Offences Will Come

Growing Through Offenses

Romans 4:25 (KJV 1900)

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Offenses in a church are meant to unify us

Hurts

Warfare

injuries

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!

Satan’s goal is to divide

Home

church

We must be dedicated to reconciliation

We have an opportunity to Grow

Adversity causes growth

When planting seeds there must be a hardening of those new plants before they are able to withstand the outdoor whether.

Turmoil allows us to grow

Warfare allows us to grow

If you don’t want to grow, God will bring you to places in your life that you must grow.

The Blessings of Offense

1. We Have An Opportunity To Glorify God

1 Corinthians 10:31–33 (KJV 1900)

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

We are in the last days

There will be attacks

church

our beliefs

vs 33 - through our attacks there will be opportunities to win others

2. We have an opportunity to help others

There are people that need lifted and helped through attacks and offences

Sometimes people will hurt us because they are crying out for help

1 Peter 3:8 KJV 1900

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Compassion

Love

sympothy

4. Offenses Give us an opportunity to forgive like Christ forgave us

Regardless, we forgive everyone

We have been forgiven

completely forgiven

Past, present, future

Offenses happen when people fail

Forgiveness is the most powerful

Father forgive them for they know not what they do

How do we comprehend the torture Jesus went through

the beating

the humiliation

the bleeding

but the forgiveness

the thoughtfulness

Jesus was never self absorbed,

Mark 15:39 KJV 1900

39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

What validated Jesus as the Son of God

Through His torture

through His suffering

through His pain

The soldier saw God

Jesus forgave - this is the greatest act we can perform

5. Offenses remind us of the importance of humbling ourselves.

1 Peter 5:6 (KJV 1900)

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Proverbs 13:10 KJV 1900

10 Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.

I was hurt, therefore I can judge this situation

I was wronged therefore I have the right to not forgive

Philippians 2:5 KJV 1900

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:6 KJV 1900

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:7–8 KJV 1900

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

If anyone could've had position

If anyone could've been served - It was Jesus

If anyone didn’t deserve to die - It was Jesus

He humbled himself even unto death - so He could bring peace to us

1 Peter 5:5 KJV 1900

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

The position of humility

God resists the proud

Is there anything we are proud about?

When we stand in judgment of others that is not being clothed in humility

pride comes before destruction

Acts 12:20–24 KJV 1900

20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

The idea that we are better than someone else

Comparing ourselves with others

You need God’s grace on your life - humility of heart

Destruction comes when we think we are more than others

Lord I can do nothing without you

There is no good thing in my flesh

Help me walk in your spirit

I’m dirt and the only good thing about me is you, Lord

Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust ofthe ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath oflife; and man became a living soul.

Gen 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Allow the offences to remind us the importance of humility

6. Offenses give us the ability to be a peacemaker.

But I was sinned against

I was hurt

I for and eye

tooth for a tooth

Bless them

Family be a peacemaker

Church

Matthew 5:9 (KJV 1900)

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

supremely blessed, fortunate, happy

Making peace - Identifies you as a child of God

Making peace is like a signet ring that shows that you belong to the King

Be a peacemaker

We have no right not to make peace

It’s a life - It’s a spirit

It’s a calling

It’s a privilege

Ephesians 4:3 KJV 1900

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Great energy exerted to keep unity in the bond of peace

7. Offenses remind us of our need for mercy.

Everyone needs mercy

Offenses allow an opportunity to give mercy

Matthew 5:7 (KJV 1900)

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

As a pastor my desire is to give mercy

As you give mercy, you will receive mercy

8. Offenses give an opportunity to show God’s Love

Unconditional love

I am not the best in this area and i’m praying for more of an ability to do this

Love you unconditionally

I’ve needed unconditional love

I’ve had friends that loved me unconditionally

My wife loves me unconditionally

Ephesians 4:32 KJV 1900

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Kind -

Tenderhearted -

We live in such an unkind world

In the body of Christ

In the World

9. Offenses offer a time for submission

When a hurt comes into our life, we can lift up those around us

Ephesians 5:21 (KJV 1900)

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

1 Corinthians 12:21 KJV 1900

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

No one has a right to cause division or be divided

I don’t need ____________

My Family

My Church

You need the church

Offenses will come

Offenses = a side slip (lapse or deviation), that is, (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression: - fall, fault, offence, sin, trespass.

We don’t have to sin against someone just because we don’t agree with them

Why would we sin or cause offense because someone else sinned or offended?

Is there an atmosphere of love here?

Just because someone offends me doesn’t mean I have to go tell them they offended me

I can pray for them

I can do internal heart work

I can humble myself