Dharius Daniels - Getting Out of the Fence

Matthew 5:23 says, «Therefore, if you’re offering your gift at the altar and remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to them, and then come and offer your gift.» On top of this subject today, getting out of the fence. Over the past several weeks, we’ve been engaged in a sermon series called «Altered.» Everybody say «altered.» Say it like you expect God to change some things in your life: say «altered.» Say it like you believe things are already changing in your life: say «altered.» Say it like the enemy is upset that things are about to be altered, and he gets agitated every time you say it, but he can’t do anything about it! Somebody say «altered,» «alter.»

The primary premise of this series is this: it is possible to have the right religion but not work that religion right. You can have the right religion and not work it properly. It is only when you work it right that you get the fullness of the benefits available to you through that religion. Therefore, we have argued that an altar-less Christianity is a Christianity that does not alter your life. Some things don’t get altered with an «E» until other things get altered with an «A.» Over the past few weeks, we’ve discussed what that means. We learned in the first lesson that if some things are going to be altered with an «E,» it means I have to identify what needs to die. Some things don’t change until other things stop. So, instead of focusing on what I need to change, I need to focus on what I need to kill. I can’t do more prayer until I start doing less of something else.

We also identified that some things aren’t altered until some things are burned by fire. This means there are heart issues and head issues. I can fix head issues with knowledge, but I can’t fix heart issues until the one who holds my heart puts His hand on my heart and does with my heart what the Potter did with the clay in His hands—forms and shapes my heart into what it needs to be. That only comes from the presence of God. Last week, we also learned that some things aren’t altered until we make sacrifices. Sometimes you have to give up what you value to gain what you value more! Come on and talk to me! Is there anyone in this room who can honestly assess your life and say that the more I’ve grown, the more my values have changed? There were things that held a place of prestige in my life during one season that I no longer value as I used to. You can tell when it’s time to engage in some degree of separation in all relationships when you see inequity in your values.

Today, I want to introduce you to another aspect of an altered life: the altar is not just a place where things are put to death. The altar is not just a place where things are consumed with fire. The altar is not just a place where we make sacrifices; the altar is where offenses are settled. Has anyone here ever been offended? Okay, has anyone over there been offended? How about over here? Have you ever been offended? I love Jesus, but I’m offended. I’m not sensitive, but I can be offended. I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve, but I can be offended. It is impossible to live life without dealing with offense. Some people may think, «I can sit there,» but it is impossible to live life without offense!

Listen to me; it means if I’m going to be offended at some point or another, I must learn the skill of releasing offense so that my offense does not become a fence that keeps good things from getting in and keeps me from getting out. Did you hear what I said? When we don’t manage offense biblically, improperly, offense can become a fence that prevents the things that need to get to us from reaching us and keeps us from escaping situations we need to get out of. This is the danger of offense. Offense can give you the illusion that you are free. Did you understand? Follow me here.

A fence can give you the illusion that you’re free because you can be behind the fence and still move. But just because you’re moving doesn’t mean you’re free. Are you all ready for this? Just because you’re moving doesn’t mean you’re progressing. Just because you’re walking doesn’t mean you’re walking forward. Is there anybody here who can look back over your life and reflect on seasons where you were moving but not going anywhere? You were walking but not walking into your destiny. You were exerting energy and effort but not seeing a return on that investment because it’s possible not to be shackled but still be bound. Who am I preaching to in here?

Offense can become a fence that keeps things that need to get to us from reaching us, and I think this is the essence of what Jesus is saying in this Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. This is a part of what’s called the Beatitudes, and He starts addressing them in the latter part of the chapter about the difference between external activity and the posture and position of their hearts.