The Lord spoke to me as the wind blew strongly through my windows shaking the blinds. He said there has been a strong wind blowing and it was not the wind of His Holy Spirit. This was a noisy wind instilling fear in many. This wind was causing the bruised reeds I saw to push into each other and rub each other causing other reeds to bend even further over and become more bruised.
I heard the Lord say, So is My church doing to each other. They are bruising each other. They are allowing the winds of offense to come blowing in and make so much noise. There are those taking up offense, and those trying to defend themselves from the ones feeling offended. Great is the noise and the damage of offense in your lives and in the lives of those you touch with this offense, which is so strongly upon you. How loud the offense vibrates in your being and slowly but surely destroys you. It causes anger, bitterness and un-forgiveness, to the extent that you can barely love or care for one another.
One bruised reed bruises other reeds.
Then He said, It is within your power to stop this wind from blowing and bruising any further. You can rise up and close the windows through which they come in.
What windows do you have open today?
How easily are you moved by this wind of offense?
In what areas of your life are you most susceptible to being offended?
Why do you think that is?
How much in your life have you allowed to be destroyed because of this?
How many relationships or friendships have you let slip away because of offense?
How many people that you hold dear are you quick to offend when you get offended?
If you are quick to offend, you are ushering in the wind, and giving momentum to the spirit of offense.
He also said, There are many, many bruised reeds in My body just being blown in every direction. Who will stop that wind? Who will stop the offense? Who will close the window? Who will go and minister to the bruised and see healing come and not just let them fall to the ground and die? Who will love them? Who will restore them? Who will reach out their hands and be My hands to them? Who will die to self so that another can live? My people must rise up and do something about this wind of offense before it destroys and brings to ruin too much in your lives and those around you. Put a stop to it in your own lives. Do not take on the offense...choose rather to forgive. Forgive and you will experience life. Take on the offense and see death creep into your bones. Come to Me, give these offenses to Me so I may heal, I may restore. Then turn and restore your brothers and sisters. Let restoration and love guide your heart and be your goal, it is certainly My goal.
2 Corinthians 2:5-11
Forgiveness for the Sinner - If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extentnot to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgivenif there was anything to forgiveI have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.