The Abundant Life "Outlook For Offenses"

We are continuing on in our series with "Outlook For Offenses" In these days we must be on guard from offenses. Its one the enemies most deceptive traps and strategies in preventing us from the promised land known as the abundant life. In the book of Luke Jesus tells us that its impossible to live this life without having the opportuniuty to be offended(Luke 17:1) Its not a matter of if the offenses will come, its a matter of how we'll respond and react when they do. The word OFFENSE comes from the greek word SCANDALON. It refers to and signifies the laying of a trap. Its often hidden deep kindof like a landmind. Jesus said that it would be one of the chief signs of the final times. In the twenty fourth chapter of the book of Matthew theres laid out the spinal column of prophecy. Nation will rise against nations, there would be famines earthquakes and pesilences. However we see the mackdaddy and motherload of then all beginning at verse ten. MANY WOULD OFFEND BETRAY AND HATE ONE ANOTHER. Notice that this chain all begins with the link called offense. Many times the offenses that come will be from the most seemingly unlikely of sources. In other words it'll be from places that we thought were sound stable and secure. We must have our foundation built on NONETHING LESS THAN JESUS CHRST AND HIS FAITHFULLNESS!!!! David found this out when he laments Its not an enemy that reproaches me than my soul could bear but its my friend an equal we took sweet fellowship together in the throng(Psalm 55:12) In other words the offense came from a source in whom he had a close relationship. The closer an association the greater potential for offense. If we get our eyes on people than it can quickly lead down this slippery slope toward a harden heart whch brings us into sin and ultimately death. How can we by the power of the word of God protect our lives from this most deadly and dangerours of satans schemes? Number one. LOVE THE WORD. When we are in love with the word we will not be our feelings. Often when someone is offended, you'll notice that much of their speech is dominated and dictated by how they feel. God said in and through the mouth of John LOVE NOT the world neither things that are in the world(1 John 2:15). The word world here is decribing the worlds system. We are in the world but we are NOT OF IT and the way we react and respond is to be absolutely completely and TOTALLY different from the world! However the only way to do that is to love the word more than ANYTHING OR ANYONE! Joeseph didnt get into offense even through he was sold into slavery by his own family. When it was all said and done He had the power to authorize having his brothers killed. We see at the end of the book of Geneseis instead of having them killed he fell upon them kissing them in radical reconcilliation. What caused Joeseph to react and respond in this manner? He LOVED THE WORD, in other words he LOVED GOD! In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and THE WORD WAS GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God says in the book of the Psalms Great peace TO THOSE THAT LOVE THY LAW, AND NONETHING SHALL OFFEND THEM(Psalm 119:165) God tells us here with crystal clarity to the very degree that we love his word is the direct proportion of protection we have from offense. Number Two. LONGSUFFERING The bible declares LOVE SUFFERS LONG and is kind(1 Cor 13:5) The NLT says LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE. We will not get easily irritable when we are no longer offended. in verse seven it goes onto say that LOVE ENDURES THROUGH EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE! When we are operating in ENDURING LOVE we WILL NOT BECOME OFFENDED! This is the agape love of God thats been shed abroad in our hearts by the HolyGhost(Rom 5:5) This is the enabling and endueing force enabling us to endure when offenses come. The bible says that JESUS ENDURED THE CROSS(Heb 12:2) What caused him to endure the cross? He so LOVED THE WORD(John 3:16) This was the propelling power that pressed through the wipping scourjing and the cross itself. We see in the book of John that Jesus ABIDED in the Fathers Love and it was made manifest in and through him. The thirteenth chapter of John says that its to be radiating in and through us which causes the world to know that we are his disciples. People will take notice of love that suffers long. Jesus said in the book of Luke If we love those that love us what thanks do we have?(Luke 6:32) When we are able to rise up in this enduring love that stays free from offense it causes our lives to be like a shining spotlight in the face of individuals. Lets be the witness that we have been created for and called to be! Number three, LEANING NOT TO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. When we are in the midst of a situation where offense has come we must not allow ourselves to be in the arena of reason. Back to the account of Joeseph not only was he dominated by the Love for God and the word but also by the power of FORGETFULNESS. In Gen 41 we find where one of his sons was named Mannasah. The name meant GOD CAUSED ME TO FORGET! He was able to be protected from offense by not letting thoughts to develop pertaining to what he had been through. God has done this very thing toward us. Hes like their sins and iniquities I'll remember NO MORE(Jer 31:34) He puts our sins in the SEA OF FORGETFULNESS(Micah 7:19) The bible says Love BELIEVES THE BEST IN EVERY PERSON(1 Cor 13:7) Love is able to look through the fog of offense and see the good things and thats what we are to be completely focused on. Finally, LIVE TO GIVE. When we live to give, our minds will not be on me. When we talk to people that are offended notice what they are talking about ME ME ME. If our minds were like screen and we were able to change the channels. You know what we would find on every station? It would be something about me! The bible says LOVE SEEKS NOT THEIR OWN(1 Cor 13:4,5) Theres a poen that goes If theres a song to sing sing it, a bell ring, ring it, love was not placed in our heart to stay, love is not love until its GIVEN AWAY. The point is someone thats trapped in offense will no longer give away. They become trapped in a prison of SELF preservation and protection. God describes this in the book of Proverbs. A brother OFFENDED, is HARDER to be won over than a strong city: and thir contensions are like BARS...,(Prov. 18:19) These people will not venture out or let anyone in. Jesus said its when we LOSE OUR LIFE IS WHEN WE FIND IT! There are two bodies of waters in the middle east. The sea of Galilee and the dead sea. The first one takes waters in and gives them out. As a result theres plant life and fish. Its alive with LIFE! However the dead sea takes waters in but never gives it out. There is no plants fish or anything living at ALL. When we are seed conscience and NOT SELF CONSCIENCE its than that we are positioned to recieve the abundant life and live in the full until IT OVERFLOWS in JESUS NAME! Jesus said Give and it SHALL BE GIVEN(Luke 6:38), Paul said SOW BOUNTIFULLY and WE"LL REAP BOUNTIFULLY(2 Cor 9:6) Giving is what will produce our living. We are talking about this very thing THE ABUNDANT LIFE! Lets all be on the OUT LOOK FOR OFFENSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!