Offense in the Strong’s Concordance skandalon: Stumbling block, offense, trap, snare There will always be opportunities for us to be offended. It starts as something small but if left unaddressed it will cause big problems in our lives if we let it. It’s a sign of the end times. Matthew 24:10 AMPC 10 And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. Offense will immediately stop our spiritual growth and keep our faith form working because it turns our love cold. 1 Peter 5:8 AMPC 8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [[a]in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same ([b]identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. Loving people is the highest form of spiritual warfare there is. Proverbs 4:23 KJV 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Philippians 1:9-10 NKJV 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. The more you love other people and get your eyes off yourself, the more God will do for you and the happier you’ll get. Psalm 119:165 AMPC 165 Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble. When someone offends us, we can take it or leave it. Offense is completely unproductive. It can rob us of everything yet produce absolutely nothing. 1 Peter 4:8 NKJV 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Genesis 9:21 21 And he drank of the wine and became drunk, and he was uncovered and lay naked in his tent. 22 And Ham, one of his sons, glanced at and saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 So Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it upon the shoulders of both, and went backward and covered thenakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. We can receive a blessing from God simply by covering the offenses of others. Mark 11:22-25 AMPC 22 And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. 23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. 24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and [g]let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. If we want verses 22-24, we have to do verse 25! Resources: Avoiding the Trap of Being Offended by Kenneth W. Hagin Love: The Way to Victory by Kenneth E. Hagin The Bait of Satan by John Bevere

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