Don’t Let Offense Change You

Life On Offense – Don't Let Offense Change You

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

Disclosure: this story is not about a woman being unfaithful. None of us have been completely faithful to God and this story will play out.

I believe this is one of the greatest offenses a person can have His marriage to Gomer was a living parable of God's relationship with Israel. Though Gomer offended Hosea repeatedly, Hosea's relentless love displayed God's love for His unfaithful people.

TODAY'S MESSAGE IS SIMPLE: "ARE YOU BIGGER THAN THE OFFENSE"

MAIN TEXT: Hosea 1:2-Hosea 3:1 (NLT)

Hosea's Wife and Children

2 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, "Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.

• God I had plans for my life • God I didn't want to have children

• This was an offense both to Hosea as a husband and to God as the one who commanded the marriage

3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son.

• Radical obedience

• The whole bible can be summed up in one word obedience

• Key word, gave Hosea a son

4 And the Lord said, "Name the child Jezreel, for I am about to punish King Jehu's dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel. In fact, I will bring an end to Israel's independence.

• Name him • Notice Hosea has no retort, no response, just obedience

5 I will break its military power in the Jezreel Valley." 6 Soon Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to Hosea, "Name your daughter Lo-ruhamah—'Not loved'—for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.

• Notice we don't see the words gave Hosea a daughter

• This second pregnancy has questionable fatherhood, based on the name

• Imagine telling you that the baby your wife is carrying is not yours

7 But I will show love to the people of Judah. I will free them from their enemies—not with weapons and armies or horses and charioteers, but by my power as the Lord their God." 8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son.

• Again we see no mention of her giving Hosea another son

9 And the Lord said, "Name him Lo-ammi—'Not my people'—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God.

• Another baby with questionable fatherhood • Name signifying

She pursued other lovers for provision

Hosea 2:5 (NLT)

5 Their mother is a shameless prostitute and became pregnant in a shameful way. She said, 'I'll run after other lovers and sell myself to them for food and water, for clothing of wool and linen, and for olive oil and drinks.

Psalm 23:1 (AMP)

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],I shall not want.

Philippians 4:19 (AMP)

19 And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 46:1 (AMP)

1 God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble.

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

• This shows she offended Hosea by abandoning him and chasing after others for material gain

• She abandoned her family and ended in bondage-her lifestyle led her to be sold or enslaved, forcing Hosea to redeem her back.

• He gave his heart despite the risk (Hosea 2:14-15).

Hosea 2:14-15 (MSG)

To Start All Over Again

14-15 "And now, here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to start all over again. I'm taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I'll court her. I'll give her bouquets of roses. I'll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She'll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt.

• Love Is Stronger Than Offense

1 Peter 4:8 (AMP)

Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].

• Offense is natural. Forgiveness is supernatural. • Love keeps no record of wrongs.

"LOVE...KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS."

1 Corinthians 13:3-7 (MSG)

3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (AMP)

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. 32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

• Every now and then I become a little self righteous in my marriage, and god has to check me and remind me that i have some bones in my closet

• We either stay in this state or allow God's word to work

Ephesians 5:26 (AMP)

26 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God],

Hosea 3:1 (MSG)

1 Then God ordered me, "Start all over: Love your wife again, your wife who's in bed with her latest boyfriend, your cheating wife. Love her the way I, God, love the Israelite people, even as they flirt and party with every god that takes their fancy."

2 Timothy 2:13 (AMP)

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself.

Story:

I remember when I used to play video games, we use to have 21 point rule, meaning if you where down 21 points we could start over. I want you to know God doesn't have a 21 point rule. You can hit the reset button today.

Wisdom Keys

WISDOM KEY #1 We Have All Cheated on God | Isaiah 53:6 (AMP) | Psalm 103:10 (AMP)

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us].

Psalm 103:10 (AMP)

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins [as we deserve], Nor rewarded us [with punishment] according to our wickedness.

WISDOM KEY #2 God Made a Huge Sacrifice for You | 1 Peter 1:18-21 (MSG)

18-21 Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

WISDOM KEY #3 Pride Keeps Us Offended | Proverbs 16:18 (AMP) | Matthew 18:21-22 (MSG)

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

• Conceit says: "I won't forgive—I deserve better." Love says: "I forgive because God forgave me."

Matthew 18:21-22 (MSG)

A Story About Forgiveness

21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"22 Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

2 Corinthians 5:16-20 (MSG)

16-20 Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.

Discussion Questions

1. God commanded Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute, knowing she would betray him. How does this living parable illustrate God's relentless love for us despite our unfaithfulness?
2. The notes point out that the first child was clearly "given to Hosea," but the next two children had "questionable fatherhood." How does this progression mirror how sin often escalates in our own lives?
3. Gomer pursued other lovers for provision (food, water, clothing), yet God says "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." Why do we sometimes seek provision from sources other than God?
4. The message asks: "Are you bigger than the offense?" What does it mean to be "bigger" than an offense? How is this different from ignoring or suppressing hurt?
5. Hosea redeemed Gomer from bondage after she abandoned him and their family. How does this picture Christ's redemptive work in our lives? What did it cost Hosea, and what did it cost Jesus?
6. 1 Peter 4:8 says "love covers a multitude of sins." What's the difference between covering sins with love versus enabling destructive behavior? Where's the balance?
7. 1 Corinthians 13 says love "doesn't keep score of the sins of others" and "never looks back." Why is keeping a record of wrongs so toxic to relationships? How do we practically stop keeping score?
8. The notes state: "Offense is natural. Forgiveness is supernatural." If forgiveness doesn't come naturally, what must we rely on to forgive deeply hurtful offenses?
9. Proverbs 16:18 warns that "pride goes before destruction." How does pride keep us locked in offense? What role does humility play in releasing others and ourselves?
10. Jesus said to forgive "seventy times seven" (essentially unlimited forgiveness). When someone repeatedly hurts us, how do we balance unlimited forgiveness with healthy boundaries?

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