We may not totally agree with the way certain people minister—their style of delivery, what they were born with, their mannerisms, etc., but it is not our place to judge, to criticize, or to voice our opinion to anyone else.

There are ministers on TV that I can't watch. I am unable to glean from or receive from their style of delivery like I can from others. I have to continually pray as I watch them because I just don't care for yelling and screaming.

I don't care for spit flying and sweat streaming. I love to see a preacher get anointed and run back and forth in the anointing. I'm not talking about that. I love to see anointed, powerful sermons, but there are just certain types of ministry that don't minister to me like others.

But that's why there are all types. God uses different styles of ministry to reach different styles of people.

I'm just being honest with you because I want you to understand that you are not the only one who has these thoughts. If I'm flipping through the TV channels, and I see a particular minister that I may not agree with the way he/she does things, I want you to know that I put a guard over my mouth.

It's better to turn the television off than to allow myself to become critical.

I don't allow those thoughts and feelings to get down inside of me. I'm not going to allow myself to be offended and critical. I don't want to be stricken with barrenness. I want to continually have intimacy with the Father God so I can bear fruit that remains.

We must keep our heart protected. We must not be offended. We must keep the spirit of offense out.

We have to choose not to be offended. It's a choice we make minute by minute. You can finish reading this and instantly have the opportunity to be offended. It's a choice we make daily.

In the story with David and Michal, I'm sure most of us can relate to being insulted by our spouse. Are there things that your spouse did that you just can't seem to forget?

It may have even been ten years ago, and you're still walking around with that in your heart. Well, you are the one being hurt when you hold an offense.

Your life will stop progressing because of the offense, not your spouse's life. You have got to make a decision once and for all that today is the day that you will release all unforgiveness and the offenses in your heart.

And you must make a quality decision to never, never, never bring up that offense again. Don't talk about it. Don't think about it. Don't mention it. Forget it. It's over with. It's been uprooted and removed out of your heart. You are free from offenses in Jesus' Name.

Source: Conquering The Spirit Of Offense by Carolyn Savelle.
Excerpt permission granted by Jerry Savelle Publications