Offense: The Trap Between You and Your Inheritance
Pastor Jasmine Weiler
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Cards
Luke 15:25-32
BSB
25 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
26 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Offense is the demonic trap between you and your inheritance.
Spiritual Warfare | Offense: The Trap Between You and Your Inheritance
This is the year of Encounters & Visitations!
Exodus 3:5
BSB
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
You choose your Daily Encounter. God chooses your Holy Visitation.
Ephesians 6:12
BSB
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Greek: σκάνδαλον (skandalon) = Trap, snare, obstacle, stumbling block; an enticement that causes someone to fall into sin or unbelief.
Offense Simplified: A demonic trap that turns a stumbling block into disobedience.
Offense Throughout Scripture:
- Offense made Cain murder the brother he should have celebrated. — Genesis 4:3–8 ESV
- Offense made Saul persecute the successor he should have promoted. — 1 Samuel 18:6–12 ESV
- Offense made Joseph’s brothers betray the brother they should have protected. — Genesis 37:3–28 ESV
- Offense made Korah rebel against the authority he should have honored. — Numbers 16:1–35 ESV
- Offense nearly made Naaman reject the instruction that carried his healing. — 2 Kings 5:9–14 ESV
- Offense made the Pharisees reject the truth that exposed their hearts. — Matthew 15:1–14 ESV
- Offense made disciples abandon the Jesus they had once chosen to follow. — John 6:60–66 ESV
- Offense made Cain murder the brother he should have celebrated. — Genesis 4:3–8 ESV
- Offense made Saul persecute the successor he should have promoted. — 1 Samuel 18:6–12 ESV
- Offense made Joseph’s brothers betray the brother they should have protected. — Genesis 37:3–28 ESV
- Offense made Korah rebel against the authority he should have honored. — Numbers 16:1–35 ESV
- Offense nearly made Naaman reject the instruction that carried his healing. — 2 Kings 5:9–14 ESV
- Offense made the Pharisees reject the truth that exposed their hearts. — Matthew 15:1–14 ESV
- Offense made disciples abandon the Jesus they had once chosen to follow. — John 6:60–66 ESV
Offense is a demonic trap that turns pain into disobedience and keeps you from your inheritance.
Luke 17:1
BSB
1 Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
Offense is spiritual.
Why the Enemy Loves Offense
1. He wants you stuck
1. He wants you stuck
The Enemy’s Bait for Offense
- Rejection
- Disrespect
- Comparison
- Being overlooked
- Feeling misunderstood
- Correction
- Racism, real or perceived
- Unmet expectations
- Perceived injustice
- Toxic empathy disguised as compassion
- Rejection
- Disrespect
- Comparison
- Being overlooked
- Feeling misunderstood
- Correction
- Racism, real or perceived
- Unmet expectations
- Perceived injustice
- Toxic empathy disguised as compassion
What bait does the enemy use to lure you into offense?
Proverbs 19:11
BSB
11 A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
Hebrews 12:1-2
BSB
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Matthew 16:22
BSB
22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”
WARNING: Beware of people who are trying to protect you who are aligned with demonic assignments to get you to disobey God.
Matthew 16:23
BSB
23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Question: Is this making me consider being disobedient to God?
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
BSB
3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.
4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Holy Processing — Offense Edition
– Expose the enemy – "That offended me."
– Take the thought captive – "What am I believing because of what happened?"
– Take it to the interrogation room – "Where did you come from? What is your assignment?"
– Make it obedient – "What does God's Word say? What would obedience to God look like right now?"
– Expose the enemy – "That offended me."
– Take the thought captive – "What am I believing because of what happened?"
– Take it to the interrogation room – "Where did you come from? What is your assignment?"
– Make it obedient – "What does God's Word say? What would obedience to God look like right now?"
Why the Enemy Loves Offense
1. He wants you stuck
2. He wants you deceived
1. He wants you stuck
2. He wants you deceived
Matthew 11:1-6
BSB
1 After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples
3 to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
2 Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples
3 to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
John 1:29
BSB
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Matthew 11:4-6
BSB
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
Why the Enemy Loves Offense
1. He wants you stuck
2. He wants you deceived
3. He wants you offended at God
1. He wants you stuck
2. He wants you deceived
3. He wants you offended at God
Your offense with man is conditioning you to be offended with God.
Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Forgive often and quickly!
Forgiveness is not usually a one-time event.
Matthew 18:21-22
BSB
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
Practical Advice: During your daily, personal encounters, ask the Lord if there's anyone you need to forgive. Pay attention to the first name(s) that comes up and forgive them.
Matthew 24:4-14
BSB
4 Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9 Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
11 and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
12 Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
13 But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
5 For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9 Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
11 and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
12 Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
13 But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Psalms 16:5-6
BSB
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.
6 The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful.
6 The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful.
Hebrew: חֶבֶל (chebel) = Measured territory, allotted district; an assigned portion.
Your offense will either cause you to walk away from God or to walk in less than what God gave you as an inheritance to live in.
Boundary lines are God’s established limits and allotted portion in your life.
Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Gratitude
Psalms 16:5-6
BSB
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.
6 The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful.
6 The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful.
Practical Advice: Ask the Lord for eyes to see what He has done for you. Be intentional about acknowledging His goodness.
Luke 15:12
BSB
12 The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
Luke 15:28-30
BSB
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
Luke 15:25-32
BSB
25 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
26 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
The father drew boundary lines for them both. He divided the property between them.
The Scripture doesn’t explicitly say he was offended, but there are signs.
Luke 15:29
BSB
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
This offense kept him from enjoying and participating in what was already his.
Psalms 16:5
BSB
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.
The enemy can’t make you question your boundary lines when your portion is the Father.
