Offended Weakened Hindered and Often Destroyed

One ounce of offense is a ton of hindrance. Nothing can weaken a saint of God more than allowing offense in his or her life. Prayer falls unanswered at our feet, and our witness for Him loses its power to bless or convict. Offended, our entire Christian life is reduced to a shadow when our world needs a storm. Apostle Paul was a champion in the New Testament church. One of his secrets was powerfully described in Luke’s writings of the book of Acts. He quotes Paul’s words before the high priest of Israel, the Governor Felix, appointed by Rome, and an orator by the name of Tertullus. Apostle Paul stated, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” (Acts 24:16)

Your conscience is everything that is in your mind. It includes your perception of others, your perception of yourself, and your perception of your life and all of your experiences. It is the reservoir of all that guides your emotions, determines your sadness or happiness, and is the basis of all your actions. It is the “you” in your head or heart, and it will determine the decisions of all of life. An offended conscience is a wellspring of all kinds of destructive actions, emotions, decisions and experiences. More sorrow has arisen from an offended conscience than from all sickness, accidents and every possible bad experience. Offense is so powerful that Satan has made it his number one weapon to destroy human life, church life, and life in general. After he gets you in a state of offense, he moves on to someone else, because you will finish the job for him. We all rise or fall by what makes up our conscience.

The testimony of Paul reveals the great discipline behind this great man of Scripture. The effort to destroy him by previous companions of the Jewish leadership is remarkable. He did not have the opportunity to leave Damascus where he was converted without a desperate effort to take his life. This student of Gamaliel, trained defender of Jewish customs, powerful destroyer of the converts of Jesus Christ, himself now a disciple, was let down over the wall by night to escape his death squad. The rest of his life was lived with pain and suffering, the total of which we have little understanding; but he determined never to be offended at any living soul and certainly not His God. Herein lies the greatness of this New Testament champion. Nothing was allowed to hinder the grace of God in his life from propelling him to the ultimate call of his Redeemer.

Offense is everywhere. Husbands and wives walk away from their families, and the offense descends like a hellstorm on those left behind. Pastors and Christian workers have to fight for their reputations after a gossiper has done his or her deed. Friends meet new friends, and old friends are left sad and disappointed. On the job, in the neighborhood, at school, or in church, offenses abound like rain in a tornado. They are everywhere, and you cannot escape your share. But you can refuse to be destroyed by the powers that they create. Too many of God’s great saints have been reduced to a “used-to-be” because of offense in their hearts.

The grace of God has been provided for every one of us that we can rise above every offense we encounter. Listen to the Spirit as He speaks through the Apostle Paul. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without OFFENCE till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” (Emphasis added) (Philippians 1:9-11) Paul prayed that love may abound in judgment that we can approve or discern the experience of life and abide, “without offence.”

You cannot stop the offense from coming, but you can be absolutely certain it does not steal your heart. Offense will slip upon you or steal its way into your experiences, and you must “exercise” yourself, as Paul said before Felix, not to tolerate your heart being affected. Although offense may be totally the evil of someone else’s action, it still can destroy you unless you refuse to be affected by an impure response or attitude. That’s why Paul said he “exercised” himself not to allow his conscience to be offended.

Personally, I have made a new commitment to consciously avoid offense toward God or toward man. Many people get offended at God because the enemy will suggest that God allowed such and such to occur. I will not tolerate offense against my Father or against any man, friend or foe, in my life. You are too important to GodÂ’s Divine purpose to be weakened or hindered by offense of any nature. Much physical sickness arises out of offenses that take hold of oneÂ’s heart. Keep your conscience pure because it is the wellspring of all your emotions and experiences. His grace is available to manifest the righteousness of Christ in your spirit and soul every hour.