Successful Living

“Successful Living” Series: 

“Successful Living” Series Dealing with Offence

Offences must come: 

Offences must come (Mat 18:7) "Woe to the world because of offences! For offences must come, but woe to that man by whom the offence comes!

Jesus “Offensive” to Some: 

Jesus “Offensive” to Some (Mat 13:54-58) And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? {55} "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? {56} "And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" {57} So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house." {58} Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Dealing with Offence: 

Dealing with Offence Do not Nurse it, Curse it, or Rehearse it but Disperse it, to Reverse it

Do not nurse: 

Do not nurse (Phil 1:9-10) And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, {10} that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ,

Do not Curse: 

Do not Curse (2 Sam 16:9) Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!"

Do not Rehearse: 

Do not Rehearse (Heb 12:15) looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

‘Disperse’ to ‘Reverse’: 

‘Disperse’ to ‘Reverse’ (Acts 7:59-60) And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." {60} Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 8:1) Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Example of Jesus: 

Example of Jesus (Luke 23:34) Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

Forgiving: 

Forgiving (Col 3:12-13) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; {13} bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.