DRINKING POISON Part 3: What To Do if You Have Offended

Taking offense is like drinking poison and hoping it kills the other person. 

Even though you feel offended you don’t have to take offense. 

Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me. 

Your revelation of God’s forgiveness will help you with your forgiveness. 

I just wanted to say thank you for your message today. I finally got the guts to fully forgive and approach someone who’s been harboring in me for over 2 years.  Thank you. 

Thank you so much for this series! A friend offended me months ago. Today after church, I called them up to talk about it and it was the most honest and understanding conversations we’ve had since then. 

Matthew 24:10,12

Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 

Matthew 24:13

But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.

John 13:35

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you speak the truth.

John 13:35

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Mark 16:15 

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” 

John 13:35

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Love is the vehicle by which God’s truth is effectively proclaimed.

1 Corinthians 13:1-2

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels…have the gift of prophecy …fathom all mysteries and all knowledge… have a faith that can move mountains…

1 Corinthians 13:3

If I give all I possess to the poor …give over my body to hardship… but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

Proverbs 18:19

A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city. And contentions are like the bars of a castle. 

The point is not to make sure your conscience is clear but to help your brother to release any offense.  

Matthew 5:23-24

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24 (MSG)

This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. 

We must use love to protect unity from both sides. 

We show how much we love God by how we treat others.

Romans 12:18   

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

Protect unity with love from both sides. 

Sometimes you won’t apologize for what you said but how and maybe when you say it. 

Matthew 17:24-27     

… the collectors …came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others? “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Galatians 5:2  

“Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.” 

Acts 16:3 

Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Proverbs 27:5-6 

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. 

Five Languages of Apology: (like 5 Love Languages)

What you need to know about making a sincere apology:

What do I do if they won’t forgive me.