Handling Offences by Pastor David Ibiyeomie
Offence is something that makes somebody feel upset, annoyed or insulted. You cannot have an unforgiving spirit and expect to excel in life.
Mark 11:25 (KJV) And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
When you want to pray, the first thing you must do is to forgive people who had hurt you. As long as you are a child of God, you must surely see offences.
Matthew 18:7 (KJV) Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
People must offend you but as a wise person you have to ignore such offences. Forgiveness is not something you do for other people, it what you do for yourself to help you go forward. The more you forgive, the more you go forward and the more you get well.
Offence serves as a retarding factor to progress in the life of a Christian. Once you possess a nature of offence, you can never go forward in life. Learn to always guide your heart from offences.
Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Similarly, you cannot be offended with God and expect a blessing. When you are offended with God, you cannot be defended by Him.
Isaiah 45:9 (KJV) Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!
When there is a woe, there can never be a way. Being angry at God amounts to spiritual rascality for the creature to be angry at his creator. Offence is a thing of the heart; you do not have to say it. In the kingdom of God, He does not lack who to serve Him. If you are called upon to serve, it is a privilege.
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1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJV) Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.
If you get offended with the church, you cannot be blessed. Be joyful to give and serve. God passes through His servants to bless your life. Your grace is not at work in his (God’s servant) life, but his grace is at work in your life. The words coming from God’s servant is the word of God. Everything in the Bible is the word of God and anything you doubt or analyze is an offence against the word of God.
Also you cannot bear grudge against your spouse and expect God to answer your prayers; it will be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 (KJV) Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Finally as child of God, live a life that is void of offences with everyone you come in contact with.
Acts 24:16 (KJV) And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
God expects your mind to be free of offence so that when inspiration comes, you can receive it. When your mind is occupied with offence, no blessings will come your way. Offence hinders your being sensitive to the voice of God; it also creates a barrier to answered prayers.
Begin today to start forgiving and walking in an offence-free life.
God bless you for reading Handling Offences by Pastor David Ibiyeomie
Pastor David Ibiyeomie is the presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries – Home of Success; one of the fastest growing and spreading churches in the world. He pastors millions of worshippers spread across the globe with Headquarters presently located at Plot 17 Birabi Street, GRA Phase 1, Port Harcourt in Rivers State of Nigeria.