Biblical Discipleship Pt. 15 Discipleship: Avoid Offenses & Stay On Mission!

Jesus has been giving us a Master's level class in discipleship. In the last few posts, we have seen His disciples transition from the glory of His transfiguration, by coming down to see the failure of the nine disciples to heal a demon possessed boy. 

This was followed by a heated exchange between the disciples about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God.

Jesus used a small child as an object lesson on faith, obedience, humility and dependency. Then, He gave a strong warning against temptation followed by a parable to reinforce the need for humility and dependency.

The world is full of offenses but believers should not be guilty of them.

Matthew 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 

The word "offense" literally refers to the movable stick or trigger of a trap, used in hunting. Spiritually, this word refers to the sin of  placing any impediment placed in the way that causes a anyone to stumble or fall. 

For it must needs be. While men are born sinners such consequences must be expected.  Man’s heart is corrupted by evil, his tendencies are evil, and lust driven temptation is strong. Satan is active and all these forces result in many offenses in the world. 

A Christian should live an exemplary life that glorifies God so that lost sinners are drawn to Christ. However,  some believers profess Christ but live like the world lives. This creates a stumbling block that a sinner will trip over and it hinders them coming to Christ in repentant faith. 

The Lord singled out the deadly evil of offences, especially the bad examples of some Christian's unholy lives that lead some people astray or repel them from the gospel. Certainly the disciples must have been feeling some guilt and shame at this point.

It is a sobering reminder from Jesus on how we choose to live as believers has potential to hinder an unbeliever from coming to Him. 

Avoid offense and walk in the Light.

Matthew 5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Offenses of all types abound in the world, but believers should seek to live a life that is void of offense to the people around them. This connects with letting our light shine forth as a vivid testimony to the grace of God and the power of the cross in our lives. 

Matthew 18:8-9  Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 

But woe to that man! Because of this evil principle which is rife in the world, no man is exonerated from the guilt of giving offence. 

Man has free will and can choose good. He can strengthen his natural weakness, control his perverseness, overcome corruption, by the mighty help of God who is always ready to help all who seek Him. 

The first "woe" is a cry of pity for a world in danger. The second "woe" is a denunciation of the sinner as being responsible for the evil which he introduces.

The only remedy for avoiding offenses is this  vigilant self-denial, a strict watchfulness over our thoughts, because what we think about governs our words and actions. 

If thy hand or thy foot.  Literally, the hand or foot leads into sin, when it is directed to forbidden objects. Our hands or feet move towards the things that are contrary to the Law of God.  Any possible avenues of sin we must seek God's strength and cast the wrong thoughts aside.

Matthew Henry wrote that: "We must part with an eye, or a hand, or a foot, that is, that, whatever it is, which is dear to us, when it proves unavoidably an occasion of sin to us. Many prevailing temptations to sin arise from within ourselves; our own eyes and hands offend us; if there were never a devil to tempt us, we should be drawn away of our own lust: nay, those things which in themselves are good, and may be used as instruments of good, even those, through the corruptions of our hearts, prove snares to us, incline us to sin, and hinder us in duty."

This is the idea of not giving our flesh any occasion or opportunity to sin. 

No Confidence in our flesh

Philippians 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

We must have no confidence in the flesh, in those carnal ordinances and outward performances. We learn to worship God in Spirit and in truth because that pleases Him. 

The words "no confidence" means not trusting that we can master our flesh in our own strength, for we will fail. It means not caving in to the lust of our flesh. It means that we cannot be motivated to act by our flesh, but are governed by the Holy Spirit in us, as He makes us a new creation in Christ

We must stop trusting in our own feeble strength, so that we may build only on Jesus Christ, the everlasting foundation. Our confidence, as well as our joy, comes from knowing Christ.

Put to death the "old man" and his deeds.

Romans 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

The indwelling Spirit of God will show us how to put off our "old man" tendencies and to "put on" that new man in Christ each day. He will help us see our sin as God does, so its repugnancy will cause us to flee the evil and run to Christ. 

Remember, Paul told the Romans that being carnal minded leads to death but being spiritual minded leads to life and peace (Romans 8:5-11). 

Enjoying a fruitful new life in Christ. 

Galatians 5:22-26  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 

The fruit of the Spirit is the beautiful life we can live in Christ, as we yield ourselves to the Spirit. When the Spirit is having His way in our heart and mind, we will crucify the flesh and all its lusts and sensual yearnings. This is another way of saying we must put off our old man and have no confidence in our flesh. 

What we just studied about the squabble over which disciple would be the greatest in the kingdom, represents the things Jesus told the disciples to "put off." Jesus then gives what they must "put on" as He brought their focus back to the mission. 

Seeking the lost sheep is our mission. 

Matthew 18:10-14  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11) For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12) How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13) And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14) Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 

The Good Shepherd returns to one of His favorite topics. Seeking the lost sheep of the house of Israel (See Matthew 10:6 & 15:24). 

Jesus reminded the disciples not to offend the little children, and those believers who are poor in spirit and humble in heart. Believers who have true humility and child like faith, are to be treated with honor and respect.  

All sheep were valuable and a good shepherd will leave the ninety nine sheep to go searching for that one lost sheep. It is a picture of Christ's love and dedication to the task of saving sinners through repentant faith in Him. 

Each lost sinner who comes to repentance and is born again is the source of great joy for our Lord and for the angels in heaven. 

John 10:14-16  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16)  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Then, Jesus turned them right back to the mission. They were to be fishers of men because Jesus was born to die and pay for all mankind's sins. He is seeking out those who are like lost sheep that have gone astray. 

John's gospel tells us that Jesus has other sheep who are not of the children of Israel. He was seeking lost sheep among the Gentiles too. This remains the mission, to share the gospel to all nations with an anticipation that God will save both Jews and Gentiles. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Pastors, Parents and Parishioners must learn this great lesson of discipleship: True humility must drive out our selfish desires. 

Jesus used a child as an object lesson. He taught us that we must avoid being an offense or stumbling block that hinders someone from coming to faith in Christ. This means that we must dedicate ourselves to living life for the glory of God. 

Our prayer should be: Do not let my life be an offense to others. 

Pastors, Parents and Parishioners also must learn how to avoid committing any offenses. We do this by walking in the light of God's word, making good moral choices and letting our light shine forth into a world that needs to see light and truth from God.

We also avoid offenses by denying self, picking up our cross and following Christ without reservation. 

We can enjoy a fruitful and fruit producing life in Christ as we allow the Spirit of God to direct our steps. 

Last, we all need to be as passionate as Christ is about saving the lost sheep around us.

May all of our Pastors, Parents and church members be blessed by these simple yet profound truths that Jesus is teaching us. May the Spirit of God stir our minds and hearts so we seek first the kingdom of God and trust God to supply our needs. 

Bob