The Baggage Of Being Offended || Teenage Summer Baggage #7

 

TEENAGE SUMMER BAGGAGE #7:

The Baggage Of Being Offended

In Luke 17:1, Jesus addresses the reality of and response to offences, "Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come, but woe unto him, through whom they come!" 

According to dictionary.com the word offence means: “an act of stumbling; a cause or occasion of sin : stumbling block ; something that outrages the moral or physical senses.”

Offense is an act of stumbling. . .it will cause you to break your focus.  If you stumble you’re no longer concerned about where you’re going. . .but rather, the immediate desire to keep from stumbling.

I. The near impossible battle of an offense.

Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

II. The devastation of offending the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

Ephesians 4:29-30 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 

See also Galatians 5:16-18 

III. The weight of denying Jesus.

Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

IV. Trials can weigh you down to the point of offence.

Matthew 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

V. One of the end times traits is being offended.

Matthew 24:3-14 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these thingsmust come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

How do we overcome offences?

I. Deal with sin when the sin is known.

II. Don't stop loving because someone has offended you.

III. Endure through the tough times of offence.

Mother Teresa said some good Biblical things though she missed the target in some areas, listens to this it relation to responding to others and offences:

“People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish motives.

BE KIND ANYWAY.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies.

SUCCEED ANYWAY.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.

BE HONEST AND SINCERE ANYWAY.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.

BUILD ANYWAY.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.

BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow.

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.

GIVE THEM YOUR BEST ANYWAY.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God;

IT NEVER WAS BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY."

There seems to be a generation arising that gets offended at everything. We need to learn to forgive and respond according to the Spirit and not our flesh. May the Lord give rest from the aggressive, offended spirit and help us to find victory through forgiveness!

Thank you for reading,

Justyn Smith - aheartforrevival.com