Don’t allow yourself to be offended by the words of others!
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Jesus expressed this Truth in Matthew chapter 12:
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
As you mature in Christ and are led by The Holy Spirit, there will be those who will speak words that are offensive toward you, often in a subtle fashion. They may be envious or bitter. Their words will reveal what is in their heart and we must not allow ourselves to be offended by their biting words. Ultimately, they will be judged for those words of offense.
The enemy wants to weaken us through the offense words of others. Our identity in Christ must remain strong when those attempts come toward us. We must not allow words of others to define our actions, thoughts, or words in response. We must protect our hearts!
Proverbs 18:19 NKJV
A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Luke 17:1 NKJV
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
2 Corinthians 3:14 NKJV
But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
Mark 11:25 NKJV
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Galatians 5:6 NKJV
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Romans 8:6 NKJV
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Matthew 24:10 NKJV
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
In other Words, many will stop following Me and fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.
Offense is a dangerous spiritual strategy used by the enemy. It’s not just an emotion but a subtle trap designed to disconnect believers from Spiritual authority, discernment, and identity.
Key points about offense include:
It shifts focus from Christ to self, causing revelation to dim and faith to weaken.
It builds walls and isolates the heart, making it resistant to correction and Truth.
It turns the heart inward, focusing on pain instead of Christ. It alters the believer’s internal environment, much like humidity changes a room’s atmosphere.
The enemy uses offense to drain spiritual strength when temptation fails. Temptation attacks conduct, but offense attacks character and perception.
Offense becomes spiritually lethal due to the interpretations that follow the initial hurt, which are often fueled by emotion rather than Truth. These interpretations can plant lies about oneself, others, and even God.
It causes spiritual dryness, leading to a loss of clarity, hunger for the Word, and focus.
The secret reason Satan wants you offended is to pull you out of your position in Christ, shifting you from identity to insecurity and from Spiritual authority to emotional reaction.
Offense blocks the flow of faith and disrupts spiritual alignment. It is spiritual weight and resistance that slows progress, burdens the heart, and obscures discernment.
Offense contaminates the heart’s “wellspring of Life” and allows the enemy to gain a foothold.
Ultimately, offense prepares believers to accept lies about God, leading to incorrect perceptions and living.
Offense loses its power when recognized as an attack on one’s identity in Christ. Forgiveness and forbearance are emphasized as crucial for protecting the heart’s atmosphere and maintaining spiritual openness, ultimately removing the enemy’s foothold.
Overcoming offense is about protecting identity and keeping the heart aligned with Christ for a free flow of The Spirit, sharp discernment, and effective prayers.