Scripture: Luke 17:1-6

1Then Jesus said to his disciples, it cannot be avoided but that offences will come. Nevertheless, woe be to him through whom they come. 2It would be better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck and that he were cast into the sea, than that he should hurt one of these little ones. 3Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you saying, I am sorry – forgive him. 5And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. 6And the Lord said, If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, and were to say to this sycamine tree, Pluck yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea, it would obey you.

1. Expect Offences (vv.1-2)

• Unavoidable - we live in a fallen world
• COVID-19 Pandemic - stressful time with negative attitudes and behaviours
• Misunderstandings will happen, leading to betrayals and offences

Definition of "Offence" (Greek: skandalon)

• a bait stick or a trigger in a trap to catch animals
• stumbling blocks that will cause a person to trip or sin
• John Bevere: The Bait of Satan

“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.” (Pro 18:19)

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” (1 Jn 2:10)

2. Forgive Extravagantly (vv.3-4)

Offences must be dealt through forgiveness, or else it will:

• Lead us to grieve the Holy Spirit
• Affect us negatively - our emotions and our health

"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Heb 12:15)

Offences must be dealt through forgiveness, and we will:

• Enjoy health, joy, peace, blessings and reconciliation
• Please our Heavenly Father's heart
• Not allow Satan to steal away our destiny

Jesus set up a higher standard:

• Extend Extravagant Forgiveness
• Definition of Extravagance: extreme and unreasonable
• No choice, no excuses, no arguments

3. Step Up in Faith (vv.5-6)

Take heed to Jesus' standard:

• Stretch my faith
• Increase my faith

We are given:

• A measure of faith (Rom 12:3)
• The faith has quality and is anchored on a Person
• The source and object of our faith is God Himself

Placing our faith in God, we acknowledge:

• He forgives sin (Psa 99:8)
• So He can enable us, through the power and strength of the Holy Spirit, to obey and forgive sin seven times a day
• He does the impossible
• Tapping in our faith in Him, we can pull out and let go of the strong roots of bitterness and forgiveness

By: Rev. Maureen Seow