For 2 days the Lord has spoken to me about the subject of offense. It is funny, but certain close church friends of mine have told me the Lord has told them the same thing. It is vital to maintain your love walk!! It does determine your future use for the Lord and how powerful that use is! I had read the book “The Bait of Satan” by author John Bevere many years ago. I want to give you an excerpt from it. I believe this is a major tool satan wants to use in our churches and among Christians today! Remember, dear reader, God comes to “add and multiply”. but satan comes to “divide and subtract!!”
Here is the excerpt from “The Bait of Satan“:
“Chapter 1: Me, Offended?
It is impossible that no offenses should come. Luke 17:1
As I travel across the United States ministering, I have been able to observe one of the enemy’s most deadly and deceptive traps. It imprisons countless Christians, severs relationships and widens existing breaches between us. It is the trap of offense.
Many are unable to function properly in their calling because of the wounds and hurts that offenses have caused in their lives. They are handicapped and hindered from fulfilling their full potential. Most often it is a fellow believer who has hurt them. This causes the offense to feel like a betrayal. In Psalm 55:12-14 David laments, ‘For it is no an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng.’
They are those whom we sit with and sing alongside, or perhaps it is one who is delivering the sermon. We spend holidays, attend social functions, and share offices with them. Or perhaps it is closer. We grow up with, confide in, and sleep next to them. The closer the relationship, the more severe the offense! You find the greatest hatred among people who were once close.
Attorneys will tell you the most vicious cases are in the divorce courts. The American media constantly report murders in homes by desperate family members. The home, meant to be a shelter of protection, provision, and growth where we learn to give and receive love, is often the very root of our pain. History shows that the bloodiest wars are civil. Brother against brother. Son against father. Father against son.
The possibilities for offense are as endless as the list of relationships, no matter how complex or simple. The truth remains: Only those you care about can hurt you. You expect more from them–after all, you’ve given more of yourself to them. The higher the expectations, the greater the fall.
Selfishness reigns in our society. Men and women today look out for themselves to the neglect and hurt of those around them. This should not surprise us. The Bible is very clear that in the last days men will be ‘lovers of themselves’ (2 Timothy 3:2). We expect this in unbelievers, but Paul was not referring to those outside the church. He was talking about those within it. Many are wounded, hurt, and bitter. They are offended! But they do not realize that they have fallen into Satan’s trap.
Is it our fault? Jesus made it very clear that it is impossible to live in this world and not have the opportunity to become offended. Yet most believers are shocked, bewildered, and amazed when it happens. We believe we are the only ones who have been wronged. This response leaves us vulnerable to a root of bitterness. Therefore we must be prepared and armed for offenses, because our response determines our future.”
This is only a snippet of this wonderful book! I urge you to read it in it’s entirety! Stay in love and let things go! We only hurt ourselves when we don’t. Have a good day all day and thank you for dropping, by dear reader!
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