Whoever believes in me, as the

Scripture has said, streams of living

water will flow from within him
John 7:38
…All the wells that his father’s servants
had dug in the time of his father
Abraham, the Philistines stopped up,
filling them with earth.
Genesis 26:15
In order to be the fullness of God, filling everything
in every way, our hearts must be unblocked, so
God’s streams can flow freely
What can block our hearts?
Offence – “Skandalon” – trap or
snare

Hidden
Baited
How offence happens

You were not treated fairly

Someone spoke something of you that was
not true
You were told of
Someone lied to you
You were deceived
You worked hard and was not recognized
You worked hard and someone else was
rewarded.
How offence happens

Someone spoke harshly to you

Someone gossiped about you
What you said was distorted
Someone took advantage on you
Someone you trusted disappointed you
Any above, but it happened to someone
you like
Etc., etc., etc.
The worst offence

Is the one done by someone close to you

…If an enemy were insulting me, I could
endure it; if a foe were raising himself
against me, I could hide from him. But it is
you, a man like myself, my companion, my
close friend, with whom I once enjoyed
sweet fellowship as we walked with the
throng at the house of God.
(Psalm 55:12-14)
Those you care about are the
ones who can hurt you the most

You expect more from them, because

you have given more of yourself to
them
The higher the expectations, the
greater the fall.
The trap of expectation

If we love people expecting to be loved back,

we build expectations about them, and for
sure one day they will disappoint us.
The trap of expectation

Phileo – you treat me kindly, and I will do

the same
Agape – unconditional

When our love is phileo - we can be offended

When our love is agape - we will never hold
offence against anyone.
Offended people’s fruit

Hurt Envy
Anger Strife
Jealousy Bitterness
Resentment Hatred.
Consequences

Insults Murder
Attacks People locking
Wounding themselves up
Divorces Betrayal
Separated friends Backsliding.
Church division
It becomes the explanation for
our failures
If it weren’t for my parents, I would
have had a normal life
If it weren’t for my former husband,
my children and I wouldn’t have all
this financial trouble
If it weren’t for my wife, I would
have a much better job.
It happens with everyone

Jesus said to his disciples: “offences

are bound to come…” (Luke 17:1)

But the way we react when we are

offended will reveal what our character
really is.
It works in the opposite
direction of love
Why does God allow it?

Rom 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also

predestined to be conformed to the likeness of
his Son

1Pe 1:6.7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now

for a little while you may have had to suffer grief
in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your
faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes
even though refined by fire—may be proved
genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Walls of Protection

An offended brother is more unyielding than a

fortified city, and disputes are like the barred
gates of a citadel. (Proverbs 18:19)

Walls – to keep out those who are considered a

threat
Offended people build walls around them to
prevent future wounds
Then they become introspective and self-
contained and self-seeking.
The Result

God’s love will grow cold in your hearts

What can we do to stop it?

 Joseph

Joseph said to them… “But as

for you, you meant evil against
me; but God meant it for good.”
(Genesis 50:19-20)
 Anticipated Forgiveness

He who covers over an offence

promotes love, but whoever repeats
the matter separates close friends.
(Proverbs 17:9)