Living Unoffended

0:00:01.600 --> 0:00:04.320 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:04.400 --> 0:00:07.520 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:00:07.600 --> 0:00:10.200 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:00:10.280 --> 0:00:12.920 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:00:12.960 --> 0:00:16.560 for God's very best in your life. God bless you 0:00:16.760 --> 0:00:19.280 and it's great to be with you today, and I 0:00:19.280 --> 0:00:21.919 hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through 0:00:21.920 --> 0:00:26.000 our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you 0:00:26.079 --> 0:00:28.560 can come visit us in person. We'd love to have 0:00:28.640 --> 0:00:31.200 you be a part of one of our services. I'd 0:00:31.280 --> 0:00:33.400 like to start with something funny, and I heard about 0:00:33.400 --> 0:00:36.080 this man. He was out walking through the woods with 0:00:36.200 --> 0:00:39.960 his friend when they suddenly encountered a huge grizzly bear 0:00:40.000 --> 0:00:43.400 about twenty yards in front of them. They both frozen 0:00:43.479 --> 0:00:47.239 their tracks as the bear intently stared them down. They 0:00:47.280 --> 0:00:50.640 contemplated what they should do. The man finally whispered to 0:00:50.680 --> 0:00:53.599 his friend, I think we should run. His friends said, 0:00:53.640 --> 0:00:56.560 are you kidding? We can't outrun a grizzly bear. The 0:00:56.560 --> 0:00:59.120 man said, I know that. I don't have to outrun him. 0:00:59.280 --> 0:01:02.840 I just have to run. You say it like you 0:01:02.920 --> 0:01:05.920 mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 0:01:05.920 --> 0:01:08.400 says I am. I have what it says I have. 0:01:08.920 --> 0:01:11.560 I can do what it says I can do. Today 0:01:11.680 --> 0:01:15.080 I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 0:01:15.520 --> 0:01:19.040 My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 0:01:19.080 --> 0:01:23.119 never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:01:24.480 --> 0:01:27.560 I want to talk to you today about living unoffended. 0:01:28.480 --> 0:01:31.920 We all have opportunities to get upset and be offended. 0:01:32.400 --> 0:01:35.800 A coworker is rude, or someone cuts you off in traffic, 0:01:36.160 --> 0:01:39.200 a friend leaves you out. It's easy to get sour, 0:01:39.720 --> 0:01:43.319 try to pay people back, hold a grudge. We don't 0:01:43.360 --> 0:01:47.800 realize that's poisoning our life. That offense is like a toxin. 0:01:48.280 --> 0:01:52.720 It's not affecting the other person, it's souring our joy 0:01:52.840 --> 0:01:56.120 and the apostle Paul had all kinds of opportunities to 0:01:56.120 --> 0:02:00.280 be offended. People lied about him. He was misunderstood, sudden, 0:02:00.720 --> 0:02:04.760 not accepted by religious leaders. He said in Philippians three, 0:02:05.320 --> 0:02:09.600 this one thing I do forgetting what lies behind and 0:02:09.639 --> 0:02:13.440 reaching forward to what lies ahead. He was saying, one 0:02:13.480 --> 0:02:17.480 thing I'm good at is letting things go, not taking 0:02:17.520 --> 0:02:21.560 the offense, not dwelling on what happened yesterday. I put 0:02:21.639 --> 0:02:26.120 all my energies into reaching to what's up ahead. You 0:02:26.200 --> 0:02:29.320 have to have this system of release when you don't 0:02:29.360 --> 0:02:33.120 hold on to everything. They said something rude, I'm letting 0:02:33.160 --> 0:02:36.400 it go. They hurt my feelings. I didn't like it, 0:02:36.560 --> 0:02:39.320 but I'm letting it go. They left me out. It 0:02:39.400 --> 0:02:42.760 wasn't fair, but I'm letting it go. If you hold 0:02:42.800 --> 0:02:45.320 on to that offense, it's not only going to weigh 0:02:45.400 --> 0:02:48.360 you down, it's going to keep you from reaching forward. 0:02:49.160 --> 0:02:52.560 That's what's stopping some people. They're not seeing new levels, 0:02:53.080 --> 0:02:57.280 not tapping into their potential because they're living in yesterday, 0:02:58.040 --> 0:03:01.320 dwelling on what someone said, how they were mistreated, they 0:03:01.360 --> 0:03:04.960 did me wrong. You can't stop all that from happening. 0:03:05.560 --> 0:03:10.040 How you handle the offense is what's important. Forgiveness should 0:03:10.080 --> 0:03:14.320 be a continual thing, not one and done. We're continually 0:03:14.400 --> 0:03:18.920 releasing and continually letting things go. We need to see 0:03:18.919 --> 0:03:23.320 the offense as a toxin, as a poison. You're dealing 0:03:23.320 --> 0:03:27.040 with something very powerful. The offense is like a seed. 0:03:27.600 --> 0:03:30.520 If you keep dwelling on it, letting it upset you, 0:03:30.800 --> 0:03:33.680 it's going to take root and grow. It will begin 0:03:33.760 --> 0:03:37.720 to contaminate your life. Cause you to live sour. Why 0:03:37.720 --> 0:03:41.160 did they leave me out? Why'd they walk away? Why 0:03:41.160 --> 0:03:45.520 were they disrespectful? You can't control any of that. What 0:03:45.600 --> 0:03:49.200 you can control is whether or not you take the offense. 0:03:49.800 --> 0:03:53.560 And if you'll develop this system of release, of continual 0:03:53.640 --> 0:03:58.280 forgiveness every day, letting go and reaching forward, then that 0:03:58.360 --> 0:04:02.880 offense won't affect you. They said something disrespectful. Maybe look 0:04:02.960 --> 0:04:05.360 bad in front of my colleagues, but I know God 0:04:05.440 --> 0:04:08.840 is my vindicator, He's fighting my battles. I'm gonna let 0:04:08.880 --> 0:04:12.440 it go and keep reaching forward. Do you have this 0:04:12.600 --> 0:04:16.560 system of release or you holding on to everything? Have 0:04:16.680 --> 0:04:20.679 you learned the process of continual forgiveness? Or you letting 0:04:20.720 --> 0:04:25.440 those seeds take root and contamidate your life? Luke seventeen. 0:04:25.720 --> 0:04:29.560 Jesus was talking to his disciples, getting them prepared to 0:04:29.600 --> 0:04:32.440 go out and do great things. He wasn't going to 0:04:32.480 --> 0:04:35.400 be with them much longer. This was an important time. 0:04:36.040 --> 0:04:38.560 He could have talked to them about having more faith, 0:04:39.000 --> 0:04:42.880 believing for bigger impact. But he said in verse one, 0:04:43.000 --> 0:04:46.240 as you go out, there's this one more important thing 0:04:46.320 --> 0:04:50.360 you need to know. It is impossible that offenses will 0:04:50.400 --> 0:04:54.040 not come. He was saying, as you go through life. 0:04:54.320 --> 0:04:58.760 There will be rude people, grouty co workers, family members 0:04:58.760 --> 0:05:02.880 that get on your nerves. It's impossible to not have offenses. 0:05:03.720 --> 0:05:06.680 He gave them this somber news. Then he gave them 0:05:06.720 --> 0:05:10.839 the solution. He said, if your brother trespasses against you 0:05:10.960 --> 0:05:15.080 seven times a day, forgive them. Now. I can understand 0:05:15.080 --> 0:05:18.720 once a day, maybe twice a day, perhaps three times 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:21.240 a day, but four times and you're still getting on 0:05:21.320 --> 0:05:24.560 my nerves five times. You better go find someone else 0:05:24.600 --> 0:05:29.120 to bother. When he said seven times, he's talking about 0:05:29.200 --> 0:05:33.680 continual forgiveness. He's saying, don't let that poison in and 0:05:33.800 --> 0:05:38.040 contaminate your spirit. You have to deal with offenses quickly. 0:05:38.800 --> 0:05:42.239 The longer you wait, the more difficult it is to release. 0:05:42.920 --> 0:05:45.440 If you dwell on it for a day, think about 0:05:45.480 --> 0:05:49.520 it for a month, and it'll get bigger, become more hurtful. 0:05:50.240 --> 0:05:55.000 You'll be sour, short with people, irritable, not enjoy your family. 0:05:55.839 --> 0:05:58.360 That could have all been avoided if you would have 0:05:58.400 --> 0:06:03.920 forgiven quickly. Quit letting offenses take root. It's impossible that 0:06:03.960 --> 0:06:07.080 they're not going to come. Let me make it more practical. 0:06:07.400 --> 0:06:10.760 It's impossible to live with your family and they not 0:06:10.839 --> 0:06:14.080 hurt your feelings. They not get on your nerves. They 0:06:14.160 --> 0:06:17.839 not disappoint you, say things that they shouldn't. They're not 0:06:17.960 --> 0:06:23.440 against you. They're just human. They have flaws. Sometimes people 0:06:23.440 --> 0:06:27.320 don't mean to other times they do. Either way, you 0:06:27.400 --> 0:06:30.400 can't let that poison get in you. If you take 0:06:30.440 --> 0:06:37.239 that offense, live sour, revengeful, you are wasting your emotional energies. 0:06:38.000 --> 0:06:41.040 You only have so much each day. It's not an 0:06:41.080 --> 0:06:45.080 unlimited supply. Do you know how much emotional energy it 0:06:45.160 --> 0:06:49.120 takes to hold a grudge, to live bitter, to think 0:06:49.160 --> 0:06:52.480 about what they did. That's energy you're not going to 0:06:52.560 --> 0:06:56.159 have for your dreams, to love your children, to enjoy 0:06:56.200 --> 0:07:00.719 your spouse. Next time someone offends you, try for an approach, 0:07:01.000 --> 0:07:04.479 release it and move forward. I'm not going to think 0:07:04.520 --> 0:07:07.440 about it. God, I know you'll make my wrongs right. 0:07:07.800 --> 0:07:11.320 I'm putting all my energies into what's ahead and not 0:07:11.440 --> 0:07:14.960 into what's behind. If you'll get in this habit of 0:07:15.000 --> 0:07:18.040 forgiving quickly not giving it at the time of day, 0:07:18.320 --> 0:07:21.680 then it won't take root. And the reason some people 0:07:21.720 --> 0:07:25.240 are offensive is they have issues they haven't dealt with. 0:07:25.880 --> 0:07:30.760 They have toxins, hurts, wounds, They become bitter and angry. 0:07:31.400 --> 0:07:35.120 At times, they'll lash out at you. They'll be disrespectful, 0:07:35.600 --> 0:07:39.080 say things that hurt your feelings. Number One, they don't 0:07:39.120 --> 0:07:43.360 control your destiny. What they say doesn't determine who you are. 0:07:44.200 --> 0:07:47.400 Don't take that bait and get engaged in a battle 0:07:47.760 --> 0:07:50.920 that you're not supposed to fight. If you get upset, 0:07:51.520 --> 0:07:54.320 start trying to pay them back. Man two can play 0:07:54.320 --> 0:07:57.360 at this game. You're letting their poison get in you. 0:07:58.120 --> 0:08:01.040 Best thing you can do is release it, let it go, 0:08:01.400 --> 0:08:05.680 and keep moving forward. The enemy loves to use offenses 0:08:05.840 --> 0:08:10.720 as distractions. He loved to get you upset trying to 0:08:10.760 --> 0:08:13.559 prove to people who you are trying to pay them back. 0:08:14.480 --> 0:08:17.760 Even if you accomplish all that, you're no further down 0:08:17.760 --> 0:08:22.600 the road. You've just wasted valuable time and energy fighting 0:08:22.600 --> 0:08:26.320 a battle that doesn't matter. If that battle is not 0:08:26.440 --> 0:08:30.440 between you and your destiny, you're not supposed to engage. 0:08:31.400 --> 0:08:35.440 Goliath stood between David and his purpose. He fought that battle, 0:08:36.120 --> 0:08:40.280 but a few days earlier, David's older brother eliab He 0:08:40.400 --> 0:08:43.280 made fun of David in front of all of his colleagues. 0:08:43.600 --> 0:08:47.200 He belittle David and tried to make him feel small 0:08:47.240 --> 0:08:50.760 but it says in First Samuel seventeen, David turned and 0:08:50.920 --> 0:08:56.839 walked away. Had he gotten distracted, taken the offense, tried 0:08:56.840 --> 0:08:59.800 to prove to his brother who he was, set him straight, 0:09:00.520 --> 0:09:04.400 he would have missed fighting Goliath. The scripture says he 0:09:04.559 --> 0:09:09.320 ran toward Goliath, but he walked away from Iliab. The 0:09:09.360 --> 0:09:12.520 mark of a champion is knowing what battles to fight 0:09:12.920 --> 0:09:16.439 and what battles to walk away from. Are you fighting 0:09:16.520 --> 0:09:21.480 battles that don't matter? Engaged in conflict that's petty, just 0:09:21.520 --> 0:09:24.400 trying to prove to people who you are. Set them straight. 0:09:25.080 --> 0:09:28.800 If you win, what have you accomplished? Are you any 0:09:28.840 --> 0:09:32.920 closer to your destiny? Or was it a distraction? There 0:09:32.920 --> 0:09:36.240 are very few golias that will face, but there are 0:09:36.280 --> 0:09:41.120 many eliabs, many offenses. When you learn to walk away 0:09:41.160 --> 0:09:44.640 from what doesn't matter, you'll have the strength, the favor, 0:09:44.720 --> 0:09:48.720 the anointing to defeat the golias, to defeat what does matter. 0:09:49.800 --> 0:09:52.079 I was at the airport a few years ago in 0:09:52.160 --> 0:09:55.480 the security line putting my bag through the X ray machine. 0:09:56.040 --> 0:10:00.720 This one worker was very aggressive and very forceful, demanding, 0:10:01.080 --> 0:10:05.800 hollering instructions so loudly, like he was angry. Take off 0:10:05.840 --> 0:10:09.320 your coats and all electronics in the separate container. No 0:10:09.440 --> 0:10:12.440 liquids in your carry on barking all these orders. Early 0:10:12.480 --> 0:10:15.320 in the morning, I put my bag in and it 0:10:15.400 --> 0:10:17.880 went through the machine and it got pulled over to 0:10:17.960 --> 0:10:22.400 the side. He screamed out, whose bag is this? I 0:10:22.400 --> 0:10:25.920 didn't want my bag anymore, but I finally said it's mine. 0:10:26.480 --> 0:10:29.440 He looked at me like he's about to explode. He said, 0:10:29.520 --> 0:10:32.920 I told you no water in the bag. What are 0:10:32.960 --> 0:10:35.440 you doing? I thought, I'm going on a trip. I'm 0:10:35.480 --> 0:10:39.520 not in boot camp. Besides, I didn't put any water 0:10:39.600 --> 0:10:42.720 in my bag. There was a beautiful blonde haired girl 0:10:42.800 --> 0:10:45.400 I was traveling with, and I wanted to say it's 0:10:45.400 --> 0:10:48.319 her fault, but I just mold said sorry about that, 0:10:48.400 --> 0:10:51.120 and he put the bag back through the screening. A 0:10:51.200 --> 0:10:54.959 coworker came over and whispered in his ear that's pastor roastine. 0:10:55.160 --> 0:10:57.520 He turned around and said past roastin. How are you 0:10:57.640 --> 0:11:01.680 my friend? I wanted to say, get behind me, satan, 0:11:03.240 --> 0:11:07.360 He said, I watch you every week. I thought it's 0:11:07.400 --> 0:11:13.800 not working at all. My point is life is too 0:11:13.880 --> 0:11:18.240 short to let other people dump their garbage on you. 0:11:18.240 --> 0:11:21.120 You can't stop it from happening, but you can release 0:11:21.200 --> 0:11:26.200 it and move forward. Some people they have all this 0:11:26.360 --> 0:11:30.000 hurt and anger and offense. What didn't work out? Who 0:11:30.040 --> 0:11:34.160 did them wrong? Because they never let anything go Like 0:11:34.200 --> 0:11:38.000 a big garbage can, They're carrying around all this trash. 0:11:38.440 --> 0:11:41.960 Sometimes they'll try to dump their garbage on you. You have 0:11:42.000 --> 0:11:44.480 to be smart enough to say no, thanks. You can 0:11:44.559 --> 0:11:46.640 dump it, but I'm not gonna take it. I'm gonna 0:11:46.640 --> 0:11:51.040 stay in peace and enjoy this day. Jesus was telling 0:11:51.080 --> 0:11:54.640 his disciples in this passage, I'm sending you out to 0:11:54.760 --> 0:11:58.640 impact the world. But along with this favor, there will 0:11:58.640 --> 0:12:02.840 be offenses. People that don't understand you, people that try 0:12:02.880 --> 0:12:06.520 to discredit you. As God promotes you and gives you 0:12:06.600 --> 0:12:10.280 more influence. You have to have thicker skin. You can't 0:12:10.280 --> 0:12:14.120 be easily offended. People will come against you, say things 0:12:14.120 --> 0:12:17.880 that are not true, try to mischaracterize you. Don't sink 0:12:17.920 --> 0:12:21.520 down to their level. That's not your battle. Keep releasing 0:12:21.840 --> 0:12:24.880 and reaching. The only way they can affect you is 0:12:24.920 --> 0:12:28.560 if you take the bank. You get offended, become soured. 0:12:28.800 --> 0:12:31.760 Try to prove to them who you are. The scripture 0:12:31.800 --> 0:12:35.880 says the pure in heart will see God That word 0:12:35.960 --> 0:12:39.000 pure in the original Greek language is where we get 0:12:39.040 --> 0:12:43.280 our word catheter. A catheter is used during surgery to 0:12:43.400 --> 0:12:47.000 take toxins out of the body. This is saying, if 0:12:47.040 --> 0:12:49.200 you're going to see God, if you're going to have 0:12:49.280 --> 0:12:53.480 his favor, his blessing, you have to keep the impurities out. 0:12:54.120 --> 0:12:56.800 You have to have this catheter, so to speak, to 0:12:56.920 --> 0:12:59.960 where when an offense comes, no big deal, it flows 0:13:00.120 --> 0:13:04.679 through and released. They hurt my feelings, they were disrespectful. 0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:07.400 He's shouldn't have hollered at me. You can't stop that 0:13:07.480 --> 0:13:11.480 from coming, but you can stop it from staying. You 0:13:11.559 --> 0:13:14.640 have to have that catheter to get rid of the toxins. 0:13:15.160 --> 0:13:17.880 The problem with some people is they've never learned this 0:13:18.080 --> 0:13:22.800 system of release, to holding onto everything what someone said, 0:13:23.200 --> 0:13:26.320 how they were treated wrong. Now their heart is not pure. 0:13:26.880 --> 0:13:31.680 There's unforgiveness, resentment, anger. That's why they can't see God. 0:13:32.600 --> 0:13:35.720 Is your vision being limited because you're not dealing with 0:13:35.760 --> 0:13:40.280 offenses properly? Is the favor on your life, the blessings, 0:13:40.360 --> 0:13:44.079 the creativity not showing up like it should because you're 0:13:44.080 --> 0:13:48.600 holding onto hurts, living offended, bitter. The good news is 0:13:49.000 --> 0:13:52.040 you will see things clear up if you'll start releasing, 0:13:52.679 --> 0:13:57.160 start forgiving quickly, not letting these toxins build up. That's 0:13:57.200 --> 0:14:00.600 clouding your vision. It's keeping you from seeing the victory 0:14:00.880 --> 0:14:04.000 and the abundance that God has for you. Now, I've 0:14:04.000 --> 0:14:08.200 known people that were favored. They were talented, but they 0:14:08.240 --> 0:14:11.840 got distracted by what people were saying, bitter over who 0:14:11.880 --> 0:14:14.719 did them wrong, trying to prove to people they were 0:14:14.760 --> 0:14:20.080 not what was said. They became defensive, harsh, critical. It 0:14:20.200 --> 0:14:22.960 was all born out of an offense that they didn't 0:14:23.040 --> 0:14:26.760 let go of. If you hold on to offenses, they'll 0:14:26.800 --> 0:14:29.680 begin to change who you are. But if you'll be 0:14:29.760 --> 0:14:34.120 a David, walk away from the eliabs, walk away from 0:14:34.120 --> 0:14:38.040 the insults, the disrespect, then God can trust you with more. 0:14:39.040 --> 0:14:42.560 We have to pass these tests. When offense comes, that's 0:14:42.600 --> 0:14:46.280 an opportunity to show God what you're made of. The 0:14:46.360 --> 0:14:49.720 easy thing is to get offended, be rude to someone 0:14:49.720 --> 0:14:54.120 that's rude back to you, live bitter, upset, angry. That's 0:14:54.200 --> 0:14:57.000 the carnal way to handle it. But we're supposed to 0:14:57.040 --> 0:15:00.520 walk by the spirit and not the flesh. When you 0:15:00.600 --> 0:15:03.480 say no thanks, I'm not taking the offense. God, You're 0:15:03.560 --> 0:15:06.800 in control. I'm gonna release it and keep moving forward. 0:15:07.200 --> 0:15:10.600 That's when God can trust you with more. He'll never 0:15:10.680 --> 0:15:13.680 let you face situations that are too much for you 0:15:13.760 --> 0:15:17.560 to handle. The next time you're tempted to get upset, 0:15:18.120 --> 0:15:22.160 be offended, pay somebody back, try a different approach. I 0:15:22.200 --> 0:15:25.320 can handle this. I have the grace for where I am. 0:15:25.600 --> 0:15:28.800 I'm going to stay cool, remain calm, and let God 0:15:28.880 --> 0:15:33.040 fight my battles. That's passing the task, that's keeping your 0:15:33.040 --> 0:15:36.320 heart pure. That's when you'll see God. You'll see his blessing, 0:15:36.560 --> 0:15:40.120 his favor, his goodness on your life in a new way. 0:15:40.320 --> 0:15:42.280 And in the position that I'm in in front of 0:15:42.320 --> 0:15:45.320 a lot of people. There are many opinions. People that 0:15:45.400 --> 0:15:49.440 don't understand, that mischaracterize, say things that are not true. 0:15:50.120 --> 0:15:52.560 I do what I'm asking you to do. I don't 0:15:52.560 --> 0:15:55.880 pay any attention to it. I'm not offended. I don't 0:15:55.960 --> 0:16:00.000 let that poison get in. Life is good. I'm happy God. 0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:03.040 God has blessed me more than I can imagine. Your 0:16:03.080 --> 0:16:06.320 time is too valuable. God's been too good to you 0:16:06.520 --> 0:16:10.320 to live offended discourage over what they said. Bidter who 0:16:10.400 --> 0:16:13.920 left you out, Rise above that. People can say what 0:16:14.000 --> 0:16:16.720 they want, but if you don't let it in. It's 0:16:16.800 --> 0:16:19.840 like water off of a duck's bag. It has no effect. 0:16:20.600 --> 0:16:23.920 Don't let the negative chatter People that are never going 0:16:23.960 --> 0:16:27.280 to be for you get you distracted fighting battles that 0:16:27.320 --> 0:16:30.600 don't matter, bitter over people that are not a part 0:16:30.640 --> 0:16:34.040 of your destiny, worried about what someone thinks that's never 0:16:34.080 --> 0:16:38.000 going to understand you. That's the enemy trying to use 0:16:38.040 --> 0:16:42.600 those offenses to poison your spirit, deceive you into changing 0:16:42.680 --> 0:16:46.800 who you are. Keep your heart pure. Ignore it. They 0:16:46.840 --> 0:16:49.440 have issues they haven't dealt with. That's why there's few 0:16:49.480 --> 0:16:52.480 in the poison. They don't like themselves. How are they 0:16:52.520 --> 0:16:55.720 ever going to like you? Release it and move forward. 0:16:56.680 --> 0:16:59.360 When Jesus told his disciples they were going to have 0:16:59.440 --> 0:17:03.160 to forgive an offense seven times a day, the next 0:17:03.200 --> 0:17:08.120 thing they said was, Lord, increase our faith. They didn't pray, God, 0:17:08.200 --> 0:17:11.600 increase our faith so we can do bigger miracles. Crease 0:17:11.640 --> 0:17:15.359 our faith so we can have a bigger vision. They said, 0:17:15.440 --> 0:17:19.159 increase our faith so we can forgive the wrongs, so 0:17:19.240 --> 0:17:21.359 we can let go of the offenses, so we can 0:17:21.440 --> 0:17:25.879 keep these toxins out. Sometimes it takes more faith to 0:17:25.960 --> 0:17:29.240 keep your heart purer than it does to accomplish a dream. 0:17:30.119 --> 0:17:32.840 We're praying for faith, for a breakthrough, faith for a 0:17:32.880 --> 0:17:35.439 new level, and that's good. I believe in that. But 0:17:35.640 --> 0:17:39.480 like these disciples, have you ever prayed? God increased my 0:17:39.600 --> 0:17:42.880 faith so I can let go of these hurts. Increase 0:17:43.000 --> 0:17:46.119 my faith, so I can forgive this person that betrayed me. 0:17:46.600 --> 0:17:49.320 God increased my faith so I can keep my heart 0:17:49.400 --> 0:17:53.640 purer and keep moving forward with my life. One time, 0:17:53.680 --> 0:17:56.240 my father received a letter in the mail from a 0:17:56.320 --> 0:18:00.920 minister in another country. This minister was very prominent, well known. 0:18:01.680 --> 0:18:05.400 The letter was very hurtful and condemning. My father had 0:18:05.440 --> 0:18:08.520 been married early in life and went to a divorce, 0:18:08.560 --> 0:18:12.119 and this minister was telling him how he was not qualified, 0:18:12.680 --> 0:18:16.480 how he shouldn't be pastoring. He accused my father things 0:18:16.480 --> 0:18:20.000 that weren't true, just people stirring up trouble, spreading rumors. 0:18:20.720 --> 0:18:23.960 My father was very offended. He thought this is not right, 0:18:24.320 --> 0:18:26.840 so he wrote the man a letter back that was 0:18:26.960 --> 0:18:30.399 just as strong and forceful, telling him, who do you 0:18:30.480 --> 0:18:33.200 think you are? You don't know what you're talking about. 0:18:33.359 --> 0:18:36.480 You should mind your own business. On and on, my 0:18:36.560 --> 0:18:39.359 father sealed the envelope, put the stamp on it and 0:18:39.400 --> 0:18:42.000 walked out to the mailbox. When he put it in 0:18:42.080 --> 0:18:45.200 the mail, he heard a voice saying, you got him back, 0:18:45.280 --> 0:18:49.080 didn't you. Daddy said, I sure did. The voice said 0:18:49.119 --> 0:18:51.960 you set him straight, didn't you. Daddy said, yes, I did. 0:18:52.760 --> 0:18:56.720 Then the voice said you repaid evil for evil, didn't you. 0:18:57.760 --> 0:19:00.399 My father realized that was God's speaking to him. He 0:19:00.440 --> 0:19:04.479 felt convicted. He was drawn into a battle that he 0:19:04.560 --> 0:19:08.199 wasn't supposed to engage in. That offense was starting to 0:19:08.200 --> 0:19:12.600 take root. The scripture says you overcome evil with good. 0:19:13.680 --> 0:19:17.720 When you're offended, you never win by returning the offense. 0:19:18.560 --> 0:19:22.840 All that's doing is poisoning your spirit. You overcome offenses 0:19:23.080 --> 0:19:26.840 by letting them go, not responding, not dwelling on it, 0:19:27.000 --> 0:19:30.840 not letting that poison in. He walked back to the mailbox, 0:19:31.080 --> 0:19:35.080 tore the letter up, never sent it. Sixteen years later, 0:19:35.280 --> 0:19:38.399 that man showed up at Lakewood. He said to my father, 0:19:38.680 --> 0:19:41.840 with big tears running down his cheeks, I'm so sorry 0:19:41.920 --> 0:19:45.440 about the letter. I was wrong. I had been hurt, 0:19:45.760 --> 0:19:48.960 and in that anger I lashed out at you. He 0:19:49.040 --> 0:19:52.440 asked my father to forgive him. Their relationship was restored, 0:19:53.240 --> 0:19:56.359 but that was a test that my father had to pass. 0:19:57.080 --> 0:20:00.600 Had he let that offense take root, begin to change 0:20:00.640 --> 0:20:05.320 and become bitter, vindictive, angry, he would have never seen 0:20:05.359 --> 0:20:10.120 God's favor and blessing like he did. When an offense comes, 0:20:10.320 --> 0:20:14.040 you're dealing with something very powerful. That seed is alive. 0:20:14.720 --> 0:20:17.679 If you let it get in you, what's ironic is 0:20:17.680 --> 0:20:21.320 you will become what you don't like. My father would 0:20:21.359 --> 0:20:25.879 have become like that man, harsh, angry, judgmental. You can't 0:20:25.880 --> 0:20:30.520 take offense lightly. That seed can change your nature, sour 0:20:30.640 --> 0:20:34.440 your attitude, and limit your vision. In the Book of Esther, 0:20:34.680 --> 0:20:37.320 there was a man named Naman. He worked for the king, 0:20:37.440 --> 0:20:41.000 and he was promoted to prime minister, making him the 0:20:41.040 --> 0:20:45.920 most powerful person in the Persian Empire next to the king. 0:20:46.520 --> 0:20:50.160 He had all this authority, respect and honor. He wore 0:20:50.200 --> 0:20:53.280 a ring that had the King's seal on it. When 0:20:53.320 --> 0:20:56.639 he passed by, people would bow down to show their honor. 0:20:57.400 --> 0:21:00.720 But there was a man named Mordecai that would bow down. 0:21:01.520 --> 0:21:05.359 This made Haymond so upset. He was so offended. The 0:21:05.400 --> 0:21:09.520 scripture says he was filled with rage, couldn't sleep at night, 0:21:09.960 --> 0:21:14.840 couldn't enjoy His family, didn't appreciate his position all because 0:21:15.200 --> 0:21:18.960 one man wouldn't bow down, one man wouldn't show respect. 0:21:19.280 --> 0:21:21.600 He could have said, big deal, you won't bow That 0:21:21.640 --> 0:21:25.280 doesn't change me. I'm still the prime minister. But he 0:21:25.359 --> 0:21:29.760 said in chapter five, all this honor is meaningless as 0:21:29.800 --> 0:21:33.359 long as I see Mordecai sitting at the gate. He 0:21:33.400 --> 0:21:36.720 had all the blessing favor, he was leaving the country, 0:21:37.000 --> 0:21:40.680 but one man wouldn't respect him. Instead of ignoring it, 0:21:41.400 --> 0:21:44.840 not paying it any attention, moving forward, that's all he 0:21:44.880 --> 0:21:48.879 focused on. He ended up losing his position and losing 0:21:48.920 --> 0:21:52.520 his life. If you allow a fence in, it can 0:21:52.560 --> 0:21:56.320 cause you to lose perspective, blow things out of proportion, 0:21:56.960 --> 0:22:02.359 fight battles that don't matter. Starting ignoring disrespect. You can't 0:22:02.400 --> 0:22:06.280 make people like you, make them change their mind. If 0:22:06.320 --> 0:22:09.479 you stay focused on the offense, you'll start majoring on 0:22:09.520 --> 0:22:12.919 the miners. Miss all the great things God has blessed 0:22:12.960 --> 0:22:16.840 you with. That person at work doesn't like you, that's okay. 0:22:17.040 --> 0:22:19.760 You don't need them to like you to fulfill your destiny. 0:22:20.200 --> 0:22:23.360 There are plenty of people that do like you. Don't 0:22:23.400 --> 0:22:27.119 become focused on it. Let it go. That's not your battle. 0:22:28.119 --> 0:22:31.720 The scripture says it's the little foxes that spoil the vines. 0:22:32.720 --> 0:22:37.040 One person out of the whole Persian empire wouldn't respect him, 0:22:37.440 --> 0:22:41.000 and he was full of rage. Look at how out 0:22:41.000 --> 0:22:44.600 of proportion things become when we let an offense take root. 0:22:45.560 --> 0:22:48.560 Are there any little foxes that are spoiling your joy? 0:22:49.200 --> 0:22:52.880 Those little offenses, if you allow them to stay, will 0:22:52.880 --> 0:22:56.680 turn into big issues that can limit your life. When 0:22:56.680 --> 0:22:59.840 my brother Paul was seventeen years old, someone that was 0:22:59.880 --> 0:23:03.720 a mentor to him, someone he looked up to, told 0:23:03.800 --> 0:23:06.359 him that he didn't think Paul had what it took 0:23:06.640 --> 0:23:11.280 to become a medical doctor. Paul was at this vulnerable stage, 0:23:11.720 --> 0:23:15.359 very impressionable. When you need people speaking faith over you, 0:23:15.920 --> 0:23:19.200 telling you you can do great things, was just the opposite. 0:23:19.480 --> 0:23:23.400 Paul was offended, hurt his feelings, and wounded his spirit, 0:23:24.080 --> 0:23:27.400 and instead of letting it go, not paying any attention, 0:23:27.840 --> 0:23:30.800 the seed began to take root. He began to have 0:23:30.880 --> 0:23:35.320 this unhealthy competitiveness, this drive that said I'm going to 0:23:35.440 --> 0:23:38.760 prove to you who I am. It developed into this 0:23:38.880 --> 0:23:44.119 underlying anger. He became negative, critical, judgmental. He said, I 0:23:44.240 --> 0:23:47.240 was like a boiling furnace if you got close to me, 0:23:47.320 --> 0:23:49.840 and I opened those furnace doors. You were going to 0:23:49.880 --> 0:23:54.400 get burned. Twenty years later, he was talking with his pastor. 0:23:55.040 --> 0:23:57.359 He said, Paul, why do you have all this rage 0:23:57.359 --> 0:24:01.000 in you? It's like you're about to explode. Paul's mind 0:24:01.040 --> 0:24:04.000 went back to when he was seventeen years old, when 0:24:04.000 --> 0:24:07.280 he was told he couldn't become a doctor. Well, now 0:24:07.320 --> 0:24:10.199 he was a successful surgeon. He had proved them wrong, 0:24:10.680 --> 0:24:14.959 but he wasn't satisfied. He still felt this resentment, this anger. 0:24:15.160 --> 0:24:18.040 It was poisoning his life. Here he had all these 0:24:18.080 --> 0:24:22.119 great things, but he couldn't enjoy it. That's how powerful 0:24:22.200 --> 0:24:25.440 offense is. If you let that seat in, it can 0:24:25.520 --> 0:24:29.520 grow and become a root of bitterness where it's contaminating 0:24:29.600 --> 0:24:33.760 every area of your life, your attitude, your relationships, your vision. 0:24:34.560 --> 0:24:37.000 Paul knew he had to dig up that route, and 0:24:37.080 --> 0:24:40.040 he lived in Little Rock, but he came to Houston 0:24:40.640 --> 0:24:44.080 and went to the exact place where that offense took root. 0:24:44.600 --> 0:24:48.760 He said, God, today I'm forgiving them, I'm letting it go. 0:24:49.200 --> 0:24:51.440 I'm getting rid of this offense. I'm going to live 0:24:51.480 --> 0:24:54.960 my life free. That day was a turning point. He 0:24:55.040 --> 0:24:58.440 felt that anger, resentment began to lift off of him. 0:24:59.000 --> 0:25:02.080 Chains were broken, and that's when he started enjoying his 0:25:02.160 --> 0:25:06.359 success and enjoying what God had blessed him with. The 0:25:06.359 --> 0:25:10.040 Psalmist said in Psalm seventy three, I didn't realize how 0:25:10.080 --> 0:25:16.200 bitter I had become. I wonder if we're carrying around offenses, anger, resentment, 0:25:16.480 --> 0:25:19.600 we don't even realize it. It's poison in our spirit, 0:25:20.240 --> 0:25:24.760 keeping us from our dreams, limiting our creativity. What's causing 0:25:24.800 --> 0:25:27.359 you to be that way? You're supposed to be free 0:25:27.440 --> 0:25:31.760 and positive and joyful, Like Paul, you have to get 0:25:31.800 --> 0:25:35.520 honest with yourself. Maybe there are some bitter roots you 0:25:35.560 --> 0:25:39.800 need to pull up. You've allowed offenses to stay. That's okay. 0:25:40.040 --> 0:25:43.399 Today can be the uprooting day. Today can be the 0:25:43.480 --> 0:25:46.520 day you let things go. You forgive who hurt you, 0:25:47.320 --> 0:25:50.600 not focus on what they did. Not be obsessed like 0:25:50.720 --> 0:25:54.000 Hayman over who's not celebrating you living to prove to 0:25:54.080 --> 0:25:57.760 them who you are? You have nothing to prove. God 0:25:57.880 --> 0:26:01.120 is proud of you. God is cheering you on. He's 0:26:01.160 --> 0:26:04.399 going to make up for the wrongs. Hurts come, but 0:26:04.560 --> 0:26:08.720 God heals. Unfair things happen, but God pays you back. 0:26:09.080 --> 0:26:11.800 We all have some ashes, but God gives you beauty 0:26:11.840 --> 0:26:16.080 for the ashes. Now do your part, keep the offenses out, 0:26:16.520 --> 0:26:20.800 develop this habit of letting go and reaching forward, living 0:26:20.840 --> 0:26:24.280 in a continual state of forgiveness. If you'll do this, 0:26:24.560 --> 0:26:28.160 I believe and declare things that have hindered you are 0:26:28.200 --> 0:26:33.600 being broken right now. Offenses are being uprooted. Freedom is coming, 0:26:33.920 --> 0:26:38.040 greater joy, greater peace, greater favor, the fullness of your 0:26:38.119 --> 0:26:42.120 destiny in Jesus' name, And if you receive it, can 0:26:42.200 --> 0:26:46.800 you say amen? I'd like to give you an opportunity 0:26:46.920 --> 0:26:49.679 to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you 0:26:49.680 --> 0:26:53.399 pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of 0:26:53.480 --> 0:26:57.159 my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my 0:26:57.280 --> 0:27:00.800 Lord and savior. If you pray that simple prayer, we 0:27:00.880 --> 0:27:03.679 believe you got born again. We'd love to send you 0:27:03.760 --> 0:27:06.359 some free information on your new walk with the Lord. 0:27:06.600 --> 0:27:08.800 You can text the number on the screen or go 0:27:08.840 --> 0:27:11.359 to the website. But I hope you'll get into a 0:27:11.400 --> 0:27:16.040 good Bible based church and keep God first place. Thanks 0:27:16.040 --> 0:27:18.880 so much for listening to today's message. I hope you'll 0:27:18.920 --> 0:27:22.360 subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to keep 0:27:22.400 --> 0:27:25.280 you encouraged and inspired all through the week. Help us 0:27:25.280 --> 0:27:27.440 to continue to share the message of hope with those 0:27:27.560 --> 0:27:31.000 all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com or click 0:27:31.040 --> 0:27:33.879 the link in the description to partner with us today. 0:27:34.119 --> 0:27:36.560 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:27:36.680 --> 0:27:39.479 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:27:39.560 --> 0:27:42.640 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 0:27:42.680 --> 0:27:43.480 see you next time.