Can unforgiveness keep us from the banqueting table with Jesus?

Our lives are not short on opportunities to be offended. In fact, Jesus was tempted with offense until His very last breath. His cross was stationed between two other crosses with two very different men on them. One of these men cried out for mercy and the other was a tool in the enemies hand. The devil in his final assault used a thief on the cross to slander our perfect Savior and give room for Jesus to be offended before His death. If offense was received into Jesus' heart the manifold plan of salvation would have been destroyed.

Offense gives birth to bitterness and unforgiveness. Unforgiveness short circuits our relationship with God and gives legal right to our enemy to torment our lives. Many Christians have diseases, illnesses, tormented minds and souls because they will not forgive.

Recently I met with a Christian friend. Before we met I received a vision from God. I saw my friend sitting at a long, rectangular, banqueting table with a white table cloth. He had a large, eloquent plate before him inlaid with gold, and piled on the plate was food fit for a king. My friend was ready to eat with fork in hand and napkin stuffed in his shirt, but he couldn't. There was a huge black figure behind him with red eyes keeping him from eating. That figure was a demon and his name was bitterness.

When my friend and I met he shared from a place of frustration, desiring to have more experiences with God and hear His voice. I then shared the vision with him that I had before our meeting. I asked if he was holding unforgiveness toward anyone or if he had felt betrayed. His lips lifted up on one side, a kind of half smile, as if he was caught. He began to open up and share a painful experience that presented opportunity for him to become offended. I then led him in a prayer of repentance and he forgave this person by whom he was bitter towards. We bound the spirit of bitterness and unforgiveness and cast them out of his life.

I told my friend that the banqueting table I saw in the vision was the fellowship table with Jesus and that he was made to feast from this table. My friends relationship with God had been hi-jacked and he wasn't having greater experiences with God because he took the bait of offense and allowed tormentors into his life. Unforgiveness can destroy a persons life.

The devil is working feverishly to cause offense in our lives and sometimes through those we care for the most. If the devil gets us to take the bait of offense, demons are released into our lives and they will reek havoc. If we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven. Out of Gods mercy he allows demons to torment those who do not forgive in order that they might cry out and be released from the prison of unforgiveness. (Read Matthew 18:21-25, 6:14-15)

In His last breaths Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Likewise we are commanded to do the same. Every time we release forgiveness toward someone we re-present Jesus and release the kingdom of God into men's lives. Mercy triumphs over judgement. Let us feast at the banqueting table with Christ and steer clear of all offense. He who is forgiven much, loves much.

Grace and Peace,

Cody