Offenses Will Come
Offenses Will Come • Sermon • Submitted
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Finding The Hidden Resources Of Offense
The greatest tool in our resources is our conflict.
We will either reap the benefits through conflicts or destruction
Quarrels, disagreements, contention
Conflicts, battles, confrontations
Frictions, differences
God uses conflict to unify
Satan uses it to divide us
Marriage -
Child rearing -
Conflict can actually draw us closer to those we are in conflict
Matthew 18:7 (KJV 1900)
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
There is a divine plan for the conflict
Must needs be
Sorrow, brokenness,
To be used to bring unity, closeness
The conflict is not for division it’s for unifying
I’m mad
I’m upset
Conflict = so we see them
I can’t stand them - this is what they did to me
When we reject God’s work in conflict we align with the enemy
The offence is not what causes the division - the offense can be used for unifying if we will allow God to show us
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Luke 11:17 (KJV 1900)
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
An offence = a violation of perceived violation of the rights of another. These violations can range from minor to extreme.
Everyone has had an offence with someone in the church
When we see strife and divisions the root cause according to scripture is carnality
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Yes pastor they are carnal ...
but the feelings we have against them are carnal
Conflicts show who needs to be unified with
Offense = “causing a snare, causing displeasure, causing a stumblingblock
“We will experience Offenses”
Sorrow
Distress or stress
God is reminding us to unify
Conflict either will unify us if we are walking in the spirit
Or Satan will divide us if we are walking in the flesh
“The Christian decides whether the conflict will unify or divide.”
“The Purpose and Produce of Conflicts”
“The Enemies of Reconciliation” - We must be dedicated to resolution
“Finding The Treasures In Conflicts” - God has built in purposes in the conflicts we face.
“Dealing With Conflicts Successfully”
Source 1. Unwillingness To Yield Perceived Rights To God
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
I don’t have to win an argument - I don’t have to prove my point
I don’t have to get my way -
Just because you make someone feel bad doesn't show you are right
30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
When you know something will offend another person
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Submission -
Humility -
Appeasement -
Yielding pacifies offences
Product 1. Yielding Our Perceived Rights To God Gives Us An Eternal Perspective And Allows Us The Ability To Respond Properly
Source 2. Our Words Can Cause Contentions and Conflict
Lack of controlling our words
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Continual Criticism shows immaturity and childishness
Parents criticizing shows immaturity
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Stubbornness is iniquity
say what we want - do what we want
transgression, “the violation of law;”
iniquity, “crookedness from the straight line of rectitude;”
sin, “missing the mark.”
The tongue is full of stubborn iniquity
so is the tongue among our members
A fire among the members - defiling the body of Christ
Complete cooperation with the deceiver, the destroyer, the accuser
Proverbs 10:19–21 (KJV 1900)
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: But he that refraineth his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: But fools die for want of wisdom.
Too much conversation leads to sin.
Practicing Restraint is wisdom
The lips of righteousness = Nourishing people with your words
Fools die because they cannot see things from God’s perspective.
Fools die because they do not consult and follow God’s advice.
There is a way that seemeth right to fools, but the end thereof is the way of death.
Wisdom leads to being patient with people
Human reasoning brings us to a place of attacking others for their shortcomings and the ways they’ve offended us while God is trying to show us those very offenses are the path to closeness and unity.
We look at others failures and God wants to show us they are a mirror to us.
Purpose 2. An opportunity to examine my spirit and my words
14 Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
When we get to a place in a conflict or an offence against us takes place
and we start becoming proud - i.e. “I knew I was better than them”
We are in a bad place.
Source 3. Unwillingness to abide in Christ and allowing His Word to Abide In Us
1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.
John 15:6–7 (KJV 1900)
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Bearing fruit is impossible without the abiding life
Loving the brethren is impossible without the abiding life
John 15:11–15 (KJV 1900)
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
There is no one that is able to abide in Christ
Great peace have they which love thy law
Produce 3. An Offense Is An Opportunity To Abide In Christ and His Word
Offenses will come
Hurts will come
We want to avoid conflicts - We sometimes don’t want to be near conflict right
Examine our heart
Words are so important
God’s Word will
