The Trap Of Offense In Ministry

WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:05.120 Now, let's not forget Jesus Christ died for the Pharisees as well. Right, 2 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:09.919 so he didn't hold bitterness in his heart and withhold good, because that's 3 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:13.279 ultimately what happens. When you hold bitterness or offense in your heart. It 4 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:16.719 becomes a reader bitterness. You end up with holding good from the people that 5 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:20.039 you should do good to. We end up doing the very thing Jesus said 6 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:22.960 not to do when we're offended and we have a root of bitterness. You 7 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:25.760 know how it says that we should do unto others as we would have them 8 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:29.239 to do unto us. When we get bitterness and offense in our hearts, 9 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:35.840 we oftentimes do the opposite. I Am Yours, I'm yours, I'm yours, 10 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:42.240 and me Lord, I'm yours, I'm yours. I'm welcome to the 11 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:48.200 Gospel centered pro life podcast, a podcast designed to equip, encourage and challenge 12 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.759 you in pro life ministry, and always with a focus on the Gospel. 13 00:00:51.960 --> 00:01:06.879 Stay tuned. I felt your past touch your welcome back to the Gospel centered 14 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:11.000 pro life podcast. Appreciate you guys joining us as always, and I am 15 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:18.319 here Daniel Parks, with Vicky Cassi Org doing I'm sure everybody's doing great because 16 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:22.799 they get to hear from us again. Lucky them. There is no such 17 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:26.840 thing as luck. That's right. Just what would be the alternative? Then 18 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:32.480 they are so blessed, blessed, they're blessed, they're blessed. Yes, 19 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:38.640 Amen. Well, this topic hopefully will be a blessing. Hopefully by the 20 00:01:38.760 --> 00:01:44.959 end of this episode, you guys won't be offended and we talk about because 21 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:49.480 we're gonna be talking about offense. We're gonna be talking about how in ministry 22 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:55.239 there is this trap of offense. Or actually had a conversation yesterday with one 23 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:57.879 of the guys in the office that said I was saying it wrong. I 24 00:01:57.959 --> 00:02:01.079 was saying offense. He saying that's what you do when you're playing football. 25 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:07.280 Right, this is offense. So I'm trying not to be offended or offended 26 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:10.520 by that and say it right. Um, I have a little fun with 27 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:15.879 that, but this is a very, very serious subject, which it is. 28 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:21.360 It is. This is a good portion of this is from the book 29 00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:27.080 the Bait of Satan and yes, excellent book, and he makes the point. 30 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:31.520 The author John Vivie, or it could be bevier. You don't know. 31 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:37.719 Okay, John vivie Um. He makes the point that the UM, 32 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:42.479 the danger of the trap of offense is that it can become a route of 33 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:46.439 bitterness and it just destroys not only ministries, which is where we're going to 34 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:53.240 focus, but really human relationships, all human relationships and Um and I think 35 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:57.039 that is very true. As I was reading that book, I definitely had 36 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:00.599 quite a few ouch moments. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think personally, 37 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:05.879 when you get born again and give your life to Jesus, you should 38 00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:08.400 get two things. You should get a Bible and you need to read that 39 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:13.719 every day. You know, man don't live on bread alone, but everywhere 40 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:15.240 that comes from southing God give us this day or daily bread. You need 41 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:19.319 your daily bread and you should get a copy of the bit of saying wow, 42 00:03:19.479 --> 00:03:23.800 it's that. Critically, I'm not saying it's equal to the Bible by 43 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:29.919 the stretch of the imagination, but the trap of offense and what I've seen 44 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:34.560 offense do in my own life and the lives of others and what offense has 45 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:39.280 done to destroy ministries, to Split Churches, is so detrimental to the body 46 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:45.479 of Christ it's so deeply routed in our hearts. We can so justify it 47 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:49.520 and it's but it's so destructive that it needs to be dealt with. And 48 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:52.759 you actually had all of my my whole family went through that book. We 49 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:54.879 bought a copy for each of our kids. There's actually a version of and 50 00:03:54.879 --> 00:04:00.520 I'm not selling books here, I'm just saying this book is power and the 51 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:03.039 truths that are in that book are so powerful everybody needs to take advantage of 52 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:05.800 it. There's one Um version of that book. I think you can find 53 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:11.039 it on Youtube, not on Youtube, on Amazon, and it's like a 54 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:14.639 thirty day devotional version. So it as you read like a portion of the 55 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:17.120 chapter and then you go into the back and answer questions based on that portion 56 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:20.160 that you read. We actually had each of our kids read that portion, 57 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.680 answer the questions and then we all talked about it as a family, because 58 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:30.199 offense can be so rooted in in our identity. US holding offense against people. 59 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:32.720 People do that against their parents, they do that that against their teachers, 60 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:36.160 they do that against their children, their GRANDPA, you know, all 61 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:42.120 all of the relationships that we have can have some point of offense that's connected 62 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:46.399 to it and it can hold us back. It can one of the things 63 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:51.040 that surprised me reading the book was how often Jesus talks about it. Yeah, 64 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:55.680 you know. The first we have an article, as we often do, 65 00:04:55.720 --> 00:05:00.439 that that Um goes along with this podcast, and the the right at 66 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:05.720 the top of that article is uh luke seventeen one where Jesus said it is 67 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:13.839 impossible that no offense should come and and there are many other the in the 68 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:18.639 book he cites many, many Biblical, uh you know, scripture that that 69 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:23.759 talks about the danger of offense. Yeah, if you want to know three 70 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:28.399 things that will hold you back from doing what God has called you to it 71 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:36.240 will be offense, bitterness and disillusionment. Offense, bitterness and disillusionment will hold 72 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:40.680 you back from doing and being what God has called you to do. And 73 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:46.079 they're so related. They're so related. I think offense probably comes first and 74 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:49.240 then comes the disillusionment. And what was the third one? Bitterness, and 75 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:56.319 the rude of bitterness that comes from offense can be so, so painful. 76 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:59.399 So, yeah, this reality that and this is why we're talking about this, 77 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:02.079 especially in the sidewalk ministry, but any area of ministry that you're involved 78 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:06.040 in, there can be the potential for offense. You could be offended with 79 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:10.439 the people you're ministering to. You can be offended with the people you're ministering 80 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:13.120 with, you can be offended at the churches that are not coming out and 81 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:15.600 ministering or the ones that are, or whatever. There's all kinds of room 82 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:19.319 for offense. That's why Jesus says here that it's impossible that no offense should 83 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:23.360 come. Like, if you're gonna be a Christian, if you're gonna be 84 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:27.519 a human being in this world, in this fallen world full of fallen people, 85 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:31.000 you're going to have offenses. There's gonna be things that offend you, 86 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:34.560 things that happen in a way that you didn't want them to happen, and 87 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:39.120 that's something you're gonna deal with. So we need to look at what the 88 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:42.959 word of God says. How do we deal with offenses biblically so that they 89 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:46.839 don't become a root of bitterness that will defile us? And the Bible says 90 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:50.040 that root of bitterness can defile many people around us can get defiled and then 91 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:55.000 we become disillusioned ultimately with the body of Christ and with God. I mean 92 00:06:55.040 --> 00:07:00.800 I've seen offense go from being offended to a root of bitterness to being completely 93 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:04.279 disillusioned with God. Where people, I mean we talk with pro boards on 94 00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:08.800 the sidewalk all the time who were raised in church, and that's the flow 95 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:13.360 of things. They got offended by somebody, somebody said something to them or 96 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:16.040 somebody didn't do something that they thought they should do. Um, they got 97 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:20.000 that root of bitterness. That root of bitterness grew up and just defiled them 98 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:24.519 and defiled many and then they're just completely disillusioned with the church. They don't 99 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:28.600 want to have anything to do with God. It really clouds reality because the 100 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:32.800 reality is not what they've painted. When you become bitter, your reality is 101 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:39.360 now skewed and and Um and and incorrect, so often incorrect. I love 102 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:43.079 what John Beavier said. He said it is not a question of opportunity to 103 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.079 be offended, based on that luke seventeen passage. Um, you will be 104 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:49.879 offended. In other words, there will be opportunity to be offended. But 105 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:55.600 he said, but the question is what your response will be. So it's 106 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:59.720 gonna come. How will we respond? Can we responded in a biblical manner? 107 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:03.399 And it is really where we hope that this podcast will, will guide 108 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:07.240 and encourage. So let's then just real quick. I think we've already done 109 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:13.240 it, but let's concisely define what we're talking about. What is offense? 110 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.759 Yeah, yeah, well, I'll take stab at it Um. Offense is 111 00:08:16.839 --> 00:08:24.519 when something feels like an attack on either your person, your speech, your 112 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:31.839 character, and you take it personally. Yeah, yeah, I would say 113 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:37.840 it's something that someone does or someone fails to do that, like you said, 114 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:43.799 it seems like an attack and you as a person and it's a it's 115 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:46.279 an offense. All right, it feels like an offensive jab against you. 116 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:50.559 Now one thing. I think we'll get into this as we get into the 117 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:52.360 meat of this podcast. We have to understand. This is something that really 118 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:56.440 helped me, and I shared this before we started recording. It really helped 119 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:00.720 me to get over offense and to let things go. At the end of 120 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:01.919 the day, it's what we need to we need to let stuff go. 121 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:09.120 It's realizing and understanding I'm not that important. People aren't thinking of ways they 122 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:13.639 can slide me. They aren't. They aren't thinking of how they can leave 123 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:18.039 me out of stuff so that it will hurt me. People aren't thinking of 124 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:22.840 ways and things that they can say to offend me and to tear me down. 125 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:26.720 A lot of times it's negligence. A lot of times it can be 126 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:30.840 US thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to, and so people might 127 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:35.519 say something to us that hits us the wrong way or whatever it might be. 128 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:41.039 Um, it's not personal. That's that's where we get into this trap 129 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:46.879 of offense, is we take it personal, and so if we can keep 130 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.720 from taking it personal, then I think we could keep ourselves from the trap 131 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:52.519 of offense, and we can. We can deal with it. You know, 132 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:56.279 if we need to address it on a personal level, we we do, 133 00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:00.279 but right. And there are two there are two kinds of offense the 134 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:03.840 author brings out. One is purposeful, I mean there really is an attack 135 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:09.399 that shouldn't have happened and you are actually justified in at least feeling you've been 136 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:13.039 attacked, Um, and then there's the ones that are along the lines of 137 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:16.159 what you were talking about. They really had nothing to do really with you. 138 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:22.559 It was just maybe thoughtlessness on their part, but they really weren't focused 139 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.960 on you at all. They were focused on a, you know, whatever 140 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:28.960 their agenda was, and you just sort of gotten the way. Let me 141 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:33.159 give you just a short little example of how this might play out, and 142 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.480 I've seen it play out on the sidewalk. This is just for sidewalk ministry. 143 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:39.679 You're there on the sidewalk, you're calling out to someone across the parking 144 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:45.360 lot. Your team member WHO's WHO's in ministry with you, is on the 145 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.000 other side of the sidewalk, or maybe down fifty ft or so, and 146 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:52.799 they start calling out over top of you. Immediately you're like, okay, 147 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:56.519 why are they they don't think what I'm saying is valuable. You know, 148 00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:58.679 you go with this is where we get called in this trap of offense. 149 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:03.840 Our minds gravitate towards the worst possible scenario. They don't like what I'm saying. 150 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:07.360 That's what they're calling out, assigning motives to them that you can't really 151 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:11.240 know until you've discussed it with them. Yeah, when you drill into it 152 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.919 though, and this is where, in that scenario, how I would deal 153 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:16.879 with if someone's calling out over me and I had offense, I would walk 154 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:20.639 over there and say, Hey, I noticed I was calling out earlier and 155 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:22.399 you started calling over top of me. If there is there some reason why, 156 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:28.200 quite likely they didn't realize that you were calling out. Rather than attributing 157 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:31.960 the worst possible motive. Maybe they just didn't see that you were calling out 158 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:35.320 and in their zeal they started calling out. That's just a simple example. 159 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:39.879 It could get a lot more complex than that. Yeah, yeah, but 160 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:41.960 you know, that's an example I thought, just as it pertains to this 161 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:46.440 ministry, that I would bring up. It's a good example because it also 162 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:52.080 shows that the it could have turned into, and often does turn into, 163 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:56.600 just you harbor that as bitter resentment inside of you. You don't directly address 164 00:11:56.679 --> 00:12:01.879 it immediately. You assume that Wurst and all of a sudden you're giving your 165 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:05.440 teammates the silent treatment or you're angry with them, and then you start to 166 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:11.200 snap at each other and whatever, and it could blow up into destroying the 167 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:16.399 cohesiveness of a sidewalk and it's such a little thing that never needed to become 168 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:20.879 big. The Bible says it's the little foxes that spoil the vine. I 169 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.480 just read that and I never knew what that meant, but that's exactly that's 170 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:28.200 perfect. That's a perfect verse for that. It's often the little things that 171 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:37.039 you never expect that that end up ripping apart an entire yeah, yeah, 172 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:41.080 and you think about it in that scenario. If that happens multiple times, 173 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:45.480 someone calls out over you multiple times, that kind of can reinforce that whole 174 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:48.039 idea that you have in your mind. That's why one of the ways to 175 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:52.639 guard against offense is what Jesus gives us a Matthew Chapter Eighteen. If you 176 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.080 have an offense with your brother, if you find fault with your brother, 177 00:12:56.519 --> 00:13:01.200 go and speak between you and them. Here's one of the things that we 178 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:05.200 do to spiritualize our offense, and I've seen this. Probably done this. 179 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:07.200 I can't remember an instance where I did, but I've seen it with others. 180 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:11.440 It's easier to see things in other people. Come I put the personal 181 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:15.720 example. If you need yeah, Um, but you spiritualize your offense by 182 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:18.200 saying I want you to pray about this. You know it's rather than going 183 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:20.399 to the person that you have the offense with and dealing with it between you 184 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:24.399 and them so they can be dealt with like it's supposed to be, you 185 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:26.679 go to somebody else. I want you to be praying about this. So 186 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:30.759 and so keeps calling out over me, or so and so keeps, you 187 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:35.320 know whatever, they keep doing whatever thing that's offended you. So I want 188 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:37.840 you to be praying back. What are you doing in that? You're sharing 189 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.759 your offense with other people. It's failed gossip. Spiritually, I think about 190 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:46.919 how that grieves the heart of God when you're using prayer, this powerful tool 191 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:52.279 that he's given us, in order to to really perpetuate your offense when you 192 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:56.080 should be dealing with it between the person that you're offended by. What you'll 193 00:13:56.120 --> 00:14:00.519 find is because the devil can do a really good job of being a case 194 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:03.960 against people in your mind, in their absence. Right, what you'll find 195 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:07.919 is it's probably there's probably a lot less to it than you thought there was. 196 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:09.600 It's not, again, that they thought that you weren't good at what 197 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:13.240 you're doing and you weren't saying the right things. Is You're calling out, 198 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:16.399 but they didn't realize that you were calling out. Or maybe it is that 199 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:22.639 they don't think that the things that you're saying are are valuable and you should 200 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.919 be called out over. That still needs to be talked about right. That 201 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:31.279 needs to be addressed between you and them. Relationships are hard, but as 202 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.799 a believer in Jesus, we have to do the hard work of building relationships 203 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:37.480 with each other. Why? Because the heart of God is unity in the 204 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:41.440 body. So they're difficult conversations that need to be had sometimes, but oftentimes 205 00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:46.480 you'll find that the things that offends you are actually just lies from the enemy 206 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:50.480 and from the flesh, that if you just bring it out in the open, 207 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:52.120 like they say, sunlight is the best disinfect and if you bring it 208 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:56.240 out in the open, out into the light, you'll find that there's really 209 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:58.039 no substance to a lot of these things. Right. Yeah, I I 210 00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:03.519 agree with that. Agree with that totally. Um, so it's a trap, 211 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:07.120 you know. Offense is a trap that that this Satan sets for all 212 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:11.720 of us and we can either fall into that trap nurture that offense in our 213 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:18.320 hearts at the point that it becomes deadly and dangerous. And one of the 214 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:22.240 things uh John Bevere pointed out that I thought was really interesting was what, 215 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:26.799 what is the most likely source of offense, and it's usually those we love 216 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:33.320 the most, those were the ones we expect the highest from, are the 217 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:37.240 ones that most easily offend us. So those would be members of our family. 218 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:41.600 They certainly could be members of our team, a boss that's supposed to 219 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:46.960 be looking out for you and you find out he really wasn't Um. Yeah, 220 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:50.240 so a little quote. Not Tapped this into my phone a couple of 221 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:54.279 months ago, just I was thinking these things through, because this is something 222 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:56.519 you're always going to deal with in ministry, is trying to disciple people and 223 00:15:56.600 --> 00:16:00.200 encourage people not to be offended with each other and also not to deal with 224 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:04.759 offense in your own heart. And essentially, here's the quote. The people 225 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:08.519 closed to see you have the ability to hurt you the most with the least 226 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:11.279 amount of effort. Yeah, and that's true. That's the reality. Well, 227 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:14.600 they know you, they know you the best. So they know if, 228 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:19.039 if the offense is purposeful, they know what it takes to they know 229 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:23.360 the buttons. And if it's not, Um uh, you know something that 230 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:29.840 they are intentionally doing. It hurts because you just expect them. You they 231 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:36.919 should, they should be more careful. So so the the big danger, 232 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:41.320 the biggest danger of dwelling an offense is that it moves into the next stage, 233 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:47.960 which is that root of bitterness. And when you're when you're hurt, 234 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:55.600 uh, what takes over is your own pride has been wounded and it quickly 235 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:02.080 becomes the source of a hardened heart. And that hard it in heart then 236 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:10.160 is not willing to repent from that hardness of their own heart. They're not 237 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:14.799 willing to forgive. First of all. They're not willing to repent of the 238 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:18.640 need to forgive, and therefore they will not be healed from the offense. 239 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:25.200 And I thought that was interesting. To the offender, whether it was purposeful 240 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:30.599 or not, is really not the one that is in the deeper sin, 241 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:34.160 in a sense, because it's the one who has been offended who is now 242 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:41.319 refusing forgiveness, when we have all been forgiven of so much, that is 243 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:45.319 now causing it to turn into so much more than what it should have turned 244 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:49.599 into. Yeah, I mean, Jesus did say that if you don't forgive, 245 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:53.319 then you will not be forgiven. We need to take that very seriously. 246 00:17:53.599 --> 00:18:00.680 There's something heavy and something really important about this forgiveness. The UM I'm 247 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:03.240 gonna read the Scripture. This is in Hebrews, Chapter Twelve and uh be 248 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:08.200 verse fifteen, where it talks about a root of bitterness. This is a 249 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:14.119 new King James version. It says, looking carefully lest anyone falls short of 250 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:18.559 the grace of God less any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and 251 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:23.480 by this many become defiled. So this offense that can lead to a root 252 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:29.960 of bitterness doesn't just hurt you, but it can hurt people around you. 253 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:33.839 And this happens when you're offended by someone, then you do that spiritualized gossip 254 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:40.359 and you kind of build your own team against that person and many become defiled. 255 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:42.039 Some of the worst offense, if you think about it, that we 256 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:45.720 can deal with, is offense that we take on behalf of other people. 257 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:49.960 You know, if somebody hurts your husband or your kid, that's that's the 258 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:53.720 next level, as opposed to them hurting you. Right if they hurt you 259 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.079 a lot of times, you know, you can deal with it, you 260 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:00.279 can move on, but if they hurt someone else and you take off fense 261 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:03.079 for that person, it's hard for you to let that go. So we 262 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:07.200 have to guard our hearts against, if we get offended, sharing that offense 263 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:11.839 with others, that that route of bitterness with other people, because even though 264 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:15.240 we might end up releasing it and getting, you know, being giving forgiveness 265 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:18.160 to the person that offended us, the people that we got around us, 266 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:22.319 there's many that were defiled. They have a hard time getting over that. 267 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:26.640 Exactly you've defiled others. So there's another verse that Um was in the book, 268 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:30.880 Matthew, actually three verses. That's the same subject, the same Um. 269 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:36.039 Thing that you're trying to point out is that offense leads to terrible consequences 270 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:41.960 and another scripture that points that out. As Matthew Ten to thirteen. Do 271 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:44.240 you have that there? Can You? Can you read that? Yeah, 272 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:47.400 it says, and then many will be offended and we'll betray one another and 273 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:51.599 we'll hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many 274 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.960 and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But 275 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.799 he who endures to the end shall be saved. So look at that progression. 276 00:19:57.960 --> 00:20:03.920 To me this was just shows the seriousness of offense. It leads to 277 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:15.359 betrayal, hatred, false profits, deception, lawlessness, love growing cold. 278 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:22.880 All of that from an offense. And so it's not from the offense, 279 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:30.160 it's from the one who has been offended. It wasn't the offense that set 280 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:36.400 off this terrible series of sin, it was the one who was offended who 281 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:42.119 didn't deal with it appropriately. So I think that shows how incredibly important it 282 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:48.079 is to deal with offense. And something else that you had said is is, 283 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:55.000 you know, you Uh spiritualized prayer, you can also spiritualized scripture. 284 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:59.440 And what I mean is, well, it wasn't my idea, actually it 285 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:03.759 was John Fears. Is Is that you can take scripture to support your position 286 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:07.440 of why you're offended. There's all there probably is. If it's a legitimate 287 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:11.480 offense, you will be able to find scripture to support it. But without 288 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:17.519 the love of God. To balance that, that scripture is being used as 289 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:22.119 a weapon and to further your own offense, your own sense of being offended. 290 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:29.559 Yeah, I will say this that you have to as a believer in 291 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:34.000 Jesus, because we're primarily talking about Co believers in Jesus right, fellow believers 292 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:37.839 in Jesus, and you're being offended by people on your team, your sidewalk 293 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:44.279 team or whatever ministry you're involved in. Um, you have to believe the 294 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:48.400 best about the people that you're in ministry with, unless you have a large 295 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:52.720 body of evidence to the contrary. When Paul Talks about in First Corinthians, 296 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:56.759 chapter thirteen, he talks about love and what love looks like, and one 297 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:00.240 of the things he says is that love believe us all things that could be 298 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:06.720 translated into love, believes the best. We have to believe the best about 299 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:11.000 our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord unless we're given a compelling reason to 300 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:15.480 believe otherwise, and then, if we have a compelling reason to believe otherwise, 301 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:21.200 we have to confront it. We have listen for for the love of 302 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:25.799 our brothers and sisters in the Lord. If there's an egregious sin and if 303 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:29.680 they're going around just offending everyone, right, because there are people like that 304 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:33.640 that just there there, brash, they're inconsiderate. There may be new believers 305 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:38.119 in Jesus and their relationship skills aren't the best. There needs to be a 306 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:42.359 confrontation rather than just that person offending this person that person and then just building 307 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:47.640 this team of people against them. You've got to address it between you and 308 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:51.960 them, for their sake, but also for your sake, um, because 309 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:55.079 again, the devil would do a great job of building a case against people 310 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:57.839 in their absence. In your mind, and if you don't decide to believe 311 00:22:57.880 --> 00:23:02.400 the best about your brothers and sisters in the Lord, you're going to have 312 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:06.599 this perfect case against this person without a really compelling evidence against him. It's 313 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.759 just stuff in your mind they did this or did that, but it was 314 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:12.559 really not a compelling case that that person is in sin or whatever. I 315 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:17.200 honestly think that is one of the most important things that you have taught me, 316 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.400 Daniel, because I know you've told you've said that to me before many 317 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:23.799 times. Um to always believe the best in others, and I do think 318 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:30.960 my natural tendency might not be and so because of that, I think I 319 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:37.680 do tend to Um take offense more often than I should, and I do 320 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:42.160 think that that's one of the antidotes to that is just assume the best in 321 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:48.039 in that person until you find out otherwise. Now that in Sidewalk Ministry, 322 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:53.200 I will tell you can can be a too hitch sword, because I tend 323 00:23:53.240 --> 00:24:03.440 to assume the best of the MOMS I'm counseling and often times they don't deserve 324 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:11.640 that. Oftentimes they truly are lying or deceiving or even outright using me or 325 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:15.160 our ministry for a purpose that is wrong. Well, that's one of the 326 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:19.720 reasons why I qualified it. Yeah, and I said you have to for 327 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:22.720 your brothers and sisters in the Lord. You have to believe the best. 328 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:26.839 Remember, these are people that are enduelled by the same Holy Spirit that you're 329 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:30.440 endueled by. Right, they are believers, they are brothers and sisters in 330 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:34.359 the Lord. You have to believe the best about them. Let me just 331 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:38.240 say this. You don't have an option. You do not have an option 332 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:41.359 as a believer in Jesus, you do not have the option to believe the 333 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:45.920 worst about your fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. If you're if you 334 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:48.839 have that as a default, where you always believe the worst about people, 335 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:52.759 that's a problem in your heart. You need to deal with it. It's 336 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:55.839 probably because there's some things in your heart that have not been dealt with. 337 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:59.000 Now, as it pertains to the to the men and women that we minister 338 00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:02.799 at the abortion say or who are not born again, we have to look 339 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:06.039 at the scenario. The reality is they're they're going to take the life of 340 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:08.599 their child. We have to look at our experiences that they consistently lie to 341 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:14.039 us. that it doesn't mean that our position immediately is to believe the worst 342 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:17.759 about them, but we've got to kind of come with neutral ground as far 343 00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:22.240 as that's concerned. Right, we gotta we gotta hear what they're saying through 344 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:25.240 that filter that there are people at a place about to take the life of 345 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:29.720 their baby and they could be lying to us Um and so there is a 346 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:33.039 different approach that we have now, of course, the things that they're saying. 347 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:37.200 Again, the people that are closest to us have the the ability to 348 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.920 offend us the most with the least amount of effort. Those people at the 349 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:41.440 abortion center, we don't know them, so they're not close to us. 350 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:45.000 So even if they're lying to us or whatever, it doesn't really offend us. 351 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:48.039 Is that we're not easily offended by them. Normally, were easily offended 352 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:52.720 by the people are ministering with true and and the people that uh that we 353 00:25:52.799 --> 00:26:00.119 minister too. Oftentimes I don't take offense, even though I know I'm being 354 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:04.400 lied to, because of my expectations. My expectations are different for them. 355 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.920 I expect to be lied to. I do expect their women in crisis or 356 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:12.240 people in crisis, and I know that people in crisis often act in ways 357 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:17.759 that are are not great. So I'm more charitable, I think, towards 358 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:21.160 them than I am exactly what you said towards loved ones. Are People that 359 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:26.720 I expect more from. So we have a wonderful model for dealing with offense, 360 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:30.480 right. I mean there's lots, there's lots of biblical models, but, 361 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:34.640 as in so many times, the best model, and every time the 362 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:41.240 best model, is Jesus and how dealt with offense, because he certainly had 363 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:47.720 to face a lot of people offending in his ministry. Yeah, absolutely. 364 00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:52.680 I mean we're talking about the very son of God, the one who made 365 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:56.319 all things, the one for whom all things were made, the Lord of 366 00:26:56.319 --> 00:27:00.839 Glory, the King of Majesty. If anyone could rightly take offense and be 367 00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:06.480 offended, it could be Jesus. Right. Oftentimes we're offended because we think 368 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:10.480 more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Jesus couldn't think more highly of 369 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:12.160 himself than you ought to, because he's the highest one of all right. 370 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:19.039 And yet you see in Jesus Ministry now, he certainly confronts the Pharisees. 371 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:23.319 They say offensive things about him and to him, but notice how he doesn't 372 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:27.079 just talk about them behind their backs, but he confronts them to their faces. 373 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:30.960 And when it happens it's immediate. Yeah, he deals with it. 374 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:33.359 He doesn't foster like hatred in his heart or anything. He deals with it 375 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:38.599 immediately. Now, let's not forget Jesus Christ died for the Pharisees as well. 376 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:44.359 Right, so he didn't hold bitterness in his heart and withhold good, 377 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:48.119 because that's ultimately what happens when you hold bitterness or offense in your heart. 378 00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:51.480 It becomes a reader bitterness. You end up with holding good from the people 379 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:53.720 that you should do good to. We end up doing the very thing Jesus 380 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:56.640 said not to do when we're offended and we have a root of bitterness. 381 00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:00.559 You know how it says that we should do unto others as we would have 382 00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:03.079 them to do unto us. When we get bitterness and offense in our hearts, 383 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:07.160 we oftentimes do the opposite. Right, we do we try to get 384 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:11.720 back at them, and often underhanded waste, often underhanded waste. They left 385 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:15.799 us out of a conversation or whatever. I'M gonna leave them out of the 386 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:18.599 passive aggressive, but we won't call it. Yeah, they called out over 387 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:22.200 top of me at the Sidewalker, they handed out literature in front of me 388 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:25.640 at the driveway, and so I'm gonna Start doing it in front of them. 389 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:27.839 Um, you know, whatever it might be, it's the opposite of 390 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:30.640 what Jesus called us to do, and it's the opposite of what Jesus did. 391 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:37.000 He had all kinds of reasons and justifications to be offended, but ultimately, 392 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:40.319 what does he do? He goes to a cross and he dies for 393 00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:45.680 those very people. Think about this. Okay, John Chapter Thirteen, when 394 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:52.119 Jesus watches his washes his disciples feet. WHO's in that room? Judas, 395 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:55.319 the very one that betrayed him, the very one. If, if Jesus 396 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:59.400 wanted to be wanted to be offended and hold a root of bitterness against anyone 397 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:03.000 and be perfectly justified in doing so in the eyes of the world, it 398 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:06.279 would be Judas, the one who betrayed him. Jesus knew he was going 399 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:10.359 to betray him. Jesus knew all the things that Judas was gonna do that 400 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:12.240 will set in his heart to do right. There was already in motion that 401 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:15.799 he was gonna be betrayed by Jesus. What does Jesus do? Washes the 402 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:21.720 guy's feet. Right. And so if we're gonna come with the heart of 403 00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:25.039 Jesus and we're gonna live after the example of Jesus, we've got to be 404 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:29.240 willing to wash the feet of people that offend us. We've got to be 405 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:32.640 willing to do what Jesus did, and he says, even from the cross, 406 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:34.839 what what's what's his word, father, a whole offense against them. 407 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:40.119 So strike them all down dead. Surprisingly now he could have it. He 408 00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:44.240 would have been. What does he say from the Cross, father, forgive 409 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:47.400 them for they don't know what they're doing. What does he decide to do? 410 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:51.680 To believe the best about them? They're they're deceived, they don't know 411 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:55.079 what they're doing. And so he what does he do? He puts it 412 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:56.880 in the hands of God, and I think that will kind of wrap this 413 00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:02.319 thing up for us, as you and this are cool Um, talk about 414 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:07.400 some things that we can do instead of having offense, and the first thing 415 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:11.680 is to trust God to right the wrong. So important, absolutely. It 416 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:15.119 just takes so much stress off of you. God sees it all, God 417 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:18.880 knows it all, everything will be made right. We Are we are promised 418 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:23.200 that. Yeah, yeah, leave it in the Lord's hands. Oftentimes we're 419 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:27.079 offended when we get lift out of stuff or whatever, because we think that 420 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:32.599 we deserve a certain position. Yeah, let God put you in that position. 421 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:36.680 Don't try to put yourself in that position. By holding offense and talking 422 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:41.160 about people behind their backs, or leave it in the hands of the Lord. 423 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:45.759 The Lord will lift you up. The Bible says that God will take 424 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:48.240 the low places and lift them up in the high places and bring them low. 425 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:52.920 Let God deal with that stuff and prayer, unlike the prayer you described 426 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:56.640 where you the gossip prayer, prayer to God in the midst of your offense 427 00:30:56.759 --> 00:31:00.200 is perfectly appropriate to say help me, help me through this, help me 428 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:06.279 to know what to do and and rely on him absolutely Um. So, 429 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:12.640 continuing on this list, love others and forgive. Listen, forgiveness is not 430 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:19.559 just a feeling. Okay, forgiveness is something you do cognitively. I'm going 431 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:23.759 to decide, even though I'm offended at this person, I'm going to forgive 432 00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:30.440 them now. That forgiveness oftentimes is started. The beginning of that forgiveness is 433 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:34.599 confronting the thing that offended you and dealing with it. Right, Um, 434 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:38.039 but you've got to decide to forgive. You don't have an option. That 435 00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:42.160 is that is a non negotiable. You have no option. God has given 436 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:45.680 you no option if you're going to remain a Christian. God has given you 437 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:49.799 no option to hold unforgiveness against people. That's it. That's right. And 438 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:55.440 a whole different podcast is the difference between Um, the need for forgiveness, 439 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:59.559 and the need to reconcile. You don't have to be reconciled necessarily in terms 440 00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:05.079 of Um, like an ongoing relationship. If if the offense is truly damaging, 441 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:07.920 toxic, but you are required to forget, you have to forgive them 442 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:13.799 in your heart. You have to Um, and then you can learn things 443 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:16.799 from these trials that come. No doubt about it, God can use the 444 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:22.079 offense, the root of bitterness, His grace, if you get over and 445 00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:25.839 release it to him. And forgiveness God can use is the help you grow. 446 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:29.039 Right, you think about it, if anyone can be offended, it 447 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:31.480 could be God offended at us because of our sin. But what does he 448 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:36.240 do? He chooses to forgive. And so you can learn to be more 449 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:40.319 like Jesus as you choose to forgive and and Jesus is the perfect example of 450 00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:45.839 learning obedience in a trial. I mean he went to the cross. He 451 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:51.359 was completely obedient to the father's will in that and we know that it's not 452 00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:57.039 necessarily what he wanted to do. It said he sweated drops a blood, 453 00:32:57.319 --> 00:33:00.000 you know, in the garden the night before. So it was it was 454 00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:04.359 not a pleasant task in front of him, but he completely obeyed God. 455 00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:07.920 Yeah, yeah, yeah, and as an example to all of us, 456 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:15.000 Jesus was a man full of forgiveness and ready to release any offense or bitterness. 457 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:19.559 He didn't have a root of bitterness and uh, the the example of 458 00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:22.640 Jesus is the pinnacle of how we should live and how we should operate in 459 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:25.599 ministry. There's a few other things on this list. I would encourage you 460 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:29.519 guys to get a hold of this article. It'll be on the sidewalks for 461 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:32.960 life website and equipping articles also. Can I encourage you guys again, I'm 462 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:37.200 not trying to sell books or anything like that. You don't make any money 463 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:39.880 off no commission of I don't even know John bravere although I'd love to meet 464 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:44.799 the guy. Um, that book debate of Satan is so important. I 465 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:46.920 would encourage all of you guys, with all of your teams, if you 466 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:50.519 can do it, to go through that book with your teams, because not 467 00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:52.359 only does it talk about how to deal with offense that you might have in 468 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:55.799 your heart currently, but it also talks about how to guard against it. 469 00:33:55.799 --> 00:34:00.599 It's not a super long book. Um. You know, there may be 470 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:05.400 some things in there that offend you. He deals with stuff really forthrightly and 471 00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:07.239 you might get offended by some of the things that he says in the ways 472 00:34:07.280 --> 00:34:10.440 that he says them. But you need it. We need to we need 473 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:14.440 to deal with the things that are in our hearts so that we can help 474 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:16.119 others deal with things in their hearts. Right, can't give what you don't 475 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:20.760 have. So if we're bound ourselves in bitterness and unforgiveness, how are we 476 00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:23.360 going to help these MOMS that a lot of times are bound in bitterness and 477 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:28.599 unforgiveness? And how are we gonna help encourage each other? Right? So 478 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:30.840 I encourage you, guys. Um, I appreciate you listen to this episode. 479 00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:35.000 Hopefully it was a blessing to you and I want to encourage you guys 480 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:37.400 to share this episode with your team's share this episode with others who would be 481 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:42.079 blessed by it. I think this is a vital subject and I think the 482 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:45.679 devil will use offense to tear apart ministries. I've seen him do it. 483 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:50.039 I've seen him tear apart whole churches because of offense, and so, inasmuch 484 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:52.559 as it depends on us, let's let's forgive. Let us not walk in 485 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:58.960 offense and bitterness and disillusionment and UH, please share this episode with others, 486 00:34:58.960 --> 00:35:01.559 as I said, and please leave us a review. We won't be offended 487 00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:06.199 if you don't, but we'd be blessed if you will reach out to me, 488 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:08.559 Daniel a love life dot Org, if you have suggestions for future episodes 489 00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:12.880 or maybe comments about this particular episode. You reach out to Vicky, Vicky 490 00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:15.159 with a Y I, Love Life Dot Org. We'd love to hear from 491 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:17.280 you, but until next time, God bless God, bless you all. 492 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:32.519 Give me our love for love, give me our love for gratitude. I 493 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:42.960 know it will cost me my life. Nothing's too precious. And some met you