Overcoming Offenses
1 Sam. 17
The Bible has a lot to say about offenses. (1)Prov. 18:19 "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle". (2)Matt. 5: "if your right eye offends you, pluck it out, if your right hand offends you, cut it off" (3)Matt. 17- Jesus said in order not to offend the people of Capernaum, they needed to pay tribute, and was so determined to do so, since they had no money of their own, Peter got it out of a fishes mouth (4)Matt. 18:6 "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better fro him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (5)Matt. 24:10 Jesus says one of the signs of the last days would be in the fact that many would be offended. (6)Rom. 14:21 "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby they brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (7)1 Cor. 8:13 "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend".
There is a sense of declaration direct from the Word of God, that we must guard ourselves, not to be the offender, nor the offended. I understand that in the proximity of the real world, there is often times not a whole lot we can do to prevent the offender from carrying out his hellish deeds, but I will say that you and I as born again, sanctified, spirit filled believers, have the ability and the authority under the signet of the blood covenant to overcome offenses, and to be victors in this battle against our souls!
In the text we read of the very familiar story of a young man named David, the son of Jesse. War was raging btwn. Israel and the Philistines. Yet, the unimaginable thing was, no one was physically on the battlegrounds. At this point, it was merely a war of words. And until David went before the giant, that’s all it would be.
Now you need to get a good understanding of the picture here. Opposite side of the enemy was the nation of Israel-the one’s God called blessed, His favored, apple of His eye, the children of God, the ones God promised he would not depart from, they were shuddering at the mere actions/words/deeds of this giant who stood there over 9 ft. tall, having 6 fingers on one hand, and 6 toes on one foot.
**You say, "I don’t know why they could be so weary/afraid..." I’d like to tell you what God spoke to me about this the other day: this man Goliath represented/moved in the spirit of offense. What was he doing? The same thing every wise leader of an army attempts to do: break the enemie’s spirit. With all of his cruel words/accusations (blaspheming God, Israel, calling them names, ridiculing their abilities, etc.), he was merely attempting to destroy their spirit, so he could overcome them in war. Prov.17:22 "A merry heart... but a broken spirit drieth the bones" **If you can break someone’s spirit, you can overcome them, no matter how big they are. (9/11, bombings in Iraq, etc.)
*I believe all too many in the body of Christ existing here in 2004 are standing paralyzed on the outskirts of the valley of victory, because the enemy is shouting out offenses from the other side. Suddenly, some of the great champions of the faith have fallen to the ground in despair, because offense has taken hold of their life. They have heard enough malice, criticism, and ridicule to last a life time. And if something doesn’t drastically change, they will be buried with the ideas of what the could’ve been in Jesus. Far too many Christians are falling away from the faith/relationship with God they once had because they were hurt. Way too many churches have lost their zeal, vision, and determination to win souls/grow/prosper in the kingdom because of a hidious work of Satan against them. All too many preachers are putting away their Bibles/coat & ties, never to fill another pulpit again, all because somehow, somewhere, they were offended and wounded in their souls.
**But I came by this way to tell you there is a healing balm in Gilead! There is a seal of protection against offense. And you can’t buy it, earn it, or gain it. He’s a gift called the Holy Ghost, and He’s able to raise you up in the spirit of power and might!
Goliath produced 3 types of offenses:
(1)A spirit of judgment
17:8 "Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul?" (Keep in mind that Jesus said in Matt. 7:1 "Judge not lest ye be judged. For withwhat judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again") There was a reason he called them the ’mere’ servants of Saul. CHAPTER 8. Samuel was old, made his 2 sons judges over Israel, they walked in sin, turned aside after lucre, took bribes, perverted judgment. Elders of Israel came before him, saying he was old, and his 2 sons were doing wrong. And since all that was going on, we want a king. **They were casting judgment upon the mighty man of God** It disturbed Samuel greatly. God said, they’ll get one, but tell them all that will happen. READ... Now, the same thing that Israel did was happening to them: they were being judged!
Goliath blurted out a horrible spirit of offense when he did this. And reality is, that same offensive spirit has unleashed itself upon millions of people today. But, the fact is, no matter if what happened was right or wrong, no one, NO ONE, has the right to cast judgment on anyone. Only God has that authority!
(2)A spirit of slander
v.10 "I defy the armies of Israel this day..." v.43 to David "Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks..." *All Goliath was doing was slandering the name of Israel, David, and of God. WHAT IS SLANDER?- an outright, verbal attack with the purpose of destroying the character/reputation of another human being. And I can tell you where it started: Bible calls Satan "accuser of the brethren". Right now, he is slandering my name/your name before God & all the holy angels, hoping to change the decision of God to bless/redeem us. Ps.15 "who will dwell in your sanctuary/abide in your holy hills: v.3 he who has no slander in his tongue, and does his neighbor no wrong".
(3)A spirit of jealousy
You remember, in the camp of Israel was the Ark of Covenant (exp). And because of the presence of God, Israel was victorious. As long as God was going for them, they were unbeatable. Nothing Philistines had worked like this. They even tried to take the Ark themselves one time, but it didn’t do nothing more than kill a bunch of them, and give some hemmoroids. They wanted what Israel had: the ability to win every battle.
Israel had to figure out something that we as well do: what are we going to do about these offenses that are coming against us? They were scared to death, even the king. And I promise you, they would have stayed there in fear for good, if there hadn’t been a young man, full of faith and the spirit of God. David comes up and says "I hear, feel, and see all the offenses that have come our way. But, I refuse to let that stop me from obtaining the victory. Sure it hurts, sure it’s uncomfortable, but I can make it. Because if God is for me, who then can be against me".
Ask yourself: when was the last time you had a real breakthrough in your spiritual walk? Last time the church experienced a real move of Holy Ghost revival? Last time you had faith/vision that good things were about to happen? We need to overcome offense and go on with Jesus! Sure there may be people judging us, slandering us, there may be folks out there trash talking us, etc. But I assure you as long as there has been a devil, God has been around much longer. And he has always prevailed against the enemy, and he always will! Where sin does abound, grace does even much more abound! Hallelujah, we can overcome offenses in Jesus’ name!
How do I overcome offenses?
(1)forgive them
1 Kings 8:50 "And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy"
You gotta forgive. No matter what happened. I know everytime you talk to them, you get upset. Every time you see them your blood boils, and steam rolls out your ears, but you must forgive. "But they do it over and over.." Jesus-Peter 7x70
(2)Live your life, in the Word of God
Ps. 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them"
If you will build your hope, being, and foundation in this book, it won’t matter what happens. You will head it off with the sword of the spirit.
(3)Become rooted in Jesus
Matt. 13:21 "Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended"
You better anchor deep, if you’re going to overcome this storm.
