to apologize. Pull your big girl/big boy panties on, strap your boots up and go to them and let them know in love how there sin hurt.

When they don’t “hear” your heart… this reveals a stronghold in their life. So bring two witnesses – someone with influence and authority over the person – and tell them how that hurt you, but moreover, how their sin hurts them.

Now your perceptive is to love them enough to bring them from darkness to light. If they still do not “hear” your heart. You are now dealing with a demon. You tested the spirit in Levels 1&2

Take a sword to that demon. Expose it to the church, body, community, organization. Humiliation (humble, humility, “tion” = the act of humbling someone cause they can’t do it themselves) is a really good motivator at times. Use their behavior as a teaching tool for the body.

If they still can’t get free (willful disobedience) cast them out like a demon. Distance yourself from them in love.

Take a sword to that demon. Stand up to the demon. When it acts like a Pharisee, treat it like a Pharisee.

Lay down to the person, (when the person shows up) when it acts like a disciple, treat it like a disciple.

Always welcoming the human back into your life through their deliverance and them consistently walking out truth…..AND ….AND….bringing reconciliation and restitution. Restitution. Speaks to true humility.