Keep Your Hands Out My Pocket

Life On Offense – Keep Your Hands Out My Pocket

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

Introduction:

Have you ever noticed how not everyone can handle when God blesses you? Some people are fine, as long as you're on their level. But the moment God elevates you, promotes you, or people start celebrating you—they get offended.

Illustration 1 – The Family Inheritance

• A family member gets offended because another sibling inherits something valuable from their parents. Instead of celebrating or being content, they allow jealousy and offense to divide the whole family.

OFFENSE CAN DESTROY NOT ONLY FAITH, BUT ALSO FAMILIES, RELATIONSHIPS, AND FUTURES.

Illustration 2 – The Promotion at Work

• Imagine two co-workers who started at the same time. One gets promoted, and the other doesn't. Instead of celebrating, the overlooked co-worker gets offended. They stop speaking, start gossiping, and even sabotage the one who got promoted.

OFFENSE TURNS A WORKPLACE BLESSING INTO A BREEDING GROUND FOR BETRAYAL. JUST LIKE JUDAS, THE ISSUE WASN'T THE PROMOTION—IT WAS THE HEART.

Illustration 3 – The Parking Lot Testimony

• A pastor once shared that someone got upset because another member got a brand-new car and testified about God's goodness. Instead of rejoicing, they said, "Why does she get blessed like that? I've been faithful too."

That's Judas' spirit—offended at someone else's blessing. The truth is, if God did it for her, He can do it for you. Don't let offense blind you to your own coming breakthrough.

Illustration 4 – Church Recognition

• Sometimes in church, someone gets offended because another person is recognized for their service, or chosen for leadership. Instead of serving faithfully, they withdraw, murmur, or even leave.

That's what Judas did—he couldn't handle someone else honoring Jesus. Offense caused him to forfeit his destiny. He walked with Jesus, ate with Him, ministered with Him, but when Jesus was honored and blessed, Judas couldn't handle it. His offense became the doorway to betrayal.

DON'T LET OFFENSE ROB YOU OF YOUR DESTINY.

POINT 1 – Offense Exposes the Heart

Judas – Counting Other People's Money

John 12:1-7 (NLT)

1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead.

• Everyone say 6 days • Who house was he at? Lazarus house

2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus' honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.

• The dinner was prepared for Jesus • How can you mad at someone else's celebration, you saw that on the invite

3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

• Modern estimates of the equivalent value vary, but all reflect the staggering cost of this item in the ancient world: • $40,000 to $60,000: Estimates based on a modern-day annual salary suggest a value in this range.

• $18,000: One calculation translates 300 denarii, based on a skilled laborer's wage of $60 per day, to $18,000.

• A family's life savings: For a poor family, the cost of the nard was so high that it was seen as a major investment or an extravagance saved for a funeral.

4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said,

• Who spoke up, church? Judas

Luke 6:45 (NLT)

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

5 "That perfume was worth a year's wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor." 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples' money, he often stole some for himself.

• By her pour it out on Jesus, Judas didn't get his cut the money he would be stealing

• The blessing was for Jesus not Judas

7 Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

• On the outside Judas looked spiritual.

• On the inside he was greedy.

• Offense didn't create his heart condition—it revealed it.

• People's reaction to blessings always shows what's inside them.

POINT 2 – Blessing Reveals Who's For You

• When Mary blessed Jesus, the house was filled with fragrance. But not everyone celebrated. Some rejoiced, Judas complained.

• True friends rejoice when you're celebrated.

• Fake friends get jealous, criticize, and try to devalue your blessing.

• Judas couldn't handle Jesus being honored, because deep down he wanted the spotlight.

POINT 3 – Offense Opens the Door to Betrayal

Matthew 26:1-14 (NLT)

1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

• Everyone say 2 days

3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 "But not during the Passover celebration," they agreed, "or the people may riot."

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy.

• Notice he's at someone's else house

7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. 8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste!" they said. 9 "It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." 10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, "Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed."

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

• Smiling in your face, all the time they want to take your place- Back stabbers, Back Stabbers

• Right after Jesus was anointed

• Judas went out to the chief priests to betray Him.

• Notice the sequence: offense at the blessing → decision to betray.

• Offense never stays small—it grows into bitterness, betrayal, even destruction.

• How many people have walked away from assignments, ministries, or relationships because they got offended?

Matthew 27:3-11 (MSG)

3-4 Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, "I've sinned. I've betrayed an innocent man." They said, "What do we care? That's your problem!" 5 Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself. 6-10 The high priests picked up the silver pieces, but then didn't know what to do with them. "It wouldn't be right to give this—a payment for murder!—as an offering in the Temple." They decided to get rid of it by buying the "Potter's Field" and use it as a burial place for the homeless. That's how the field got called "Murder Meadow," a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah's words became history: They took the thirty silver pieces, The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel, And they purchased the potter's field. And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter.

POINT 4 – Stay Unoffended, Stay Aligned

Jesus said in Matthew 11:6, "Blessed is the one who is not offended in Me."

Matthew 11:6 (AMP)

6 And blessed [joyful, favored by God] is he who does not take offense at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation]."

• Offense blinds us to the blessing right in front of us.

• Judas walked with the Blessing (Jesus) but still missed Him.

• Instead of being offended by someone else's blessing—celebrate it, because if God is blessing your neighbor, it means He's in the neighborhood! • Check your heart

James 4:1-3 (MSG)

1-2 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. 2-3 You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

Psalm 119:165 (KJV)

165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Discussion Questions

1. The message states that "some people are fine, as long as you're on their level. But the moment God elevates you...they get offended." Why is it harder for some people to celebrate others' success than to sympathize with their struggles?
2. Review the four illustrations (family inheritance, work promotion, parking lot testimony, church recognition). Which scenario resonates most with you? Have you experienced or witnessed this kind of offense?
3. Judas complained that Mary's expensive perfume was "wasted" on Jesus and should have been given to the poor. How do people today use spiritual-sounding excuses to mask jealousy or greed?
4. Luke 6:45 says, "What you say flows from what is in your heart." How did Judas' complaint about the perfume reveal what was really in his heart? What do your reactions to others' blessings reveal about your heart?
5. The notes say, "Offense didn't create his heart condition—it revealed it." What's the difference between offense creating a problem versus exposing an existing one? How can we examine our hearts before offense reveals what's there?
6. "True friends rejoice when you're celebrated. Fake friends get jealous, criticize, and try to devalue your blessing." How can you tell the difference between constructive criticism and devaluation rooted in jealousy?
7. The sequence shown is: offense at the blessing → decision to betray. Why does offense so often lead to betrayal? At what point in this progression can we intervene to prevent destruction?
8. Judas walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and heard His teaching—yet still betrayed Him. How is it possible to be close to Jesus and still miss Him because of offense?
9. Matthew 11:6 declares, "Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me." What does it mean to be unoffended by Jesus? How can we stay unoffended when God's timing or methods don't match our expectations?
10. The teaching ends with "if God is blessing your neighbor, it means He's in the neighborhood!" How does this perspective shift offense into hope? What practical steps can you take to celebrate others' blessings rather than resenting them?

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