Offense Session 2 | Offense, The Stumbling Block of Unity Big Idea: · Pride and self deception · God gives us accountable relationships in our lives to help us steer clear of offense. Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 "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. 3 "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 "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." 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." Offense- (skandalon) trap, snare, occasion to fall, offense, thing that offends, stumbling block This word originally referred to the part of the trap to which the bait was attached. Hence the word signifies laying a trap in someone’s way. In the New Testament it often describes an entrapment used by the enemy. Offense is a tool of the devil to bring people into captivity. God calls us to unity, yet offense makes it impossible to live that out. Unity break down in the Body of Christ is the devil’s playground. “The church is not made up of natural "friends." It is made up of natural enemies. What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything of the sort. Christians come together, not because they form a natural collocation, but because they have been saved by Jesus Christ and owe him a common allegiance. In the light of this common allegiance, in light of the fact that they have all been loved by Jesus himself, they commit themselves to doing what he says - and he commands them to love one another. In this light, they are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus' sake.” -DA Carson Pride and Self Deception One way the enemy keeps a person in an offended state is to keep the offense hidden, cloaked with pride. Pride will keep you from admitting your true condition. Luke 18:9-14 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Pride isolates you from accountability Sin easily hides where there is no accountability Lack of accountability leads to self-justification Proverbs 18:1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment. · Pride masks the true condition of your heart. Pride keeps you from dealing with truth Pride distorts your vision James 3:14-16 but if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. You don’t pursue change when you think everything is fine Pride hardens your heart and dims the eyes of your understanding Pride keeps you from the change of heart—repentance—that will set you free. Pride causes you to view yourself as a victim. Your attitude becomes, “I was mistreated and misjudged; therefore, I am justified in my behavior.” Because you believe you are innocent and falsely accused, you hold back forgiveness. “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” —Victor Frank Philippians 2:2-4 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle. Ephesians 4:3 (Phillips) Make it your aim to be at one in the Spirit, and you will inevitably be at peace with one another. Watchman Nee, a very insightful and devoted Christian leader and author who served in China and was imprisoned for his faith, aptly stated: “The work of God is to make us one body, but the work of Satan is to cause us to be torn asunder. Satan uses our corrupted flesh, our stubborn self, and the world which we covet to carry out his work of destruction. . . . If these elements are permitted to remain in our lives, we clearly make room for Satan to work his work of disintegration.” Colossians 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. What qualities of oneness is God showing you that you can cultivate and put into practice? God gives us accountable relationships in our lives to help us steer clear of offense. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare [entrapment] of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. Ephesians 4:11-16 He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” “The same God who has been there for you in the past is the God who is going to be there for you in the future. He will bring resolution in His own time, according to His own purposes. We become preoccupied with our circumstances; God is preoccupied with our character. He will allow the tough times for the higher good of our character until He is finished with the great work that is invisible to our earthly eyes.” Josephs story Genesis 37-48 Take Away: Have you taken up offense with someone in your family, workplace, or church? What walls have become strongholds in your soul? Take time to pray and ask God to guide you into the truth about yourself and the situations you’re facing. Pour your heart out on paper, capturing the insight He gives you. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. I’m sure God brought some people to mind while you were listening today or last week. I encourage you to write each of these people a letter. This could be a physical letter or just a digital file. (Don’t worry—I’m not going to ask you to send any letters.) Go ahead and get everything out. Keep writing until there’s nothing left to say. After you’ve finished these letters, just save them for now. If God brings other people to mind during a later lesson, write them a letter as well.