Kenneth W Hagin - Avoiding the Trap of Being Offended

Avoiding the Trap of Being Offended

by Kenneth W. Hagin

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked Amplified or AMP are taken from The Amplified Bible , Old Testament copyright 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked BBE are taken from The Bible in Basic English, 1949, 1962. public domain.

Scripture quotations marked CEV are from the Contemporary English Version 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2000; 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked GNT are from the Good News Translation Second Edition. 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

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Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society . Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version . Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation , copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.

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Avoiding the Trap of Being Offended

ISBN-13: 978-1-60616-712-0

ISBN-10: 1-60616-712-X

Copyright 2008 RHEMA Bible Church

aka Kenneth Hagin Ministries, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Printed in USA

Electronic Edition Published 2010

The Faith Shield is a trademark of RHEMA Bible Church, aka Kenneth Hagin Ministries, Inc., registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and therefore may not be duplicated.

Preface

Many good books have been written about faith and about how to receive from God. Most of us understand the principles at work when Jesus cursed the fig tree and saw the fruit of His spoken words. After the disciples took notice of the withered tree, Jesus explained to them, Have the faith of God (Mark 11:22), or have the God-kind of faith.

We as believers are supposed to have the God-kind of faith, and were supposed to use our faith effectively. But having productive faith is not possible without operating in the God-kind of love. In other words, the verses we love and shout about are indeed true, but so are the verses that are more sobering. All of Scripture is infallible, immutable, and true!

So before we speak to the mountains in our lives and command them to be removed (Mark 11:23), we need to get hold of another equally powerful truth found in Mark 11:2526. We must begin plucking up roots of bitterness and unforgiveness that have held us back from succeeding as we should. As Christians, we are supposed to forgive others just as God has forgiven us.

Many people remember my father as a great man of faith. And its trueDad did have a revelation of faith in Gods Word that changed his life and the lives of countless others too. But Kenneth E. Hagin was better known as being a great man of love. And not only did my father live a life of love and forgiveness, he taught others to do the same. Anyone who knew him knew that he never held a grudge against anyone, and he never said anything bad about anyone. Dads faith worked, and he could walk by faith so proficiently, because he also walked in love.

At my fathers memorial service, many spoke about their memories of him, and over and over we heard people saying the same thingthat Dad always forgave and kept a good report no matter what. My father had that testimony because he understood the powerful truths of love and forgiveness. In his lifetime, he taught prosperity, and he walked in prosperity. He taught healing, and he walked in healing. But my dad didnt just love the messages of prosperity and healing. He loved the whole counsel of Gods Word.

As a minister of the Gospel myself, I am interested in people having their needs met, growing in grace, and becoming fruitful in the Kingdom of God through their knowledge of the Word. I see so many confused Christians whose faith has been all but shipwrecked because they thought they were standing their ground in faith, yet something bad happened. I cant pretend to know all the answers as to why people fail to receive from God. But I can present one very good reason in the pages of this book, and that is the subtle tool of the enemy called offense.

As believers, every one of us can receive from God and walk in His highest and best. But we must avoid this trap called offense by recognizing and avoiding this deadly deception of the enemy. I encourage you to make this a priority in your life. My prayer is that this book will guide you and help you learn to succeed in avoiding the trap of being offended.

Kenneth W. Hagin

Chapter 1

Why Fail When You Can Forgive?

Returning on foot from Bethany to Jerusalem that ordinary spring morning, Jesus noticed a fig tree, its sprawling branches conspicuously adorned with leaves. Approaching the tree, He paused to look for a few early figs. Obviously disappointed by the trees barrenness, Jesus spoke with commanding authority, Let no fruit grow on you ever again (See Matt. 21:19 NKJV; Mark 11:14).

Later, when the disciples noticed the trees lifeless, withered branches, they couldnt help but be amazed by its subservience to the Master. Jesus had attempted to glean fruit from this tree, a commonplace act in that day and time. But this ordinary event was transformed into something remarkable and extraordinary in the hearts and minds of Jesus followers.

What had just occurred? A better question might be how had this occurred? Jesus, the Son of God, led by the Holy Spirit in thought, word, and action, had exhibited a higher order of any faith or power than the disciples had ever known.

Through example, Jesus was showing them and us how to walk, live, serve, and minister in His absence: by the faith of God.