Help Us: Overcome Offense!

Proverbs 18:17-19

NKJV

^“17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

¹⁸ The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

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

THE “FEELS”

Feelings are beautiful. They subconsciously express what we believe. Feelings also reveal the fruit of every word we’ve consumed and deemed truth. Feelings are like divinely installed barometers purposed help us make informed choices in life. Our Creator gifted them. This means, it’s in our best interest to seek our Maker to learn what to do with them. Though this notion sounds like common sense, in personal experience, it wasn’t common practice.

DUAL FUEL

Some feelings can distort perspective, especially if we’re unable to properly identify or communicate them. Not knowing where to place them can also throw us off course. For example, if we believe a lie, whether drawn of our own conclusions or someone else’s, we subconsciously make a covenant with the source of it. If God is the source, it bears the fruit of the Spirit. In that case, the agreement is safe, true, and purposed for our good. If the source is the enemy, the agreement is a lie. It’s also a deceptive spiral that uses our own choices and power against us. The lie will always bare the “works of the flesh”.

THE CAGE OF OFFENSE

Offense is fierce, resistant and unyielding. Offense is something many of us have struggled with. Some are still fighting to overcome it. Strong’s Concordance notes offense as the Greek word “skandalon”, which means “a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare, a stumbling block…” . The word help study further stated that offense is “the trigger of a trap (the mechanism closing a trap down on the unsuspecting victim)” . Metaphorically speaking, it says an offense is “putting a negative cause-and-effect relationship into motion”; “how someone is caught by their own devices (like their personal bias, carnal thinking)”.

EXUSE ME??????

MY GOD!

What an eye opener!!!

TAKE YOUR POWER BACK

The teachings of Jesus in the parable of the sower, in Mark 4:14-17 reveals the deception and misfortune a “stony heart” yields. Even if offenses are justifiable, in order to avoid ensnarement, we must release it. Forgiveness frees us from the traps that bare unfruitfulness in our own lives. We have the power revoke or allow what takes residence within us.

Forgiveness is God’s will for us. It’s independent of our “offender’s” will, behavior or acceptance. We’re also instructed to love and pray for those who wrong us. Matthew 18:15-22 shares practical steps towards forgiveness. May we be patient and gracious with ourselves in the process, trusting God in every step.

EARNEST PRAYERS

The Bible says, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”. It also says, where two or three are gathered in Jesus name, he is in the midst. Furthermore, “where any two touch and agree upon anything, it shall be done” and all things are possible to them that believe.

May God’s grace and protection keep us from the traps and snares of offense. May we present our truths and broken hearts before God to receive the healing necessary to experience true freedom. May we walk in liberty and live in love. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.

1. Offense is captivity the word of God can break.
2. Don’t let offense create “a trap, stumbling block or negative cause-and-effect relationship into motion”.
3. Forgiveness is the true path to freedom, healing, success and happiness.
4. God really does “bind up the broken hearted and set the captive free”.

New to the faith?

• TikTok
• YouTube
• Link
• RSS Feed

SOURCE REFERENCES

Proverbs 18:17-19, Isaiah 61:1-3, James 5:16, Matthew 19:19-22, Galatians 5:13, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 3:3-4, Matthew 5:43-48, Offense #4625. Galatians 5:19-21, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Jeremiah 31:3, John 6:44, John 14:6 Mark 9:23, Matthew 22:37-40, James 1:2-4, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Psalm 91, The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13, Biblegateway.com, Biblehub.com.