Spirit of Offense Part II

Review part one and add these things to it:

Offense = stumbling block, to cause to fall away, turn aside.
Matthew 13:5-7, 21 – Re-summarize the Parable of the Sower and context of offense.
Trouble = pressure. When we’re under pressure we’re more easily offended.

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 – How could they tell the difference?

Tares don’t produce an edible crop; no fruit. Instead it’s poisonous (produces nausea and vomiting).
Offense removes any chance of being fruitful – cannot help God in any way.
v41 “all things that offend” KJV.
1. Remember Parable of Sower – the offended produce no fruit.
2. Parable of the Weeds – the offended cannot produce good fruit. They are the sons of Satan. Just as Jesus told Peter, “Get
behind me Satan”.

Matthew 15:1-14 – v2 the Pharisees are offended (just like church; when we don’t like what we see we talk about it).
v3 what is He showing them here? Everybody has their faults. Stop becoming so easily offended and judging everyone!
v7-9 first thing the offended do is say, “I talk about God, I worship God, I teach about God…” They start to list proof they’re
Christians. But their hearts are far from Him.
v12 how did they know they were offended? The offended talk; offense spreads.
v13 Remember the Parable of the Weeds – all things that offend are pulled up and throw into the fire.
v14 Jesus reminds them about the position of the offended. They can’t do a thing for God. In fact, Jesus goes as far as to say, “leave
them” knowing that the offended can’t possibly enter into the Kingdom of God.

Now we want to look at our responsibility toward others.

Matthew 17:24-27 – going out of your way not to offend. Jesus was exempt from paying the tax yet He paid it so as to not offend.
Practical application:
1. Having to prove that your ways are right (e.g. evangelism).
2. Not allowing someone to speak when you think they have nothing good to say (shutting down other people’s input or
teachings).
3. Not following orders (stand up, sit down, turn to page…). “You’re not the boss of me!” Opposite (Ephesians 5:21).
Don’t offend others. (Matthew 5 – give to the one who asks you. That way you won’t be offended and you won’t offend others).

Matthew 18:6-9 KJV – Do not, under any circumstances, be the reason for people’s offense.
v6 better to die than offend.
v7 why must offenses come? The opportunity for offense must be there because God must test His people to see if they can bear good
fruit.
Cut offenses out of your life; otherwise God can never use you – you will miss His destiny, you will miss His power, you will never
produce fruit, and you will go as far as denying Him and going to Hell.

Matthew 18:10-14 – Don’t think you can’t learn from others; don’t be the reason someone rejects the gospel; don’t make someone
else offended by your actions.

Matthew 18:15-20 – If you’ve got a grievance against another person deal with it in private.
If they aren’t willing to listen then you probably offended them.
In that case Jesus knows it needs to be dealt with severely:
1st: Make sure you’ve identified this spirit of offense properly.
2nd: Let the church know the spirit of offense is operating among them.
3rd: Cut that thing off. But you have to try to free that person first – bind it; loose them (before you say “leave them; they’re blind”).

Matthew 18:21-35 – Picture Peter “Ok, I got it Lord. I need to forgive, but just how much forgiveness?”
The spirit of offense wants you to still feel the right to be hurt. “What about my feelings God?” (Proverbs 17:9).

This thing is really serious and we can’t be a party to it. The church must break free from offense:
Matthew 24:10-12 KJV – Offense allows the anti-Christ to come. Spirit of offense is powerful enough to keep you from God.
John 16:1-2 KJV – But Jesus teaches us to not be offended.