The Bait of Satan: Living Free from the Deadly Trap of Offense

by John Bevere

It is not difficult to obey when you know the character and love of the one to whom you are submitting. Love is the bottom line in our relationship with the Lord—not love of principles or teachings but love for the Person of Jesus Christ.

If you desire the approval of men, God’s anointing cannot fall upon you.

The offenses we hold against each other compared to our offenses against God are like $4,000 compared to $14.5 billion. We may have been treated badly by someone else, but it does not compare with our transgressions against God.

A person who cannot forgive has forgotten the great debt for which they were forgiven. When you realize that Jesus delivered you from eternal death and torment, you will release others unconditionally.

sin. Peter stated that turning from righteousness was worse than never knowing it at all. In other words, God is saying it is better never to have gotten saved than to receive the gift of eternal life and then turn from it permanently.

To be twice dead means you were once dead without Christ, then you were made alive by receiving Him, then you died again by departing from His ways permanently.

In fact He says that our attitude is to be so far removed from avenging ourselves that we are willing to open ourselves to the possibility of being taken advantage of again.

When we seek to correct the wrong done to us, we set ourselves up as a judge.

But ground will produce only what is planted in it. If we plant seeds of debt, unforgiveness, and offense, another root will spring up in place of the love of God. It is called the root of bitterness.

“Bitterness is unfulfilled revenge.”1 It is produced when revenge is not satisfied to the degree we desire.

Bitterness is a root. If roots are nursed—watered, protected, fed, and given attention—they increase in depth and strength. If not dealt with quickly, roots are hard to pull up. The strength of the offense will continue to grow. We are therefore exhorted not to let the sun go down on our wrath. (See Ephesians 4:26.) Now instead of the fruit of righteousness being produced, we will see a harvest of anger, resentment, jealousy, hatred, strife, and discord. Jesus called these evil fruits. (See Matthew 7:19–20.) The Bible says a person who does not pursue peace by releasing offenses will eventually become defiled.

The Greek word in Acts 24:16 for exercise is askeo. Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines exercise as “to take pains, endeavor, exercise by training or discipline.”1

This was exactly where the Lord wanted me—at the end of myself. Too often we try to do things in the strength of our souls. This does not cause us to grow spiritually. Instead, we become more susceptible to falling. The first step to healing and freedom is to recognize you are hurt. Often pride does not want us to admit we are hurt and offended.

Often we judge ourselves by our intentions and everyone else by their actions. It is possible to intend one thing while communicating something totally different.

Pride defends. Humility agrees and says, “You are right. I have acted this way. Please forgive me.”