Recognizing and Escaping One

of the Enemy’s Deadliest Traps

Teaching Notes by Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer Ministries
P.O. Box 655 • Fenton, MO 63026
(636) 349-0303 • (800) 727-9673
joycemeyer.org

TN148
Copyright © 2004, 2006 Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored electronically, sold, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written
consent of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.
 June 8-10, 2006
Dallas, Texas
August 19-20, 1995
Nashville, Tennessee
September 22, 1995 – Detroit, Michigan

DEALING WITH OFFENSE

Don’t Take Offense
I. What Is Offense?

A. Offense (defined/Vine’s/Greek skandalon) – The name of the part of

the trap on which the bait hung that lured the animal into the trap.

1. Satan uses offenses as bait to lure us into a life-time of

bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, and even hatred.

B. (Vine’s definition continued) – A hindrance or a stumblingblock.

1. When we allow the spirit of offense to come in,

it becomes a hindrance and a stumblingblock to
us. It causes us to stumble in our walk with God.

C. Offend (defined/Webster’s 1828) – To displease; to make angry; to

affront. It expresses rather less than ‘make angry,’ and without any
modifying word, it is nearly synonymous with displease. We are offended
by rudeness, incivility and harsh language. Children offend their parents
by disobedience, and parents offend their children by unreasonable
austerity or restraint [sternness or restrictions].

1. Actually, many things offend us; and we are offended

far too easily and too often.

D. We will determine not to be offended, and we will seek to keep offense

out of our lives.

1. Proverbs 4:23 – Guard your heart with all diligence

for out of it flows the issues of life.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 1

 2. Philippians 1:9-10 (NKJV) – And this I pray, that your
love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all
discernment, that you may approve the things that are
excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till
the day of Christ . . . (Read Amplified version also.)

3. Psalm 119:165 – Great peace have they who love Your

law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

E. Six types of offense:

1. Taking offense

2. Giving offense

3. Offended by the truth

4. Offended at God

5. Offending the Holy Spirit

6. Offending yourself

F. There will be no offense in heaven.

1. Matthew 13:41 – When Christ sends the

“reaper angels,” they will gather up all offense.

G. Matthew 24:10 – An end-time attack

II. Offense And Cold Love

A. Matthew 24:12 – The love of the body grows cold because of the
lawlessness [of offense] and other iniquities.

1. Matthew 24:11 – When people are offended,

they are more easily deceived.

B. Love is spiritual warfare, and we cannot love with offense in our hearts.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 2

 C. We cannot pray or worship properly with offense in our hearts.

1. Mark 11:22-26 – We must walk in love for our prayers

of faith to be answered. We must forgive!

2. Matthew 6:9-15 – Forgive others for prayer to work.

3. Matthew 5:23-24 – Leave your gift at the altar and

make peace with your brother.

D. Offense turns into deeper problems.

1. Resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness (which makes

the entire life and person bitter), and hatred

E. Proverbs 17:9 – Love covers offenses.

1. Cover – To close, conceal, hide, or keep a secret.

2. We must learn how to have “closure” on offenses.

Don’t even leave a crack in the door; close it permanently.

F. I Peter 4:8 – Above all things have intense love, for love covers
a multitude of sins (forgives offenses).

G. I Corinthians 13:5 – Love is not touchy, fretful, or resentful – people

are, but love isn’t.

1. If we truly want to be like Jesus, we must give up our right

to act like ordinary people.

2. I Corinthians 3:3 – Paul told the believers they

were acting like mere unchanged men. They had
strife between them.

H. People easily offended are:

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 3

 1. Selfish – Anytime they don’t get their way,
they get offended.

2. Insecure – Their love tank is empty; and when

they don’t get their way, they feel rejected.

3. Negative – They believe the worst and should

believe the best.

4. An easy mark for Satan – he baits the trap, and

they take the bait every time.

5. Miserable – Being offended makes you more

miserable than the other person.

6. Hindering God’s plan for their lives – they cannot

go forward with wrong things in their hearts.

7. Unwise – Any time God tells us in His Word not

to do something and we do it anyway, it is unwise.

8. Not free – forgiveness is freeing.

Matthew 18:34-35 – The offended individual has

no peace of mind. Without peace, he has no joy.

I. Most of the ground that Satan gains in the life of a believer is gained
through unforgiveness!!

III. Champions Refuse To Be Offended.

A. I Samuel 17:28-30 – David turned away from offense.

B. I Samuel 16:1-13 – David could have been offended because he was left
out. His father did not even consider him as a possible choice for king.

1. The fact that he did not become offended shows at

least one of the reasons why he was God’s choice.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 4

 C. II Timothy 4:16 – At Paul’s first trial, no one stood with him. He
refused to be offended.

D. Satan has launched an aggressive attack to keep us offended. Each

individual may have hundreds of opportunities each week.

E. Offense is not a “little problem” – it is a demon!

F. Jesus had numerous occasions to be offended, but He refused them all.

1. His own relatives were ashamed of Him.

2. His disciples often acted like spoiled brats. They would

not even stay awake and pray with Him one hour before
His Crucifixion. They never really understood Him.

(We get very offended when people don’t understand us.)

3. Peter denied Him.

4. The Pharisees constantly tried to entrap Him.

G. John 13:3 – Jesus knew Who He was.

1. I believe His security in Father God allowed Him

to refuse offense.

2. If we are secure, we are free to be more concerned

about what people are doing to themselves rather
than what they are doing to us!

IV. Things People Are Easily Offended By:

A. Rejection
B. Not being included or forgotten

1. Examples: You did not invite me,

forgot my birthday or anniversary, etc.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 5

 C. Having our opinion ignored or rejected; people not agreeing with us

D. Not getting our own way

E. Having to wait

F. Grouchy people

G. People who are not like us

H. Church services that are longer than we think they should be

I. People who interrupt us when we are talking

Be determined to live without offense.

Refuse offense every time it is offered.
Treat it like the plague!

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 6

 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 7

 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 8

 Don’t Be Offended By Truth
Foundation Scriptures: Philippians 1:9-10; Psalm 119:165 and Matthew 24:10

I. Only The Truth Sets Us Free.

A. John 8:31-32 – The Truth will make you free.

1. We don’t mind truth about someone else; but

when the truth is about us, we must be careful
not to become offended.

B. John 16:13 – The Holy Spirit has come to guide us into all Truth.

1. I vividly recall when He began guiding me into truth

about myself and my behavior.

2. It was very painful, and my flesh tried every way to

get away from it.

3. Some of the truth I had to face: “You are the problem,

Joyce. You have a pride problem. You’re negative, hard
to get along with, selfish, feeling sorry for yourself, not
facing reality, and not confronting real issues. You’re a
controller and a manipulator – you need to set your family
free, and turn them over to Me . . .”

C. John 14:17; 15:26 – The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth.

D. Matthew 11:6-10 – Truth is not soft and easy on the flesh.

1. John came preaching Truth, but he did not come in

soft clothes.

2. The truth regarding our present condition prepares

the way for greater blessings.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 9

 3. We cannot go to the next level unless we receive truth
about where we are now.

4. Example: “Joyce, you are bearing fruit and you are

helping people; but I can use you in a much greater
way if you will lay aside all pride and selfishness.”

These are the kinds of things we must face to make

progress.

II. Being Offended Prevents Progress.

A. Matthew 15:1-12 – The Pharisees were offended at the Truth.

1. Remember, offense does not help us go forward. It

causes us to stumble and is actually a hindrance.

B. John 6:48-61 – We are often offended when God calls us out

of our comfort zone.

1. Such a radical change in their motives and purposes

offended them.

C. Matthew 16:21-25 – Peter was not being honest with himself.

1. Jesus rebuked Satan and told him he was an

offense to Him.

2. In other words, Satan was trying to prevent His

progress through Peter’s fears.

3. When we are not honest with ourselves about our motives

or concerning what the “real problem” is in our lives, we
cannot go forward.

4. Honesty is very important in the Christian life

– especially, honesty with ourselves.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 10

 D. Mark 6:1-5 – The relatives of Jesus were offended, so they could
not receive from Him.

1. If a minister’s methods offend you, you cannot receive

from him or her.

2. A minister’s clothing or jewelry may offend you, and it

will stop you from receiving. IT IS THE OFFENSE
THAT STOPS YOU – NOT THE CLOTHES OR
JEWELRY.

3. Beware that you don’t become offended about anything

in the church. It is Satan’s plot to hinder your progress.

a. It is too hot or too cold; the seats are not

comfortable; the service is too long. You had
to park too far away. The minister talked too
long about the offering or spent too much
time advertising tapes and books. You don’t
approve of the minister’s car.

b. I changed clothes between Saturday morning

and Saturday afternoon, and a woman was
offended.

c. We have asked people to move from one seat

to another, and they have become offended.

E. Mark 4:15 – Satan uses offense to steal the Word.

III. Meekness And Humility Are Required To Receive Truth.

A. II Kings 5:1-14 – Naaman the leper was offended, but changed

his attitude and received a miracle.

1. If something or someone has offended us, we can

change our attitude and receive a miracle also.

2. A meek attitude is necessary to receive.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 11

 B. James 1:21 – Receive the Word with meekness for it contains the
power to save your souls.

1. II Corinthians 3:18 – We are changed into

His image from glory to glory.

Between the glories there is always more

truth to face.

C. II Timothy 2:24-26 (KJV) – . . . in meekness instructing those that

oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth . . .

D. Psalm 45:4 – Truth, humility, and righteousness all go together.

E. A proud person cannot receive correction or even instruction.

1. A proud person delights in telling others the truth,

but they cannot receive truth about themselves.

IV. We Are Deceived By Excuses.

A. Romans 2:1 – You have no excuse for judging others because you
do the same things that you judge them for.

1. Give examples to get the point across!

B. Luke 14:16-20 – These men were not facing truth; they were making
excuses.

1. They had a serious lack of “want to.”

2. They were blaming things and people.

C. II Corinthians 10:4-5 – Casting down reasons and theories

D. James 1:22 – We are deceived through reasoning contrary to the Truth.

E. Deuteronomy 7:1-2 – Stop making excuses for your enemies and utterly
destroy them.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 12

 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 13

 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 14

 Strive Not To Give Offense
Foundation Scriptures: Philippians 1:9-10; Psalm 119:165 and Matthew 24:10

I. Strive Not To Give Offense Or Be Offensive.

A. Proverbs 18:19 – A brother offended is hard to win.

B. II Corinthians 6:3 – We strive not to give offense.

C. I Corinthians 10:32-33 – Rather than giving offense, strive to

accommodate yourself to the opinions and interests of others.

1. We are going to talk about adapting at great length

in the next section, but first . . .

D. There is a balance in everything, and we must seek balance in this area;

otherwise, we end up being controlled by other people.

1. Romans 14:15-19 – If we are living according to

the “law of love,” there are many things that we can
choose not to do (even though we would like to do
them) if it will prevent others from being offended.

2. Colossians 3:15 – We must follow peace!

3. Be led by wisdom.

a. Example: When I go to a poverty-stricken

third-world country, I don’t need to wear
my best jewelry.

b. If I am with someone who has had the flu,

a virus, and bronchitis for three weeks,
I don’t need to give my testimony of how
it tried to come on me but I prayed and
received immediate healing.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 15

 c. I don’t have to give my opinion about every-
thing other people do – especially if I am with
someone who has a strong personality and I
already know that “opinionated people” are
hard for them to handle.

4. I cannot be led by other people’s convictions, but I can be

led by the Holy Spirit regarding when to exercise my
liberty and when to adapt to their desires.

II. Yielding And Adapting

A. Ecclesiastes 10:4 (KJV) – . . . yielding pacifieth great offenses.

1. Allowing others to have their way and remaining calm

in conflict are two certain ways to avoid giving offense.

Staying calm puts a quick end to anger.

2. Remember, only the people who purposely avoid

giving offense are the ones walking in love.

NOTE: At this point in the message, we will discover who is truly mature.

B. Matthew 18:19 – If two agree, it shows maturity; and God gives them
what they ask for.

C. Romans 12:18 – Strive to live in peace.

1. It requires striving – making an effort and a great

deal of “want to.”

D. Romans 12:16 – Readily adjust yourself to people and things. It helps

you live in harmony.

E. Ephesians 5:22 – Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves)

to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord.

1. Submitting to authority is one way to not give offense.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 16

 2. Your boss won’t be offended when you submit!!

F. Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are called sons
of God.

1. Sons = maturity (ready for blessings).

III. A Selfish Attitude Causes Us To Be An Offense.

A. Matthew 16:23 – Jesus told Peter he was an offense to him.

1. Peter was actually saying, “Jesus, if You follow

God’s will, my comfort will be interrupted.”

B. Words offend – A selfish person has no regard for how their words
affect others.

1. James 3:1-2 – If any man offend not in speech, he is

a perfect man.

C. Rudeness and lack of good manners always offends. Selfish people are
usually rude and unmannerly.

1. They don’t care how others feel. They are too interested
in themselves to be sensitive to others.

2. If a rude person hurts your feelings, they will often tell

you not to be so touchy.

3. However, if you are rude to them, they get very offended.

D. II Timothy 3:1-4 and Matthew 24:10-12 – The more selfish the world
becomes, the more offense there will be.

E. John 12:21-24 – Sir, we would see Jesus!

1. The world wants to see Jesus, but it will never happen

until we die to self (selfishness).

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 17

IV. Some Things Love Can Do To Prevent Offense.

A. Be considerate – Take time to think about how others may feel in

a given situation.

1. Selfish people are satisfied as long as they

are taken care of.

2. When others are inconsiderate of them, they are offended.

3. Example: A young man plays ball on Saturday.

He could take his wife to breakfast first and
prevent her from being offended all day.

B. Explain your actions – If I sense in my heart that some people could

be offended by the length of our services, I can explain why I handle
them the way I do.

1. I can explain why I spend time teaching on giving.

2. I can explain why I can’t get involved in a lot of

personal ministry between services.

Hopefully, people will understand and not be offended

if they ask to see me and I cannot accommodate them.

3. Parable: If I saw a friend in the grocery store and only had

time to wave – but I know she is an insecure person who
will probably have her feelings hurt – I can go the extra
mile and call her to explain.

Example: When I saw you shopping today, I did not

stop to talk because I was running late to pick up my
children from school.

C. Love apologizes even if there is a possibility of offense.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 18

 D. In order to prevent offense, love gives what it might prefer to keep.

1. Genesis 13:7-17 – Abram gave Lot the land rather than

have him offended and get into strife.

V. Use Wisdom – Especially With The World.

A. Matthew 17:24-27 – Jesus paid taxes in order not to give offense.

B. Use wisdom concerning charismatic phrases when among those who

might not understand.

1. My uncle died, and one of our employees attempting

to comfort my aunt said: “Well, praise the Lord.” My
aunt got offended.

C. Don’t be so busy trying to impress people with your spirituality that

you are not sensitive to where they are.

1. SENSITIVITY is absolutely necessary if we are going

to avoid offending people.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 19

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 20
 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 21

 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 22

 Are You Offending Yourself?
Foundation Scriptures: Philippians 1:9-10; Psalm 119:165 and Matthew 24:10

I. If Your Eye Offends You . . .

A. Matthew 18:8-9 – This refers to cutting things out of your life

that you are doing against your own conscience.

B. A guilty conscience is a major problem.

1. I John 3:21 – It blocks boldness.

2. It causes us to shrink back in fear.

C. Romans 9:1 – Paul said his conscience bore him witness.

1. His conscience agreed with his actions. Multitudes

of people regularly do things that they know are
wrong while they are doing them.

2. Conscience – To know together with oneself; to

bear witness to one’s own conduct.

D. Condemnation and feelings of guilt

1. Jesus died to set us free from both.

2. Freedom requires a combination of the blood

of Jesus and right choices.

3. His blood bought our freedom. But if we remain

in sin when we know it is wrong, then we are not
using the freedom He gave us.

We are FREE FROM sin and condemnation. We are

NOT free TO sin and then try to rebuke the condemnation.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 23

II. What Shall We Do About Sin?

A. Call it what it is!

1. Don’t call sin “our little problem” or

“a problem area in my life.”

2. Say, “I sinned.” Don’t say, “I missed it.”

B. Learn the difference between what you really can’t do and what
you don’t want to do.

1. Many people are in bondage to sin because

they just don’t want to be free badly enough.

2. Many want to be free, but they don’t want

to be uncomfortable.

C. I Peter 4:1-2 – Those willing to suffer in the flesh are finished with
intentional sin.

D. Hebrews 12:1 – Strip off and throw aside every weight and the sin
which so easily besets us.

1. Deal with it violently.

E. Matthew 11:12 – Violent men take the kingdom by force.

1. They seek it with ardent zeal and intense exertion.

2. They don’t just “wish” they did not feel the way
they do. They “refuse to bow their knee.”

F. Luke 4:1-13 – Satan wanted Jesus to bow His knee and worship him just
once.

1. Each time we submit to the temptation to sin,

we are bowing our knee to Satan.

G. Temptation is never going to go away. We must resist it steadfastly.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 24

 1. Pray and be determined. One without the other
will not work.

III. Hidden Sin

A. Hosea 5:15 – God withdraws His manifest presence until we

acknowledge our offense.

1. Sin offends God, as well as our own conscience.

B. Psalm 51:1-13 – David had not repented over his sin with Bathsheba
until now.

1. II Samuel 11:26-12:7 – God had sent Nathan

to confront him.

2. Nearly a year had passed by before he repented.

C. Was David’s conscience not working, or was he justifying his actions?

1. James 1:22 – We deceive ourselves through

reasoning that is contrary to the Truth.

God speaks Truth, and we give a reason.

D. Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart is deceitful above all else. Who can know
his own heart and mind?

1. We should pray regularly for truth, to not be deceived,

and for God to expose all of our excuses.

E. Acts 24:16 – Maintain a conscience void of offense to God and man.

(WOW! This could be full-time job.)

1. This will require an aggressive attitude toward keeping

sin out of our lives.

2. Be quick to repent when we do sin.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 25

 3. Be very careful about the way we treat people.

4. Apologize to anyone we may hurt or offend.

IV. If You Cannot Do It In Faith, Don’t Do It!

A. Romans 14:23 – Whatever is not of faith is sin.

1. It may take us the rest of our lives to even begin

to understand the depth of this verse.

B. When we start doing things we cannot do in faith, we are not walking

in INTEGRITY.

1. Integrity lives with a clear conscience.

2. It does not justify what the conscience condemns.

3. Joseph preferred prison and a clear conscience to

the palace and condemnation.

His integrity caused him to say no to Potipher’s wife, even

though it meant going to prison.

4. Daniel 1:8 – Daniel did not “feel right” about the king’s
rich dainties because he had made a commitment to God
concerning not eating certain foods.

C. A person of integrity pays attention to “little things.”

1. Titus 2:7 – Have the strictest regard for truth.

Are you able to exaggerate by faith?

2. Titus 2:9-10 – Employees, don’t steal things of small

value – for example: rubber bands, paper clips, ballpoint
pens, note pads, etc.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 26

 If your conscience weren’t bothering you, there
would be no need to hide it.

NOTE: The church is suffering intolerable defeat by the enemy

due to a lack of integrity among her individual members.

Christians endure a lot of spiritual weakness

due to a guilty conscience.

V. Don’t Be The Devil’s Garbage Dump!

A. Don’t listen to things your conscience condemns:

1. Dirty jokes, bad language, gossip, talebearing,

other people’s secrets, or information you
know you should not have.

B. Don’t watch or look at things your conscience condemns.

1. Magazines with women improperly dressed – I am

speaking of regular on-the-rack magazines that are
filled with improper and suggestive photos.

2. Things on television or in the movies that are

improper – things your conscience condemns!

3. Some have told me that dirty language, sex, and

criminally violent acts do not offend their consciences.

All I can say is, their consciences have become seared

or hardened through repeated disobedience.

C. Associating habitually with people who are dragging you down.

1. People who are negative about you

2. People who make fun of you

3. People who “belittle” you

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 27

 4. People who control, manipulate, and dominate you – they
prevent you from growing, and they steal your freedom.

5. See I Corinthians 5:9-11 for insight on who to avoid.

VI. Don’t Offend The Holy Spirit.

A. Ephesians 4:30 – Do not offend the Holy Spirit.

B. Ephesians 4:29-32 – It is obvious that mistreating other people

for whom Christ died is offensive to the Holy Spirit.

C. We should be very careful about how we treat other people.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 28

 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 29

 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 30

 Offended By Trouble
I. Trials Can Make Us Bitter Or Better.

A. Mark 4:14-17 – Those with no real root in themselves are offended

when trouble comes.

1. They stumble and fall away.

2. This is the testimony of multitudes.

B. Resentment makes us bitter.

1. Resentment is an inner attitude that basically says,

“I am offended that this happened to me.”

2. Who are these people offended at?

a. The devil? Perhaps!

b. God? Because He isn’t giving them

a soft, cushy life

c. Other people? Because they are

seemingly more blessed

3. Sometimes it is just resentment towards life and the

situations that come our way. But we must beware
of resentment.

C. Our trials can make us better.

1. They help us get roots. (I Peter 5:9)

2. When we have nothing but God to hang

on to, we dig deeper and hang on.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 31

 Faith is not faith until that is all you are
hanging on to.

3. They purify us and our motives.

(Deuteronomy: Chapter 8)

4. They exercise and strengthen our faith.

5. They show how much of our commitment

is merely emotional.

a. Emotional hearers always fall apart

during testing.

Psalm 7:9 – He tests our emotions.

II. Stability

A. Ephesians 6:13 – Having done all, stand!

B. Daniel 3:15-18 – The Hebrew children had stable faith, not emotional
faith.

C. Psalm 94:12-13 – God continues disciplining us until we are able to

keep ourselves calm in adversity.

D. II Timothy 4:5 – Paul told Timothy to remain calm, cool, and steady
during hardship.

E. Instability is a sign of immaturity.

1. Ephesians 4:14 – Be no more tossed

to and fro like children.

2. Children are very emotionally driven.

F. Avoid people given to change – you cannot count on them, and they
are a bad influence.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 32

 1. Proverbs 24:21 (KJV) – My son, fear thou the Lord
and the king: and meddle not with them that are given
to change . . .

III. Shallowness

A. Luke 6:47-49 – Doers of the Word are like those who dig down deep
and build their house on a solid foundation.

1. In order to “do the Word,” sometimes we have to

dig down deep inside and call up all the courage and
determination we have.

2. It is not easy to keep doing the right thing when the

right thing is not yet happening to you (Galatians 6:9).

3. We must pass the “test of the storm.”

B. Luke 5:1-6 – Come out into the deep and get ready for a haul.

1. They had been fishing in shallow water and

catching nothing.

2. Shallow believers never live in fulfillment.

C. John 6:66 – They were unable to receive a deeper message.

1. Jesus was attempting a transition in their lives.

He desired to take them from seeking things
that He could do for them to seeking HIM.

2. They were offended and fell by the wayside.

D. The “deeper life” books

1. There are actually books that are referred

to as the “deeper life” books.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 33

 They are all about crucifixion of the flesh, dying to
self, sacrificial living, obedience, and seeking God
instead of things, etc.

2. There were even entire movements in the past that

had “deeper life conferences.”

E. The twentieth-century church has all but drowned in shallow water.

They fear losing control if they come out into the deep – but this is
actually where what they wanted all along begins to take place.

IV. Don’t Be Offended At God.

A. Mark 4:35-40 – The disciples accused Jesus of not caring anything about
them.

1. God often hides Himself for a season to test us.

2. Sometimes heaven is silent for our benefit.

B. Lamentations 3:25-28 – God lays the yoke of divine discipline on

us for our benefit.

1. The statement, “let him wait in silence,” refers to the

fact that waiting is good for us. We may hate it, but it
is good for us.

2. Hebrews: Chapter 12 – Discipline and chastisement

are good for us. We may despise it, but it is good for us.
We cannot grow up without it!

3. It is good for us to be disappointed sometimes.

We learn to shake it off and go on. We learn
to place our hope in God and not in things.

4. It is good for us to not get our own way all the time.
We learn to appreciate things more. We grow very
thankful for our blessings.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 34

 C. Romans 8:28 – All things work together for good!

1. There are many things working behind the scenes

that we know nothing about and do not understand
yet. WE MUST TRUST GOD! Don’t ever accuse
Him of not caring about you.

D. Remember, GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!

1. This is not just a song we sing, it is a fact to be celebrated.

E. If God is ever good, then He is always good because He does

not change.

1. James 1:17 – Every good gift is from above.

2. You probably say, “My trials are not good.”

F. Some of the best gifts come in the plainest packages.

1. I receive some beautifully gift-wrapped packages.

Sometimes I think, “Boy, this is going to be something!”
and it ends up being not at all what I was expecting.

2. Occasionally, I receive packages that are so ugly on the

outside (plain, often old and worn-out looking) that I even
wait to open them. To my surprise, some of them have
contained expensive pieces of jewelry or money.

G. Trust God – don’t be offended with Him.

H. Don’t accuse Him of not caring about you!

1. Romans 8:35-39 – Let nothing separate you

from the love of God.

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 35

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 36
 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 37

 PERSONAL NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

DEALING WITH OFFENSE 38