Offence Blocks What Honour Releases

“He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” — Mark 6:5 (NIV)

In the Bible Jesus returned to His hometown and initially people were amazed at Him.

Then suddenly they became, and I quote, “offended”.

The Greek word used is scandalizo, which carries the idea of stumbling over something you placed in your own path! In other words, offence primarily trips up the offended person.

The people of Nazareth became so familiar with Jesus’ humanity that they lost sight of His divinity. They could no longer receive from Him because they reduced Him merely to “Mary’s son.”

And Scripture says something astonishing:

“He could not do any miracles there…” — Mark 6:5 (NIV)

Not would not.

Could not.

Dishonour restricted the flow of heaven.

This is deeply important.

Where there is dishonour, miracles diminish. Where offence dominates, grace struggles to flow. Where people constantly criticise, compare, gossip and humanise one another, the atmosphere around the altar becomes clogged spiritually.

Because honour is deeply connected to faith.

Faith perceives the grace of God in people. Dishonour only sees weakness.

Seeing the Divinity in Each Other

Years ago, while ministering overseas, a very sick Christian leader was brought to me for prayer.

Immediately I sensed something difficult in his spirit. He did not truly believe anything would happen. Not because he doubted God in theory, but because he only saw me as a relatively young, inexperienced man. His perception blocked expectation.

As I laid hands on him, I sensed absolutely nothing flowing spiritually. It felt like touching wood with electricity — there was simply no conductivity, so there was no power. (If dishonour is like wood to electricity, faith and honour are like steel… HIGHLY conductive!)

There was no power and no healing and the man later died.

Not long afterwards, while struggling physically myself, I was asked to pray for someone who was very ill. As I was quite ill myself, I only went reluctantly and a little out of duty! Honestly, I felt spiritually flat that day.

But when I walked into the room, the family looked at me with enormous expectancy. They believed God would move through me before I believed it myself. This time it was like steel to electricity – Suddenly the power of God began to flow powerfully!

The atmosphere crackled with presence and power. Their honour drew upon the grace gift God had placed within me. The lens of their hearts activated heaven and there was an amazing miracle!

What changed?

Their faith.

Honour awakens gifts. Faith calls forth grace. People begin drawing divine gold from one another because they are perceiving Christ rather than merely flesh.

Lord cleanse our eyes!

Honour Creates an Atmosphere for Heaven

One of the great tragedies of offence is that it blinds people to the very grace God is trying to send into their lives.

Dishonour reduces people to their flaws, weaknesses and humanity. But honour sees beyond imperfection and recognises the fingerprints of God upon a person’s life.

This does not mean blindly idolising leaders or ignoring wisdom and discernment. But it does mean learning to recognise the gifts, grace and presence of Christ in one another.

Because heaven often flows through imperfect vessels.

And when a church learns to honour, encourage and believe the best about one another, faith rises. Expectancy grows. The atmosphere changes.

The altar becomes conductive once again.

An extract from The ALTAR by Jarrod Cooper. Order You Copy Below 👇

Believe & Confess Meditation & Declaration

I will guard my heart from offence, criticism and dishonour so the flow of God’s grace remains unhindered in my life (Mark 6:5). I will choose honour, encouragement and faith-filled expectation toward the people God places around me (Romans 12:10). My eyes will be opened to recognise the grace gifts and presence of Christ within others (Ephesians 4:7). I will refuse gossip, comparison and cynical attitudes that clog the atmosphere around the altar spiritually (Hebrews 12:15). Faith and honour will create expectancy within my heart for God to move powerfully again (Matthew 13:58). I will perceive people through the lens of grace rather than merely through human weakness or familiarity (2 Corinthians 5:16). The Holy Spirit will cleanse my heart, renew my vision and help me draw life, wisdom and encouragement from the Body of Christ (Philippians 2:3-4).

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THE ALTAR

Creating lives & cultures ready to host the glory of God.

Something is stirring.

Across the world, hunger for God’s presence is rising—and many are asking: how do we truly host His glory?

In The Altar, Jarrod Cooper calls us back to the place where heaven meets earth—the altar. A place of encounter, devotion, and transformation.

This book will help you:
• Deepen your personal encounter with God
• Build a lifestyle of worship
• Hear His voice clearly
• Create cultures that carry His presence

This isn’t just a book—it’s a call.
When the altar is restored, the fire falls again.

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