FRUIT (SYMPTOMS) OF OFFENSE, Part II

How do we know if we have been offended? Every seed, if watered and nurtured, will bear fruit. If we harbor offense/unforgiveness/bitterness, we, in essence are watering that seed of offense. If we continue to nurture that seed, it will sprout, flourish, and bear rotten fruit. Once we recognize that fruit, we then are able to seek the heart of God, allowing Him to reveal the root of our offense—we then, by His grace, repent, and receive His forgiveness.

(For references to skandalizo, see Forgive and Live blog post)

(Offense can be harbored toward self, others, and God):

A. Rebellion/stubbornness (skandalizo—see Matt. 13:21; and Psalm 95): an open avowed renunciation of the authority of the government to which one owes allegiance; open resistance to lawful authority; a refusal to honor and obey authority; skandalizo: we begin to see in another what we disapprove of and this hinders us from acknowledging his authority.

B. judgmental, a critical attitude toward self or others (skandalizo—see Matt. 13: 20-22; and Matt. 7:1-4; 1 Peter 3:8-9; John 7:24; 1 Sam. 18:7-30): to cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another, since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed.

C. hatred, anger, wrath (violent anger) (skandalizo—see Matt. 13:21; and Eph. 4:31-32; 1 Sam. 18:7-30—Saul’s offense against David produces this fruit): to make indignant, the word indignant means: one feels the mingled emotions of wrath and scorn (extreme contempt; that disdain which springs from a person's opinion of the meanness of an object, and a consciousness or belief of his own superiority or worth) or contempt (the act of despising; the act of viewing or considering and treating as mean, vile and worthless; disdain; hatred of what is mean or deemed vile. This word is one of the strongest expressions of a mean opinion which the language affords) as when a person is exasperated at one despised (to contemn, scorn, or disdain). An example of scorn and contempt: “I just cannot believe so and so did such and such! How disgusting; I would never do that!” We elevate ourselves above another, forming a mean opinion of that person.

D. reviling (to reproach; to treat with contemptuous language) and mocking (to mimic; hence, to imitate in contempt or derision, to laugh at; to ridicule; to treat with scorn or contempt) (skandalizo—see Matt. 13:21; and 1 Peter 3:8-9; Eph. 4:31-32; 1 Sam. 20:30): Remember the word avenge means: to take satisfaction for an injury by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on the wrong doer; to punish a person for a thing. Reviling is a verbal form of punishment.

E. distrust (skandalizo—see Matt. 13:21; and 1 Sam. 18:8-9): Offense breeds distrust. Remember skandalizo: the offended person begins to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey.

F. accusations: (see 1 Sam. 18:8-9): verbal reviling rooted in distrust

G. impatience (skandalizo—see Matt. 13:21): The nature of offense (skandalizo) is to see in another what we disapprove of which then hinders us from acknowledging his/her authority. We then begin to judge the offender unfavorably or unjustly. We experience displeasure, since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled (offense) feels annoyed. Impatience is a sign that we have become offended by the one who cannot or will not fulfill our expectations of how and/or when something should be done.

H. rejection/ rejection of others (skandalizo—see Matt. 13:21; and 1 Sam. 18:8-13, Saul does not want to be near David, with whom he is offended): A root of rejection is actually a form of harboring offense! We are offended with the one who did not give us what we thought we should have or what we may have even been entitled to. Also, when offended, we may shun, reject, or avoid the offender (or perceived offender); we do not want to be near them because their presence stirs the negative feelings and thoughts (sometimes actions as well!) which accompany offense.

I. unbelief (rejection of truth) (see Hebrews 3:12-15; Ex. 17:1-16): In the day of rebellion the children of Israel accused Moses of bringing them into the wilderness to kill them with thirst. They resented Moses (and, in essence, God) for leading them out of Egypt, where they at least had food and water, and into the wilderness, where water was scarce. Their hearts were hardened due to their resentment toward Moses and toward God—thus leading to the unbelief that the God Who just delivered them out of bondage and through the Red Sea on dry land, the God Who promised them that He would lead them to the Promised Land, would not or could not keep His word. Our hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (in this case, the sin of harboring offense), causing spiritual blindness—unbelief.

J. ingratitude: As seen in Hebrews 3, when we are bound in resentment and unforgiveness, focused on the one who offended us and what they owe us, we become incapable of seeing (and being grateful for) the provision and blessing that is set before us.

K. insensitivity (hardness of heart) toward self and/or others (see Heb. 3:7-15; Ex. 8:15; 2 Chron. 36:12-14; 1 Sam. 18:7-30): Insensitivity manifests in an inability to show empathy of sympathy toward others, especially the offender; abusive behavior is a manifestation of a heart hardened through offense. When ensnared in offense, some who are unable to make the offender pay, transfer that anger to another which manifests in abusive behavior.

L. murmuring or complaining: to utter expressions of grief, uneasiness, pain, or resentment; to find fault; to accuse of an offense (see Ex. 16; John 6:61). The children of Israel complained to Moses about the conditions in the wilderness; they resented the Lord and Moses because they did not have what they believed they should have. This condition of the heart shows up in our culture, today, in what I call “the entitlement attitude.” It is an overall mind-set that exudes the attitude that one has a right or claim to whatever one wants or desires and no one had better get in the way of one achieving that want or desire. This attitude is at the very core of offense. The result is all sorts of fruits consistent with offense, but most certainly one will manifest murmuring and complaining.

M. jealousy: (see 1 Sam. 18:7-30, Saul was blinded by his jealousy toward David); Gal. 5:20). Jealousy is that passion of peculiar uneasiness which arises from the fear that a rival may rob us of the affection of one whom we love, or the suspicion that he has already done it; or it is the uneasiness which arises from the fear that another does or will enjoy some advantage which we desire for ourselves. We are offended by the one who we perceive has captured the attentions, affections, etc., of the one we desire; we are offended that one may enjoy something that we ourselves desire and do not or cannot have, which is the fruit of jealousy.

N. gossip: a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others (see Eph. 4:31-32). Remember the word avenge means: to take satisfaction for an injury by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on the wrong doer; to punish a person for a thing. Gossip is a form of punishing one with whom we are offended by smearing their name or character. It may also be an attempt to placate our jealous attitude toward another through belittling them and inflating ourselves.

O. depression: a sinking of the spirits; dejection; a state of sadness; anger turned inward (see Proverbs 12:25; 1 John 4:18). Any depression that is not organic in nature, is the direct result of harboring offense and bitterness. Offense, simmering as bitterness, causes sadness or a sinking of spirits as unforgiveness binds us in a state of perpetual internalized anger.

P. torment/ bondage (see 1 Sam. 18:8-10; Matt. 18:21-35): In the parable of the sower, we discover that unforgiveness locks us in a prison of torment.

Q. fear: a painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger; fear is accompanied with a desire to avoid or ward off the expected evil; fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us (see 1 Sam. 18:8-12; Matt. 18:34, 1 Cor. 13:4-7, 1 John 4:18). According to Matt. 18, we are handed over to the tormentors when we choose to harbor offense. With torment comes pain. This creates a vicious cycle of torment, pain, fear of more pain, torment, pain, fear of more pain.

Gal. 5:19-21 delineates the works of the flesh. If we choose to walk in offense, we have chosen to walk in the flesh and will manifest one or more of the following:

R. addictions/obsessions (see Gal. 5:19-21): Addictions to: food (gluttony), alcohol (alcoholism), pornography, shopping, drugs, sex, gambling, computer activity (chats, games, pornography, gambling, etc), TV, exercise, shoplifting, etc.; the torment of unforgiveness often times draws the offended into a cycle of self-medication and escape in order to alleviate the anguish of harboring offense. The “rush” received when engaging in an addiction serves as a temporary soothing balm and/or escape for the tortured soul. Sadly enough, it is the enemy’s counterfeit salve for the pain and torment that result when we harbor offense. The only true and lasting relief for a soul tormented by harboring offense is found in releasing vengeance to the Lord, to whom alone it belongs.

S. biting and devouring/slander: a false tale or report maliciously uttered and tending to injure the reputation of another by lessening him in the esteem of his fellow citizens, by exposing him to impeachment and punishment, or by impairing his means of living; defamation; disgrace, disreputation, reproach (see 1 Sam. 25:10; Gal. 5:15-17; Gal. 5:19-21; Matt. 26:57-61—Pharisees perpetually offended by Jesus, therefore produced false witnesses to testify against Jesus). Remember the word avenge means: to take satisfaction for an injury by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on the wrong doer; to punish a person for a thing. In biting, devouring, and slandering, we make an attempt to punish the offender through tainting their reputation. The ruined reputation being the intended punishment, or the ruined reputation leading to some sort of punishment (toward the offender)—either way, each is a form of exacting vengeance.

T. adultery (unlawful intercourse with another’s wife), fornication (illicit sexual intercourse; adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism; metaph: worship of idols, uncleanness (the impurity of lustful, abandoned to vice living, of impure motives) (see Gal. 5:18): The torment of offense often drives a person to pursue pleasure in order to alleviate the pain. Also, the hardness of heart, resulting from offense, often dulls one’s sensativities, leading to deviation from rightness and purity. Fornication, uncleanness, and especially adultery can also be a means by which one takes revenge—you hurt me, therefore I will hurt you.

U. contentions (strife): exertions or strenuous attempts to acquire superiority; struggle; a violent effort to obtain something, or to resist a person, claim or injury; contest; quarrel (see 1 Sam. 18:7-30; Gal. 5:20; Proverbs 6:12-19; Hebrews 12:14-15). Harboring offense breeds disharmony!

V. outbursts of wrath: passion, angry, heat, anger, boiling up and soon subsiding again; glow, ardor—heat in a literal sense (see 1 Sam. 18:17-30, especially verse 11; 1 Sam. 20:30-33; Eph. 4:31-32; Gal. 5:20). Harboring offense may produce outbursts of wrath, some directed toward the offender and some misdirected toward a completely innocent bystander.

W. idolatry (see Gal. 5:20): Idolatry is an excessive attachment or veneration for any thing, or that which borders on adoration. When we harbor offense, we elevate our will and our way above that of God’s; we usurp His authority and take something that belongs to Him alone, that which is vengeance. In that area of our heart where we harbor offense, it is in that area we possess an excessive attachment to making the offender pay (see also Rom. 12:19; Heb. 10:30).

X. witchcraft: the use or administering of drugs; poisoning; magical arts; metaph; the deceptions and seductions of idolatry (skandalizo—see Matt. 13:20-21: to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall. See also Gal. 5:20). In 1 Samuel 15:22-23 we discover that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft—control and manipulation are at the heart of witchcraft, which consists of working something out in human strength and in a human way rather than in God’s strength and in His way (therefore we stumble). As we take vengeance, we rebel against and usurp God’s authority in an attempt to create an outcome according to our own way, will, and desires.

Y. dissentions: disagreement in opinion, usually a disagreement which is violent, producing warm debates or angry words; contention in word; strife, discord, quarrel; breach of friendship and union (see 1 Sam. 18:7-30; Gal. 5:20). Harboring offense always, always, always, leads to a breakdown in relationships. The bitter root of offense, when it comes to full fruition, will taint those around you (see Eph. 4:26-27). The hardness of heart resulting from offense also creates a wall which can become a great barrier between the heart of the one offended and the hearts of those around him/her.

Z. heresies: the act of taking, capture (storming a city); men following their own tenets; dissensions arising from diversity of opinion and aims; also translated: selfish ambitions—in other words, getting what we want by whatever means necessary (see 1 Sam. 18:7-30; Gal. 5:20). When we exalt ourselves as the avenger, we are attempting to right a wrong or vindicate ourselves on our own terms, exalting our own will and our own way above God’s.

AA. envy: to hate someone who you perceive is superior to you (skandalizo—see Matt. 13:21; Gal. 5:20). Envy is always a fruit of offense. Harboring offense toward someone because they occupy a superior position is the essence of envy.

BB. selfish ambition: a characteristic of a person who was concerned only with his own welfare, a person susceptible to being bribed, an ambitious, self-willed person seeking opportunities for promotion; electioneering or intriguing for office; apparently, in the NT a courting distinction, a desire to put one's self forward, a partisan and fractious (unruly or rebellious) spirit which would resort to any method for winning followers; this word is found before NT times only in Aristotle where it denotes a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means (see 1 Sam. 18:6-25; Phil. 2:3; James 3:13-16). This definition speaks for itself!

CC. murders: to kill a human being with premeditated malice (see Gal. 5:20). Remember the word avenge means: to take satisfaction for an injury by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on the wrong doer; to punish a person for a thing. The ultimate, most extreme act of vengeance is murder. ALWAYS A RESULT OF HARBORING OFFENSE EITHER TOWARD THE VICTIM OR IS A RESULT OF MISPLACES VENGEANCE!

DD. drunkenness (intoxication) (Gal. 5:20): Offense or unforgiveness has torment (see Matt. 18:34). One may use alcohol in excess to self medicate, attempting to find pleasure or to “feel good” in the midst of the torment.

EE. revelries: used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry (see Gal. 5:20). Again, self medication. Hardness of heart resulting from the harbored offense tends to make us insensitive to the ways of the Lord, therefore one tends to live without restraint in one area or another. Just to clarify: Feasting was a wonderful time of celebration in the Old Testament. Revelries differ from wholesome celebrations in that they have the semblance of being wild, out of control, riotous, and indulgent in a lustful manner.

FF. sickness: disease or malady; Proverbs 14:30, “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion (jealousy, anger) is rottenness (decays) to the bones.” At times illness is simply a result of living in a fallen world, at times the result of God allowing illness in order to bring glory to Himself through healing (either of the body or soul). Sometimes there is simply no explanation for an illness and sometimes, it is a direct result of harboring offense.

GG. the cold shoulder: the “silent treatment” (see Rom. 12:19, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.”). Remember the word avenge means: to take satisfaction for an injury by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on the wrong doer; to punish a person for a thing. Refusing to talk to our spouse, children, parents, co-worker, pastor, friends, etc., because they have hurt us is a form of vengeance and is a fruit of offense.

HH. passive/aggressive behavior: chronic condition in which a person seems to passively comply with the desires and needs of others, but actually passively resists them, becoming increasingly hostile and angry; this behavior is a manifestation of offense and is a covert demonstration vengeance (see 1 Sam. 18:8-25, Saul appears to bless David with the privilege of being his son-in-law, but his hope was that his daughter would be a snare to David; no dowry required of David, just 100 Philistine foreskins. In the process of gathering the foreskins, Saul hoped David would be killed; see also Rom. 12:19). The following is a list of some passive/aggressive behaviors:

· Procrastination—in an attempt to avoid doing what they need to do or have been told by others must be done~~control issue

· Complaining

· Blaming shifting~~almost never one’s won fault

· Irritable, defensive, and resentful

· Sullenness and/or moody

· Fear of authority

· Fear of being disliked

· Resistance to suggestions from others

· Unexpressed anger or hostility

· Lacks self confidence (at times, arrogance and pride acquired to overcompensate)

· Often feels put upon, controlled, pressured, and victimized~lives in a perpetual ”victim-mode,” also manifested in complaining about doing too much for others

· Frequently involved omitting information or lying to avoid direct confrontation

· Prone to unfaithfulness in long-term relationships and marriages

· At times, a hypocodriac~~attention seeking and/or excuse to avoid tasks, situations, responsibilities

· In relationships may complain about partner to third parties instead of discussing issues directly with his/her partner~~inability to deal with issues in a direct and constructive manner

· Chronically "forgets" to do important tasks for self or others~~avoidance tactic

· Sensitive, irritable, and/or combative about being requested to do things

As we have seen, walking in unforgiveness is choosing to walk in the flesh, which produces the works of the flesh and can open us up to demonic activity in our lives. But most importantly, harboring offense impedes sweet fellowship with our Heavenly Father and subsequently, disrupts our relationship with others. May we open our hearts to God, allowing Him free access to every recess, that He may sift out those things harbored in our hearts that disrupt our fellowship with Him.

In the next blog post, we will look at ways to deal with the fruit of offense.

(Excerpt from “IN PURSUIT OF GOD’S HEART” by Rachelle Crawford)

FORGIVE AND LIVE

As we pursue a love relationship with the Lord, loving Him with all of our heart, it is vitally important that we allow Him access to every recess of our heart. He knows our heart even better than we do; He is faithful to sift out anything that hinders fellowship with Him and He is faithful to plant in us a deeper understanding of Who He is.

The greatest obstacle to intimacy with the Lord is offense. When we harbor offense in our hearts, left unchecked, it produces resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness, and the desire for vengeance; this becomes an insurmountable impediment to our relationship with Him.

In the parable of the wicked servant, Jesus describes the servant who, although forgiven a great debt by his master, refuses to forgive and release a fellow servant a menial debt. When the fellow servants report the wicked servant’s behavior to the master, the master calls the unforgiving servant before him and confronts him concerning his uncompassionate behavior (Matt. 18:21-33). Jesus closes this parable (verses 34-35) with this statement, “And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers (one who elicits the truth by the use of the rack; an inquisitor, torturer; also used of a jailer doubtless because the business of torturing was also assigned to him) until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

In other words, Jesus is saying when we refuse to forgive; we bind ourselves in a prison of pain and torment, held captive by the jailer of offense. Until we choose to forgive and release those we have bound by the chains of unforgiveness, we remain bound.

Jesus had quite a bit to say about offense, for example, “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! Matt. 18:7

The Greek word used here for offense is the word skandalon which is the movable bait stick of a bait box or animal trap. 

The bait is placed on the skandalon to lure the animal into the trap. As the animal enters the box and takes the bait, the skandalon releases the trap door and the animal is ensnared or imprisoned, alive, in the box. 

My family and I once lived in a neighborhood that was overwrought with feral cats. One feral cat in particular made a habit of screeching and howling right under our bedroom window for what seemed like nights on end. Unwilling to endure another sleepless night, but not wanting to harm the cat, my husband called animal control. They arrived equipped with a wire bait box and instructions as to how to use it. Simply place some tuna on the bait stick (skandalon), set it, and wait. And so we did.

That same day my husband and I heard screeches and howling at decibels we had never heard from an animal. We walked outside and lo and behold, the cat had taken the bait, tripped the bait stick (skandalon), and was trapped in the bait box alive. It appeared to be stunned, but was pacing in circles within the box. Animal control could not arrive until later that day, so we left the cat in the box until they could arrive.

We checked on the cat periodically throughout the day and noticed that the longer the cat remained in the box, the more aggressive it became. After a few hours in the box, it had worked itself into a frenzy. It continuously hissed, spun around, growled (is that possible from a cat? It appeared so!), and scratched at the air--all the while tufts of fur flew here and there. The cat was tormented by its confinement to the wire box, but it compounded its torment by harming itself as it raged out of control.

We felt so sorry for the poor thing that we eventually took it to another location and released it--that was a scene in and of itself! But once released, it calmed down and went on its way.

That experience has served as an incredibly accurate visual for me regarding offense.

When we harbor offense, it is as if we hit the skandalon of a bait box--the trap door closes, and we become imprisoned; trapped in the torment of the snare our own bitter, angry, resentful thoughts. The longer we are trapped in that bait box of offense, the more we work ourselves into a frenzy until thoughts, emotions, and eventually actions are out of control. 

In whatever area of our heart we harbor offense, it is in that area, we experience torment; the greatest torment of the prison of offense being that barrier it creates between us and God, between our heart and His. 

Each time we become offended and fail to deal with that offense, we add additional reinforcement to that partition in our hearts. If left unchecked, that area of our heart becomes “walled off,” creating a hardness, which not only impedes our relationship with God, but with others as well. 

Jesus taught on this very principle in the parable of the sower. He tells the story of a sower who sowed seed into four different types of soil. As Jesus interprets the parable, we discover that the seed is the Word of God and the soil is the heart of man. Within this parable, Jesus addresses a situation where seed is sown into a condition of the heart He refers to as “stony” and expounds on the consequences of sowing the Word into such a place:

“But he who received the seed on stony (rocky) places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation (pressing, pressing together; pressure; oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress) or persecution (infliction of pain, punishment, or death unjustly for adhering to a religious creed) arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles/falls away (skandalizo).” Matt. 13:20-21

The stony ground represents a heart hardened by sin, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened (to make hard; render obstinate or stubborn) through the deceitfulness (to ensnare or mislead) of sin (to be without a share in; to miss the mark; to err; miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong; to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin; that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act).” (Hebrews 3:13)

The seed of offense left to germinate in the human heart, produces the fruit of vengeance. Vengeance or revenge is an act of punishing the offender or the act of vindicating ourselves by inflicting pain or evil on the offender or wrong doer. 

The allure of vengeance is enticing to the flesh. It offers the false promise of alleged satisfaction in making those who have hurt us, hurt. When we choose to exact vengeance, it becomes a snare to us. We believe the lie that is as old as time, the lie that Adam and Eve succumb to when tempted by the serpent. 

God had given Adam and Eve access to everything in the paradise of Eden, all except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. That one tree was off limits, forbidden by the Creator.

The serpent sowed seeds of doubt concerning the goodness and righteousness of God into Eve’s heart, assuring her that if she deviated from God’s way, she would not surely die, but would become like Him. Satan had baited Eve with offense. The serpent insinuated that God was withholding something good from both her and Adam. If God was so good, why would He withhold something good from her? The skandalon was set. Eve took the bait, and became ensnared in the trap of offense.

Eve not only ate of the fruit, but shared the fruit with her husband as well: Genesis 3:6, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” 

Adam, in choosing to join Eve in the sin of offense, became defiled by that sin.

In Hebrews 12:15, we are encouraged to sanctify or set ourselves apart for God’s purposes (walking in grace) and we discover that the simmering by product of offense, bitterness, acts as a poison not only to the one who harbors such a thing, but also spreads to those around the embittered soul; “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness (consecration, purification; the effect of consecration; sanctification of heart and life), without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled (to dye with another color; to defile, pollute, sully, contaminate, soil).”

The deceitfulness of choosing her way over God’s way blinded Eve to the way of the Lord, to His goodness and beauty, to the blessing of walking in obedience to Him, consequently, polluting her soul and that of her husband’s.

Spiritual blindness is a direct result of a hardened heart (Eph. 4:18), therefore, when the word is sown into a heart laden with a bedrock of offense, the hearer may receive the word immediately with joy, (maybe truly having the desire to embrace and walk in the truth) as was the case, I am imagine, with Eve, but when the persecution (suffering unjustly), pressures, trials, tribulations, and distresses of life—the temptations of this world come, the hearer is blinded to God’s goodness and the redeeming value of those experiences and he/she stumbles or falls away. 

The Greek word used in Matthew 13:21 for stumbles or falls away is the word skandalizo.

The word skandalizo means:

1. to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall

2. metaph. to offend, to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey

3. be offended in one, i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority (which of course is rebellion)

4. to cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another, since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed

5. to cause displeasure, to make indignant—one feels the mingled emotions of wrath and scorn or contempt, as when a person is exasperated at one despised.

When we become skandalizo or offended, we produce a host of undesirable fruit such as bitterness, resentment, revenge, anger, annoyance, wrath, scorn, and contempt. The most bitter of fruit produced through taking up offense (skandalizo) is rebellion (skandalizo). 

Rebellion is an open avowed renunciation of the authority of the government to which one owes allegiance; it is open resistance to lawful authority; it is a refusal to honor and obey authority. As was the case with Adam and Eve in the Garden. They exalted their will above God's and reaped the consequences of their bitter choice to rebel against God's sovereign, loving authority.

This fruit of offense (rebellion) becomes evident when we position ourselves as the avenger. Choosing to hold unforgiveness toward another is a form of vengeance. We choose to hold on to our bitterness, anger, pain, etc., in hopes of punishing the offender. In doing so, we position ourselves in direct opposition to God’s authority, we, in essence, usurp (seize) His authority, taking that which belongs to Him alone:

“Beloved, do not avenge (to vindicate one's right, do one justice; to protect, defend, one person from another; to avenge which is to take satisfaction for an injury by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on the wrong doer) yourselves, but rather give place to wrath (anger, temper; movement or agitation of the soul; impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but esp. anger; wrath, indignation; anger used in punishment); for it is written, ‘Vengeance (revenging, vengeance (the infliction of pain on another, in return for an injury or offense), punishment) is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

Vengeance belongs to God alone! He ALONE, the omniscient, omnipotent God is capable of handling vengeance without it destroying Him. He ALONE exacts vengeance with eternity past, present, and future in His heart. He ALONE exacts vengeance in a way that is fully redemptive, fully perfect, and fully just.

(Note: This is not meant to discourage one from taking legal action when a crime is committed. God has established and ordained the civil authorities to carry out punishment on the evil doers of society (Romans 13:4). We are called to forgive the perpetrator, to release that person into God’s hands. As we forgive the perpetrator from our heart, we, then, with a clear conscience before God, can release that person into the hands of the civil authorities, who are ordained by God to deal with criminal offenses.)

The great I AM, the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, alone, is our avenger, as we surrender our heart, placing our trust in Him, He truly will take care of us!

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:2-3).

When we take up offense and walk in unforgiveness (imprisoning ourselves and the one (s) we have not forgiven), we usurp the authority to avenge that belongs to God alone; this is the ultimate act of pride. When we harbor offense, we are basically saying, “God, I don’t believe you will take care of this situation, therefore, I will take care of it myself. I will protect myself. I can be my own rock, fortress, strength, and stronghold; I will take care of my enemies as I see fit!”

We have elevated our will above that of the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16), above the high and lofty One Who inhabits eternity, Whose Name is holy (Isaiah 57:15). God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6) Not one of us desires to sit in opposition to the Lord, but that is just what we do if we harbor offense or unforgiveness in our hearts.

To elevate our desires or our strategy in dealing with an offender we have violated the First Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:2-3, “’I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.’” The Lord explicitly forbids us from putting anything before Him in our hearts. He warns us that to give anything preeminence over Him, violates this command. This warning is repeated throughout Scripture as seen again in Leviticus 19:4, “’Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.’”

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines idol as: an image, form, or representation, usually of a man or other animal, consecrated as an object of worship; a pagan deity; a person loved and honored to adoration; anything on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment.

Let’s look at the last aspect of this definition: anything on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment. 

If we set our affections (a bent of mind towards a particular object) on making someone pay or indulging in excessive and sinful attachment to our desire to make that person pay, we have erected an idol in our hearts.

The Lord, in His awesome greatness and tender mercy, created us to worship Him and Him alone, because He as our Creator alone deserves all glory and honor. To revere anything above Him, not only dishonors Him, but leaves us empty and broken. The lure of idolatry promises satisfaction, but in the end we are left empty, or worse, devastated.

Remember the deceitfulness of sin? “Revenge is sweet,” so says the world. The allure of this false promise of the satisfaction of making someone pay for what they have done to us may seem sweet at first, but in the end will leave dregs of bitter gall in our soul.

We once had a home with a gas fireplace. To warm the house on cold evening, we simply pushed a button, turned a knob and viola, we had a cozy fire. But let’s say, one night my husband and I decided that instead of just an old gas fire, we wanted the real thing and went out to the near by woods and gathered fire wood and kindling, piled it into our fireplace, and lit a match. What do you think would have been the result? Not only would the fireplace be destroyed, but our entire house as well! Why? That fireplace was not designed to house a wood fire. 

Just as is the case with you and me. We were not designed to house the fire of vengeance. Only God ALONE can handle vengeance and not be destroyed.

As we have seen, vengeance belongs to God alone and if taken into our hearts, produces a host of rotten fruit, and eventually destroys us. 

There is also another noxious byproduct of harboring offense and vengeance in our hearts, that being demonic torment. In Ephesians 4:26-27, we discover that in harboring offense, we give the enemy a legal right to operate in our lives: “Be angry (aroused to anger), and do not sin (to miss the mark; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong; to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin): do not let the sun go down on your wrath (indignation—extreme anger mingled with contempt, disgust, or abhorrence; wrath—violent anger, and exasperation—irritation, extreme degree of anger; violent passion), nor give place (any portion or place marked off; an inhabited place; opportunity, power, occasion for acting) to the devil.”

Here we discover that anger is a valid emotion, but that it only becomes sin when we refuse to deal with that anger on God’s terms. In allowing a day to draw to a close without dealing with our anger, we basically roll out the welcome matt of our heart to the enemy. We, in essence, throw open the door of our heart granting the enemy a place marked off, a place to inhabit—we give him opportunity and power to act in our lives. Does this mean we become possessed? Absolutely not. But what it does mean is that we have now opened ourselves up to the enemy’s influence in our lives. In whatever area of our heart we harbor offense/vengeance, it is in that area we experience the enemy’s influence and subsequent torment.

About 15 years ago, I discovered that I had harbored offense in my heart on a number of different levels concerning a number of different people. Some of the offenses were so profound; I found it difficult to forgive, even though I knew the Lord commanded me to forgive. 

As a child and throughout my life, I had experienced a deep sense of rejection and abandonment, some of which I perceived correctly and some of which I did not. A series of events also occurred during that period in my childhood making it evident to me that I had not been protected. In my offense, I became bitter toward the one (my father) who should have protected and cared for me, but in my view, had failed me. As I harbored this offense in my heart, I opened the door to the enemy and experienced years of tormenting fear; fear of trusting, fear of not being taken care of, fear of abandonment, fear of loss…fear, fear, fear. Fear was my constant companion.

Even after I became a Christian at 19 years old, I was still plagued by fear. I sought the Lord for the solution to my dilemma and He was faithful to show me, through His Word, an avenue of repentance, healing and restoration through forgiveness. It was not until I began to deal with the offense in my heart that I finally found relief from years of torment.

I made a profound discovery that radically changed my life and placed me on the path of forgiveness: forgiveness is a choice. I could either choose to forgive or I could choose to harbor offense in my heart. Once I chose to forgive, I was then ready to confess my sin to the Father and acknowledge that vengeance belonged to Him alone. I asked His forgiveness for usurping His authority, which placed God back in a place of preeminence in my heart and dispelled the enemy’s influence in that area of my heart. Once that was completed, the business of healing and restoration could begin.

I also recognized that forgiveness is not my stamp of approval on the offense. On the contrary! Forgiveness is a choice to release someone from a debt. Remember: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). An offender (or in the case of abuse or a crime, a perpetrator) owes us something, but we make the choice to release them from that debt, allowing God alone to collect on the debt (again in the instance of a crime, we forgive, and are free with a clean heart to pursue legal recourse in cases where it is warranted and/or necessary). 

We release vengeance into His hands, so that He may avenge according to His will. While vengeance would destroy us, God in His infinite wisdom and power, exacts vengeance in a perfect, redemptive, completely just way. Once we choose to release the offender, the process of walking out the forgiveness begins. No longer bound, we are free to pursue the One Who restores our souls (Psalm 23:3).

I have since adopted a strategy I call the “Five Minute Principle.” Throughout each day, I make it a point to forgive every five minutes. Be it a great or small offense—I release and forgive. For one who tended to become easily annoyed with even small things, this has been a life giving strategy. 

I have forgiven the devastating offenses from my past and I choose to forgive the offenses of the present: one who treats me with contempt at the check out line at WalMart, I forgive the maniac who cuts me off on the highway, and I forgive my computer for shutting off on me in the middle of writing this book. Truly, I forgive each and every annoyance, hurt, offense—whether human or otherwise. Whether great or small. I find this keeps my heart clear of the most insidious impediment to fellowship with God and others—offense.

Because the heart is deceitful above all (Jer. 17:9), I pray the Psalm 139:23-24 prayer on a regular basis:

“Search (examine, investigate) me, O God, and know my heart (the middle or center of anything; soul; mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, resolution, determination of; conscience; as seat of appetites, emotions and passions; as seat of courage); try (to examine, try (of gold), prove) me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way (pain, sorrow; idol) in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

I will go into this in more detail in the next two parts of this teaching, but suffice it to say, I find I am in need of the Lord's mercy each and every moment of each and every day to sift through my heart. When He reveals areas of offense that I do not see, He is faithful to pour out His grace for repentance, that I may forgive.

The Five Minute Principle is rooted in Jesus' advice to Peter: when Peter asked Jesus how many times he was to forgive. Peter must have thought he was being quite generous when he suggested that he forgive up to seven times, but Jesus replied, “...I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). It is the principle of perpetual forgiveness.

I used to find that at the end of any given day, my eyebrows were knit and I was annoyed or peeved about something. Once I dealt with the bedrock of offense in my heart and began to live by the “Five Minute Principle” I found my eyebrows were no longer knit and I was no longer irritated at the close of a day. 

As we daily open our hearts to the Lord, giving Him full access to every area, He is faithful to reveal any and all offenses. In the next two chapters, we will look at the symptoms or fruit of offense which are a sure sign forgiveness is in order. If we are displaying this fruit, it is an indication that we are offended and are in need of God's grace to forgive.

I have developed a simple process to follow in laying the ax to the root of offense which I will also share in this series. The process, keep in mind is not intended to be a formula to follow in a precise and exact manner. It is simply created to be a guide based upon biblical principles; seek God through His word, forgive, repent, receive His forgiveness, and by His grace, walk it out. 

A special note: If you, precious one, have experienced grave offenses such as sexual or physical abuse, I would encourage you to get together with a mature, trusted sister in Christ (if you are a woman) or brother in Christ (if you are a man), a Christian counselor, or a pastor to pray through the deep pain and potential root of bitterness which is often times associated with a serious offense of that nature (James 5:16).

If you have been a victim of abuse, please know that you are not to blame. The perpetrator is 100% responsible for his/her behavior; 100%. What you are dealing with before the Lord is simply your response to the perpetrator’s offense against you, the offense/unforgiveness, bitterness, and/or vengeance you are harboring toward that person. You are surrendering vengeance to God, Who alone is the avenger. 

Keep in mind, while forgiveness is a choice, the process of walking out that choice will take time as you learn to think, respond, react, and process according to grace rather than bitterness (renewing of the mind: Romans 12:1-2).

As we surrender offense in our hearts, the God of peace is faithful to sanctify us completely, that we may be blameless before Him. (1 Thes. 5:22-24). Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the bait box of offense, setting us at liberty to live and love unhindered.

If we surrender offense, He is there to heal and mend our hearts. May we begin to enjoy the freedom that is ours in Christ through forgiveness. And most importantly, may we enjoy sweet, unhindered fellowship with Him.

Throughout the Psalms, we find beautiful examples of prayers from those who chose to open their hearts to the Lord, allowing Him access to every area, every recess, of their hearts, that He would sift through and uproot anything that hinders sweet fellowship with Him.

In Psalm 19:12-14, the Psalmist’s prayer reveals a tender heart towards the Lord; a heart laid bare, a heart seeking sweet intimacy with Him. The Psalmist, David, recognized that rebellion, a fruit of offense, was an obstacle he must be free from if he desired intimacy with God:

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults (to be hidden carefully; concealed). Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous (arrogant, proud) sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless (complete, sound, unimpaired; to deal in integrity, act uprightly), and I shall be innocent (clear, free) of great transgression (rebellion). Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable (pleasurable, delightful, favorable) in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14

The original Hebrew word for presumptuous is a word that means arrogant or proud. David understood that arrogance and pride were at the root of great transgression~rebellion. As we discussed earlier, when we harbor offense, we usurp (or rebel against) God’s authority (vengeance belongs to Him alone) and in doing so, we create a seedbed in our hearts which, if cultivated (harboring offense), will produce an entire crop of rotten fruit.

Let us follow the example of the Psalmist. As we repent and release vengeance, choosing to walk in accordance with God’s way, releasing vengeance into His hands, His grace is poured out on us, softening that hard area of our heart once walled off in the prison of offense.

And most importantly, fellowship with Him, previously disrupted, is sweetly restored!

(Excerpt from “IN PURSUIT OF GOD’S HEART” by Rachelle Crawford)

Merciful God

“Through the Lord's mercies (goodness, kindness, faithfulness) we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lam. 3:22-23

His mercy overwhelms me.

The power and sweetness of God's mercy is beautifully portrayed in this scene from The Passion of the Christ, I am overwhelmed by His mercy and so very, very grateful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ykt6pyLJ4&feature=share

Thank you, Jesus.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

“He is despised (held in contempt, disdain; deemed worthless) and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs (sickness) and carried our sorrows (pain—mental and physical; sorrow); yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten (to strike, hit, beat, slay; kill) by God, and afflicted (to be occupied, bruised; oppress, humble, bowed down; mishandled, humiliated; humble or weaken oneself). But He was wounded (to (profane, defile, pollute, desecrate; to violate; to pierce through) for our transgressions (rebellion), He was bruised (to be crushed, be contrite, be broken; shattered) for our iniquities (perversity, depravity, guilt; consequence or punishment for iniquity); the chastisement (discipline, chastening, correction) for our peace (shalom: completeness, soundness, welfare; safety, health, prosperity, tranquility, contentment; peace; friendship; covenant relationship) was upon Him, and by His stripes (bruise, stripe, wound, blow) we are healed (make healthy; healed of national hurts or of personal distress).” Is. 53:3-5

(meaning of original Hebrew word in parenthesis)

Jesus experienced unimaginable pain and agony and ultimately death that we might live.

Ever felt despised? Worthless? Rejected? Humiliated? Defiled? Violated? Broken? Crushed? Shattered? Contrite? As I read through this passage, I am struck by the fact that there is not one devastating emotion that we as human beings experience that Jesus Himself did not endure. A Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief…He bore it all that we might live free.

Jesus was defiled, desecrated, pierced, and violated to atone for our rebellion; He was crushed, broken, and shattered as a propitiation for our perversity, depravity, and guilt. Jesus submitted Himself to the ultimate discipline, chastening, and correction in order to make provision for our mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical well being. He bore the bruises, stripes, wounds, and blows that we may be healed.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction; to one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health; to deliver from penalties).” John 3:16-17

As we reflect today on Good Friday, may we be overwhelmed with gratitude for and stand in awe of the immeasurable love God the Father demonstrated when He sacrificed His only Son, Jesus. He is a merciful, merciful God; the one true and living God, Messiah, Savior, Creator, and Lord.

Free Indeed

“So if the Son makes you free (set at liberty: from the dominion of sin), you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

Proclamation:

Thank You, Lord, that I have been set free through the ultimate sacrifice~~the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. I make a conscious choice to walk in that freedom. I give You permission to search my heart and reveal and uproot anything in me that is preventing me from walking in the liberty You have provided through Your precious Son, Jesus.

Not Unto Us O LORD

“Not unto us, O LORD (Yahweh/Jehovah/I AM/The Self-Existent One; Ever Present One), not unto us, but to Your name (reputation, fame, glory; monument, memorial) give glory (honor, abundance, riches, splendor, dignity, reputation; reverence; from the root kabad meaning heavy or weighty), because of Your mercy (goodness, kindness, faithfulness), because of Your truth (firmness, faithfulness, sureness, reliability, stability).” Psalm 115:1

“Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!” John 12:13

“And he (Moses) said, ‘Please, show (see, perceive, consider, observe, discern, distinguish; to cause to look intently; to cause to gaze at; to look at each other, to face) me Your glory (honor, abundance, riches, splendor, dignity, reputation; reverence; from the root kabad meaning heavy or weighty).’" Ex. 33:18

PONDER: Moses is asking God to enable him to truly discern, perceive, to look intently into Who God really is. He asks God to enable him to see Him face to face. Moses passionately seeks to know the splendid wonders of Who God is. He desires to know the weight or heaviness of Who God is. In the Old Testament, heaviness represented honor and substance. Moses cried out to the Self-Existent, Ever-Present One, the great I AM to show him His substance (the essential part) or the essence of Who He is. In other words, Moses desired intimacy with God.

Nothing more sweet. The key? Surrender our will to the will of the One Who is merciful and faithful.