Dealing with offense

 Meditation John chapter 6:58-71

1. Jesus taught about eating his flesh in the synagogue. (V59)
2. Many of the disciples said that it is a very hard saying and who could hear it. (V60)
3. Jesus asked them if this teaching can offend them then how will they react when they see him ascending up to heaven. ( V61, 62)
4. Jesus said the spirit quickens us and the flesh profits nothing. The WORD of GOD is spirit and is life. (V63)
5. Jesus knew before time who don't believe in him and the one that will betray him. (V64)
6. That is when Jesus told them that no one can come to him unless given to him by his father. ( V65)
7. Many of disciples got offended and they walked no more with him. (V66)
8. Jesus then asked the twelve disciples if they will also go away, for which Peter said, where they can go as CHRIST has words of eternal life. (V67,68)
9. He also said that they believe that he is Christ the son of God. (V69)
10. Jesus then said though being chosen to be among the twelve Christ said there is one that will betray him and he is a devil. (V70)
11. Jesus talked about Judas Iscariot who will be betraying Christ though being one among the twelve. (V71)

LIFE APPLICATION:
Are you offended? Are you hurt deep within? Are your emotions broken because of things happening around you, to you and in you? Then today's meditation is for you. Today let us see how to handle internal hurts God's way.

1. Why do we get offended?

A. People can offend us intentionally or unintended.
Jesus said offences will come. We can in no way avoid being offended. But woe unto the one by whom the offence come.

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Matthew:18:7

B. When we are offended in our hearts ...we end up with broken hearts as David says,

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Psalm:69:20

We get hurt because of reproach.
Our heart becomes heavy. We try to find comfort in someone or something, but we do not find any.

C. We can offend ourselves.
Sorrow of heart can make our spirit broken.

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs:15:13

D. We can even be offended with God... if we do not have the right perception about him.

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Mark:6:3

And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
Mark:14:27

E. We can be offended to that extent to leave God when persecutions come and our faith is tested for the word sake.

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark:4:17

F. We get offended because of our own lusts... when we are unable to feed them.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
James:4:1

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
James:4:2

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James:4:3

2. How do we know we are offended?

Do not deny you are hurt. Initially hurt  portrays as anger and bitterness; but it leaves us with a deep sorrow and brokenness within.

A. We feel our spirit is broken.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs:15:13

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalm:51:17

B. We feel sorrow and bitterness in our soul.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
1 Samuel:1:10

The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
Proverbs:14:10

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
Isaiah:38:17

C. Sorrow dries up our bones. We feel we are all dried up and nothing left to be happy in us.

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
Job:17:7

3. How do we handle hurts and offenses?
Here are a few ways in the light of the scriptures how to handle emotional hurts.

A. Identify and acknowledge your deeper hurts and transgressions before God.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psalm:51:3

B. Choose to forgive and let go everyone who caused you the hurt... even if you are hurt by yourself or offended with God.

So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
Genesis:50:17

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John:1:9

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark:11:25

C. Allow God to work and heal your broken heart.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psalm:51:8


Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psalm:51:12

Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
Psalm:6:2

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
Psalm:41:4

The WORD of GOD says it is God who healeth your heart.

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psalm:147:3

So run to him for healing and comfort. This is why the comforter has come. To heal us and to fill us with joy.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
John:16:20

Jesus speaks about the comforter, the Holy Spirit that we will not be offended by him.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
John:16:1

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John:16:7

So we have PEACE and comfort in Christ through the spirit of God.

D. Work on having a correct perception about God.
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark:4:17

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Mark:6:3

Jesus said blessed is he who is not offended by him.
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Matthew:11:6

3. How can we avoid being offended or atleast stay not being offended?

A. Love the word of God:

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Psalm:119:165

B. Be rooted in Christ that nothing can shake us.

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark:4:17

So be rooted and grounded in the love of CHRIST.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephesians:3:17

C. Ask God to reveal you more of him.

What was revealed to Peter was not revealed to the people who were offended by Christ. (V66)

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
John:6:68

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew:16:17

Dear Child of God,
You may be hurting and broken within. But rise up.... you have a heavenly  father who heals broken hearts and sets captives free. Come to the healing streams.... and be healed. GOD BLESS YOU!

Overthrow SELF PITY

MEDITATION John chapter 5: 1-9

1. In Jerusalem there was a pool named Bethesda having five porches where many impotent people, lame and blind were laying. (V1-3)
2. They were waiting for the water to be stirred as some times an angel comes down and troubled the water and whoever stepped in first were healed of all their diseases.  (V4)
3. There was a man lying there with an infirmity for 38 years. ( v5)
4. Jesus saw him lying and asked him if he wants to be made whole (V6)
5. The impotent man said that there was no man to put him in the pool when the water is stirred and someone else enters first. (V7)
6. Jesus told him to rise, take up his bed and walk.  ( V8)
7. Immediately the man was made whole and he took up his bed and walked.  (V9)

LIFE APPLICATION:

Today I would like to bring to light the stronghold of self-pity, which the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to, through this meditation:

1. I would like to analyse the condition of this person. If you can identify yourself with this person, then this meditation is for you.
A. 38 years of infirmity.

A long term illness undefined, that he can do nothing by himself and under the mercy of others.
Many times we are unable to pick ourself up. We are lying in our weaknesses (V5)

B. He had repeated failures;

 He has seen before his eyes the waters being stirred and someone being healed but not himself. (V7) We see a lot of people around us coming out of problems easily, but not us.

C. He was discouraged because of repeated failures:

He puts it as, when the water is stirred, someone else enters first and he misses every time. (V7)

D. He was very angry:

He was angry with people that nobody helped him out in his distress. (V7)

E. He was sad:

He was sad again, as he has no way out. (V7)

Who has more reason to feel pity for himself, more than this man??

Also the self-pity can follow a  series of emotional manifestations like,
Discouragement, disappointment, sadness, depressive thoughts, hopelessness and why not even thoughts of suicide.

So how are we to deal with it? Scroll down to know more...

 1. Waiting for Miracle:

Long term waiting is not a pleasant situation to face. The WORD of GOD says,

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs:13:12

Yes, whenever our hopes are deferred our heart is sick. But when what we desired comes it is like a tree of life.

Dear brothers and sisters, is your heart sick of waiting? God has a better way of dealing it. The WORD of GOD says,

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah:40:31

If waiting for a miracle is making your heart and life sick, wait on the Lord, for strength.
He will give you the strength to run till you receive your miracle.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
Psalm:84:5

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
Psalm:84:6

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
Psalm:84:7

You want to move from strength to strength? You feel your strength failing? You cannot go 1 step further, wait on the Lord and he will be your strength.

2. Dealing with repeated closed doors:

This is another source of frustration. We desire for things to happen and if it doesn't our heart is becoming sick. We don't stop there, we blame God for that too. This is human nature.

What to do when confronted with closed doors everywhere?

1. Be still:

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more forever.
Exodus:14:13

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm:46:10

Let us be still and know that he is our God.

2. BRING our desires before God:

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Psalm:145:19

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
Psalm:21:2

3. Acknowledge GOD and allow God to direct your paths:
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs:3:6

C. Dealing with discouragement:

Discouragement hits everyone. Even the great prophets like  Elijah and Jonah were discouraged that they wanted to die.

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1 Kings:19:4

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
Jonah:4:3

But praise God for the blood of CHRIST we can boldly go before the throne of grace.

Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews:4:16

Dear brother, Dear sister do not be disheartened... through CHRIST we have Grace upon Grace. We do not need to stay discouraged forever.

We can boldly approach the throne of Grace when in distress.

3. Dealing with anger and sadness:

Getting angry or becoming sad, especially with other people when our things don't work our way is not going to help us any further.

This is where we renew our minds to rise up. Christ has promised us a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness.

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah:61:3

Put on the garment of praise, that is the treatment for a heavy Spirit. It is a willful act. We might sometimes have to force ourselves to give thanks to God. But do it...
 This is how we declare to the enemy that we are no more on the bed and along with the people who are going to be there in infirmity forever...

This is what CHRIST means, RISE UP, TAKE YOUR BED and WALK. My good friends, the word of life is spoken in your life. Rise up... stir your spirits and renew your strength like an Eagle...

All the more.... Rejoice! We have a miracle-working GOD