Part 1: Overcoming Offenses

Jason Henshaw

Ghosts of Christmas Past • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Proverbs 19:11

Offense

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In week one, we are talking about overcoming offenses.

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Introduction:

Have you noticed that Christmas is a time that really tends to magnify things. If there's something good, the Christmas season tends to magnify it and makes things even better. At the same time Christmas can also magnify the difficult times. What might be a little painful during the year seems to be incredibly painful during Christmas-time. In fact, I'm going to tell you what we're going to cover in the next few weeks.

Have you noticed that Christmas is a time that really tends to magnify things. If there's something good Christmas season tends to magnify the good and makes things even better. At the same time Christmas can also magnify the difficult times. What might be a little painful during the year seems to be incredibly painful during Christmastime. In fact, I'm going to tell you what we're going to cover in the next few weeks.

Next week were going to talk about something that most of us battle with at one degree or another. We're going to talk about healing from shame. Many of us, we internalize shame from something that we did and we think "because I did that I am bad". We're going to look at God's Word as it speaks directly to our hearts to heal from shame.

Next week were going to talk about something that most of us battle with at one degree or another. We're going to talk ab out healing from shame. Many of us, we internalize shame from something that we did and we think "because I did that I am bad". We're going to look at God's word as it speaks directly to our hearts to heal from shame.

And in week number three we're going to talk about overcoming labels, because let's be honest, all of us through life we pick up different labels. Someone calls us something, we think something about ourselves and these labels tend to limit us. With God's help we're going to overcome those labels.

Week number three is my favorite of t he message series. We're going to talk about overcoming labels, because let's be honest, all of us through life we pick up different labels. Someone calls us something, we think something about ourselves and these labels tend to limit us. With God's help w e're going to overcome those labels.

Today what I want to do is talk about something very dear to my heart. It's something that God has done a real work in my heart. I want to talk to you about overcoming offenses. How many of you know someone that's easily offended? Would you raise you hand right now? You know someone who's easily offended, if they knew you were raising your hand they would be so hurt. They would be so offended. How many of you would say quite honestly you might be offended more often than you should. It's difficult to admit. This was me for years and years. I recognize that I was letting little things weigh me down. Maybe you're like this, something insignificant weighing me down.

Today what I want to do is talk about something very dear to my heart. It's something that God has done a real work in my heart. I want to talk to you about overcoming offenses, overcoming offenses. At all of our churc hes, how many of you know someone that's easily offended? Would you raise you hand right now? You know someone who's easily offended, if they knew you were raising your hand they would be so hurt. They would be so offended. How many of you would say quite honestly you might be offended more often than you should. It's difficult to admit. This was me for years and years. I recognize that I was letting little things weigh me down. Maybe you're like this, something insignificant.

The same is true if I open someone's door for them and they just kind of walk right on, no even thank you. I'm just sitting here all day long, this is my job. I can let little things like that get to me.

For example, if I'm driving i n a car and I let someone in when it really wasn't their turn and if they didn't give me the courtesy obligatory thank you wave or just a simple nod like, I acknowledge that you're a very righteous and godly person for letting me in when I could've been wa iting there for a long time, I get so irritated. I just want to kind of remind them to say thank you. The same is true if I open someone's door for them and they just kind of walk right on, no even thank you. I'm just sitting here all day long, this is my job. I can let little things like that get to me.

Maybe for you you're talking to somebody and the whole time you're trying to have a conversation they're just on their phone just looking, looking, looking. You're like, "Would you put the thing down? Look at me right here." Some of you that might get you, speaking of the phone, it's really easy now with technology to find new and creative ways to become offended. For example, your friend doesn't follow you on Instagram and you like all of their posts. It's like, "I'm not even worthy of being followed", or they do follow you and they don't comment, or even worse they follow you and then one day they don't. "Oh, I'm unliking all of my likes on your page because you unfollowed me".

Maybe for you you're talking to somebody and the whole time you're trying to have a conversation they're just on their phone just looking, looking, looking. You're like, "Would you put the thing down? Loo k at me right here." Some of you that might get you, speaking of the phone, it's really easy now with technology to find new and creative ways to become offended. For example, your friend doesn't follow you on Instagram and you like all of their posts. It' s like, "I'm not even worthy of being followed", or they do follow you and they don't comment, or even worse they follow you and then one day they don't. "Oh, I'm unliking all of my likes on your page because you unfollowed me".

You text them and they slow respond, they wait a day. "Oh, so I'm a 24 hour responder?" The worst is when you text them and they start to respond and you see bubbles, "there are bubbles there, you see the bubbles, there are bubbles and then there's no text. I saw the bubbles. You started then you dumped me. Why did you dump me in the middle of the text. I thought we were quick". I could get really offended by this. I don't know if you're like this. Maybe I just need counseling. I get really, really offended.

Someone tells you "I don't like the way you're raising your kids", you make one comment about the kids it's game on. I don't care if it is Christmas, baby, you just crossed a line. It's so interesting how especially around the holidays the littlest things can often set us off in the biggest ways. A time that is supposed to be Christ honoring often becomes very destructive in the relationships of the people that we love most.

honoring often becomes very destructive in the relationships of the people that we love most.

I talked about the little things. Those are kind of little and annoying things. The reality is for many of us there will be significant hurts and wounds that emerge this time of the year. Some of you, you've been betrayed in a significant way. Someone perhaps lied about you or let you down or represented one thing and then lived in a totally different way. Some of you have been abused. Some of you are going into family situations that have been very, very dysfunctional and hurtful for years and years and years and years. The challenge is so often when we are offended, when we let the offenses seep into our heart and overcome our attitudes, all of the sudden we've got many of us we'll have entire Christmas dinners that are completely destroyed.

I talked about the little things. Those are kind of little and annoying things. The reality is for many of us there will be significant hurts and wounds that emerge this time of the year. Some of you, you've been betrayed in a signific ant way. Someone perhaps lied about you or let you down or represented one thing and then lived in a totally different way. Some of you have been abused. Some of you are going into family situations that have been very, very dysfunctional and hurtful for y ears and years and years and years. The challenge is so often when we are offended, when we let the offenses seep into our heart and overcome our attitudes, all of the sudden we've got many of us we'll have entire Christmas dinners that are completely dest royed.

There are those of you that will have families that are divided. There are many who have friendships end. I pray with all of my heart that you don't go into the time that is to honor the birth of our Savior, Jesus, and open gifts with a closed heart to someone that you're called to love. I hope that you don't celebrate the love of Christ while hating somebody that's very close to you. I pray that we never ever enjoy the grace of God without extending the grace of God to other people around us. That 's why in this Christmas season I want to talk to you about overcoming offenses.

There are those of you that will have families that are divided. There are many who have friendships end. I pray with all of my heart that you don't go into the time that is to honor the birth of our Savior, Jesus, and open gifts with a closed hea rt to someone that you're called to love. I hope that you don't celebrate the love of Christ while hating somebody that's very close to you. I pray that we never ever enjoy the grace of God without extending the grace of God to other people around us. That 's why in this Christmas season I want to talk to you about overcoming offenses.

One of the reasons I'm so excited to do this is because I believe God has done a real work in my heart to help lead me to become more like Christ and to overcome the tendency to be quickly and easily offended. What I'm going to do is tell you a statement that I say to myself over and over again, over and over again. If there's on thing that you take away from this message I hope it will be this statement or a version of it that really fits you. This is what I tell myself. Maybe you can tell yourself this or something close.

One of the reasons I'm so excited to do this is because I believe God has done a real work in my heart to help lead me to become more like Christ and to overcome the tendenc y to be quickly and easily offended. What I'm going to do is tell you a statement that I say to myself over and over again, over and over again. If there's on thing that you take away from this message I hope it will be this statement or a version of it th at really fits you. This is what I tell myself. Maybe you can tell yourself this or something close. I tell myself this: Craig, your life is too short and your calling too great to live offended. Your life is too short and your calling too big to be offend ed.

I tell myself this: Jason, your life is too short and your calling too great to live offended. Your life is too short and your calling too big to be offended.

Think about it. What is life? Life is a mist. We're here for a little while and gone tomorrow. Life passes by so fast. It breaks my heart to see my kids are growing and leaving the home. Boom one, boom another, then another one. How'd that happen? They were just babies yesterday. It's so, so fast. My calling is great. Guess what, so is yours, every single one of you. Guess what we are. We are called by God to go into this world to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are called to be the light of this world. We're called to be the salt of this earth. We reflect the love of Jesus when we come into contact with people. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We show his love on this earth.

Think about it. What is life? Life is a mist. We're here for a little while and gone tomorrow. Life passes by so fast. It breaks my heart to see my kids are growing and leaving the home. Boom one, boom another, then another one. How'd that happen? The y were just babies yesterday. It's so, so fast. My calling is great. Guess what, so is yours, every single one of you. Guess what we are. We are called by God to go into this world to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are called to be the ligh t of this world. We're called to be the salt of this earth. We reflect the love of Jesus when we come into contact with people. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We show his love on this earth.

I don't know about you, but life is too short for me and my calling is too great to be offended by something small. Small people carry big offenses. I refuse to be a small person. We're going to learn to let it go, let it go, let it go. Why? Life is too short. Our calling is too great. My life is too short. my calling is too great. Let’s say it together, "My life is too short, my calling is too great. My life is too short, my calling is too great to live offended. I'm not going to let small things drag me down." My life is too short, my calling is too great to live offended.

Body:

our churches say it, "My life is too short. My life is too short, my calling is too great. My life is too short, my calling is too great to live offended. I'm not going to let small things drag me down." My life is too short, my c alling is too great to live offended.

What I want to do today is unpack one verse to set the tone, then we're going to look at some other ones. This is from .This is what scripture says,

Proverbs 19:11 NLT

11 Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

Proverbs 19:11 NIV

11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

What I want to do today is unpack one verse to set the tone, then we're going to look at some other ones. This is from , verse 11. I love this one particular phrase in . This is what scripture sa ys, "A person's wisdom yields patience. It is to one's glory to do", what, all of our churches, somebody in Fort Smith help me out, "It's to one's glory to", what, to "overlook an offense". Let's say it again. "it's to ones' glory to", do what, "to overloo k an offense."

Now what does it mean to overlook an offense? We need to recognize that overlooking an offense is not the same as pretending it didn't happen. It's not saying this never happened. It's overlooking the fact that it already did. It's a conscious decision to let it go. In other words it's a form of forgiveness. It's almost like an in the moment decision to forgive. It's a choice. It's a real time decision that I'm going to rise above this and I'm going to choose in the moment not to let this get into my heart. In fact the word overlook that's in the English language, this actually comes from two Hebrew words that are translated overlooked. These words literally mean to pass over. It's to one’s glory to pass on over an offense, to get above it in your heart, to rise above it spiritually, to get closer to God, so close to God that you're not going to be low enough to let a meaningless offense take you off of God's calling.

Now what does it mean to overlook an offense? We need to recognize that overlooking an offense is not the same as pretending it didn't happen. It's not saying this never happened. It's overlooking in the fact that it already did. It's a con scious decision to let it go. In other words it's a form of forgiveness. It's almost like a in the moment decision to forgive. It's a choice. It's a real time decision that I'm going to rise above this and I'm going to choose in the moment not to let this get into my heart. In fact the word overlook that's in the English language, this actually comes from two Hebrew words that are translated overlooked. These words literally mean to pass over. It's to ones glory to pass on over an offense, to get above it i n your heart, to rise above it spiritually, to get closer to God, so close to God that you're not going to be low enough to let a meaningless offense take you off of God's calling.

It's a person's glory to rise above, to overlook, to pass over an offense. In fact, I love this quote from Rene Descartes who said this,

It's a person's glory to rise above, to overlook, to pass over an offense. In fact, I love this quote from Rene Descartes who said this, "Whenever anyone has offended me I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it." Whenever anyone has offended me I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach i t. Why? Life is too short and our calling is too great to let something small distract us from something so big. Life is too short, our calling is too great to live offended.

"Whenever anyone has offended me I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it."

Why? Life is too short and our calling is too great to let something small distract us from something so big. Life is too short, our calling is too great to live offended.

What I want to do is unpack two thoughts. We're going to talk about the smaller offenses first. Then we're going to deal with the heavier offenses. Let's be honest, there are many of us that have deeper wounds that follow us around for years or even generations. The statement in your notes, if you're looking at your notes, is this: wi th God's help I'm getting over this. Everybody say that, "With God's help I'm getting over this." It's to your glory to overlook an offense. With God's help I'm getting over this.

With God's help I'm getting over this.

Everybody say that, "With God's help I'm getting over this." It's to your glory to overlook an offense. And we can’t do it on our own! We need help! With God's help I'm getting over this.

The first thought if you're taking notes is this:

The first thought if you're taking notes is this: with God's help I'm getti ng over being easily offended. With God's help I'm getting over being easily offended. Ephesians chapter 4, verse 2 says this: "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other making allowance for each other's faults because of your love." Paul tol d us this, be patient with other people, making allowance for each

I. With God's help I'm getting over being easily offended.

With God's help I'm getting over being easily offended. says this:

other's faults. What a great verse. How many of you know somebody who's perfect? I don't. Make allowances for their faults because of your love.

Ephesians 4:2 NLT

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

What a great verse. How many of you know somebody who's perfect? I don't. Make allowances for their faults because of your love.

What's interesting is how often we tend to judge others by their actions. What do we often do with ourselves? We often judge ourselves by our intentions. In other words, you did it. Well I didn't mean to do that. You know my heart right? I wasn't thinking that. You really know my heart so you shou ld give me the benefit of the doubt. Yet we're so quick to point one finger at someone else's actions that we really have three fingers pointing back at us. We judge them by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.

What's interesting is how often we tend to judge others by their actions. What do we often do with ourselves? We often judge ourselves by our intentions. In other words, you did it. Well I didn't mean to do that. You know my heart right? I wasn't thinking that. You really know my heart so you should give me the benefit of the doubt. Yet we're so quick to point one finger at someone else's actions that we really have three fingers pointing back at us. We judge them by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.

For example years ago I preached a message on lying. It was a message I was actually really proud of. I felt like I got to the root of why we lie and dishonor God in this way. I just finished preaching a full weekend and Amy called and said, "Get home fast. The company in here early. I nee d you to pick up these two things at the store. Get here fast." It was like panic time. I'm fighting the traffic, getting out of the parking lot because all of you were there that weekend. I can't quite get out. I was trying to get in the grocery store and when I went in the grocery store was down the street in between a couple of Life.Churches so I knew there'd be a lot of people in there. It's after church. They're going to want to talk. Amy is in panic mode so I decided to put my phone up to my head even though I wasn't on the phone and fake it like I'm having a conversation.

I'm talking like this. People are like, "Pastor Chris!" "Hey, sorry", all this kind of stuff. I'm faking it right there right there in the middle after doing a message on lying. Ly ing, liar, liar, pants on fire. It was going okay until somebody said, "Hey can I talk to you?". I said, "I'm sorry, I'm on the phone.", and right then Amy called me. Nowhere to hide. Pastor Craig just preached a message on lying and then lied right in fro nt of everybody. I want to just beg you, give me the benefit of the doubt. If you'd only known how panicked she was, get home fast, I'm just trying to get in and get out and get home so my wife would be okay. It's so easy to say, "Hey, you give me the bene fit of the doubt", but oftentimes I don't want to give anybody else the benefit of the doubt. "You said and you did that. That's not right. That's not fair", on and on and on.

We need to recognize that when someone else has a bad day, when someone else h as a bad response, when someone else might seem uncaring, unkind, unfriendly, short, inattentive, lacking empathy, their bad response is not all about you. It's not. Their bad day is not all about you. Their bad driving is not in an attempt to offend you a nd ruin your whole day. Their snarky remark is not about you. The fact they walked by fast without saying thank you is not about you. Their PMS is not about you unless you ask about it. Then it's all about you. Don't ever ask. Just a little marriage advice for those of you that are newlyweds. Pretend like you don't even know what that is. PMS stands for please make sense, but I didn't say that. Anyway, it's not about you unless you bring it up. We'll just edit that part right on out and keep on going.

Whenever someone is short with me, what I'm learning to do is ask myself, "I wonder what they're going through. I wonder where they're hurting." When some-one is a little bit rude instead of judging them what I want to do is have compassion for them. I wonder if there's some way I can minister to them. I wonder if they need prayer. Instead of immediately taking an offense, what I want to do is have the attitude of Christ. I want to have compassion on someone because I'm getting over being easily offended.

When ever someone is short with me, what I'm learning to do is ask myself, "I wonder what they're going through. I wonder where they're hurting." When someone is a little bit rude instead of judging them what I want to do is have compassion for them. I wonder i f there's some way I can minister to them. I wonder if they need prayer. Instead of immediately taking an offense, what I want to do is have the attitude of Christ. I want to have compassion on someone because I'm getting over being easily offended.

In fact years ago I read a book by a pastor and the book really offended me. The pastor said things that seemed like he was taking a shot at the type of church that I have. I just decided I don't like this guy. If I wasn't talking on a weekend I might say I hat e this guy. I don't hate anybody, but that's what I might say. I don't like this guy at all. For years I didn't like this guy, years. Never met him but didn't like him at all. After maybe six or seven years went by, I actually met him recently at an event, oh my gosh, nicest guy I've ever met in my life. We're like buddies, like this, we're talking. I haven't met in the last five years someone that I hit it off more so with this guy. A delightful, honoring.

In fa ct years ago I read a book by a pastor and the book really offended me. The pastor said things that seemed like he was taking a shot at the type of church that I have. I just decided I don't like this guy. If I wasn't talking on a weekend I might say I hat e this guy. I don't hate anybody, but that's what I might say. I don't like this guy at all. For years I didn't like this guy, years. Never met him but didn't like him at all. After maybe six or seven years went by, I actually met him recently at an event, oh my gosh, nicest guy I've ever met in my life. We're like buddies, like this, we're talking. I haven't met in the last five years someone that I hit it off more so with this guy. A delightful, honoring.

Finally I'm like, we're old friends now. We've been talking for 30 minutes. I said, "Yeah I had that book you wrote years ago. You kind of seemed a little harsh and angry. What's going on?" He goes, "Man, I was in a really bad place in my life. If I had that book to write over again I would've used a totally different tone." I wanted to say, "Well I hated you for seven years because of it", but I didn't do that. How much time do we waste building a case against someone else that's not even thinking about us? My life is too short, my calling is too great . With God's help I'm going to make an allowance for other people's faults. I am overcoming being easily offended. I've got too much to do for God to let something small slow me down. With God's help I'm overcoming being easily offended.

Finally I'm like, we're old friends now. We've been talking for 30 minutes. I said, "Yeah I had that book you wrote years ago. You kind of seemed a little harsh and angry. What's going on?" He goes, "Man, I was in a really bad place in my life. If I had that book to write over again I would've used a t otally different tone." I wanted to say, "Well I hated you for seven years because of it", but I didn't do that. How much time do we waste building a case against someone else that's not even thinking about us? My life is too short, my calling is too great . With God's help I'm going to make an allowance for other people's faults. I am overcoming being easily offended. I've got too much to do for God to let something small slow me down. With God's help I'm overcoming being easily offended.

The second thing if you're taking notes is this.

II. With God's help I'm getting over the big offenses.

The second thing if you're taking notes is this. With God's help I'm getting over the big offenses. I want to spend a little time being gentle here because I know that at all of our churches there are those of you that may have very significant wounds in your life right no w. I know that for a lot of you, especially going into Christmastime, this stirs up the betrayals, maybe the hurts, maybe the abuse, maybe the lies that you've experienced or endured in your life. I know this is very, very real.

I want to spend a little time being gentle here because I know there are those of you that may have very significant wounds in your life right now. I know that for a lot of you, especially going into Christmas-time, this stirs up the betrayals, maybe the hurts, maybe the abuse, maybe the lies that you've experienced or endured in your life. I know this is very, very real.

When we've been hurt we have a choice. We can really essentially do one of a couple extremes.

We can rehearse what happened.

When we've been hurt we ha ve a choice. We can really essentially do one of a couple extremes. We can rehearse what happened. That's what we often do. "Well if she said, then he did", and we let it go over and over and over and it feeds the bitterness and it feeds the anger and it d rives the dislike deeper into our heart. We can rehearse it or with God's help we can start to release it. We can rehearse it or with God's help we can start to release it. I'm passing over. I'm overcoming. It's to our glory to overlook an offense.

That's what we often do. "Well if she said, then he did", and we let it go over and over and over and it feeds the bitterness and it feeds the anger and it drives the dislike deeper into our heart. We can rehearse it or with God's help

We can start to release it.

I'm passing over. I'm overcoming. It's to our glory to overlook an offense.

The process of forgiveness, for some it may take time, but as we continue to seek God, as we continue to press into him, as we continue to pray, we continue to seek to do the right thing. His Spirit can actually start to change our hearts. In fact, tells us this. We're told to "Make allowances for each other's faults and forgive anyone who offends you." Some of you, you're thinking of somebody right now. What do we do? Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. The Lord forgave me , so I'm called to forgive others. How? How do you forgive somebody that seems unforgivable? How do you forgive something that's so wrong, so brutal, so horrific? Not only how do we forgive someone that hurt us, but you know what's sometimes even more diff icult? To forgive someone that hurt someone that we love. "Oh you mess with my kid, that's another story. You mess with my wife."

Colossians 3:13 NLT

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

We're told to "Make allowances for each other's faults and forgive anyone who offends you." Some of you, you're thinking of somebody right now. What do we do? Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. The Lord forgave me, so I'm called to forgive others. How? How do you forgive somebody that seems unforgivable? How do you forgive something that's so wrong, so brutal, so horrific? Not only how do we forgive someone that hurt us, but you know what's sometimes even more difficult? To forgive someone that hurt someone that we love. "Oh you mess with my kid, that's another story. You mess with my wife."

How do we forgive? How do we forgive? We forgive as we've been forgiven. How do we do it? How do we do it? We forgive as we'v e been forgiven. I don't know about you, I can't speak for anybody here, but I've been forgiven of a lot. If you look at the accumulation of my years and all the times that I've let people down, that I've been less than honest, that I've hurt people throug hout the years, that I've blatantly sinned against God, I've been forgiven of a lot. How do I forgive somebody that seems unforgivable? I forgive in the same way that I've been forgiven. Freely I've been forgiven and freely I forgive others.

How do we forgive?

We forgive as we've been forgiven.

How do we do it? We forgive as we've been forgiven. I don't know about you, I can't speak for anybody here, but I've been forgiven of a lot. If you look at the accumulation of my years and all the times that I've let people down, that I've been less than honest, that I've hurt people throughout the years, that I've blatantly sinned against God, I've been forgiven of a lot. How do I forgive somebody that seems unforgivable? I forgive in the same way that I've been forgiven. Freely I've been forgiven and freely I forgive others.

It's be a process. God help me forgive. God change my heart. God give me grace as you've given me grace. God I pray for this person even though I don't want to.

It'd be a process. God help me forgive. God change my heart. God give me grace as you've given me grace. God I pray for this person even though I don't want to. In fact I just want to touch on something for a minute because I know there may be some of you right now th at in your marriage you've been significantly betrayed. I've said this before, I want to say it again. Maybe you had a spouse commit adultery and you can sit around in a Christian circle and say all day long, "Adultery is grounds for divorce", and if you'r e reading scripture that's absolutely a true statement. Adultery is grounds for a divorce. Here's some other news. Adultery is also grounds for forgiveness. It's also grounds for forgiveness. I know that it's complicated and I've never had to walk through something like that in my own life and pray that I never ever do. I'll tell you right now, I've been forgiven of a lot and I want to freely forgive in the way that I've been forgiven.

In fact I just want to touch on something for a minute because I know there may be some of you right now that in your marriage you've been significantly betrayed. Maybe you had a spouse commit adultery, for example, and you can sit around in a Christian circle and say all day long, "Adultery is grounds for divorce", and if you'r e reading scripture that's absolutely a true statement. Adultery is grounds for a divorce. Here's some other news. Adultery is also grounds for forgiveness. It's also grounds for forgiveness. I know that it's complicated and I've never had to walk through something like that in my own life and pray that I never ever do. I'll tell you right now, I've been forgiven of a lot and I want to freely forgive in the way that I've been forgiven.

"Whenever anyone has offended me I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it."

The very thing that was holding me back for so long, it will hold me no more because I'm growing close to God. The lower offenses of this world do not hold me back because life is short. I'm not going to let something insignificant take me off track because my calling is great. I'm not rehearsing this, I'm releasing it. I'm not rehearsing it, I'm releasing it. I'm getting over it. I'm getting over it. I'm getting over it.

I don't know if this will speak to somebody, but if it does today just let God crack open your heart a little bit. How do we forgive something that seems unforgivable? In the same way that Christ has forgiven us. The quote again from Descartes, "whenever anyone has offended my I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it." The very thing that was holding me back for so long, it will hold me no more because I'm growing close to God. The lower offenses of this world do not hold me back because life is short. I'm not going to let something insignificant take m e off track because my calling is great. I'm not rehearsing this, I'm releasing it. I'm not rehearsing it, I'm releasing it. I'm getting over it. I'm getting over it. I'm getting over it.

Over time we're no longer saying, "I'm getting over it", but because of God, "I AM over it. I am over it. I am different. It doesn't hold me back. Because of God I am over it."

This is what Joseph in the Old Testament did, an amazing story of rising above betrayal when he had a vision to do great things and his brothers were very jealous of him and critical. They said, no, no, no. They took their little brother and threw him into a pit, kind of like a cruel joke or let's leave him there. Then someone said, "No, let's not leave him there. Let's sell him." Some travelers came by and they sold him into slavery, their own brother. His brothers sell him in this way. Then he's falsely accused while he's serving Potiphar. Then he's put into prison and serves in prison and continues to live with integrity and has an amazing gift to interpret dreams and bring about the spiritual influence.

Over time we're not longer saying, "I'm getting over it", but becau se of God, "I am over it. I am over it. I am over it. I am different. It doesn't hold me back. Because of God I am over it." This is what Joseph in the Old Testament did, an amazing story of rising above betrayal when he had a vision to do great things and his brothers were very jealous of him and critical. They said, no, no, no. They took their little brother and threw him into a pit, kind of like a cruel joke or let's leave him there. Then someone said, "No, let's not leave him there. Let's sell him." A b and came by and they sold him into slavery, their own brother. His brothers sell him in this way. Then he's falsely accused while he's serving Potiphar. Then he's put into prison and serves in prison and continues to live with integrity and has an amazing gift to interpret dreams and bring about the spiritual influence.

Because of that gift over time he's actually elevated and God puts him second in charge after years of abuse under Pharaoh in Egypt. Suddenly God uses him to interpret a dream that the Pharaoh has about a time of plenty and a time of want. He says you need to put some food aside because there's a drought coming and there's going to be starvation if you don't. He uses his gift to prepare them for a time that could've been tragic for the nation. Well years and years and years go by. Guess what happens? Joseph's brothers who think he's dead and gone need some food. What do they do? They come into the Pharaoh's palace and say, "Can we buy some bread? We need something to eat."

Because of that gift over time he's actually elevated and God puts him second in charge after years of abuse under Pharaoh in Egypt. Suddenly God uses him to interpret a dream that the Phar aoh has about a time of plenty and a time of want. He says you need to put some food aside because there's a drought coming and there's going to be starvation if you don't. He uses his gift to prepare them for a time that could've been tragic for the natio n. Well years and years and years go by. Guess what happens? Joseph's brothers who think he's dead and gone need some food. What do they do? They come into the Pharaoh's place and say, "Can we buy some bread? We need something to eat."

Joseph recognizes his brothers who betrayed him, was going to leave him for dead and sold him into slavery. If Joseph had done what many of us are doing right now, rehearse it, rehearse it, one day, and then I'll say to them and when they come I'm going to put them all to death for what they did, if he had done that it'd been a much different story. He chose by the grace of God not to rehearse it, but to release it. He broke down with significant emotion. I cannot believe this, you're here, I am your brother. They're like, you're going to kill us, all this stuff. He's like, no, no. You don't understand. God used this. God used this. Then he said, "what you meant for evil, God meant used for good. What you meant for evil, my God turned it, my God used it for good.

Joseph recognizes his brothers who betrayed him, was going to leave him for dead and sold him into slavery. If Joseph had done what many of us are doing right now, rehearse it, rehears it, one day, and then I'll say to them and when they come I'm going to put them all to de ath for what they did, if he had done that it'd been a much different story. He chose by the grace of God not to rehearse it, but to release it. He broke down with significant emotion. I cannot believe this, you're here, I am your brother. They're like, yo u're going to kill us, all this stuff. He's like, no, no. You don't understand. God used this. God used this. Then he said, "what you meant for evil, God meant used for good. What you meant for evil, my God turned it, my God turned it, my God used it, my G od used it for good.

I'm over this. That's beneath me. I'm not letting it slow me down. I'm doing what God called me to do. I'm so over the past. There are those of you that I believe in the presence of God he's going to do a healing work and you're no longer going to be under the curse of something that happened in the past. You're saying with God's help I'm getting over it. With God's help I'm getting over it. Then one day with everything in you, because of God's goodness I am over it, because of his grace I've let it go. What used to hold me back, because of God's goodness it actually made me stronger. What used to hurt me in the past has conformed me to the image of Christ. I'm even more like him today. What weighed me down for years no longer holds me down. Why? I'm over it. I'm over it. As Jesus has forgiven me, so I forgive others.

I'm over this, I'm over this. That's beneath me. I'm not letting it slow me down. I'm doing what God called me to do. I'm so over the past. There are those of you that I believe in the presence of God he's going to do a healing work a nd you're no longer going to be under the curse of something that happened in the past. You're saying with God's help I'm getting over it. With God's help I'm getting over it. Then one day with everything in you, because of God's goodness I am over it, bec ause of his grace I've let it go. What used to hold me back, because of God's goodness it actually made me stronger. What used to hurt me in the past has conformed me to the image of Christ. I'm even more like him today. What weighed me down for years no l onger holds me down. Why? I'm over it. I'm over it. As Jesus has forgiven me, so I forgive others.

It's to your glory to overlook, to rise above, to not be held hostage by some offense. Why? Life is too short. Life is too short to live offended. Your calling is too great. Do you recognize that? God created you, shaped you, formed you, gave you gifts and put you at this moment in history. Why? It's at this time that you can best glorify him and do his will. What used to hold me hostage doesn't hold me anymore. Why? God is causing me to rise above it. God is lifting me above it. My soul is so close to the things of God that I wouldn't let anything drag me down.

It's to your glory to overlook, to rise above, to not be held hostage by some offense. Why? Life is too short. Life is too short to live offended. Your calling is too great. Do you recognize that? God created you, shaped you, formed you, gave you gifts and put you at this moment in history. Why? It's at this time that you can best glorify him and do his will. What used to hold me hostage doesn't hold me a nymore. Why? God is causing me to rise above it. God is lifting me above it. My soul is so close to the things of God that I wouldn't let anything drag me down.

If you've lived like me for too long, easily offended, "Man, who do they think they are... Come on now", your calling is much better than that. Life is way too short to let something small draw you off course.

If you've lived like me for too long, easily offended, "Man, who do they think they ... Come o n now", your calling is much better than that. Life is way too short to let something small draw you off course. If it's a big offense, let's be honest those are real and those are tough. How do we forgive them? We forgive in the same way that we've been f orgiven. When we forgive it doesn't change what happened in the past, but it does change what God can do in the future. It's to your glory.

If it's a big offense, let's be honest those are real and those are tough. How do we forgive them? We forgive in the same way that we've been forgiven. When we forgive it doesn't change what happened in the past, but it does change what God can do in the future. It's to your glory.

Overlook an offense because our lives are too short and our callings are too great to live offended.

Let's take a moment and let's pray together.

Overlook an offense because our lives are too short and our callings are too great to live offended. All of our ch urches, let's take a moment and let's pray together.

Conclusion:

Father, we ask that in your presence you'd do a work in all of our hearts. God, I know that it's so easy for so many of us to be easily offended by things that are insignificant, things that don't really matter that much. God, by your grace give us the ability to overlook, to pass over, to rise above those things that would slow us down. God, for those who are significantly hurt today, we ask that you would give us the power to forgive as we've been forgiven.

Father, we ask that in your presence you'd do a work in all of our hearts. God, I know that it's so easy for so many of us to be easily offended by things that are insignificant, things that don't reall y matter that much. God, by your grace give us the ability to overlook, to pass over, to rise above those things that would slow us down. God, for those who are significantly hurt today, we ask that you would give us the power to forgive as we've been forg iven.

Today as you're reflecting in prayer I want to take a moment and just talk to those of you in different places. Those who would say, "Yeah, PJ, I've been a little bit like you, I can be really easily offended", would you lift up your hands right now? I want help overcoming the easy offenses. Just lift up your hands. Those today who would say, "I'm carrying a significant wound, one of the bigger offenses, and I really need God's help to let that one go", would you lift up your hands right now? I want to pray for you.

All of our churches today as you're reflecting in prayer I want to take a moment and just talk to those of you in different places. Those who would say, "Yeah, Craig, I've been a little bit like you, I can be really easily offended", would you lift up your hands right now? I want help overcoming the easy offenses. All of our churches, just lift up your hands. Those today who would say, "I'm carrying a significant wound, one of the bigger offenses, and I really need God's help to let that one go", wo uld you lift up your hands right now? I want to pray for you.

So many hands this morning.

Father, today I ask that in Your Presence You would do a work in our hearts. God, for some of us I believe even now that we're not just going to say that I'm getting over it, but God I am over it. I am over it. God, by the power of Your risen Son, help us, God, to rise above the small offenses.

So many hands at all of our churches. Father, today i ask that in your presence you would do a work in our hearts. God, for some of us I believe even now that we're not just going to say that I 'm getting over it, but God I am over it. I am over it. God, by the power of your risen son, help us, God, to rise above the small offenses.

For the deeper ones, God, I know it took months and maybe even years for me to overcome one, I pray, God, that the process of healing would start now, that you would speed the process, God that you would help us to choose to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who harm us. God, I pray that you would help us to love like Jesus loves and live like Jesus lives. God, as we've been forgiven so much, give us the supernatural ability to forgive others as we've been forgiven. God, we thank you that when we forgive the prisoner is set free, and we often realize the prisoner is actually us. God, set us free. Give us the power, give us the grace to forgive as we have been forgiven.

As you keep praying, nobody looking around, there may be some of you right now that when you think of your life with God, you recognize there's a burden on your end. I can remember growing up and thinking to myself, "I wonder if God would accept me after all that I've done." I tried to stop doing bad stuff and tried to start doing good stuff. The problem is no matter how hard I tried I continued to fail and fall way short . I didn't recognize that I couldn't be made right with God by my own works. The scripture teaches the only way I'm actually made right with God is by the grace of Jesus.

forgiven so much, give us the supernatural ability to forgive others as we've been forgiven. God, we thank you that when we forgive the prisoner is set free, and we often realize the prisoner is actually us. God, set us free. Give us the power, give us the grace to forgive as we have been forgiven.

At all of our churches as you keep praying, nobody looking around, there may be many of you right now that when you think of your life with God, you recognize there's a burden on your end. I can remember growing up and thinking to myself, "I wonder if God would accept me after all that I've done." I tried to stop doing bad stuff and tried to start doing good stuff. The problem is no matter how hard I tried I continued to fail and fall way short . I didn't recognize that I couldn't be made right with God by my own works. The scripture teaches the only way I'm actually made right with God is by the grace of Jesus.

At all of our churches as you keep praying, nobody looking around, there may be many of you right now that when you think of your life with God, you recognize there's a burden on your end. I c an remember growing up and thinking to myself, "I wonder if God would accept me after all that I've done." I tried to stop doing bad stuff and tried to start doing good stuff. The problem is no matter how hard I tried I continued to fail and fall way short . I didn't recognize that I couldn't be made right with God by my own works. The scripture teaches the only way I'm actually made right with God is by the grace of Jesus.

This is what's so amazing and such good news, is that God did something for us that we couldn't do for ourselves. He became one of us in the person of His Son, Jesus, who lived perfect in every single way. Without ever sinning Jesus lived a perfect life and he became the perfect sacrifice, dying on the cross for our offenses. He died in o ur place for the forgiveness of our sins. On the third day when the stone was rolled away Jesus was not there. The tomb was empty. He has risen from the dead. Why? So that anyone, and this includes you, who calls on the name of Jesus would be saved and for given. The amazing grace of God, no matter how bad you've been, no matter how dark your life is, no matter how many people you've let down, when you call on Jesus he hears your prayers, he forgives every sin and he makes you brand new.

This is what's so amazing and such good news, is that God did something for us that we couldn't do for ourselves. He became one of us in the person of his son, Jesus, who lived perfect in every single way. Without ever sinning Jesus lived a perfect life and he became the perfect sacrifice, dying on the cross for our offenses. He died in o ur place for the forgiveness of our sins. On the third day when the stone was rolled away Jesus was not there. The tomb was empty. He has risen from the dead. Why? So that anyone, and this includes you, who calls on the name of Jesus would be saved and for given. The amazing grace of God, no matter how bad you've been, no matter how dark your life is, no matter how many people you've let down, when you call on Jesus he hears your prayers, he forgives every sin and he makes you brand new.

There are those of you you recognize you need his grace, you need his forgiveness. You are not here by accident. You recognize "I need the forgiveness of God". When you call on Jesus he will hear your prayer and forgive your sins. At all of our churches, those who say, "Yes I need his grace, yes today I surrender my life and trust my life to him", that's your prayer lift your hands high right now. All of those say Yes, Jesus I surrender to you.

At all of our churches, there are those of you you recognize you need his grace, you need his forgiveness. You are not here by accident on the other side of computer screens. You recognize "I need the forgiveness of God". When you call on Jesus he will hear your prayer and forgive your sins. At all of our churches, those who say, "Yes I need his grace, yes today I surrender my life and trust my life to him", that's your prayer lift your hands high right now. All of our churches say Yes, Jesus I surrender to you.

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