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March 12, 2018

Overcoming Offense: Let God Avenge You


 

 

Throughout your lifetime, something or someone is going to say or do something to offend you.

In Luke 17:1 Jesus said, “It is impossible that offenses will not come, but woe to him through whom they come.”

 

We’re all vulnerable to offense. At some point, someone may humiliate you. Outrage you. Shame you. Insult you.  The good news is that God will wipe every tear from your eye. All you have to do is give you burdens to Him.

 

Question: Are you easily offended?

 

Key Points:

 

  1. It’s impossible to avoid offense. No one is exempt.

Since it’s impossible for you to escape being offended, you have to learn how to deal with it because throughout your life you will likely be offended again, again and again.

  1. Opposition allows you to do things you could not do unless you had adversity coming against you.

Opposition and offense makes you lift your prayer life and run to God. It’ll make you “mount up with wings as eagles” and fly to God.

  1. Go to Jericho. Stay in a sweet place.

Jericho means “sweet fragrance”. When someone offends you, just go to Jericho and stay sweet. Your respect will come back. Your honor will return.

  1. Don’t seek vengeance. God will avenge you.

Don’t get angry. Keep the right spirit and meditate on Romans 14, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, neither give place to wrath; for ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay says the Lord.”

  1. Don’t work by revenge through old hatred.

In Exodus 25:13, the Philistines worked by revenge through old hatred. How many of us are stuck in old hatred from old pain?

  1. Forgive those who have offended you.

Jesus told Peter in Matthew 18:22 “you must forgive your brother, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven.”

It’s not about keeping score. It’s about losing count.

  1. Don’t give up.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation.” But, no matter the circumstance, you can’t give up. You must press on.

Proverbs 24:10 says “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”

 

Final thoughts:  Pray and ask the Lord to remove bitterness, offense and unforgiveness from your heart. Choose to go to Jericho, to that sweet place. God is a just God and will avenge you from any injustice or defamation, just put it in His hands. Watch him defend you and restore you.

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