🎯EC SUNDAY MESSAGE SUMMARY
June 15, 2026
Focus: Dealing with Offences and Unforgiveness (Part 5)
Ministered by Minister Jermaine Johnson
When you are in offense with someone, have you considered their spiritual impact from the situation? Dealing with offenses goes much further than yourself and your own emotions about the situation that you have been placed in. An offense itself is a situation that is intentionally designed to strip you as a person, and bait you to step outside of the will and character of Christ. It is natural to feel wronged after being offended. However, there are always paths we can take during the trial of offense. We can either choose to take this on as a stumble or use this occasion to be a stepping stone in our journey. In doing so, no roots of bitterness will form as we cry out to God for strength.
When deciding to take on an offense, there comes a spiritual pride with it that craves a need for personal justification, which may lead to various unintended, malicious actions towards the other individual. Specifically, these actions show up as symptoms of the root of bitterness, which is a malicious spiritual condition. In these moments, these actions seem right to us, but God, however, says that these ways will ultimately lead to death.
Symptoms, such as resentment towards the other individual, withdrawal and avoidance from the person, deciding to randomly lash out at them, as well as spreading false accusations against the other individual in order to harm them. This will not only hinder us from walking in the mind of Christ, but also discourage and hinder others from walking in the mind of Christ as well. As saints, we must remember that other individuals will also have the same feelings of offense, and it can harbor as a root of bitterness in their minds if they do not walk with the mind of Christ, which ultimately takes them further away from God. In such cases, we should always remember to slow down and listen, allowing the mind of Christ to guide our response rather than our emotions.
Unforgiveness is also an important part of offenses, and it is the refusal to forgive someone who has wronged you. As children of God, it all boils down to the conscious decisions we make in moments of weakness that determine our faith. Holding onto unforgiveness can also cause roots of bitterness to grow. We must take heed, however, as God promises us that we will not be tempted more than we are able, and that he will provide a way of escape so that we are able to bear it. This means to us as followers of Christ that it is a choice if we then choose to sin and take on an offense with our neighbor, and cause contention among ourselves. In the mix of feelings like anger and betrayal, it is up to us in these moments to put down the spiritual pride, whether we are the offender or not carry our cross, and using the whole armor of God so that we may be able to withstand against the wills of the devil.
Many times this offense becomes deep rooted and can stay with us as far as even when the person that we are offended with passes away. In such conditions, God uses a special tool to remove these deep rooted wounds and the roots of bitterness so that we are freed from its implication in our lives. Thank God for his holy sickle and tools that will uproot even the deepest and long-standing offenses that we have with others.
At the end of the day, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers in situations where offenses try to butt up, calling us children of God in such times. We are to show gratitude when infirmities like this come our way. And in our weakness, God will provide strength that he has placed within us all.
Summarized by: Kirsten Stupart
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Summarized by: Kirsten Stupart
LISTEN IN AUDIO FORMAT - WORDVIBES NUGGETS:
WATCH FULL MESSAGE: