Do You See What I See

Life On Offense – Do You See What I See

Let's Do A Quick Review

#1 Offenses Are Coming | Luke 17:1-2 (NKJV)

Jesus Warns of Offenses

1 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no [a]offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

#2 What is offense?

In the Bible, "offense" refers to anything that causes someone to stumble, sin, or turn away from God. It encompasses both the act of causing someone to stumble and the resulting negative consequences. Offense can lead to bitterness, hatred, and even eternal consequences if not addressed properly.

Process of Offense

A. Something happens

B. I perceive or feel wronged

C. As a result I take offense

D. I become offended

E. Offense is unresolved

F. This leads to anger, resentment, and bitterness and the plotting of revenge

Proverbs 18:19 (AMP)

A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city, And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle.

#3 We Fall Short

• Let's not stay in victim mode, like we have never hurt anybody

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 (AMP)

21 Also, do not take seriously everything that is said, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you, 22 for you also know that you too have cursed others many times.

• Look at your neighbor behind you and say, "I know you've been talking behind my back

2 Kings 6:8-17 (NLT)

Elisha Traps the Arameans

8 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, "We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place."9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, "Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there." 10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there. 11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, "Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?" 12 "It's not us, my lord the king," one of the officers replied. "Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!" 13 "Go and find out where he is," the king commanded, "so I can send troops to seize him." And the report came back: "Elisha is at Dothan." 14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. "Oh, sir, what will we do now?" the young man cried to Elisha. 16 "Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" 17 Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Introduction

• Family, have you ever expected God to move in a certain way — and when He didn't, you almost missed the blessing?

• Maybe you prayed for provision, but instead of a check in the mail, God gave you a new responsibility that required hard work.

• Maybe you prayed for healing, but instead of instant deliverance, He told you to change your diet, adjust your lifestyle, or forgive someone.

Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, was a powerful man with a hidden problem: he had leprosy. He traveled far to find healing, but almost missed his miracle — not because the disease was too strong, but because he got offended at how God chose to move.

2 Kings 5:1-14 (AMP)

Naaman Is Healed

1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), was considered a great man by his king, and was highly respected because through Naaman the Lord had given victory to Aram (Syria). He was also a man of courage, but he was a leper.

• Naaman was a commander. He had respect, wealth, and power—but he had leprosy.

• You can have an issue and still be successfully used by God

• Too many people use their challenge as a period, when it should just be a comma

• Just because you are broken doesn't mean you can't be used- Cracked Pot story

• Neighbor- work with what you got

2 The Arameans (Syrians) had gone out in bands [as raiders] and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman's wife [as a servant].

• The servant girl became the answer to their prayer

• God works in mysterious ways

• His answer was in his house

• You never know who God will use to help you

• God will use your help to heal you

3 She said to her mistress, "I wish that my master [Naaman] were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy."

• Remember church your life is based on voices and choices

4 Naaman went in and told his master [the king], "The girl who is from the land of Israel said such and such."

• Naaman had to trust her for him to go to the king with the information

5 Then the king of Aram (Syria) said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel (Jehoram the son of Ahab)." So he left and took with him ten talents of silver and 6,000 shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel. It said, "And now when this letter comes to you, I will have sent my servant Naaman to you, so that you may heal him of his leprosy."

• When you take care of people, it will come back to you

7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes [in shock and outrage at the request] and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me [a request] to heal a man of his leprosy? Just consider [what he is asking] and see how he is seeking an opportunity [for a battle] with me."

• Guess what the King of Israel did, he became offended

James 1:19 (AMP)

19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

4P's: Pause, Ponder, Pray, Proceed

8 Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king, asking, "Why have you torn your clothes? Just let Naaman come to me, and he shall know that there is a [true] prophet in Israel."

• Why are you tripping?

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance of Elisha's house.

• He comes with horses, chariots, and gifts — expecting royal treatment.

10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean."

• The prophet gives him simple instructions with a promise of healing

• The prophet used a messenger

• Why do we make walking with God so hard? o Give – "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

• Pray – "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17).
• Honor – "Honor your father and mother" (Ex. 20:12).
• Be thankful – "In everything give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18).
• Do not worry – "Do not be anxious about anything" (Phil. 4:6).
• Do not judge – "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matt. 7:1).

11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, "Indeed! I thought 'He would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.'

• Naaman is offended. "Does this prophet know who I am?

• Key word: I Thought

• I expected him to at least wave his hand, call on his God, and heal me with honor."

James 4:6 says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." | If you want a breakthrough, you have to check your pride at the door.

Point: God's greatest gifts often come in ordinary packages.The Offense of Instructions

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus [in Aram], better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

• Don't Get Offended by God's Method

• He says: "Are not the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? Why should I dip in this dirty Jordan?"

• Sometimes your answer comes through a source you didn't expect — a person you don't like, a method you don't prefer, a path you didn't plan.

• Many people miss their miracle not because God failed, but because they walked away offended.

• Offense will always show up, but you have a choice: hold on to offense or hold on to breakthrough. You can't keep both.

Analogy:

Offense is like having the right key but refusing to use it because you don't like how it looks. You stand outside a locked door, frustrated, when the key is right there.

13 Then his servants approached and said to him, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he has said to you, 'Wash, and be clean?'"

• Naaman wanted the clean bottle, but God said, "Dip in the muddy bucket." • The question was: Do you want to be clean or do you want to be comfortable?

14 So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said; and his flesh was restored like that of a little child and he was clean.

• The Power of Obedience

• Obedience Unlocks Breakthrough

• The miracle wasn't in the water; it was in the obedience.

• His skin became like that of a little child, but even greater — his heart was changed.

• He confessed, "Now I know there is no God in all the earth except in Israel." • 1 Samuel 15:22 reminds us: "To obey is better than sacrifice."

• Voices and choices

Family, sometimes the greatest enemy of your miracle is not the devil—it's your own pride and offense. Naaman, a great general, almost walked away sick because he got offended at how God chose to bring healing. I came to tell you this morning: don't let offense rob you of your breakthrough.

Application:

• Church, how many of us have almost missed what God had for us because we got offended?

• Offended at the preacher's style.

• Offended at a friend's correction.

• Offended because God didn't do it the way we thought He should.

Sometimes the greatest blessing comes in the most ordinary wrapping. Don't miss the treasure because you don't like the package.

#1 Check your pride — Don't assume your status, education, or background qualifies you for a special route. God's way is better.

#2 Refuse offense — Don't walk away from your miracle just because the instructions are uncomfortable or the messenger is unexpected.

#3 Choose obedience — Even if it feels simple, small, or strange, your miracle is tied to your obedience.

The question is — will you obey?

Psalms 119:165 (AMP) Those who love the law shall not be offended

Good Things Coming from "Bad" Places in the Bible

1. Nazareth → Jesus | John 1:46

Nathaniel doubted anything good could come from Nazareth, but the Savior of the world did.

2. The Manger → The King's Arrival | Luke 2:7

Jesus wasn't born in a palace but in a manger. What looked like poverty became the richest gift to humanity.

3. The Cross → Salvation | 1 Corinthians 1:18

The cross was Rome's symbol of shame and death, but God turned it into the symbol of salvation and victory.

Discussion Questions

1. Naaman was a powerful commander with leprosy—successful externally but struggling internally. How can we be "used by God" yet still have areas that need healing? Why do we sometimes hide our struggles?
2. The answer to Naaman's problem came from a captive servant girl in his own house. When have you seen God use an unexpected person or circumstance to bring breakthrough in your life?
3. The King of Israel tore his clothes and became offended when asked to heal Naaman. How does offense prevent us from seeing opportunities God is bringing our way?
4. Elisha sent a messenger with simple instructions instead of greeting Naaman personally. Naaman was furious. Why do we sometimes get offended when God's method doesn't match our expectations?
5. Naaman said, "I thought he would at least come out and wave his hand over me." The key phrase is "I thought." How do our preconceived expectations set us up for offense when God moves differently?
6. Naaman asked, "Are not the rivers of Damascus better than the Jordan?" He almost missed his miracle by comparing methods. When have you rejected God's way because you thought your way was better?
7. The notes state: "Offense is like having the right key but refusing to use it because you don't like how it looks." How does this analogy help you understand missed blessings due to offense?
8. Naaman's servants asked, "If the prophet told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you do it?" Why are we sometimes more willing to do something difficult and complicated than something simple God asks?
9. The miracle wasn't in the water—it was in the obedience. Naaman's skin became like a child's after he obeyed. What area of your life needs the "obedience breakthrough" rather than waiting for the right circumstances?
10. The closing examples show good things from "bad" places (Nazareth → Jesus, Manger → King, Cross → Salvation). How does this pattern challenge you to look for God's blessing in unexpected or humble packages?

Stay Connected

Submit a prayer request

Join us online

View our devotionals