What is “Offense”? Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come…” Luke 17:1a Skandalon = The part of the trap to which the bait is attached, hence, the trap or snare itself. A stumbling block. Satan is trying to trap you. Satan hates humans. He refused to bow to us. He knows God loves us.

“An offense usually occurs when you see, hear, or experience a behavior that is so different from what you expected that it causes you to falter, totter and wobble in your soul. In fact, you are so stunned by what you have observed or by a failed expectation that you lose your footing emotionally. Before you know it, you are dumbfounded and flabbergasted about something. Then your shock turns into disbelief, your disbelief into disappointment, and your disappointment into offense.” – Rick Renner The phone message I received.

into two major categories: Types of “Offense” Offended people fall into two major categories: Those who BELIEVE they have been treated unjustly. Those who have been treated unjustly. Please know which category you belong to. That will dictate what your actions are.

have been treated unjustly. Types of “Offense” Those who BELIEVE they have been treated unjustly. conclusions drawn from inaccurate information. information accurate, but conclusion is distorted. AVOID: Assumption Appearance Hearsay I heard that you told pastor moore you didn’t like my sermon. You didn’t tell pastor moore that. You meant it constructively. text messages breed miscommunication, nuances are lost.

Types of “Offense” Those who HAVE BEEN treated unjustly. WHAT do I do when I have been attacked, maligned, persecuted, victimized or mistreated? Anger. Vengeance. Hatred. bitterness.

JOSEPH Favorite son of his father. Dreamed of greatness. Brothers hated him. Cast into pit, Sold into slavery… By his brothers. Sold to Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses him of rape. Thrown in Jail. Interprets dreams of fellow prisoners. Remains forgotten. Interprets Pharaoh’s dream. Becomes governor of Egypt. Revealed to his brothers. Understands God’s plan. Genesis 37:1-11 Genesis 37:18-27 Genesis 39:7-20 Genesis 40:12-14, 20-23 Genesis 41:28-41 Genesis 45:1-8

WHO DO YOU BLAME… …When you find yourself in an impossible situation? The person who wronged you. People who could have or should have helped you. God. Assigning blame leads to offense continuing.

Absolutely no man, woman, child, or devil can ever get you out of the will of God! No one but God holds your destiny.

GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN! But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good… Genesis 50:20 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 God is never in “crisis mode”