Luk 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
Skandalon – trap used to catch animals, offenses are traps of satan. Impediment holding one back, stumblingblock. Strike or hit against
Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Luk 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke (warn against, show disapproval in a harsh and passionate manner) him; and if he repent, (to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins) forgive (refrain from punishment) him.
Luk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
The Apostles respond to forgiving those who trespass 7 x’s in a day…
Luk 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
1 The construction of offense
A We can catagorize every offended person into one of two categories:
1 Those who have been treated unjustly
2 Those who believe they have been treated unjustly
a The second category may 1) have inaccurate information or 2) their information is correct but their conclusion is inaccurate.
There are times when we needed to be offended because we were wrong, and maybe a friend told us that we needed to stop something
B Usually, it is those who are (or who were once) closest to us that offend the most severely.
1 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him. 13 But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend; 14 We who had sweet fellowship together walked in the house of God in the throng. Psalms 55:12-14 (NASB)
a The bloodiest wars (civil), the most viscous court cases (divorce)
b Your greatest offense will be from those who you are close to.
aa The closer the relationship, the more severe the offense.
bb Only those you care about can hurt you (you’ve given more of yourself to them).
cc People you worship with, guy preaching the message, someone you grew up with
b Pride keeps you from dealing with the truth (you never change when you think everything is fine, keeps you from repenting, set free).
c Pride causes you to see yourself as a victim (I’ve been wronged so I’m going to withhold forgiveness-I’m justified).
2 Just because we’ve been wronged, mistreated, we do not have permission to hold on to our offense (the two wrongs don’t make a right).
3 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 2 Tim 2:24-26 (NASB)
a In this trap, you’re held to do the will of Satan.
b Can be unaware of their condition (come to their senses)
c Keep spewing out hurt, anger, outrage, jealousy, envy, resentment, strife, bitterness, hatred.
aa These are the fruit of offense.
bb You can’t reach your potential/fulfill your calling when you are living with offense. Why?
cc The fruit of offense are the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit.
A Refined gold is soft & pliable, free from corrosion & other substances.
1 Other metals (nickle, copper, iron) are added to gold to make it hard (alloy).
a The more foreign substances are added, the harder the gold becomes.
b But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:13 (NASB) The more sin in our heart, the harder it becomes (removes tenderness/sensitivity to God’s voice).
2 The first step in refining gold is to grind it into a powder, mix it with a substance called flux, & melt it in a furnace.
a The metal liquefies, the impurities (dross) are drawn out by the flux & floats to the top where it is scooped out. The gold remains at the bottom, purer metal.
b Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10 (NASB)
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NASB)
aa How does God make us purer? (With trials, fire, affliction)
bb Our sin easily hides where there is no heat of trial or affliction.
3 The reason God has turned the heat up is to refine us.
a We didn’t see the impurities before the fire!
b Although we didn’t see the sin-God did!
B We can know/see we are angry, resentful, etc.-choice to make!
1 We can remain angry, blaming your wife/husband/friends/pastor/ people you work with -OR-
a You can see your sin as the dross it is (confess, repent, & ask forgiveness).
b God will take His ladle & remove the impurities from your life
2 Open your eyes today & see your offense for what it really is. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Rev 3:18 (NASB)
a God brings up our sin of anger or hate & we often justify it.
b As long as we blame others, defend our own positions, we’ll stay blind.
c Point at speck in brother’s eye with a log in ours!
3 Would you allow God to ladle your heart today?
a He’s turned up the heat & drawn out some sin today.
b Think about your own life. What are the impurities in your heart that are hindering the character of God from growing in your life?
2Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging (full discernment/recognition) of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
-talking about strife, disagreements, battles
-those who are in the snare of the enemy do not fully understand or are totally blind to this fact.
- a hunter does not make the trap obvious, he makes it as small and camouflaged as possible.
In matt 24 jesus is giving the signs of the end of world or age
In verse 10
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Many – pollus much, most or majority
Offended-betrayal-hatred is a terrible evolution.
Pro 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Offended people build up walls to keep out others who could potentially hurt them again. This becomes a prison that keeps others out and the one offended in.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (offenses)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
