Luke 17:1 “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
In life you're going to be offended
Opposition Leads To Elevation
2 Samuel 10:3 The people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”
2 Samuel 10:4 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.
2 Samuel 10:5 When they told David, he sent messengers to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
Jericho - Sweet Fragrance
Go to the sweet place and stay sweet
Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Revelation 6:10 They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, Holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?"
Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Ephesians 4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
There is a FRAGRANCE of forgiveness
Forgive others in the same way Jesus has forgiven us.
Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,
Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.
Jesus’ call to forgiveness is not about keeping score but about losing count.
Forgiveness begins by understanding that you yourself have been forgiven.
Matthew 18:27 The King took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
God has forgiven you much more than you'll ever have to forgive anyone else.
Matthew 18:28-30 He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
Verse 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger, his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Unforgiveness Hurts You
33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'