How Did We End Up Here?

How can two best friends become sworn enemies? This is the question posed by Philip Alley as he commences today’s message. The answer lies in the matter of offence taken by one or both parties. Philip goes on to describe the progression of offence. A careless word or unmet expectation, if nursed and rehearsed long enough, becomes a garbage dump of fire in the heart – a living hell, says Philip. Satan’s agenda is destruction, his strategy division, and a common tactic is offence. From the Scriptures, Philip exhorts the listeners to settle matters quickly, while still together so that the plan of the enemy is deterred. Philip describes the place and purpose of boundaries in our lives as well as the instruction of 2 Corinthians 10:15 – take every thought captive so that the offense is not driven down deep to become a festering wound. Our perfect example, of course, is Jesus, who refused to let offence take hold in His heart. Philip concludes with a quote from Lewis B Smedes. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was me”.