The battle against offense may be one of the most challenging spiritual struggles we face today. In this powerful message on "Living in Offense," we explore how easily we can become trapped in a prison of our own making when we choose to dwell in hurt, anger, and bitterness.

Drawing from James 1:19-20, we discover that while being offended is natural and inevitable, making our home in that offense is entirely optional. The message reveals three dangerous symptoms that indicate we're living in offense: anger, negativity, and bitterness. These emotions aren't merely personal struggles—they become toxic roots that produce devastating fruit in our lives and relationships.

When offense takes hold, it creates what we might call the "Three Ds of Destruction": it divides our relationships, distracts us from our God-given purpose, and discredits our witness to the world. As one powerful insight reveals, "If the devil can divide us, he can destroy us. If he can distract us, he can defeat us. If he can discredit us, he can disarm us."

The message offers a profound truth: whatever we're looking for, we'll find. Just as we suddenly notice every instance of a car model once we're shopping for it, we'll discover endless opportunities for offense if that's what we're seeking. This perspective shift challenges us to examine what we're truly "in the market for" in our daily interactions.

True freedom comes when we're willing to address offense directly, sometimes requiring us to approach the very person who wounded us—a counterintuitive but transformative act of spiritual maturity. With the proper covering of God's grace and mercy, we can handle even the hottest situations without being consumed by them.

Are you living behind a fence of offense that's keeping out the people and blessings God intended for you? It's time to break free. Share this message with someone who needs to escape the prison of living offended and experience the freedom Christ died to give them.

Support the show