John the Baptist had baptized many people, including Jesus. Jesus said, “among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). John the Baptist had done much work for the Kingdom of God, and he was eventually imprisoned for it. He was the forerunner of Christ, and it must have felt very unfair what was happening to him when he was doing such great work.
But John the Baptist had doubt that Jesus was the Messiah (Matthew 11:3). Jesus had his disciples go and tell John the Baptist of all the miracles that were occurring (Matthew 11:4-5). But Jesus also said, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Matthew 11:6).
John the Baptist doubted that Jesus was the Messiah because of his circumstance of imprisonment and that things did not turn out the way he thought they would. His OFFENSE was keeping him from his deliverance and so often is the case with us.
When God does not cause things to happen as we think they should or in the time frame we think they should, we get OFFENDED with others and with God. God wants us to recognize what He is doing and partner with Him, not the other way around. He wants us to recognize that we are offended and need to repent. Only then can he deliver us from our circumstances and bring us into the destiny that He has for us which is way better than anything we can imagine for ourselves.
Offense is very dangerous both for believers and non-believers. Offense is running rampant in our world today. Offense takes root when someone says or does something, and we are annoyed by it. We can then begin to respond out of that annoyance toward the person which then gives the enemy a foothold in us, and it opens us up to being used by the enemy.
This perceived insult or perceived disrespect will lead to fruit that is seen in the inhibition of the blessings of God and, the attraction of other evil spirits into our lives: pride, anger, withdrawal, insecurity, betrayal, and resentment.
How do we heal the wound of OFFENSE?
1. RECOGNIZE the wound of OFFENSE is there
2. REPENT for coming into agreement with OFFENSE
3. LET GO of the hurt and pain by forgiving those who have offended you
4. LET GOD help you walk a new way now that you have repented and forgiven
by Angela Aberle
Image by Gabriel Ramos
