Luke 17:1 HCSB “Offenses will certainly come…”
· It’s not “BLOWUP”
Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God.
· It’s not “GUESSWHAT”
Proverbs 12:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
Matthew 18:15a “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense.
· It’s not “SOWHAT”
Jeremiah 6:14 MSG My people are broken—shattered!—and they put on Band-Aids, Saying, ‘It’s not so bad. You’ll be just fine.’ But things are not ‘just fine’!
Hebrews 12:15b TLB Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives.
1. Realize it AFFECTS my RELATIONSHIP with God
Luke 6:37-38 GNB “Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you… The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.”
2. ACKNOWLEDGE my HURTS
Psalm 39:2-3 NCV So I kept very quiet…but I became even more upset. I became very angry inside, and as I thought about it, my anger burned.
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
3. PRAY
Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
4. DEAL with the ROOT: REJECTION
Acts 8:23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
