OVERCOMING OFFENSES

WORD OF GOD: Luke 17:1 ( NKJV ) Then

He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

THINK RIGHT TO OVERCOME OFFENSES a.) THINKING RIGHT IS THINKING GUIDED

BY AND CONSISTENT WITH THE WORD OF GOD

DEUTERONOMY 11:18 b.)THINKING RIGHT IS ABOUT TAKING OUR

THOUGHTS TO MAKE THEM OBEDIENT TOCHRIST…( ANY THOUGHT THAT DISOBEYS CHIRST IS A WRONG THOUGHT )

2 CORINTHIANS 10:5  c.) THINKING RIGHT IS THINKING UNDER

THE CONTROL OF THE HOLY SPIRITROMANS 8:6. MIND CONTROLLED BY

THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE.

HOW TO OVERCOME OFFENSES

a.) People are imperfect and may offend you intentionally or unintentionally anytime

Luke 17:1 ( NKJV ) Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

note: Immature people do not really care much

if they are offensive or not. Even mature people who are careful and

sensitive may offend you at times unintentionally

   b.) You may feel offended and be hurt as a human being but can choose to overcome and refuse ungodly anger and bitterness to develop

   c.) You can enjoy Christian life more and greatly when you develop a strong conviction to overcome offense and move on right away by God’s grace. ( Filipinos nourish grudges.  )

Leviticus 19:18  'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. 

d.) You are the one who benefit greatly when you quickly overcome offense

 1.) God is merciful to you when you commit wrongs and sins

Matthew 5:7  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

Luke 6:36  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 

James 2:13  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! 

2.) Your prayers are not hindered 3.) Your peace and joy in the

Lord are not affected. Uninterrupted peace and joy in heart.

4.) You will pursue the will of God. You won’t backslide and quit from your calling and ministry.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Matthew 5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Note: Forgiveness is the cure to emotional wound

Colossians 3:13  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

Matthew 6:14  For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

Matthew 6:15  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. 

Matthew 18:21-35 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and

asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22  Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[b] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to

33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

4.) AVOID SHARING THE OFFENSE OF OTHERS EXCEPT FOR SOME CONFIDANT  SUCH AS SPIRITUAL MENTORS IN THE LORD FOR BIBLICAL ADVISE AND ENCOURAGEMENTS Proverbs 17:9  He who covers

over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. 

CONCLUSION: Matthew 5:46  If you love those who love

you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 

God has rewards for you each time you overcome an offense especially the huge offenses