Have you ever been offended by someone? I have and it's not fun. Have you ever offended anyone? There are two kinds of offences...One is what someone has done to me, and the other one is what I have done to someone else. Both of these are serious issues that cannot be allowed to remain in our lives regardless of how long ago they have been. So, how are we to Scriptually handled offenses?
What do you do when someone hurts us. Many just leave the church and go on somewhere else. Others stay around and return the offence through anger, bitterness, words, attitudes and thoughts. But how are we suppose to deal with it and what does the Bible say on this subject?
Mar 6:1-6 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.Notice what happens in this passage....Jesus came into His own country...on the Sabbath day he began to teach in the Synagogue...The people hearing Him were astonished and wanted to know where He got the wisdom from which he spake, and where the mighty works came from... Then came the offence...We know who you are! Once the offence came in the release for miracles stopped and unbelief settled in their hearts... When you allow the devil to keep in your heart an offence you will hinder the work and the power of the Holy Spirit. Just think of what that town missed out on! You will cease to be effective when there are offenses against you. I believe that only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you what areas you have offended. With a sincere heart He will open your eyes.
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.There's more to consider....
Matthew 5:21-26 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
I want to share with you what the Holy Spirit spoke into my own heart. I had a long trail of offences I have left behind me. People I had offended by my actions and indiscretions. Little did I know that by not making them right I had opened up gates for the enemy to come into my life and have access to my spirit man. I became hindered in my prayer life...hindered in my own personal relationships with my loved ones...and hindered in my own ministry. Why? Because satan had gained a foothold through my offences. The above passage is a very serious one to consider. Even when you look at Paul's teaching on the Lord's table you see the danger of offences not made right...
1Corinthians 11:27-30 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
But you say, "I have done nothing to them! Why should I be the one to make it right?" We are never responsible for what others do to us...only for our own actions. However, some may be offended at us due to something we are not even aware of. This offence must be made right. I have often asked the Holy Spirit to search my heart for anything thing that I am unaware of. He sees all! I have gone back many times and tried to make it right through forgiveness and honest confession. It has not been easy but it has been rewarding spiritually.
If you go back to the above Scripture in Matthew 5:21-26 you can easily see something that happens to us if we fail to make it right...Jesus said, "LEAVE THERE THY GIFT and go thy way, FIRST, be reconciled to thy brother..." If you fail to do this, then you will be turned over to the judge and cast into prison...Prison is a spiritual place of isolation from the true intimacy with God. Jesus said, "you will not come out until you have paid the uttermost farthing..." In other words, "Until the debt is cleared..." Time does not remove the offence! Not even death can remove the offence...Only true and honest confession to the one offended can become right before God...then He will open up the prison and set you free.
For any of you that are reading this...go now to your prayer closet and get courage to return to your past and make it right. Ask for forgiveness with a sincere heart of love. No matter what kind of response you get back, you will find a release from your captives and a new passion for your Father.
Thanks for listening
Pastor Kent
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