## An "Offense-Proofed" Life

## Psalm 119:165

Read: Psalm 119:161-168 (text: v. 165)

MEANING of "offended"

a. To cause resentment or wounded feelings;

b. To make stumble.

REASON people get offended:

a. It is a matter of CHOICE.

b. People choose to allow themselves to get offended.

CHARACTERISTICS of offended people

a. "Touchy", "short-fused," hyper-sensitive, spiritually immature and full of pride.

b. Humility cannot be offended.

c. You can only offend someone's pride.

d. Many of our troubles come by allowing ourselves to get offended.

e. Pride is what keeps us in trouble.

1) "Only by pride cometh contention…" (Prov. 13:10).

2) Pride says, "I have a right to be bitter."

3) Once a person has been offended, if they harbor the grudge of the offense, it will turn into a DUNGEON of bitterness.

(PROV 18:19) "A BROTHER OFFENDED IS HARDER TO BE WON THAN A STRONG CITY: AND THEIR CONTENTIONS ARE LIKE THE BARS OF A CASTLE."

The LORD JESUS CHRIST was never resentful at the way He was treated. (1 Pet. 2:19-23).

How can we avoid being easily offended? How can we offense proof our lives?

I. Admiration of God's Word (vs. 161-162)

A. David was treated badly.

1. His life threatened.

2. He was falsely accused.

3. He was deserted by his wife.

4. And his son lead a rebellion against him.

B. To keep him from being offended he kept his focus on the Word of God.

1. The Psalmist was innocent.

2. Offenses usually come when people think they've been treated unfairly or falsely accused.

(MAT 5:11) "BLESSED ARE YE, WHEN MEN SHALL REVILE YOU, AND PERSECUTE YOU, AND SHALL SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY, FOR MY SAKE."

C. He did not stand in awe of his persecutors. He is awed by God's Word.

1. Because God's Word subdues our fear of persecution (v. 161)

2. Because God's Word rejoices the heart (v. 162).

3. We cannot rejoice and be offended at the same time.

4. David rejoices like one finding great spoil.

II. Adoration for God's Word (vs. 163, 165, 167)

David is straightforward about where he stood.

A. What he hates.

1. Note the double negative "hate and abhor".

2. The Lie is the opposite of the Truth.

3. They cannot be mixed...to do so is to make the truth void.

4. There is also religious lying or false doctrine.(Jer. 14:14).

(JER 14:14) "THEN THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, THE PROPHETS PROPHESY LIES IN MY NAME: I SENT THEM NOT, NEITHER HAVE I COMMANDED THEM, NEITHER SPAKE UNTO THEM: THEY PROPHESY UNTO YOU A FALSE VISION AND DIVINATION, AND A THING OF NOUGHT, AND THE DECEIT OF THEIR HEART." [4]

B. What he loves.

1. He loves the truth of God's Word

2. He loved God's Word "EXCEEDINGLY" (v.167).

III. Acclamation for God's Word (v. 164)

A. Seven is God's number of completeness.

(PSA 55:17) "EVENING, AND MORNING, AND AT NOON, WILL I PRAY, AND CRY ALOUD: AND HE SHALL HEAR MY VOICE."

1. David had set times to pray to God, but here he emphasizes that he praises Him seven times.

2. The idea here is that we should not just do our praising when we pray, but His praise should be continual in our mouths!

3. We cannot be offended and be praising God at the same time.

B. Praise God for our critics.

1. If our critic is wrong in his criticism, then he has a problem.

2. Note: If my watch is broken or has a problem, I don't get upset at the watch. I try to repair the watch.

3. If our critic is right, then the problem is ours.

4. We should be grateful that the Lord used our critic to point out a problem in our life.

5. Instead of being offended, we should focus upon God's Word and praise Him.

(ISA 26:3) "THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE: BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH IN THEE."

IV. Adherence to God's Word (vs. 166-168)

A. If we are in obedience to God's Word, then we will not be offended by the preaching.

1. Those who get offended at messages on giving, usually aren't!

2. Those who get offended at messages concerning serving, usually aren't!

3. Fill in the blank...

B. Obedience to the Word of God brings peace and blessing to our lives.

1. Trouble and offenses come when we are disobedient.

2. Problems arise in interpersonal relationships when our relationship to the Lord is wrong.

3. Problems at home or in the marriage are a direct result of disobedience to God's Word.

The blessing of living a life free of offense. It is up to us. If we get offended it is our own fault. The key to an offensive-proof life is our relationship to God's Word.