70 of 76 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why waste time being offended?, January 4, 2006
This review is from: The Bait of Satan: Living Free From the Deadly Trap of Offense (10th Anniversary Edition with Devotional Supplement) (Paperback)
I loved this book so much I purchased the curriculum. This book teaches that unforgiveness springs forth from being offended at any number of things, but it does NOT teach that we can not be indignant of actions, words, or authorities that go against the Word of the Lord. Neither does the book teach that we are to blindly accept those in authority over us. There's a difference between being offended and holy indignation.
Here's where I WAS: "I am smarter than you, stronger in character than you, and farther in my Christian walk than you are. What you say bears no relevance because I have already marked those in whom I place my earthly trust, and you are not one of them." What a dangerous place to be!
Here is where I AM NOW: We all say things and do things that are not in complete obedience to God, even if our walk with Him has been long and fruitful. At the very least, we might commit small sins of pride or vanity, regarding ourselves as indignant in a holy way, but we are really self-righteously indignant. Because of the teaching in this book, I have come to recognize that I can not affect how others behave, but I can affect how I react. I can CHOOSE to take the bait or I can CHOOSE to forgive, to learn, and to move on.
I'm such a different person now - like night and day. I had no idea that my being offended at so many little things was standing in the way of achieving my full potential as a Christian. Now I do.
For those who feel condemned when reading this book. Don't. Conviction in your heart isn't condemnation, for there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit minister to you! Be encouraged that Jesus cares enough to get involved with your reading, your learning, and your interest in removing the still uncircumcised calluses of your heart. I was out of my comfort zone for some time before diving into the Word in conjunction with going through this curriculum yielded revelation about myself and my character that I resisted knowing. I have been delivered!
In another CD teaching, a Deacon Dr. Bob McDonald said, "The size of your ego is exactly equal to the distance between you and God." How true! Let's just say there was quite the chasm between God and I before I overcame my unwillingness to be truthful with myself and really reap the benefits of this book.
Praise the Lord for His patience and mercy!
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48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Everyone's been offended... how should we deal with it?, May 15, 2007
This review is from: The Bait of Satan: Living Free From the Deadly Trap of Offense (10th Anniversary Edition with Devotional Supplement) (Paperback)
Every single person has been offended one time or other. How do I know? The Bible says it is so! No one who lives in a time like this is free from offense, but the offense does not need to color the way we see things, how we view life, and how we perceive the people who have offended us. The offense can grow to become bitterness and take root in our lives. This book helps us identify that we have been offended, and the great need to forgive and release the offense.
"Offended people produce much fruit, such as hurt, anger, outrage, jealousy, resentment, strife, bitterness, hatred, and envy. Some of the consequences of picking up an offense are insults, attacks, wounding, division, separation, broken relationships, betrayal, and backsliding." (pg. xiv)
Why is the book entitled "The Bait of Satan"? Well, Bevere explains that the Greek word for "offend" in Luke 17:1 comes from the word skandalon, which originally referred to the part of the trap which the bait was attached. Hence, the word signifies laying a trap in someone's way. In the New Testament it often describes an entrapment used by the enemy.
The following are some quotes from the book:
- Our response to an offense determines our future.
- An offended Christian is one who takes in life but because of fear, cannot release it.
- When we filter everything through past hurts, rejections, and experiences, we find it impossible to believe God.
- There is only one person who can get you out of the will of God, and that is you!
- It is righteous for God to avenge His servants. It is unrighteous for God's servants to avenge themselves.
- Acquiring an offense keeps you from seeing your character flaws because blame is deferred to another.
- When we ratain an offense in our hearts, we filter everything through it.
- Jesus offended some people by obeying His Father, but He never caused an offense in order to assert His own rights.
- A slave is one who has to serve while a servant is one who lives to serve.
- A person who cannot forgive has forgotten how great a debt God has forgiven them.
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47 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Important Scripture Left Out, November 14, 2010
This review is from: The Bait of Satan: Living Free From the Deadly Trap of Offense (10th Anniversary Edition with Devotional Supplement) (Paperback)
Something that I would like to ask the author that concerned me when reading this book. He took 4 pages to describe and explain the scriptural account of Joseph and his brothers. He went into all the details from beginning to end - EXCEPT for the part where Joseph TESTED his brothers to see if their hearts were truly repentant over how they treated him (sold him into slavery/left him for dead). After Joseph tested his brothers and saw their hearts had changed, then Joseph extended the offer of restored relationship with them! To forgive is a matter of the heart of 1 person, to have reconciliation and restoration of relationships it takes both parties!!
I'm very concerned that this was left out, because the bible does make it clear that if wicked people, sinners (just like you and me) do not repent then they will have a bad consequence. It is not my job to get revenge or judge another, but do I need to stay in a bad relationship with an evil person who is not repentant? I do not believe that God nor the scriptures teach this at all. I find it very odd that after spending 4 pages describing the story, that is the 1 part he left out of his book. Why?
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