Integrity- People of God

Offense is a tool of the enemy

Satan uses offense to get people ensnared with unforgiveness, which is rooted in pride. Followers of Christ should strive to change their views and personal perspectives so they will not be easily offended by people or situations. They are to follow Christ’s example, to not render insult for insult, through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

We live in a time when people’s response is to be easily offended. It is not just considered the rule in which people should react, but it is being cultivated as a preferred way to respond to problems and struggles. 

Offenses are just snares, traps and tools that the enemy uses against humanity to get them to react to situations out of hate and anger rather than to respond according to God’s word and way of forgiveness, love and mercy. Offense is part of this fallen world system where some people will cultivate it as a means of bringing division and disunity. This is of the enemy, to encourage a spirit of fear, anger, hate and to destroy the image bearers of God. 

Romans 16:17-18 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.  For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

Offense comes from these root words, entrap, stumbling or obstacle. 

In the Bible there are two main words that are commonly translated to the word offense, Skandalizo: to entrap, trip up, stumble or entice to sin, and Mikshowl: a stumbling block, obstacle, enticement, to cause to fall or ruin. Both of these terms speak of the harm and injury to those who are offended. People are entrapped or enticed into sin and these pitfalls lead to devastation or a spiral downfall. 

An Offense is a violation of the breaking of a social or moral rule, that causes a feeling of resentment. A hurt is something that cause bodily harm, physical, mental or emotional. The feeling of being offended is one of the most crippling snares. It is cloaked, disguised and concealed in the pretense of being right or in defending one’s rights. When we look at this natural life, (our nationality, race, gender, religion or culture) and place it above God’s word, then we become offended. We feel we have a right to get upset and defend who we are. When we are insulted, overlooked or injured in some manner and become offended, it is because “self” sits on the throne of our hearts and not the word or the love of God.

Offense is driven by emotion that has its roots in self-importance, pride that can lead to unforgiveness. Followers of Christ should operate in faith according to the word of God and the example our Lord has set for us. Jesus speaks of those who are offended as those who have no root in God’s word within them. Many people are offended by the word of God, when they lack an understanding of God’s kingdom ways, or when things happen in a way they do not understand.  

The Bible teaches that we will experience persecution and it will be a constant test of our faith in God’s word. Those who have faith in God and know His word will believe He is faithful and will persevere to the end of the challenge and thereby, will stand in victory. Those who do not know God’s word or His kingdom ways will lack this understanding.  They are offended because they choose to trust in their emotions and their experiences, rather than in the love and faithfulness of God.

Mark 4: 17 And they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. NKJV

John 15:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Tribulations, persecutions and trials are part of our heritage in Christ.

John the Baptist was the person who preached the coming of Christ and introduced Jesus to the world as the Messiah. Yet, John questioned Jesus when he was facing death. John did not understand fully, God’s plan for his situations and circumstances, because they were not going the way he felt they should. This caused him a moment of offense. John asked if Jesus was really the One or will there be another?  When people are in difficult situations it will sometimes cause them to question God’s love and His faithfulness to His word.  

Jesus’ response to John’s question was to point to the word of God and the work of God being done for the salvation of men. Jesus did not try to justify Himself or prove He was the Son of God. He pointed to the work of God and the word of God being revealed in the lives of the lost. Jesus told them to go tell John, the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, in other words God’s divine purpose and plan are being performed and lived out. 

Jesus said, blessed are those who are not offended because of Me. Even though Jesus may not respond the way we want Him to, or we may not understand the ways of God and what He has chosen for our particular situation, we can still trust God’s love.  

Luke 7:20-23 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’”  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” NKJ

Matthew 11: 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” NKJV

The process of not being easily offended: Is to know the word and will of God. 

Jesus gave His disciples directions on how not to be easily offended, He spoke to them the word of God and told them the things that were going to happen. He said these things were told so they would not be offended and stumble when they happened.

Some people will allow their offense to take precedence and rise above the word of God and this will lead to destruction. Some people would rather live with their pride and their righteous indignation, rather than to forgive and live in harmony with their family or friends. 

When our minds have been renewed to God’s way of thinking, we will know we are seated in the heavens with Christ. Therefore, our perspective should be different, understanding we are seated high above the things of this world, as kings and priests with Jesus. We should no longer view situations as personal attacks but to understand things are being allowed for a greater purpose and plan and to pray for God’s will to be done. 

We are to see these concerns and problems as opportunities for us to pray, intercede and to display the love and the life of Christ. It is when we are no longer easily offended by life, that we can respond in love and by this the world will be taken by surprise because of our actions. They will ask what is the secret to the strength, which allows us to forgive those who hate us. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we show this love. 

John 16:1-4 These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.  They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.  But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

John 15:18-20a If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you…

To not be easily offended is a practice skill of dying to self. 

Followers of Christ are called to be dead to this life but to live to a life hidden with Christ in God. It is impossible to offend a dead person. They can be kicked and insulted, but there will not be a response. This is how a life hidden in Christ, will strive to respond, because of the love of Jesus. This is not something we can do on our own but by the power of the Holy Spirit. We know we can trust Jesus with our life and our situations because He will defend us. 

God is able to orchestrate circumstances and work them out for our good and His glory. Just as He provided and protected Daniel from the lions and those thrown into the fire, He will bring us out of our horrible situations. God did not keep them from going through their difficult times but He was with them. God knows the plans He has for us to give us hope and a future and He will vindicate us. 

When we lay down our lives for another and we are acting from a position of love and not selfishness, it is through this people will see God’s heart. When we respond in love, the love of God is planted into the lives of others. The pain of life has hardened some people’s hearts because of what they have seen and been through. When we display God’s love, even though there may not appear to be a change or an acknowledgment of our acts of kindness, the seed of God’s love will have been sown into their lives. We are to think on the things of God and renew our minds with His word. It is God who changes lives with the seeds sown by His children into the hearts of those who are lost. 

Colossians 3:2-3 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God

Matthew 13:23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The Battle is the Lord’s: We do not fight against flesh and blood.

When we understand our battles are not with people, but with the principalities and this fallen world system.  We will be able to show the love of God, and to die to self-centeredness and entrust our lives to God.  Those who trust God with their fate can trust Him for their vindication, and thereby can operate in His peace and love. 

We must dethrone “self,” our pride and our egos so Jesus may reign on the throne of our hearts. As Jesus gave His body to save others, we as the body of Christ on the earth, must love and not live in offense. 

John12:24-25 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.