Dealing With Bull Series

“Bovine Basics”

Pt. 2 – Dealing With Bull

A. Review

Two weeks ago I challenged you not to have a cow. You hopefully remember that out of the life of Jeroboam I taught you some bovine basics such as: 1. Not everyone will be happy about your call, destiny and purpose. People will have their own plans for you. 2. Destiny will cost you. 3. Destiny requires more careful living. Your destiny can be lost. 3. Your revelation is determined by your relationships! Who you hang out with will determine what you see, how you act, and whether or not you are blessed. Stay away from cow lovers or you will have a cow.

Now this morning I want to talk to you about how to deal with or handle bull. I wished I could believe that none of us have to deal with bull. However, the truth is that we all have to deal with bull at some time or another.

Conflict is inevitable. In fact, let me say it this way you will have to deal with bull. It might be all nice and sweet right now, but the day will come when you will be offended by someone in this room and in your life. Let’s look at our text and you will have to agree.

B. Text

Luke 17:1

“1Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come:”

But you will also remember that in our 4th week of services I read to you

Psalms 133:1-3 which says:

“1How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along (in KJV it is dwell together in unity)! 2It’s like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron’s beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes. 3It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that’s where GOD commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.”

So how do we get this commanded blessing, remain in unity when it is inevitable that we will be offended or have to deal with each other’s bull?

We need to learn some things about bull or offense.

C. Why Are We Offended

1. People don’t live up to our expectations.

Matthew 13:54-58

54And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? 56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Jesus wasn’t who they thought he should be so they were offended in him. He didn’t live up to their expectations.

How many of us get offended with folks because they don’t live up to our expectations whether those expectations are realistic or not? You weren’t who I thought you were so now I am offended and hurt by you. I thought you would do this and you didn’t! You aren’t as committed as I expected, you aren’t as nice as I expected, you aren’t as spiritual as I expected. We develop a spirit of contempt. We look down on them because we expected more.

2. We are Paranoid

Too many of us are just paranoid. We actually believe that everyone is out to hurt us, get us, and to do us wrong. We have carried our past hurts and wrongs for so long, that we think everyone is out to do us in.

The truth is that too many of us wear our feelings on our sleeves and we can’t help but to be hurt. Therefore, good is mistaken for evil. Intentions are misjudged and trust is impossible. We are so sensitive that everyone may be doing their very best not to offend us and we still get hurt!

I hate to burst your bubble this morning, but not everyone is thinking about you and your feelings. Not everyone is out to get you! Everyone’s universe doesn’t revolve around you. Get your feelings off your sleeve and begin to develop tougher skin.

You will be offended. You will deal with bull. However, you don’t have to make it easier than it should be! Quit looking for offense. Quit thriving on chaos and conflict! Why?

D. Results of Offense

We must deal with bull correctly and quit thriving on it because offense produces some devastating results in our lives.

1. We become trapped.

Greek word for offense – Scandelon from which we get our English word for scandal. The definition of this Greek word is “Bait”. In other words, offense is nothing more than bait. Offense is the bait by which you become trapped in bondage. When you are offended you are distracted into becoming an offense carrier. You pick up bondage. Those who are offended are conflicted. They carry conflict with them into every situation. If we are offended we are trapped! Some of you have been trying to get rid of areas of bondage in your life for years and you have been unsuccessful and you can’t figure out why. Perhaps you took the bait. Perhaps you are trapped by offense. In order to go free you must deal with the bull!