In Progress - Offence

Bro D. G. Hargrove

One of the 9 keys to growth

BE THE LAST PERSON IN THE ROOM TO GET OFFENDED!

YOU WILL BE THE GREATEST INFLUENCER

One of the greatest hindrences to apostolic revival.

We can overlook offenses not only because God sees our offenses and sends our offenses, but also because God will judge every offense.

John Bevere: The Bait of Satan

John says that one of Satan’s most deceptive tactics is something all Christians have encountered: offense.  While offense itself is not deadly, he believes if we allow it to grow in our hearts, it can produce much fruit like anger, outrage, jealousy, resentment, strife, bitterness, etc.

Those who are offended are sometimes oblivious to their condition because they are so focused on the wrong that was done to them.  There are two types of offended people: (1) those who have been mistreated; and (2) those who think they have been mistreated but actually were not.  Offenses of the heart that are not dealt with end up leading to betrayal and betrayals not dealt with end up in hatred.  “An offended heart is the breeding ground of deception,” says John.

John says in Luke 17:1 It is impossible that no offenses should come. The Greek work for offend comes from the word skand which originally referred to the part of the trap to which the bait was attached. That word signifies laying a trap in someone’s way. The Bible reminds us that people we are close to or spend time with can offend us deeply. He reminds us that we set ourselves up for offense by setting unrealistic expectations. John says if we want to walk with God we do not have the right to be offended.

ANSWERED PRAYERS People don’t get prayers answered because of offense.  Offended Christians have never realized fully or have forgotten what they were forgiven for.  “Offense cuts you off from God,” says John.  “We separate ourselves from the pipeline.  I’ve never seen anything block blessings from heaven except offense.”

John personally went through a deep wounding offense. Several years after being a Christian, a role model in John’s life hurt him deeply, but John was too proud to admit he was offended. Soon the power of God grew cold in his life. “Going to church was a thing to do and ministry was an occupation, not a passion,” says John. “I cried out to God and I forgave,” says John. “But why was I still being tormented?” Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.

John felt the Lord insist that he go to the man who offended him.  John asked for forgiveness for being critical and judgmental of him (the offender).  The man softened and after their meeting, John knew he was truly free from the offense. John reminds us that the ultimate objective and end result in releasing offense is reconciliation.

John says thousands of Christians are experiencing the freedom that living free of offense brings.  There is a medical doctor in Florida who prescribes The Bait of Satan (TBOS) for some types of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.  Many of his patients have been healed and received answers to prayer after releasing offenses.

Recently a famous surfer gave his life to the Lord after reading TBOS.  One pastor’s wife in Arizona was about ready to commit suicide.  She looked up and saw TBOS and read the entire book that night.  Today she is free and joyful.  Another couple in Florida were just about to quit their ministry.  Their pastor fell into immorality.  As a last resort, they went to hear John preach about releasing offenses at a conference and are in ministry today because of what they learned.  “The love of God is the key to freedom from the baited trap of offense,” says John.  “This must be a love that continually grows and is strengthened in our hearts.”

How to Overlook an Offense

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-overlook-an-offense

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11). In moments of calm, the wise man’s counsel sounds so right, so sane. Overlooking offenses is our glory. Then the offenses actually come, and we often find them too large to look over. The actual size of the offense often matters little. A spouse’s consistent faultfinding, a boss’s unfair criticism, a stranger’s unaccountable rudeness — given the right circumstances, any of these may rise up in front of us like a son of Anak, its shoulders stretching to heaven (Numbers 13:33). Peripherals blur, tunnel vision ensues, and we have eyes only for The Offense. Even if sanity swiftly returns, the damage is often already done. We returned tone for tone, passive aggression for passive aggression, jab for jab. Or we restrained ourselves externally, but only as a small volcano erupted inside of us. Or we quietly smoldered, playing the incident on repeat the rest of the day. Mindful of God Peter, writing to Christians familiar with offense, comes alongside Proverbs to show us a different way: “This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” (1 Peter 2:19). In three little words, Peter shares one of the keys to overlooking offenses great and small: we become mindful of God. “We overlook offenses by looking up to God.” In other words, we don’t focus on the offense itself. We don’t stare at something that merely distracts us from what’s really important. We certainly don’t look within ourselves. Rather, we overlook offenses by looking up to God, by becoming mindful of who he is for us in this very moment — in the office, at the dinner table, on the phone call, during the meeting. To be sure, Peter’s readers were dealing with offenses more severe than the kind Westerners typically face: physical abuse (1 Peter 2:20), ridicule (1 Peter 4:4), fiery trials (1 Peter 4:12). But learning to overlook the biggest offenses usually begins with learning to overlook the smallest. Enduring slander begins with enduring a sarcastic remark. Enduring a beating begins with enduring a cold shoulder. Being mindful of God in everyday offenses trains us to be mindful of him when the worst comes. What, then, are we mindful of when we are mindful of God? 1. God Sees Every Offense Offenses have a way of turning us into momentary atheists. In our tunnel vision, we can think and feel and act as if there were no God in the world — much less in the room. Being mindful of God means, first, remembering that God is here, and he sees: “If when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God” (1 Peter 2:20). No offense happens offstage, in some unobserved corner of the universe. Being mindful of God pulls back the curtains, puts us in the spotlight, and reminds us that we live and move and have our being before the eyes of an audience more important than a thousand kings and presidents. God’s all-seeing eye carries a warning with it, to be sure (Hebrews 4:13). But Peter makes the opposite application: God sees assures us that he whose smile matters most is watching. The world may look on a Christian’s patient endurance and see only weakness. God looks on and sees a precious child, a person for his own possession (1 Peter 2:10), a beautiful imitator of his beloved Son. Offenses are opportunities for the God of the universe to look down on us and say, “This is a gracious thing in my sight.” 2. God Sends Every Offense God does not, however, observe our offenses as a mere member of the audience, but as the director of the whole drama. In the theater of the universe, every offense — no matter how trifling — is part of the play. Every word, every gesture has been given its act, scene, and line by the one who sends “various trials,” including offenses, so that our faith might be tested, proven, and precious (1 Peter 1:6–7). “Imitating the man of sorrows cannot happen apart from trouble, distress, and offense.” On this side of heaven, in fact, offenses are part of our calling as Christians: “To this you have been called,” Peter tells us (1 Peter 2:21). And why? “Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Following Jesus means imitating Jesus, and imitating the man of sorrows cannot happen apart from trouble, distress, and offense. These are the stages where God calls us to proclaim his excellencies (1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, as Calvin writes, When we are unjustly wounded by men, let us overlook their wickedness (which would but worsen our pain and sharpen our minds to revenge), remember to mount up to God, and learn to believe for certain that whatever our enemy has wickedly committed against us was permitted and sent by God’s just dispensation. (Institutes, 1.17.8) God sends every offense. Therefore, mount up to God — be mindful of God — and know that the daggers others throw your way will become in God’s hand chisels to fashion you into the image of Christ. 3. God Will Judge Every Offense We can overlook offenses not only because God sees our offenses and sends our offenses, but also because God will judge every offense. Christians follow the pattern of Jesus, who did not exact vengeance when he hung on the cross, though he could have called down twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53). Instead, he handed his handfuls of agony to his Father, and “continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). “The daggers others throw your way will become in God’s hand chisels to fashion you into the image of Christ.” We naturally consider the judgment of God in the context of the greatest of wrongs — as we should. The day is coming when the Son of God will descend to earth with a sword, casting down every proud oppressor and raising up the meek to inherit the earth (Revelation 19:15; Matthew 5:5). “Vengeance is mine” is a well deep enough for even the most mistreated to draw hope (Romans 12:19). But God’s judgment changes how we react to small offenses as well. If God will right even the biggest wrongs, then we do not need to take even the smallest into our own hands. Whether the offenses against us are titanic or trifling, God’s judgment frees us to exchange bitterness for patience, retribution for mercy. The very word judgment brings to mind our own offenses against God, offenses that cried out for our blood until Jesus shed his own. It reminds us that our offender, if outside of Christ, deserves our pity and, if inside Christ, needs our brotherly love. It removes all self-righteousness from our mouths and replaces it with the Christlike plea of “Lord, forgive them.” It beckons us to release our “right” to get even, and to hand over our cause to him who judges justly. Where Is God in the Offense?

God sees every offense, God sends every offense, and God will judge every offense. Finally, those who are mindful of God go one step further: they trust that God himself can satisfy them in the midst of offense. Of all the refuges we can run to when offenses come — bitterness, revenge, fantasy, distraction, pleasure, self-justification — only one can fill us with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8). Only one can call us back from darkness (1 Peter 2:9). Only one cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). God. If we repay offense for offense, we will have our reward. But if we learn to overlook offenses, we will lean into fellowship with “the Shepherd and Overseer of [our] souls” (1 Peter 2:25). We will hear his whispers of “Well done” here and now. We will find that God is able to invade our tunnel vision, enthrall us with his beauty and worth, and free us to overlook the offense.

Scott Hubbard is an editor for Desiring God, a pastor at All Peoples Church, and a graduate of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He and his wife, Bethany, live with their two sons in Minneapolis.