The Rock of Offense
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· 5 viewsGod offends the mind in order to reveal and reach the heart.
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The Rock of Offense
The Rock of Offense
Text
Text
Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
And he shall be for a sanctuary; But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, And be snared, and be taken.
Now that’s interesting, isn’t it?
We’ve got the prophet implying that the Lord is a shelter or a refuge. And that’s cool. But then he turns that on its head.
The One he calls a “rock” (and I could spend a lot of time showing several places in the Old Testament where God is described as a rock)… but this One called a “rock”… He’s a rock for His people who trust Him, but against those who refuse to believe. So this is specifically talking about how the Jews would reject Jesus and not see Him for the Messiah. We know the Bible says that He is the “stone that the builders rejected.” And He’s become the chief cornerstone!
It applies to us as well. To people who are in error or in need of course correction, He would either be some sort of boulder over which a man falls in the dark, or a loose rock that springs a trap on them.
The lego you step on in the middle of the night…
The grain of salt that lands in the open wound…
I’m going to talk about this misunderstood and under-appreciated attribute of God tonight. Hopefully, in such a way that changes how you see your personal struggles.
{TITLE: “THE ROCK OF OFFENSE”}
Intro
Intro
Unreasonable Assumptions
Unreasonable Assumptions
By nature, our minds make quick assumptions.
It’s likely you’ve made assumptions about me or the message I’m going to deliver based on the last few minutes.
We make assumptions about people, too. A certain type of clothing or way of speaking, and we immediately put them into a category.
You know, here awhile back I became interested in archaeology. And particularly, how people have walked all over growed-up places and didn’t realize what was right under them.
BEFORE - Ancient Greek Stadium
AFTER - Ancient Greek Stadium
BEFORE - Great Ziggurat of Ur - built 4,000 years ago
AFTER - Great Ziggurat of Ur - built 4,000 years ago
BEFORE - Chichen-Itza (Mexico)
AFTER - Chichen-Itza (Mexico)
Assumptions About God
Assumptions About God
As Christians, sometimes we have wrong assumptions about how God deals with us.
Maybe you’re familiar with this little beauty: “The Spirit is a gentleman, who will never barge in but who politely stands at the door, quietly knocking and patiently waiting.”
There’s a notion out there that the Holy Ghost is shy. And if we want the Spirit to move, we get very quiet and still. If a baby so much as whimpers, we might quench the Spirit!
I’d have you know that the Lord is not that weak. And His power remains active and present even in times that we act as if it’s gone to sleep.
In the quietest of prayer meetings, there are choruses of angels!
But there’s a certain belief in Christianity that our view of “order” should always prevail in the moving of the Spirit. For sure, Scripture speaks on order in the Church. Paul told the Corinthians not to forbid tongues or prophecy, but to “let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:4).
Let all things be done decently and in order.
So, I want to make this point here: Paul was giving instruction to bridle people who are operating in their flesh. But his instruction has been interpreted by many in such a way to suggest that the Holy Ghost will operate only in ways that conform to our sense of order and respectability.
But that was NOT the case in the Old Testament, in the early Church, or in revivals throughout history!
And there are two facts that become abundantly clear:
First, the Holy Ghost does not appear to be overly concerned about our reputations.
I would say that the very first outpouring of the Spirit didn’t exactly do much to enhance the respectability of the Upper Room people.
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Some seemed to be drunk. I can imagine Peter preaching his Acts 2 sermon while still feeling the effects of the Spirit infilling.
Peter turned and preached to the Pharisees, who were deeply offended at what was happening with all the apostles. There were devout Jews who were scoffing at the apostles: “They are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13).
So, it’s clear that their behavior might have seemed out of order to these religious leaders, but it was undoubtedly the work of the Spirit, right?
So now for the second fact: when we’re talking about the Spirit dealing with us… in contrast to the polite, shy, gentlemanly image we often have of the Lord, sometimes He intentionally offends people.
I just want that to settle in a little.
God knew that many would be offended by the foolishness of the gospel (1 Cor. 1:21-23).
Paul warned the Galatians not to seek to remove the “offense of the cross” (Gal. 5:11).
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
The fact is… the gospel is sometimes very offensive, by God’s design.
The Rock of Offense
The Rock of Offense
The Intentional Offense
The Intentional Offense
Sometimes, God intentionally offends people.
There’s a good example of this in John 6. Jesus had fed five thousand people by multiplying the fish and the loaves. (The catfish and hushpuppies, as it were). And then, they started expecting Him to prove Himself with greater signs; something even more dramatic than multiplying food or healing people.
They started looking for a parting of the Red Sea equivalent or a calling fire down from heaven. So, they just come out and asked Him: “What sign can You do for us to believe on You?”:
They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Basically, they were asking Him to do the manna-from-heaven thing again. And He didn’t do that for them. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven… and I’m telling you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.”
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Now, when He started talking like that, something shifted out there that day.
“This ‘ole boy was talking about us chewing on His arm and drinking His blood.”
Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?
And then, a few verses down, we find that:
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
So what happened here is that Jesus offended them religiously by saying that He was the bread that came down from heaven. “I am God.”
He offended their expectations by refusing to give them another great sign.
He offended their sensibility and dignity by suggesting that they eat His flesh and drink His blood.
Scripture says that they complained about Him and even “quarreled amongst themselves” (John 6:52).
And what I’m trying to convey to you today is that, throughout the Bible, God is revealed as One who offends and confounds those who think they have everything figured out. Isaiah referred to Jesus as “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense (Is. 8:14).
And he shall be for a sanctuary; But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Now, Jesus knew their hearts that day - just like He knows our hearts today. He knew that those who followed Him… there were following Him with mixed motives. So, He determined that He was going to reveal their hearts by intentionally offending their minds.
And by offending people’s minds with His methods, God reveals the pride that lies hidden in their hearts. And quite often this happens in the process of the preached Word.
Naaman Gets Offended
Naaman Gets Offended
Now, here’s another example:
There was a brother named Naaman. Naaman was the commander of an army. And he was severely plagued with leprosy.
And with great desperation, he was determined to see Elisha - even though he was a Jewish prophet. Elisha and Israel were an enemy for Naaman. So when Naaman shows up, Elisha doesn’t even bother to come out of his house to see him, even though he had travelled so far. Instead, he sends a message to him:
And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.”
Sounds like a pretty good deal to you and me. But Naaman, who was a prominent military leader of Syria, was strongly offended by the way Elisha treated him.
Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
Now, I do want to say here that, I’ve known some obnoxious spiritual people who made it a practice to offend people. But I want to point out that God’s offense is different, because it is redemptive. And I think that we need to come to understand what God’s ultimate objection is: REDEMPTION. He tends toward mercy (Abraham’s Intercession).
So, “Why would God offend someone?” He offends people’s minds to reveal their hearts - for redemption!
Maybe this scripture will carry a little more weight in light of what I’m talking about:
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Most translations say “oppose” the proud. Like a rock in someone’s way, tripping them up in their normal way of life…
…but isn’t it interesting… sometimes you don’t realize the seriousness of something until you’ve been SHOOK UP or TRIPPED UP.
I think it’s interesting that 1 Peter 5 uses this same phrase when talking about submission:
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
For Naaman, God had to deal with his stumbling block of pride. And that was the first step to his healing, which he did receive when he became humbly obedient to Elisha’s words.
Part of Naaman’s journey to healing was tripping over a rock of offense!
Blessed Is He Who Is Not Offended
Blessed Is He Who Is Not Offended
The most commonly used Greek word in the New Testament for “offend” is also translated “to stumble.” And the Greek word is skandalizo, from which our English word scandal is derived.
So what God does sometimes scandalizes or offends the mind of His own people. And by offending people’s minds, He lifts to the surface and reveals the things hidden deep in their hearts.
Have you ever felt that when you’re being ministered to? Something just like is brought forth in your spirit (that perhaps you didn’t even realize was there) and God is supernaturally dealing with it! That’s REAL MINISTRY! Not sermonizing or tickling ears! The Holy Ghost is at work!!! Things are being felt and realized by people present!
Their unrealized lack of hunger for God and lack of humility rises up to the surface. Sometimes the only way to make it come up to be dealt with is for us to encounter a strong word or an uncomfortable circumstance.
Something very common today is rumble strips in the road. It’s designed to hopefully make you aware or wake you up if you’re falling asleep. It’s that strong prod to get back where you should be.
I remember hearing DJ Hill preach recently that the guardrails are biblical absolutes. The rumble strip is the voice of the pastor, the man of God in your life, setting a higher standard than the guardrail to keep you straight. And the line that’s even closer to the car is your personal standard (to keep far from entering the rumble strip and the guardrail).
I’m not particularly fond of rumble strips, but I sure do need a strong shaking sometimes to make my spiritual steering better.
There are some that trip on the rock. And they stay in a spirit of offence. They don’t grow from it. They’re offended. Let me read you this verse:
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
That verse right there is why I’m not going to resist when God starts correcting my heart… Because no matter what happens - you’ll never be able to make me mad enough or offended me enough to go to hell!
As a matter of fact, I’ll be glad to be offended into heaven!
Like Apollos in Acts, we all need to know “the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26).
And so, while Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), He is also “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (Is. 8:14).
He can be whatever He needs to be for my development!
He IS the Rock of All Ages. He’s also a rock of offense!
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
For the Pharisees, He was certainly a rock of offense… but one they wouldn’t learn and change from. They allowed the offense to become anger. And that anger ushered in a cross.
And men and women reveal their attitude to God by their faith in Christ or rejection of Him.
Agents of Crucifixion
Agents of Crucifixion
Now, one other thing I want to speak to you is that there is another way that God forms us and raises out our imperfections. And that’s by intentionally putting people and situations in our path that we are to deal with, whether we like it or not. Because they are Agents of Crucifixion.
There were relationships that had to be in order for the crucifixion of Jesus to happen.
There had to be a Judas. Jesus had to endure His betrayal.
There had to be a Roman Guard. Jesus had to endure the whip.
There had to be a Pilate. Jesus had to receive a verdict that was unjust.
At the time, it was hard to take. But Jesus received it all and went on. As He would tell His disciples, “these things must needs be” (Mark 13:7).
And in order for me to become all of who He wants me to become, there are parts of life that “must needs be.”
God’s overall goal for us is that we “be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
We’re to take on His image… we are to “put on the mind of Christ”… we obey the Gospel in His death, burial, and resurrection… and I also believe that many of the struggles we go through in life are needed… in order for me to become more like Him!
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
As a matter of fact, just at the start of the time when crucifixion was about to take its first steps, we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying. Gethsemane means “to be pressed.” As in grapes.
And there, in the Garden of Pressing, what happens? Jesus begins to cry tears of blood. Like grapes being pressed!
He had to be pressed. And I speak to you: we all deal with our own Garden of Pressing.
“Why?!”
“These things must needs be.”
“But for what reason?!”
So we will be conformed to the image of Christ.
“The Devil is attacking me!”
No he’s not. Stop that. Sometimes, but not always. God has ordered some things to be… for my development.
“That’s not fair!”
In our eyes, it’s often not. But from His vantage point, it’s perfection, if we’ll receive it. It brings us to a place where we look more like Him!
There are people who blame others for everything they go through. And they stay bitter and unchanged all the way to the grave. Some things ARE because of other people - but most are because of us and what we need.
We have to embrace our placement and live in growth and power and anointing!
“By His stripes we are healed” - by what means will God draw great things out of us? Surely, some of it will come by enduring agents of crucifixion.
Conclusion
Conclusion
“We’re enrolled in Christ Wilderness University. It’s tough. And you never graduate.” - Scott Shelton
I want you to know something - everything you’ve been through… it’s been for a REASON!
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
God is bringing together every single part of your life! Battles, victories, struggles, wins - and He is going to have a finished product that glorifies Him!!!