No Piggy Back Rides for the Devil!

                                               No Piggy Back Rides for the Devil!

                                                              Mary Ann Wray

When I was a child we used to play a game called “Piggy Back Races” where one child would get on another’s back and race as teams to see who could get to the finish line first without falling over with their partner in tandem! With the extra weight, it not only became a test of speed but a feat of strength too! Not one single time did I ever win one of those foot races, but in the swimming pool, I managed to make it to the edge of the pool without us both toppling over!  This memory made me think about how we can unwittingly give place to the enemy of our souls by allowing his thoughts and agenda to hop on our backs and take us for a ride! His intention is to hinder or stop us in our race to the goal of Christ-Likeness altogether.  My friends, there is an insidious spirit at work within God’s house that we need to be aware of! We need to have our eyes wide open to it or we might just fall prey to it!

The Spirit of Offense (hitherto referred to as S.O.) can create a vicious cycle in the life of a believer who falls into its trap. This is a ‘blaming’ spirit and attempts to get your attention off of the Holy Spirit’s work within you and what God is doing in a local Body of Christ by focusing on petty distractions. This spirit hooks its victims at the "will" level. Perhaps when something doesn't pan out the way you wanted or something you’ve been involved in for a while seems to take a turn southward in your estimation, the S.O. is waiting there with its snare ready to captivate you at ITS will. This spirit will begin to accuse others in the Body you are connected to with thoughts that breed suspicion and ill-will. Before you know it, you’re offended at others who weren’t even directly involved, maybe even becoming resentful of the entire Body, and you may find yourself engaged in a murmuring critical spirit. If you don’t recognize what is happening, you’ll most likely walk away and become disconnected at some point or another, even altogether! Getting stuck in this cycle creates a tumble weed effect in one’s level of maturity rather than reaching spiritual maturation as a mighty oak planted in the house of the Lord (Psalm 92: 12-15). Unforgiveness and unresolved frustrations may very well cause you to fall into the same trap over and over again no matter where you go. If you leave one church offended you'll only carry that spirit with you into the next like a ‘piggy-back’ ride!  The same goes for any relationship and even in the work place. You will never reach your desired end and potential with this spirit tagging along.

The S.O. is the enemy's #1 devise to divide the Body of Christ. Satan knows we are comprised of many different and unique members who are also very human. He will capitalize on differences and weaknesses as a ‘negative’ creating a wedge to conquer unity in the Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit will use our differences and weaknesses to create interdependency, diversity and Unity of the Spirit through prayer from heart to heart rather than head to head…”Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit  in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Sprit just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all Ephesians 4: 3-6.” “After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.” Ephesians 5: 29-30

This spirit’s M.O. is to ultimately sever members from one another so that they will not function the way they were designed by God, thus minimizing the Body’s collective effectiveness. Subsequently, the Body that the Holy Spirit placed that particular member in will suffer loss as well.  Imagine losing a limb, eye, ear, hand or foot. You may survive the trauma, but you will be handicapped at some level. Severing ourselves from a Body through offense is like spiritual amputation! See what verses 12-14 & 21-26 in 1 Corinthians says…“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many…The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

As weird and creepy as the walking hand called “The Thing’ was in the 1960’s sit-com “The Adams Family”, it accurately depicts how the enemy of our souls wants to sever one member from the rest through offense. This S.O. wants to separate and isolate members from one another knowing that we can’t function effectively without the rest of the Body. Just like “Thing”, offended saints make an appearance at will or when summoned, (because by God’s design we are created to be part of a Body), but until their offenses are resolved they have difficulty getting connected to any Body. As a result, malfunction occurs creating dysfunction within the Family of God!  It doesn't have to be this way at all brothers and sisters. The Spirit of Offense can also be sabotaged! The weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal! They are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds! (2 Cor. 10: 3-7). If we don’t see this, we are operating in ignorance of the enemy’s devices and end up fighting against one another! Look what the Apostle Paul said in verse 7…”You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.”  

If we truly understand that we are members of “one another” and the fact that the enemy uses blame, accusations and gossip as a stronghold to divide us minimizing our effectiveness, we won’t fall prey to this insidious spirit.  It is important to note that the strongholds Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 10 are not some mystical beings, or ethereal malfeasant spirits floating around in the Heavenlies. Strongholds are not fallen angels that we bind and cast down with our words as such. We cast down vain imaginations that set themselves up in our thought life!

The wicked spirits in the heavenly realms are identified in Ephesians 6 and not ones we are to war against directly. That is reserved for the Lord to deal with now as He deems fit and definitely when He returns to judge all of creation. At that time we will assist the Lord in judging the angels. THEN we will be allowed to pronounce judgment on them-not now (1 Cor 6: 3). Even Michael the Archangel did NOT accuse Satan while disputing over the bones of Moses but said, “The LORD rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9). Anyone who is misguided or foolish enough to mystically enter the heavenly realm and start commanding demonic spirits and principalities over regions doesn’t understand God’s system of spiritual delegation and is opening themselves up to be Body slammed by the devil. We cast demons out of people ‘on the earth’ but operating in the Heavenly realm is the Lord’s domain (Psalms 115: 16). 

It is true that rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil are what we struggle against (Ephesians 6 12) on the earth. These are in fact responsible for formulating philosophies over regions, nations and the entire “spirit of the age” by demonically influencing man’s opinions and philosophies through a ‘world view’ and the Anti-Christ Spirit. However, we deal with their effects on humanity through preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ as Paul did on Mars Hill (Acts 17: 22) and speaking the truth with all patience to recover men from the snare of the devil who has taken them captive at his will (2 Timothy 2: 23-26)! 

We need to understand that a stronghold is like a chain comprised of many connecting links. It is formed through a series of lies, creating a mindset, opinion or philosophy in a person’s thought processes blinding man to the truth and the liberty it brings. A stronghold can be a good thing or it can be a devise of the enemy. One is based on the truth of God’s word bringing freedom and faith; the other is forged out of the enemy’s lies bringing bondage and fear. We need to understand that Satan is a strategist (an antagonistic one) and will attempt to get members in the same Body to jump on the S.O.’s band wagon whenever he can. Half-truths (the seed of a lie covered in the skin of a truth) sown into people’s minds ‘link together’ and even make sense to the ‘rational’ mind. However, the word of God is sharper than any two edged sword and discerns truth from error, the thoughts and intents of our hearts and reveals the Spirit of the Father!  For example A S.O. will piggy back off of a simple misunderstanding or a miscommunication about a meeting time or place and cause a snowball effect of thoughts and words. If the offense happens more than once and goes unresolved it can trigger a thought process and word war something like this….

”If he was a good spiritual leader he wouldn’t forget things so easily. It just brings confusion to the Body of Christ. That’s right, this place is disorganized. These leaders can’t be trusted and the volunteers don’t know what they are doing. I knew there was something ‘off’ in this church. You just confirmed what I’ve been feeling. In fact, I don’t think God is blessing here like He wants to because of all of this confusion!”

The next thing that happens is an undercurrent of discontent breeding in the House of God all because the one(s) who was offended caused others to stumble along the way. Without realizing it, that person took the devil on a ride through the entire church being used as his puppet, all because they didn’t handle the offense Biblically. When we are offended, and we WILL be because we’re all human, there is a Scriptural way of handling it (Matthew 18: 7). Yes, dealing with offense does require ‘talk’ but talking to the Father first, then the one(s) you are offended with if prayer doesn’t resolve it. Many offenses can be put to rest by simply overlooking them. “A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19: 11). But if you still need to go to a brother or sister keep in mind that going in the wrong spirit won’t bring healing. It will only perpetrate the offense. We must approach him/ her with humility realizing we’ve offended others plenty of times perhaps without even realizing it. So then, what did Jesus have to ‘say’ about offense?

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “Matthew 5: 21-24

The Aramaic term “Raca” expressed complete contempt for a man, viewing him as stupid i.e. a "numbskull" who acted presumptuously and thoughtlessly. Insinuating or calling another brother or sister “Raca” so to speak, is speaking judgment over them. Jesus said the measure we mete will be meted back to us! If we can recognize the enemy at the first hint of offense, a stronghold will not be created. But if you find yourself feeling disconnected or haven’t realized your full spiritual potential, you may be suffering from a S.O. The good news is this strong hold can easily be broken. Prayerfully, go to the one you are in an offense with, and humbly seek to make peace. The Lord once told me that the “High Road” is the “Lowly Road. It’s not a matter of being right or wrong. We are already made the righteousness of God in Christ! It’s a matter of living in peace with one another as the Family of God. My mother used to always say this and it definitely relates to gossip, “There are three sides to a story: yours, mine and the truth.” Everybody has an opinion and we tend to look at things from our own perspective believing we are ‘right’. Only The Father knows the whole truth and sees the entire picture. We need to pray for His perspective on things. We only know and prophesy in part anyway. To be God’s child means we seek peace with our brethren (Romans 12: 18). After all, we will spend eternity together and may be neighbors in glory! “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5: 9

Forgiveness and focus will keep us centered on the path of mercy. God is after character development and wants to see Christ-Likeness reflected in our nature when we experience the trespasses of others.  If we follow the 77 rule we’ll win (Matthew 18: 21-35). Our offenses and struggles are meant to grow us; not throw us off course, or sever us from one another. God forbid we ‘cannibalize’ the Body of Christ rather than seek to be reconciled through the grace and mercy of our Lord! “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5: 15). Let’s be zealous for gifts that edify not tear apart! (1 Cor. 14: 12). As seekers of His Kingdom we should look for His righteousness, peace and joy and resist the temptation towards self-righteousness, pettiness and jealousy!