Summary:

Love is not easily offended. By harboring offense in your heart, you sabotage your destiny. God cannot work in, with or through those who
are in a state of offense.

1. Love does not take offense-it takes no account of wrongdoing (1 Corinthians 13:5, AMP).
   1. Offense is "a negative reaction in unpleasant conditions; a natural tendency in the hour of difficulty and pressure."
      1. The offended man doubts what God says and asks, "Can anyone really count on God? Is the Bible really true?"
   2. Let your love abound more and more until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-11).
      1. There will be a day when His power will be exhibited-a day when God's anointing will flow like never before (Psalm 110:3).
      2. The key to seeing that day is to remain without offense (Philippians 1:10).
         
         
2. The answer to all offense, whether directed toward God or man, is patience.
   1. Patience is not "putting up with something;" instead, it means "to remain consistently and constantly the same no matter what is going on."
   2. Be sure to nurture the Word in your heart after hearing it. With patience, you will produce fruit (Luke 8:15).
      1. Patiently confess the Word over your particular situation. Don't stop until you have what you say.
   3. Just as the faith of God carries in it the Word of God, so the love of God carries in it the power and anointing of God.
      1. Don't seek the power without understanding that it is carried in the compassion and the love of God.
         
         
3. Offense is a sabotaging force.
   1. If you are easily offended, nothing in life will work in your favor.
   2. Satan's job is to steal the Word you have received by tempting you to change your mind, question God and walk in doubt.
   3. John the Baptist was a man of great destiny, but he died in prison because of offense (Matthew 11:2-6).
      1. Unlike Mary, who questioned out of ignorance (Luke 1:34), John questioned out of a lack of faith and trust in Christ.
         1. John had already baptized Jesus and received confirmation that Jesus was the Messiah, or the Christ (Matthew 3:11-17).
         2. Without his shield of faith, John was no longer protected from wickedness (Ephesians 6:16).
         3. Questioning brings doubt and hinders your faith (1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:23).
         4. Faith must be a declaration!
      2. When John "...heard in the prison the works of Christ...," he sent his disciples to confront Jesus. He let his circumstances dictate his faith
         level.
      3. Jesus told John's disciples to tell John again that He was the One they had read about (Isaiah 61:1). He also instructed them to tell John of the miracles they had seen, and that
         John would be blessed if he stopped being offended (Matthew 11:4-6).
      4. The Bible makes it clear that woe comes to those who are offended (Matthew 18:7).
         1. John was beheaded because he was offended at the only One Who could help him.
         2. Although tradition has glorified John's death (John 3:30), it was unnecessary. God did not need John to "decrease" so that Jesus could "increase"-He
            doesn't work that way!
            
            
4. Praise God through any trying situation.
   1. Don't be like John and question God.
   2. No matter what you are going through, give God praise.
      1. Example: Paul and Silas were in prison, humiliated and beaten; yet, they continued to give God praise and not take offense (Acts 16:25-26). They
         knew Who He was and refused to waver; therefore, God was able to
         intervene.
      2. Example: When Pastor Robert Bagonza was in a serious, life-threatening car accident in 2000, he could have asked God why He let it happen; instead, he got up and praised God that His Word
         concerning divine protection is true.
         
         
5. You cannot have strife toward God (Isaiah 45:9).
   1. Every offended person hinders the fulfillment of his destiny; however, those who are not offended are empowered to prosper (Luke 7:23).
   2. Every time you harbor offense toward God, that offense will stop you from reaching your destiny.
      1. When you are offended, your defenses are down, and the serpent can bite you (Ecclesiastes 10:8).
      2. Example: When Pastor Robert Bagonza became born again, he questioned God regarding the death of a boy who died while under his supervision as the director of
         a summer youth program. He was one step away from completely giving up
         on God when he instead repented and rededicated his life to Him.
   3. Every person who has hardened his heart toward God has paid a price for doing so (Job 9:4).
      1. Free yourself from all foolish anger toward God.
      2. Look at yourself for the true source of the problem.
      
      
      

      Scripture References:

      • 1 Corinthians 13:5 (AMP)
      • Philippians 1:9-11
      • Psalm 110:3
      • Luke 8:15
      • Matthew 11:2-6
      • Luke 1:34
      • Matthew 3:11-17Ephesians 6:16
      • 2 Timothy 2:23
      • 1 Timothy 1:4
      • Isaiah 61:1
      • Matthew 18:7
      • John 3:30
      • 1 John 4:4 Acts 16:25-26
      • Isaiah 45:9
      • Luke 7:23
      • Ecclesiastes 10:8
      • Job 9:4
      • Psalm 119:1