Reading: Discerning God's Purposes at the Firetrap of Offense by Brian DeCook

God's Purposes at the Firetrap of Offense

Scripture references: Prov. 19:11; Matt. 16:21-23; Matt. 18:8-9; Eph. 4:22-24; 1 John 1:8-9; 1 John 2:9-10; Romans 12:18, 21; 1 John 3:8; 2 Cor. 10:5-6 (KJV)

Purpose #1: Deliverance from the firetrap of offense.

1.         There are four ways to stay free from the firetrap of offense.

2.         One way to stay out of the firetrap is to overlook a potential offense. Prov. 19:11

3.         Overlooking an offense is appropriate when we can honestly go before the Lord and forgive, forget and move forward in relationship with the person who offended us as if the offense never occurred.

4.         The second way to stay out of the firetrap is to reject the bait and refuse to take offense. Matt. 16:21-23

5.         The third way to stay out of the firetrap is to cut-off the offending source in order to escape from the firetrap. Matt. 18:8-9

6.         The bait on the trap exposes the heart's desires (remember James 4:1-4). The Lord delivers us from the trap when we cut-off these desires and return to the Peacefire.

7.         These desires can arise from what we look at (the eyes), what we are grasping for (the hand), or where we are trying to go (the feet). The meaning of the word translated "cut it off” implies letting the thing fall to the ground and do not even pay attention to where it falls ... FLEE!

8.         The fourth way to stay free from the firetrap is to be rescued.

9.         When we are unable to get free from the firetrap of offense, the Lord pursues us in order to set us free and bring us back where we belong.