"Offences will surely come" said Jesus. (Luke 17:1)
He has promised to deliver us from evil but has not promised to deliver us from the causes of offence. He allows them to come to challenge our attitudes.
I have given you six examples from the Scriptures of those who were offended and we have seen the terrible result upon them. They lost their fruit, their confidence, their testimony and the supernatural working of God in their midst. The price is too high!
Jesus allowed His special friends to face offence so that they might learn some home truths. John the Baptist might have to learn that Jesus does not always do what we expect of Him. He is Lord and His agenda takes priority over ours.
Mary, sister of Lazarus, might need to know that obedience and trust are far more important than prominence and public displays in the service of the Lord.
What is it you need to learn? Is it possible that the offences you are facing have been allowed by the Lord so that you also can learn something about yourself?
What then should you do when offended?
Firstly, own the offence. It is yours and you must bear responsibility for its fruit.
Second: ask yourself, "What should I learn from this? Why am I offended? Is it challenging my ego, my expectations, my selfishness? In reacting this way, am I in danger of losing my testimony, my peace, my joy?
Third: receive the grace of God that enables you to pro-act to the offence, not react. The writer to the Hebrews says, "Be careful not to come short of the grace of God, lest there spring up in you a root of bitterness which not only effects you but defiles many others."
Fourth: Cast the offence off your shoulders and bury it!
Fifth: Pray blessings upon the one who offended you.
Finally, be careful not to be the one who causes offence! Whereas the Lord can allow offences to come to us, He shows no pleasure in those who cause them!
May it be true of us that we neither cause nor take offence, so that Satan may never gain an advantage in spiritual warfare because of us - and we cause our beloved Saviour to weep!
Be the first to react on this!
Gareth Evans ( - )
Gareth Evans is an itinerant pastor/teacher with a burden to minister to the hurting church his ministry website is Gareth Evans Ministries. Formerly a Physics teacher in the UK and Canada, he became a pastor with the Christian & Missionary Alliance in Canada in 1979. In 1991, he was invited to serve as pastor on board the M/V Anastasis, a medical, missionary ship operated by Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Since leaving that ministry four years later, Gareth has traveled to many countries, encouraging pastors and missionaries.He is married to Anne and they have three married daughters, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Gareth and Anne live in Victoria, in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Some of his main burdens is to mentor young men to see them walk in the anointing of God and soar on wings as eagles. He has also prayed for revival and moderated many revival conferences across the world.