2 Timothy 4:14-15, ^NIV
Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our
message.

2 Timothy 2:23-26, ^NIV
Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Step 1: Satan wants you offended.

Luke 17:1, ^NKJV
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to
him through whom they do come!”

Proverbs 19:11, ^NRSV
Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense.

Matthew 24:10, ^NKJV
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

Step 2: Satan wants you obsessed with the offence.

Proverbs 17:9, ^NLT
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

Step 3: Satan wants you to become bitter.

• Bitter Defined:
  Angry, hurt, or resentful because of one's bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment.

Ephesians 4:26-27, ^NKJV
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

Hebrews 12:14-15, ^NLT
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Proverbs 18:19, ^NLT
An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.

Step 4: Satan wants control of your life.

Matthew 26:6-9, ^NKJV
And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

John 12:4-5, ^NKJV
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

Matthew 26:10-16, ^NKJV
But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Matthew 24:10, ^NKJV
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

How to Break Free from Offence:
- Get into the presence of God.
- Love unconditionally.
- Pray out the poison.
- Bless those who offended you.
- Get back to doing God’s will.

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