Matthew 11:2-6-
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
At some point, every believer will feel disappointed, frustrated, or even offended with God.
1- *Offense with God comes when we haven’t settled the Lordship issue in our lives. *
“Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?”4-6 Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what’s going on:
Matthew 16:13-16
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The Lordship issue deals with our heart to trust His plan for us.
Instead of being reminded that His ways are higher, we dwell on why we are still in prison?
What seems like a delay or denial from God is often part of a greater purpose.
Genesis 50:20
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people[a] should be kept alive, as they are today.
2- *Offense with God comes when Your expectations of God and your experience with God don’t line up. *
John 11:17-27
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles[c] off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
What is your “It’s not supposed to be like this.”
Offense often comes when expectations are unmet. We expect God to act in a certain way, and when He doesn’t, we struggle.
Unmet Expectations and anger with God, only prolongs the problem, keeps you from the healer and clouds your vision for the plan that God has for your life.
*3- Comparison with what God is doing in others will cause you to become offended with what God isn’t doing for you. *
Matthew 20:13
But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
When we stay offended, we build walls between us and God, making it harder to hear His voice and feel His presence.
God is not afraid of your honesty.
Psalm 13:1-6
God is not afraid of our emotions.
1 Peter 5:7 AMP
casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
Remember God’s Faithfulness:
Reflect on past testimonies of God’s goodness.
Proverbs 3:5-6 –
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”-
Discussion Questions:
• Have you ever felt disappointed or even offended by God? What was the situation, and how did it impact your faith? How did you process those feelings?
• John the Baptist questioned Jesus from prison, asking if He was truly the Messiah. Have you ever struggled with doubts about God’s plan because of unmet expectations? How can we trust God even when His ways don’t align with our expectations?
• Comparison can often lead to offense. Have you ever felt frustrated when God seemed to bless someone else while you were struggling? How can we guard our hearts against comparison and trust in God’s unique plan for our lives?
• The danger of staying offended is that it creates walls between us and God. What are some practical ways we can surrender our offenses and realign our hearts with Him?
• Psalm 13 shows David pouring out his complaints to God but ultimately choosing to trust Him. How can we bring our honest emotions before God while still maintaining faith in His goodness?