Dealing With Offences
By Pastor Steve Maile
Luke 17:1 NKJV
“Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offences should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!”
Matthew 18:7 NKJV
“Woe to the world because of offences! For offences must come, but woe to that man by whom the offence comes!”
A. What is an offence?
An offence is a stumbling block, a deep hurt in our spirit or mind. It is a contradiction to what we believed should have happened. Strangers or casual acquaintances can insult you, be rude, criticise or condemn you but not deeply offend you, only those close and trusted friends can offend you.
The Lord Jesus said that offences will come, not might come or maybe come, but for certain they’ll come. Therefore, we need to learn to deal with them or we will fall. Many have forfeited their destiny in the Kingdom through offences more than immorality or any other sin. But if people can only understand how dangerous offences are, they would never allow themselves to be offended.
The devil will try everything to try to ruin and derail our ministry and destiny in Christ, and it saddens me after travelling to many nations, to see how the enemy is gaining ground because Christians are allowing the spirit of offence to get into them. So many lovely people get saved, planted and serve in a local Church and do well for a while, even years until an offence comes and then instead of dealing with it appropriately they get bitter and leave the Church or leave that congregation carrying the offence with them from congregation to congregation. They become offended church hoppers who will continue to be offended wherever they go.
B. What are the consequences of the Offence?
People who get offended are people who have been hurt one way or another and as a result of it, they isolate themselves, they retreat to solitude and drop out of involvement and people contact, because they don’t want to be hurt further. See Matthew 24:12-13 NKJV “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” In other words, good people at the last Days, we will get hurt seeing other people’s iniquity, this turn them sour, bitter people.
Signs of people being offended:
Separation from the presence of God, falling from grace because of making an idol of the hurt by lifting the offence above the Lord and his truth.
Hebrews 12:15 NKJV “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;”
Offended christians stop going to Church and they pull away from people. Abnormality sets in when communication stops.
Hebrews 10:25 NKJV “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Divisions in the Body of Christ, offended people will speak against other ministries and hop from church to church.
I Corinthians 1:11-13 NKJV “For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”Sickness can come in through offence
Immorality is also a root of offence.
Proverbs 7:25-27 NKJV “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.”
There are hurt woman who can become prostitutes and dislike men, and vice versa, men towards woman as well.
- Hurt people hurt people.
Romans 12:19 NKJV “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”
People who are offended carry something in their spirit which is wrong, the face can tell a lot, you can see offence on the faces of people.
C. The Word of God is an offence to many
1 Peter 2:7-8 NKJV “Therefore, to you who believe, He (Christ) is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and “A stone of stumbling
and a rock of offence.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”
Jesus caused offence- Many of the things Jesus did and said offended the people of that day and also still offends people of today. The message of the cross is an offence, the Gospel is an offence to those who do not believe. The Word of God will offend you especially if you are a “cherry picker,” who only likes nice verses in the Bible. We are to read the whole counsel of God and obey His commands, not only the ones we like and as the previous verse (Verse 6) says, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.
If you are afraid of offending people you will not share the Gospel because you still fear man and this is very wrong.
Matthew 16:24 NKJV “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
D. How to deal with Offence appropriately?
Learning to deal with offences is a foundational block and if we don’t receive this truth we will not progress in Christ. Offences are necessary because they are a vital ingredient to maturity. You cannot become a mature Christian without facing offences.
In Philippians 1:10 NKJV says, “that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” Even though offences are sure to come, we have here a promise where we can live free of offence until Jesus comes back for us or calls us home.
Practical ways of dealing with offences:
When you get offended deal with it right away and repent for taking the offence and forgive the person that offended you quickly.
Overlook faults don’t get easily offended and continue to forgive and walk in love.
Ask the Lord to give you more grace to deal with offences.
You need to have a great forgeterer and a great forgiverer. Your brother and sister will offend you every day, but choose not to be offended.
Love your enemies, do good to them and pray for those who persecute you.
Forget the past and release forgiveness. Your past has nothing to do with who you are today in Christ. You have to be future focused and keep destiny focused.
Fall in love with Jesus and you will be free of offence.
You need the washing of the water of the word daily so that your mind is cleansed and you soul is cleansed from offence because offences will come and we are to not be offended and continue to walk in Love.
Ephesians 4:32 NKJV
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Psalm 119:165 NKJV
Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.
2 Corinthians 6:3 NKJV
“We give no offence in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.”
The importance of maturity is dealing with offence, mature people will choose not to be offended because when you are offended you are useless in the Kingdom. You will stop being an effective witness and the devil knows this, that is why he will try his best to make us bite the carrot of offence but thank God for the Holy Spirit within us who is greater, He will strengthen us and leads us into victory, have confidence in His power and hand on to His Word. You will overcome!