The Problem of Becoming Offended

[Julie Harvey]

Well I know that this subject could indeed be a teaching that could be very long, and in fact in order to do it justice, one would possibly have to do a whole series of messages/studies on it. However, I just want to bring to you today a couple of points that I noticed whilst studying John 6 couple of days ago. This interesting little concept came to me whilst looking at this passage and I want to share it with you because this can be life-changing if we grasp this.

Offense is a big problem in the Body of Christ and in the world also, as we all know today. Do we in fact really realize the impact that it has on us? Well we all know that the Pharisees in Jesus time were continually being offended by the things that He said and the things He did!

Lets take a look at these scriptures: John 6:29-61: 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

Interesting point: in the beginning of this passage they were so eager to see some sign from Jesus: they wanted Him to do something mighty!! However, how many of us know that God does not do things the way we want Him to all the time?

If we read the verses in between some of the highlights I have made and take into consideration the previous studies I did on the election of the saints and the Father’s drawing power, you will hopefully see the conclusion that I came to whilst studying this particular group of scriptures.

The Pharisees and even some of the disciples became offended at Jesus. The Pharisees in particular became offended and because of this, they were not able to receive anything from God. They couldn’t receive the first part of what Jesus was saying to them about being the bread of heaven (the one who would “feed” them), and therefore could not receive the second and deeper revelation which he was trying to give them concerning the election of the saints and the way the Father draws people unto Him.

They were so caught up on the first point (and the fact that this was the “carpenters son”) they in no way could receive anything from Him, let alone anything deeper.

It is also interesting to note that the disciples could receive some of what He was saying but were still getting stuck on other parts of His teaching. Could it be that they were being distracted by the Pharisees and their “leaven”? Could it be that the devil was working through the Pharisees (who were offended and stuck because they only saw who Jesus was in the natural), to discourage, unsettle and confuse other disciples who were beginning and trying to understand about the Father, and who Jesus was but they also got stuck on their “hard saying” from the Lord? The Lord makes it clear in other scriptures “beware the leaven of the Pharisees”.

We must avoid people who cause confusion and unrest because they can also leaven our lump and get us distracted from what God is trying to say to us. He always wants to reveal deeper revelation and offense is a great and serious stumbling block to this.The Pharisees were so stuck on the first point, they weren’t able to get the rest of what God was saying.

Sometimes we, like the other disciples and their “hard sayings” can be like this. We can get offended at what God is saying too.

Is it possible by becoming offended over something small we can miss something deeper, something more important?! Most certainly, I believe so!

So, if we can get over offense, we can get into the “bread” from heaven – the more satisfying stuff!! Offense is a major stumbling block! There are other interesting studies on this, which my pastor spoke on once, about the trap of offense – where the word “offense” actually comes from. Apparently, somewhere in time (forget where), they used to set traps for monkeys, and the monkey would get caught by the trap BUT wouldn’t let the bait go, and therefore was trapped. Point was, it was the monkeys CHOICE to let go – and he JUST WOULDN’T!!! The guys who set the traps KNEW this particular flaw in the monkeys character, and this was how they got ‘em!! And it is the same with us the enemy knows what will trap us, just like that stubborn monkey, it is OUR CHOICE to let go of it, but the devil knows we have a hard time doing so. So the moral of this story is: let go of offense !! Let go, so you can be free AND receive deeper and more satisfying and meaningful revelation from God!!

Don’t get offended right off the bat so to speak, resist the temptation to become offended realizing it is a trap of the enemy to stop you from getting what you need from God – digest all of what God is giving you, even if it is a hard saying! Correction is like this also. It can be hard to accept from the Lord too. But if we learn to digest it, then we will have a more satisfying experience after. It is like our medicine, we will benefit even if it doesn’t taste too good…always remember the sweets are coming lol

Allow God to correct you too if you need it – don’t become offended at something that is hard to accept. Once you have received it, there is deeper revelation awaiting you. God wants to show you more and you need to accept a few other things first, things that might not be too comfortable.

Also, it is imperative not to allow other people’s offenses to infect you either!! Realize that if they have a problem it’s between them and God!! Don’t listen to their murmuring and complaining, and don’t receive their “leaven”!!


Amen