Living Under God's Commanded Blessing Through Forgiveness

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing God's Goodness and Blessing

Understanding that God is inherently good and desires good for us is foundational to living under His commanded blessing. This belief helps us accurately interpret life's challenges without attributing them to God's sovereignty. Many believers live outside the blessing of God, evident in their marriages, finances, and family life. God desires to bring every area of our lives under His blessing, which is contingent upon unity. Psalm 133 illustrates that God's blessing is commanded where there is unity, while division is a tool of the enemy. By embracing the truth of God's goodness, we can align ourselves with His purpose and experience His blessings in every aspect of our lives. [04:21]

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to see God's goodness? How can you actively seek unity in those areas to invite His blessing?

Day 2: The Transformative Power of Unity

Unity is where God's blessing is commanded, as seen in Psalm 133. The enemy works through division, often caused by unresolved offenses. Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17 highlights that the greatest evangelistic tool is the unity of the body of Christ. When believers come together in unity, they reflect the love and power of God to the world. This unity is not just about agreement but about a shared purpose and commitment to God's mission. By prioritizing unity, we can overcome the enemy's attempts to divide us and experience the fullness of God's blessing. [07:21]

"Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." (Philippians 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to unity within your church or community this week? What steps can you take to resolve any unresolved offenses that may be causing division?

Day 3: Navigating the Trap of Offense

Offenses are inevitable and act as traps set for us. How we respond to these offenses determines whether we fall into them. Unforgiveness is an infection of the heart that progresses through stages, including anger, bitterness, and slander, affecting not only us but also those around us. Recognizing the progression of unforgiveness can help us address it before it takes root in our hearts. By choosing to forgive, we can break free from the trap of offense and prevent it from hindering our relationships and spiritual growth. [11:53]

"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled." (Hebrews 12:15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a recent offense that has affected you. How can you begin the process of forgiveness to prevent it from taking root in your heart?

Day 4: Forgiveness as a Path to Freedom

Forgiveness is a process that involves choosing the way of the cross. Jesus' forgiveness is immediate, complete, and consistent, and we are called to extend the same grace to others. This path to forgiveness allows us to step out of the trap of offense and into the freedom of God's blessing. By forgiving others as we have been forgiven, we can experience the joy and peace that come from living under God's blessing. Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continual choice to release others from the debt of their offenses. [27:02]

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Day 5: Living Offense-Free

To live offense-free, we must embrace the forgiveness offered through the cross. Jesus' sacrifice covers all offenses, allowing us to live without carrying the weight of unforgiveness. By forgiving others as we have been forgiven, we can experience the joy and peace that come from living under God's blessing. Living offense-free is a daily commitment to let go of past hurts and choose love and grace instead. This lifestyle not only frees us but also impacts those around us, as they witness the transformative power of God's forgiveness in our lives. [30:31]

"Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgive each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." (Colossians 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to live offense-free? How can you make forgiveness a daily practice in your life?

Sermon Summary

In our new series, "Unoffended," we explore the pervasive issue of offense in our lives and how it impacts our relationships with others, God, and even ourselves. Offenses are an inevitable part of life on this broken planet, but how we handle them determines our path and destiny. Over the coming weeks, we'll delve into various aspects of offense, including those within families, with leaders, and even with God. Today, we begin by discussing the concept of living under the commanded blessing, which is rooted in the belief that God is inherently good and desires good for us.

To live as overcoming Christians, we must establish a deep-seated theology that God is for us, not against us. This understanding allows us to accurately interpret the negative events in our lives without attributing them to God's sovereignty. Many believers live outside the blessing of God, evident in their marriages, finances, and family life. God desires to bring every area of our lives under His blessing, which is contingent upon unity. Psalm 133 illustrates that God's blessing is commanded where there is unity, while division is a tool of the enemy.

The anointing, or divine enablement, is essential for living in the fullness of God's purpose. It is a power that comes upon us through the Holy Spirit, enabling us to accomplish what we cannot do on our own. The commanded blessing is irrevocable when we walk in unity, as demonstrated by the story of Balaam in the Old Testament. However, division, often stemming from unresolved offense, can cause us to step out from under this blessing.

Offenses are like traps set for us, and how we respond to them determines whether we fall into them. Unforgiveness is an infection of the heart that progresses through stages, including anger, bitterness, and slander. These stages not only affect us but also those around us, as bitterness can defile many. The path to freedom involves choosing the way of the cross, forgiving as Jesus forgave us. This forgiveness is immediate, complete, and consistent, and we are called to extend the same grace to others.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Goodness and Commanded Blessing: Understanding that God is inherently good and desires good for us is foundational to living under His commanded blessing. This belief helps us accurately interpret life's challenges without attributing them to God's sovereignty. Living under God's blessing requires unity, as division is a tool of the enemy. [04:21]
2. The Power of Unity: Unity is where God's blessing is commanded, as seen in Psalm 133. The enemy works through division, often caused by unresolved offenses. Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17 highlights that the greatest evangelistic tool is the unity of the body of Christ. [07:21]
3. The Trap of Offense: Offenses are inevitable and act as traps set for us. How we respond to these offenses determines whether we fall into them. Unforgiveness is an infection of the heart that progresses through stages, including anger, bitterness, and slander, affecting not only us but also those around us. [11:53]
4. Forgiveness as a Path to Freedom: Forgiveness is a process that involves choosing the way of the cross. Jesus' forgiveness is immediate, complete, and consistent, and we are called to extend the same grace to others. This path to forgiveness allows us to step out of the trap of offense and into the freedom of God's blessing. [27:02]
5. Living Offense-Free: To live offense-free, we must embrace the forgiveness offered through the cross. Jesus' sacrifice covers all offenses, allowing us to live without carrying the weight of unforgiveness. By forgiving others as we have been forgiven, we can experience the joy and peace that come from living under God's blessing. [30:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:21] - Understanding God's Goodness
[07:21] - The Power of Unity
[11:53] - The Trap of Offense
[13:20] - The Scandalon Explained
[15:22] - Infection of Unforgiveness
[17:26] - Stages of Unforgiveness
[20:09] - The Danger of Slander
[22:07] - Picking Up Offenses
[24:44] - Resolving Offenses
[27:02] - Choosing the Way of the Cross
[30:31] - Forgiveness as a Path to Freedom
[31:51] - Extending Grace to Others
[33:59] - Invitation to Walk in Forgiveness
[35:57] - Prayer and Response

Sermon Clips

1. "We are all offended in life. We all must deal with offenses. Now offenses are inevitable in this broken planet, but here is the key question: how do I deal with the offenses that come my way? Because that will set the path you walk on, it will set your future, it will determine destiny." [00:48] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God wants to bring every area of your life under his blessing. He wants you to have a marriage full of romance and love and peace. He wants your children to come to a saving faith. He wants to bless your business. He wants to bless your finances so that you can live out Genesis 12, and you can be a blessing to the nations of the earth." [03:00] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God blesses unity and the enemy, demonic forces of hell, work through division. Now as you read that Psalm, you might be like, okay Dave, I get it, but what's the part about the oil that on the head and poured and in the beard and the robe? I just bought a new dress. I don't think I want to get in on that." [05:00] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The greatest evangelistic tool that's been given to the church is the unity of the body of Christ. That's such a powerful thought. Jesus said when the church is walking together in unity, the world, that is the cosmos, those far from God, will look at the bride of Christ and go, wow, there must be a real God in heaven." [07:21] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "It is impossible to live in this world without offense. Could you read that with me? It is impossible to live in this world without offense, Jesus. You're welcome." [11:53] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Unforgiveness is an infection in your heart. You're like, oh, I'm okay. I'll be fine. I'll get over it. They're dead to me. means nothing, no big deal. But whoa, if you got infection, infection will not eradicate itself. You must deal with that offense of a wounded heart." [16:22] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." [31:51] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "When I survey the wondrous cross on which the king of glory died, it's just a moment. It shifts my heart. God says, I'm inviting you. You can walk out of the snare. You can step out of those four levels and walk back into freedom because of what Jesus has done on the cross." [32:45] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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