“Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honour. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offence.”
1 Corinthians 13:5 TPT
“There is such a great peace and well-being that comes to the lovers of your Word, and they will never be offended.”
Psalms 119:165 TPT
Other words used for Offence in the Bible
⁃ temptation
⁃ Stumbling block
⁃ Occasion to sin
How do you see offences?
“Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offences should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.””
Luke 17:1-4 NKJV
In the church, you will find these categories of people
Those who cause offences
“Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offences should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!”
Luke 17:1 NKJV
Those who spread offences
“spouting lies in false testimony, and stirring up strife between friends. These are entirely despicable to God!”
Proverbs 6:19 TPT
Those who take offences
“And blessed [joyful, favoured by God] is he who does not take offence at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation].”
Matthew 11:6 AMP
Those who stop offences
“He who covers and forgives an offence seeks love, But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.”
Proverbs 17:9 AMP
Which one are you?
The first three are not mature in the Lord
Matured believers are those who stop the spread of offences
Consequences of offences
It destroys unity and harmony
“For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” James 3:16 NLT
Breeding ground for the enemy
“But don’t let the passion of your emotions lead you to sin! Don’t let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not for even a day. Don’t give the slanderous accuser, the Devil, an opportunity to manipulate you!”
Ephesians 4:26-27 TPT
Fences off peace and Creates further unrest
““So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.”
Matthew 5:23-25 NLT
Retards growth because you will not be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as your focus will be on the offence
“You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?
This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called you [Who invited you to freedom in Christ].
A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church].”
Galatians 5:7-9 AMPC
How do you react to offences?
“An understanding person demonstrates patience, for mercy means holding your tongue. When you are insulted, be quick to forgive and forget it, for you are virtuous when you overlook an offence.”
Proverbs 19:11 TPT
⁃ From the verse above we can infer that you can react to offence in the following ways:
With understanding
Holding your tongue
Being quick to forgive and overlook
How to fence off offences
1. Be careful of the subject and themes of your thoughts
“Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honourable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.”
Philippians 4:8 TPT
2. Be saturated in the word
“There is such a great peace and well-being that comes to the lovers of your Word, and they will never be offended.” Psalm 119:165
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Psalms 119:11 NLT
3. Be saturated in prayer
“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life,”
Philippians 4:6 TPT
4. Choose love
“Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offences.”
Proverbs 10:12 NLT
“Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honour. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offence.”
1 Corinthians 13:5 TPT
5. Practise advanced forgiveness
“No matter how many times in one day your brother sins against you and says, ‘I’m sorry; I am changing; forgive me,’ you need to forgive him each and every time.””
Luke 17:4 TPT
6. A greater understanding of grace
“For by grace you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 TPT
The more offences increase, the more grace should abound in you
“Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,”
Romans 5:20 NKJV
7. Be more tolerant and less judgemental
“Keep the convictions you have about these matters between yourself and God and don’t impose them upon others. You’ll be happy when you don’t judge yourself in doing what your conscience approves.”
Romans 14:22 TPT
“So stop being critical and condemning of other believers, but instead determine to never deliberately cause a brother or sister to stumble and fall because of your actions.”
Romans 14:13 TPT
Be less critical of other people’s choices but see them through the lenses of grace
This will help you not to ungrace people
Prayer
Lord, I’m sorry for all the time I’ve put myself in the position of a judge condemning others in every way
I drop my feeling of self-entitlement that makes me lose focus
Confessions of the power of love over offences
I am a representation of the love of God towards others and so I shine through love
I will always delight in the law of my God which brings me such great peace that makes me live above every offence
I activate the forgiveness spirit in me so I will never be the cause for offence in others
I receive the grace to stop being critical and condemning of other believers but instead determine to never deliberately cause a brother or sister to stumble and fall because of my actions.
Wherever I go this week, I will not be a troublemaker but a peacemaker thus advancing the kingdom of God
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