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Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. – Luke 17:1-4

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If you think you won’t be offended, done wrong or misunderstood, you are fooling yourself. Unfortunately, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. The gospel of Luke records Jesus as saying, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” In other words, He is saying, there will be opportunities in life that present themselves, with an invitation to be offended.

The Word Offense Defined…

g4625. σκάνδαλον skandalon; (“scandal;” probably from a derivative of 2578; a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figuratively, cause of displeasure or sin): — occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumblingblock.

offence 9, stumbling block 3, occasion of stumbling 1, occasion to fall 1, thing that offends 1; the movable stick or trigger of a trap, a trap sticka trap, snareany impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall, (a stumbling block, occasion of stumbling) i.e. a rock which is a cause of stumbling

*Occasions of stumbling … the Greek word rendered STUMBLING “meant the trigger of a trap, contact with which would cause the trap to spring and impair.”

>>> What I believe Luke is conveying to us through Jesus words is this: It’s impossible for you to go through life and not be offended and even worse than that, the one who sets a trap or manipulates to cause an offense, woe to him!

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Don’t become who hurt you! -Toby Mac

Don’t make someone new in your life pay for the debt of someone old in your life. -RTK

Don’t allow the hurts of the past determine the joy of your future.

Don’t allow the negative you’ve gone through, to define you negatively.

Don’t get ‘caught up’ in, what will keep you ‘held up’.

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Troubles, Tests and Traps …

> Troubles: (what we all have in common)

1. Your outlook ultimately determines your outcome.

2. Your tragedy doesn’t depict you; your attitude does.

3. Don’t allow what happened to you; deter you. Allow it to develop a determination, that will propel you to a new level of destiny. Continue reading “Troubles, Tests and Traps” →

There is always a ‘story’ behind ‘the story’. Any story that now consists of blessings and success usually has behind it a story of struggle, risk or tragedy. These types of stories have usually been met ‘head on’ with obedience, courage or faith. Great people who have accomplished great things are normally just ordinary people who have surrendered their current scenario through radial faith, while facing adversity with a tenacious courage to believe that what ‘can be’, is better than ‘what is’. Most people don’t experience great gain without first having experienced a great set back. People who now are experiencing much, have been given that opportunity by risking the unknown, through blind obedience, surrender, and faith. Surrender, obedience, sacrifice, risk, courage, and faith are all ingredients that can change an outcome. The ‘story of your life’, doesn’t have to be… ‘the story of your life’. When someone says, “that’s the story of my life”, they are usually referring to a negative reoccurrence. But, what would happen if you had the audacity to believe it could be different?

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Let’s look at a few biblical scenarios where the story changed and the outcome became obviously different…

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• Elisha Burned Everything and Followed Elijah. (I Kings 19:19) / *(II Kings 13:21)

> Elisha’s ‘Story‘ could have been: “he was out in a field plowing with his oxen.”

>> Instead… he was able to see twice as many miracles as Elijah, and even in his death, the miracles continued when the band of Moabites threw a dead body in his grave, and the dead body came to life… What if he would have just kept plowing? Or, what if he would have kept his plow and oxen?

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• Ruth Left Her Native Country (all she knew). (Ruth 1:6) – Ruth 2 & 4

> Ruth’s ‘Story‘ could have been: she lived in Moab on a piece of land her husband left her… wondering whatever happened to her mother-in-law?

>> Instead… she married Boaz and set on the porch with her mother in law, being served by servants, watching the hired hands work in the field that her and her new husband now owned. She also had a baby named Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. She is now in the lineage of Jesus… What if she had stayed in the land that was familiar?

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• The Woman With the Issue of Blood Risk Everything to Be Healed. (Mark 5)

> The Woman With the Issue of Blood’s ‘Story‘ could have been: “there was a women who had an issue of blood. She went to every doctor in town and spent all she had… and never got any better.”

>> Instead… she was able to be healed, have peace, and be made well… What if she would have stayed home that day?

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• The Little Lad – Gave All He Had. (Matthew 14) “When you give all you have God will give you more than you began with.”

> The Little Lad’s ‘Story‘ could have been: my mom packed a nice lunch that I ate while everyone else went hungry.

>> Instead… he was an eye witness to one of the greatest miracles of Jesus’ ministry. He was able to bless others, not just satisfy his own needs. He was the only one who didn’t have a need, but through his surrender, courage and faith, he gave what he had, to meet the needs of others. He was also able to eat more than his mom had packed him. And, He watched as the disciples gathered up 12 baskets full of leftovers… What if he had kept his lunch that day?

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• The Man On the Mat Left All He Had Known. (the familiar & comfortable). (John 5) – *do you want to be made well?

> The Mans ‘Story‘ could have been: there was a man who had been disabled for over thirty eights years… he was laid by the pool daily as he watched others being made well of whatever ailment they had.

>> Instead… his story was, he picked up his mat and was immediately made well. He got up and conquered what had conquered him and carried the very thing that comforted him… What if he had continued to lay there and be critical instead of getting up in faith?

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• The Disciples Left Their Livelihood and the Biggest Catch of Their Lives. (Luke 5)

> The Disciples ‘Story‘ could have been: after a useless day of fishing, the fishermen washed their nets, put up their boats, and they went home that morning tired and frustrated from fishing all night and catching nothing!

>> Instead… they caught the biggest catch of their careers. Left all they had, and all they knew, to follow the savior of the world, to become fishers of men… now having front row seats, to the miracles; sharing in the life, the legacy, and the ministry of Jesus… What if they hadn’t said, “nevertheless Lord, at your word we will go out into the deep and let down our nets for another catch?

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What do you need to surrender so that your ‘Story‘ can be different? Your life? Your family? Your future? Your finances? Your children? Your spouse? Your career? It seems that when we try to hold on to what we really need to let go of, it never goes well. However, It also seems when people give up and go “all in”, that’s when God goes “all out.” What are you willing to surrender? Quit trying and surrender. Quit struggling and surrender. Nonetheless, surrender is never easy and what if you’re like me, what if you feel like you have surrendered in obedience, yet, you still haven’t seen a tangible result? What do you do then? I tell you what you do… YOU SURRENDER and YOU TRUST, because just like these biblical accounts we just looked at, you never know what could be waiting… on the other side of your surrendered trust!

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*Psalm 110:1

*I Corinthians 10

*Ephesians 6

“The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool (until I put them under your feet).” Psalm 110:1 NKJV

In the Natural and In the Spirit…

• A footstool will help you reach what you can’t reach.

• A footstool help you see what you can’t see.

• A footstool will help you get done what you couldn’t get done.

• A footstool will help you rise to a new level, it will help you rise above.

• A footstool will help you accomplish what you couldn’t accomplish any other way.

“Instead of allowing an enemy to trip you up, allow it to become a footstool, step up, step out and allow it to set you up.”

Sometimes An Enemy is Necessary…

The necessity of an enemy… “David needed an enemy to become king.” – Ron Carpenter

Jesus needed Judas to betray Him.

David needed Saul to establish honor.

Here Are Some Things to Remember When It Comes to Enemies:

Some enemies are sent to spy.

Some enemies are sent to frustrate.

Some enemies are sent to discourage.

Some enemies are sent to defeat.

Some enemies are meant to distract.

Numerous Scenarios Can Become An Enemy:

• Time can be an enemy.

• Age can be an enemy.

• Mindsets can be an enemy.

• People can be an enemy.

• Surroundings can be an enemy.

However, we only have one true enemy. He is an enemy of God and we are friends of God, therefore, we are his enemies.

An enemy can be a block, or it can be a blessing… only discernment will distinguish the difference.

“When God wants to promote you, He will send a person; when the devil wants to defeat you, he will send a person.” It’s your job to discern the difference.

Here Are Some Things to Take Notice of In Regards to Enemies:

1. Some Enemies You Need to Look At and Talk To. *David spoke to the giant and called him an uncircumcised Philistine, while everyone else was calling him a giant.

⁃ Speak to it – but tell it the right thing.

⁃ Speak in love – not hate.

⁃ Speak in faith – not fear.

2. Some Enemies You Need to Fight.

⁃ You don’t war with carnal weapons.

⁃ You don’t fight or wrestle flesh and blood.

⁃ You don’t fight when there’s not something at stake.

3. Some Enemies You Need to Walk Away From.

⁃ What you have the ability to walk towards reveals your courage.

⁃ What you have the courage to walk away from reveals your wisdom.

⁃ Walking away is not always a sign of weakness, sometimes it’s a sign of strength.

4. Some Enemies You Need to Wear Down, Before They Wear You Down.

⁃ Someone said, “you can wrestle in the mud with a pig, but only one of you are going to enjoy it.”

⁃ Don’t allow someone’s unnecessary drama, to become your priority.

⁃ You can’t outlast what wears you down… Resist, Rejoice and Rest!

5. Some Enemies You Need to Let God Take Care Of.

⁃ There are some battles you weren’t meant to fight.

⁃ You can’t fight a spiritual war with carnal weapons.

⁃ In spiritual warfare, discernment, many times determines the victorious outcome of the battle.

6. Some Enemies Are Not Really Your Enemy.

⁃ Everyone is not against you.

⁃ Everyone is not talking about you.

⁃ Everyone is not trying to harm you.

7. Some Enemies You Need to Make Peace With.

⁃ You may need to make peace, in order to have peace.

⁃ You may need to get over, what you can’t change.

⁃ You may need to forget, in order to have freedom.

8. Some Enemies You Need to Thank God For.

⁃ Defeating an enemy will promote you in ways that nothing else will.

⁃ If David wouldn’t have encountered the giant as an enemy, he may not have been enthroned as king.

⁃ If Jesus hadn’t tasted of the enemy of death, He wouldn’t have produced eternal life for all mankind.

9. Some Enemies Need to Be Discerned, Before They Are Defeated.

⁃ Sometimes victory is obtained through understanding, not effort.

⁃ Sometimes you may need to understand the ‘why’ before you receive the ‘when’.

⁃ Sometimes the lesson learned is greater than the victory that’s been obtained.

10. Some Enemies You Need to Outlast.

⁃ What doesn’t kill you, really does make you stronger. *(I saw a bumper sticker that said, “yeah, but did it kill you?” There’s some truth to that.😳)

⁃ Pray for perseverance.

⁃ Paul said it best when he said, “having done all stand.”

Scriptures and Truth to Confess…

• No weapon formed against me will prosper!

• I will bless the Lord at all times!

• When the enemy comes in like a flood the Lord will raise up a standard against him!

• Lord, I will sit at your right hand until You make my enemies my footstool!

Lord Help Me to:

• Step Up

• Step Over

• Stretch Higher

• and Gain Access to Peace and Victory in You!

In Luke’s gospel chapter 5 we pick up a story where Jesus uses a boat to teach from that belonged to Simon Peter. After He finishes teaching, Jesus proceeds to tell the fishermen that were washing their nets on the shore to go back out into the deep for another cast of the nets, the nets that they just happened to be washing. Later, these men would be called ‘fishers of men’, but for now they were just ‘plain ole’ fishermen. Fishermen who knew how to fish, but who were weary from fishing all night and catching nothing. Have you ever been weary? “Me too!” Anyway, back to the story… Jesus was asking them to do again, what they had already done and, what they already knew how to do. He was asking them to go back into the same water, in the same boat, with the same nets, (the nets they had been washing) and cast them again, but this time, into the deep. In other words, they had to go out just a little bit further this time, and to their amazement, they would catch the greatest catch of their lives.

Here’s the narrative: “So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke‬ ‭5:1-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Notice it says, “the fishermen had gone from them (the boats) and were washing their nets.” That’s what I would like to key in on, the fact that they had left their boats and that they were washing their nets. When the fishermen had put their boats up and had began to wash their nets, this meant they were done for the night. Have your ever been done? “Yeah, Me too.” But, nonetheless, it’s interesting to me how Jesus introduces the idea of ‘trying one more time’, when the fishermen were already tired, frustrated and done! Remember this: Your greatest opportunity to be obedient, may come at the most inconvenient time. Do it anyway!

•They Toiled (strenuous labor that caused fatigue)

•They Tried (effort put forth – desiring a result)

•They were Tired (mentally, physically and emotionally)

•They were Troubled (why is He asking us to do what we’ve just done – we’ve toiled all night and caught nothing)

•They were Tested (nevertheless Lord, at your word)

But ‘nevertheless’, they did it. They pushed the boat off the shore into the water and the mustered all the strength and energy they could find, and they cast the nets into the sea for a catch of a lifetime. Don’t allow your frustration to keep you from trying ‘one more time’. Find the faith and fortitude to overcome your frustration and see what God does!

Frustration occurs when you put forth an effort without a desired result. Burnout occurs when frustration continues without a resolve or a different outcome.

⁃ It’s easy to get frustrated.

⁃ It’s easy to experience burnout.

⁃ It’s easy to get tired from life’s routines and responsibilities.

However, we are stewards of the earth, our marriage, our children, our job, our homes, our possessions, our responsibilities, our relationships, our finances… everything! That’s why we get weary and tired!

We all get tired, and just like the fishermen in this story that had fished all night and caught nothing, we feel like washing our hands of certain people, scenarios and scenes. They were washing their nets, which signified they were through. So here’s some questions to ask yourself and answer honestly.

•What are you ready to wash your hands of?

•What are you frustrated with?

•What are you finished with?

•What are you tired of?

•What have you toiled with?

•What are you troubled by?

•What are you being tested with?

The real question is, what have you decided to wash your hands of that God may be saying, “try again.” Someone said, “I through in the towel and God through it back and said, ‘wipe the sweat off your face and keep going’!”

What is it that you have, that the the Lord is wanting to use? What is it that He desires to be in the center of? He used Simon’s boat to teach from, and it was ‘that’ boat that caught all the fish. What if you invited Jesus into the center of your home, marriage, children, jobs, and finances, instead of washing your hands of it, or of them?

When Jesus is at the center of it all, what once frustrated you will now fulfill you. What you toiled all night to accomplish can happen in an instant. They caught the catch of their lives with one cast of the nets, the nets that they had been washing and that they were about to hang up to dry. Their frustration triumphed in Faith when they heeded the Word of the Lord and said, “nevertheless”. They put forth an effort and obtained their desired result… two boats full of fish. Then they forsook all and followed the Lord. Isn’t it interesting when they had received what they desired, it was then they realized it wasn’t what they truly wanted or needed anyway. It’s the Lord and His presence that we truly desire and truly need. Give your frustration to the Lord and allow Him to be your strength. Take him at His word and move in faith. You may feel discouraged, defeated and done… but, “don’t wash your nets, just yet!”

“Now Then” is a phrase used for getting someone’s attention when you are starting to talk about something new. It’s a phrase used to interrupt or redirect what’s being discussed, so that you can discuss or consider what is more appropriate or important.

*Psalm 90:1-12

What you do now will determine what happens then.

Yesterday is behind you. Today is surrounding you. Your future is in front of you.

“I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.” Phil. 3:13

Now – is this instance.

Then – refers to time; it can refer to the past or the future.

Building a Better and Brighter Future

Learn from the past; Live in the present; Believe for the future.

You have to learn to admit you were wrong and you will need to admit that you don’t have it all figured out. But, you also have to admit what you do know and what you do have figured out…

1. Realize You will Never Have it All Figured Out. (The starting place is admission [an act of admitting : the fact or state of being admitted. the right or permission to join or enter a place, a group, etc]: admitting your need, your weakness, your sin, your addiction, or your shortcoming, is the gateway to victory and the doorway to freedom.)

⁃ I’ve not arrived.

⁃ There are things I don’t know.

⁃ There are things I could be better with, and better at.

⁃ I don’t know the answer to every question.

⁃ I don’t know the solution to very problem.

⁃ I can’t understand everything that happens.

⁃ I don’t always know the right thing to do or the right thing to say.

*Phil.3:13 (But this one thing I do) You may not have it all figured out, but you may have one thing that you do know or that you can do.

⁃Learn from the past, but forget the bad times, the sorrow and the regrets of yesterday.

⁃Learn from the past, but break the cycles and patterns of the past that created what you didn’t desire, so they don’t reappear in your future.

⁃Learn from the past, but don’t carry the burdens, sorrows or regrets of the past into the present, or into your future.

2. Remember the Past is the Past.

(Forget the things that hinder your future progress, or keep you bound to the past in a negative way; especially the things that bring disappointment and discouragement in regards to your future)

⁃Regrets (what you did or said)

⁃ What you did or didn’t do.

⁃ What you said or didn’t say.

⁃ You can’t change the past. But, if it’s been forgiven, than forget it! – trust God for your future.

⁃ Don’t allow what you can’t control; to control you!

⁃Unforgiveness (what other people have done or said)

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

⁃ It takes faith to give and receive forgiveness.

⁃ Not forgiving doesn’t cause harm to the other person, it causes harm to you.

⁃ Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the offense, it releases you from the burden of carrying the hurt.

⁃ Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the fault of the offender; it brings freedom to the offended.

⁃ Jesus said, “Father forgive them, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

⁃Not forgiving will keep you tied to the past you’re desiring to forget.

⁃Failures

⁃ Keep you tied to the past.

⁃ Keep you bound by regret.

⁃ Keep you from trying or believing again.

⁃ Keep you bound by fear. *(it can’t or won’t be any different the next time)

⁃Achievements

⁃ The reason this is so dangerous is because we measure everything by our greatest moments, not enjoying what we are achieving right now.

⁃ If you are constantly waiting to celebrate just the “big thing” you will never enjoy the small moments and victories along the way.

⁃God celebrated every time He created something. It took Him 7 days to do what He could have done in a moment, and He rested on the 7th day and every time He created something, He paused and said, “it is good.”

⁃ If you are always in search of the next “big thing” you will miss all the small blessings along the way.

⁃ Everyone else’s “highlight” reel can look incredible and can make your life seem insignificant. *social media

⁃ Thankful

⁃ Grateful

⁃ Content

⁃ Comparing and complaining will keep you from being content!

The last always looks better than it really is, the farther you move away from it. (The good old days)

⁃Live in the present and make the most of every moment.

⁃Don’t take life or yourself too serious.

⁃Always be a work in progress that is always growing and ever learning.

3. Reach for What’s Next and What’s Best.

(But don’t miss what’s beside you) – I don’t think Paul is saying he’s trying to get ahead, he’s reaching for what matters and forgetting what doesn’t.

⁃ When don’t feel like you have anything to look forward to; it’s easy to look back.

⁃ See it (you have to see it first)

⁃ Say it (say what you see)

⁃ Seize it (take hold of it)

⁃ Straining, stretching (risk and change)

⁃ Stretching will help you reach higher, and go further.

⁃ The greater the risk the greater the reward.

⁃ Nothing ever changes without change

⁃ Stretch yourself and reach higher!

⁃ Don’t get distracted with things that don’t matter!

⁃ Celebrate small victories along the way.

⁃ Enjoy life, glorify God, and love people.

⁃ Good intentions won’t get you there.

⁃ Intentions are what you intend to do.

⁃ Strategy is a clear plan on how to accomplish what you desire.

⁃ Your strategy, not your intention, determines your success.

⁃ Many people intend to spend more time with their family, to be less scattered at work, to manage their time better, to ensure their top priories get accomplished, but they haven’t found a strategy to get them to that place.

⁃Set goals and prioritize what truly matters.

⁃Stretch yourself and dream big.

⁃Be open minded, but, stay focused on what truly matters.

1. Learn from the past – but forget the bad times, sorrow and regrets – You can’t change what has happened up to now, but you can determine what happens from now on. *admit

2. Live in the present – Make the most of every moment, don’t take life or yourself too serious and make as many memories as you can. Always be a work in progress – always growing and ever learning. *forget

3. Believe for the Future – Reach for what’s ahead. Set goals and prioritize what truly matters. Stretch yourself, dream big, be open minded, and stay focused on what truly matters. *reach

3 Declarations to Declare:

1. I’m not what my past represents; I’m what God has promised and my future holds.

2. I’m not what I’ve done in the past; I’m what God has done in Christ Jesus for me!

3. I’m not what others have said I am; I’m who God’s word says I am in Christ!

Prayer of Declaration…

I am a living being created in the image of God. I am created for His creative purposes. I am redeemed by His Redemtive Power. I am blood bought and heaven bound. I will walk in the fullness of what God has for me! I will fulfill my purpose and reach my destiny. I am loved, I am forgiven, and I am justified! I have no reason to worry, fear, or doubt. I trust God sees all, and knows what’s best. I am a masterpiece of God’s Grace, created to walk in the good works He has prepared for me. I am a child of God! I am loved! I am forgiven! I am whole! Nothing missing. Nothing Lacking. I will learn from the past. I will live in the present. I will believe for the future. I believe the future will be better, and produce more than my past, or my present! I thank God for what He’s done, I thank God for what He’s doing, and I thank God for what He’s going to do!