Jesus said, “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” (Matthew 24:10) History is laced with happiness interspersed with offense and hatred. When the enemies of Christianity accuse the church of begetting wars and commotions, they are right and wrong. They are wrong to suggest the true expressions of the church are guilty, but they are right when they accuse many within the church world of promoting offense and hatred. Nothing is so ugly and impossible to hide as offense within the very family of God. We know the Bible is the honest Word of God because it never hides the culprits that have lurked within. The devil would not be much of a devil if he did not attack where light is the brightest and hope is the purest.

Offense is sharper than a razor. It whittles the heart into shreds. Homes have been destroyed with only a few ounces of offense. An ounce of offense is worth a ton of destruction. Church families shining in a community like a thousand lights have been reduced to a fading ember by one dark, offended soul that spreads venom like wildfire. Offense can rise like a mountain until it covers the valley of prosperity and beauty. Offense is bitter, angry, rebellious, and destructive. Offense will not give up until something or someone is visible on the ash heap of despair. Offense takes no prisoners and has no pity. Offense is all out war.

Our political world is full of offense in all directions. The educational world has adopted and promoted “politically correct speech” as a helpless antidote to offense. The church world has even junked the name of Jesus in prayer as an offering to quiet the liberals offended by the cross. The present theme of the evangelical world is “sinner sensitive” because anything that names sin or even looks holy is offensive. Offense has marched down the aisles of our great houses of God and stripped the people of the “saving Gospel.” The “saving Gospel” is too offensive to the unsaved. Offense has taken the day right before the King comes exactly like He said it would.

Reaching offended people is practically impossible. Offense reaches to the deepest level of human sin and human emotions. Solomon rightly described the power of offense to hold its prisoner steadfast to the end. He said, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” (Proverbs 18:19) Offense takes the victim completely captive and holds them with the powers of hell. The only satisfaction in offense is the blood of the source. Offense can never be satisfied as long as it is in control. Jesus Christ recognized the power of offense and declared radical action to remove the scourge. “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-20)

The Son of God warned us of the destruction of offense and also declared strong judgment to anyone that offends innocent souls. “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!” (Matthew 18:6-7)

The Son of God, the very wisdom of His Father, saw the soul guilty of spreading offense as hopeless and deserving of quick judgment and death. Offended people are almost totally beyond reach. They are often beyond reach because the nature of offense is always to accuse others. Offended people will not accept blame. Everybody is wrong but them.

There is one cure for offense and it is the cleansing Blood of the Son. Any person full of offense must confess the sin and personal responsibility for their guilt. No one said it better than Apostle John. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) Even if the person has hurt no one but himself and if the offensive action was from someone else, a person that is offended must take responsibility for the captivity they are under. When anyone confesses what is in the heart and forsakes all that his or her heart has suffered, the Son of God will purify that heart and light will spring forth as the morning sun. Do not wait to confess and forsake this offense because it only gets stronger by the hour.

It is a comforting joy to know that angels literally protect the Lord’s church. Of course, I am not speaking of the actual sanctuary, as important as it may be. The body of the church is His pastors and the flock of saints doing His business and worshipping Him. In the opening chapter of the Book of Revelation, we see seven churches and seven angels assigned to those churches. This is seen as a mystery of His glorious activities on the earth. “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:20) The candlestick is a fitting type of the church now to be the “light of the world” in His stead. The stars are His cherubims or mighty angels, which are seen in His right hand or clearly revealed at His command. Their duty is the physical protection and ministering to His saints in His church.

This truth has given this pastor a great sense of assurance. Apostle Paul was truly conscious of these cherubims in the midst of the New Testament church. He said, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14) Note those two words, “sent forth.” They are on a mission from the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we must learn to trust that mission as part of our defense and offense. Our Lord of the church has clearly limited Himself in our midst to our surrender and faith. When we believe the promise and live in expectancy of that promise, watch out devils.

The Book of Acts is loaded with cherubim activity. They are always male because there are no female angels. The beauty of womanhood was created long after the great expanse of angelic creations. “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30) Procreation was a marvelous gift to His human family and is reserved clearly for His earthly kingdom. God is not a confused mixture of manhood and womanhood. He is a masculine God and any idea of a co-redemptrix Mary is a diabolical lie out of the pit. These cherubims could enter a locked prison and lead the saints right out to safety without notice or without keys. The great Creator has given his church the keys to the operation of His Spiritual kingdom and He often sends angels to unlock the doors.

When Apostle Paul was on a doomed ship in the midst of a storm, cherubims arrived at the zero hour to assist the man of God. All of the crew, the prisoners, and the apostle were facing certain death until supernatural help arrived. In obedience to the instruction of the angels, every man was promised safety. The island of barbarians became the house of God for a divine and sovereign visitation. The island chiefÂ’s father was grievously sick but was healed by Paul, and so were many others. The report of this revival is reserved for heaven because it will surely be known on the day of the churchÂ’s full revelation.

When the church arrives at the wedding chamber directly in front of the Father’s throne in Revelation chapter four, this great host of cherubims that have been assigned to every true New Testament church will be strikingly present. These great angels have been the keepers of God’s saints on earth for two thousand years and they will protect the Raptured throng as we slip up through the steep of the sky. Demons, along with Satan, have their kingdom as the “prince of the power of the air.” (Ephesians 2:2) There will certainly be an army trying to stop the Rapture. The cherubims, acting for the Lord Jesus Christ, will be a guard to us in that triumphant moment. One great spokesman of truth announced that our Lord would come with thousands of His angels. “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.” (II Thessalonians 1:7)

We see these cherubims in the symbolic number of “four living creatures” in Revelation chapter four present with the twenty-four (symbolic of a multitude) elders all before the throne of the great Creator (Jehovah God). The church was never assigned to do anything without the cherubims standing guard. I have read of many instances where great men of God were protected from angry revival resisters. Converted sinners have told of lying in wait for men of God only to be scared out of their wits by angels traveling in company with that servant of God. The angels were often unseen by that servant. Back when men were trusting God instead of the world’s system of protection, such stories were the church’s insurance program.

Nothing has changed in the kingdom of the New Testament church. Cherubims are still assigned to every called and anointed pastor. Every New Testament church has at least one cherubim on guard for the King. Our educated ministry of religious humanism has forfeited their activities, but they await our return to GodÂ’s plan for His church. ItÂ’s certainly shameful when GodÂ’s angels must stand in silence while hell is ravaging the houses of God. LetÂ’s change our church programs back to wait and believe for a sovereign visitation.

The state of the church world is best defined as a sanitized club, where the Spirit of God has been effectively barred at the door. Holy Ghost activity would be disruptive in these churches to the organized schemes of religion and church life, where all human sins are treated instead of being cleansed and forgiven. Psychology has replaced the blood, and lecturing has replaced the anointed preacher. The Holy Ghost has been grieved; therefore, He has absented Himself and waits for an invitation to return in all His glory for Christ. Why has He been grieved so severely? Because He only acts sovereignly and cannot be programmed. He is a Divine member of the Godhead and only possesses the temple where Christ is the King.

The Son of God has no presence in this world or the church except in His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the omnipresence of the Father and the Son. The Father sits on His throne in Heavenly Jerusalem and the Son sits at the FatherÂ’s right hand. The Son of God taught us that if we blaspheme the Holy Ghost, there is no forgiveness because all spiritual activity flows by the Spirit. In Saint John chapter ten, the Spirit is seen as the porter at the door of eternal salvation, which is Christ. There is only one porter that opens the door into the treasure trove of eternal activity. Grieve Him away and you are eternally lost.

Four warnings are given in Holy Scripture concerning our relationship and submission to the Holy Ghost. We are warned not to “quench Him,” not to “grieve Him,” not to “do despite unto Him,” and not to “blaspheme Him.” It is easy to see the progression of this attitude towards His mastery in our midst. To quench Him is to pull back or stifle His divine leading or drawing of Christ in us. The Scripture says, “Quench not the Spirit.” (I Thessalonians 5:19) This is spoken in conjunction with a list of instructions about Godly attitudes. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of righteousness and Biblical obedience. Those promptings of the Spirit must be obeyed or we “quench the Spirit.” He will not or cannot develop the Godly life in you unless you learn to be sensitive and obey quickly. The Word of God is His tool to create you in Christ’s likeness.

To “grieve Him” is to cause Him pain in your resistance or attitudes. The Holy Book says, “…Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God…” (Ephesians 4:30) Again, this instruction is connected to the lifestyle of Biblical obedience. The next great warning tied to this warning is, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you…” (Ephesians 4:31)

To do “despite unto Him” is the result of the first two warnings. Christians or sinners that know the truth but refuse to walk in obedience will progress to this dire condition. Listen to this warning, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29) This warning is to people that know the truth and have either had or seen great grace manifested, but hate the restriction of God’s commandments and laws and proceed to disobey the truth. The Holy Ghost will not be a part of rebellion and stubbornness.

The bottom tier of this resistance to our one and only path to Christ and God is to “blaspheme Him.” Only God can determine this point of disobedience. Jesus said, “…But unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.” (Luke 12:10) Stepping over that line is the end of grace for the soul that so sins against God. A person may reach this point in a variety of actions or convictions. All of these attitudes of resistance to the SpiritÂ’s work will most likely play a part. The warning is clear that we must never cross the first line of “quenching” His holy work in our life. He seeks only to draw you to salvation and to form Christ in you. He is the best friend a soul ever had. Do not wound Him.

Nothing of emotional value or inward transformation can match the “first love” of a genuinely converted soul. Moving from darkness of sin to the light of perfect forgiveness is absolutely supernatural. The weight of the sin nature is crushing, but the weight of guilt from the transgressed laws of God is devastating. It is no wonder that our world rejects anointed preaching because it magnifies sin and its results, both here and for eternity. When great Holy Ghost conviction suddenly begins to awaken human consciousness in a Sovereign move of God, people will be so deeply affected that they will not stand on their feet, but crumple to the floor. When you research the Welsh Revival, the Hebrides Island Revival, etc., you find the common occurrence of sinners crumbling under the weight of conviction of sins and their lost state.

After a true experience of Holy Ghost conviction and the deep event of being born again, the “first love” or initial love of that soul for God is overwhelming. The only possible example that is even close to this joy of “first love” with Christ is the joy of falling in love with one’s God-ordained husband or wife. The book of the Song of Solomon is a rendering picture of human love compared to Divine love. The language of love in this book is beautiful. My wife Juanita, the queen of Joseph, and I have experienced that passionate abandonment to one another. But, this human picture of love that Solomon beautifully displays is still far inferior to Divine love that will be manifest in this “first love” between Christ and His new disciple. Jesus described this love with the parable of the hidden treasure. When this treasure is discovered, the first thought and act is to sell all you have and purchase that treasure. “…when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” (Matthew 13:46) It’s love like no other love.

Satan’s greatest attack against every soul that has discovered this “first love” is to destroy it. It is impossible to go back to the old life until and unless that newborn saint leaves that love. Our Father has always intended that our love for Him and Christ would keep us in every trial. It is supernatural because it is two-way. You cannot passionately love Him without being the recipient of a great love flooding your heart and soul. He never quits loving His entire world, but there is no capability to receive His love without a loving heart to Him. Our intense and passionate love to Him is forever the doorway for His love through Christ to us.

The loss of “first love” is a plague in the church world. We do not lose it by accident; we must leave it by negligence or choice. Sadly, the majority of those that leave their “first love” never regain it. They often continue to be religious, but do so only in a lifeless way. The majority of souls that leave their “first love” have no capacity to admit their loss. They either don’t see it or are too proud to confess it. One of the greatest truths of this subject is that you will never lose your joy of salvation and great delight of worship if you never leave your “first love.”

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, made of great importance our “first love” and promised strict discipline for its loss. After speaking of the faithfulness and dedication of His church at Ephesus, He stated, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy “first love”. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

Laboring for Him is not as important to Him as our love of Him. He wants a passionate love for Himself filling our heart and soul. Hard, dedicated labor in the Kingdom loses all of its value when it becomes rote servanthood without soul brotherhood. He wants my heart, not just my back. He wants me to worship Him and to pour out myself in His presence with the joy of my whole heart.

If you labor without the expressions and actions of love, you will soon find that a distance from God has settled upon your life and it will be a joyless life. Now, comes His discipline, “…repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:5) ThatÂ’s a serious warning and He does not say what He does not mean. When you leave or lose interest in your “first, passionate love” with Christ; you will lose your place in His will. Whatever you do in the spiritual realm will be empty and meaningless until you repent. I do not believe that good, faithful workers who are in this state, but refuse to repent and return to their “first love”, are ready for the Rapture. I beg you, if you are in this condition, solve it in your closet of prayer immediately.