“BITTER FREE LIVING.”
ONE DROP OF UN-LOVE YIELDED TO WILL POISON YOUR WHOLE SPIRITUAL SYSTEM- AFFECTING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS AND YOUR VIEW OF LIFE! – BITTERNESS in the spiritual realm is such a devastating poison for it is – un-love! None of us have the “right” to hold grudges, resentment, bitterness against others!
God says -“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”- Prov 4:23
“Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”- Heb 12:15
BITTERNESS– IS A CHOICE WE MAKE. BITTERNESS IS DEVOID OF FORGIVENESS. BITTERNESS IS DEVOID OF GOD’S LOVE. BITTERNESS EFFECTS OTHERS TO THEIR HURT! BITTERNESS IS LIKE A VENOMOUS SNAKE, THAT IS EMBRACED, NURTURED IN THE BOSOM OF AN UNFORGIVING HEART! BITTERNESS IS – SIN AGAINST GOD AND OTHERS!
WHAT IS BITTERNESS: {kai pikrias:}
Bitterness (4088) (pikría from pikrós from pik- = to cut, prick) originally meant pointed or sharp, e.g., of arrows then more generally of what is “sharp” or “penetrating” to the senses, a bitter, pungent taste or smell and then what is “painful” to the feelings.
“Pikria” was used literally to describe plants that produced inedible or poisonous fruit. Greeks defined this word as long-standing resentment, as the spirit which refuses to be reconciled. So many of us have a way of nursing our wrath to keep it warm, of brooding over the insults and the injuries which we have received.
In the NT “pikria” is used in a metaphorical sense to describe animosity, resentfulness, harshness or an openly-expressed emotional hostility against an enemy.
Pikria defines a settled hostility that poisons the whole inner man. Somebody does something we do not like, so we harbor ill will against him.
Bitterness leads to wrath, which is the explosion on the outside of the feelings on the inside.
Pikria is found 4 times in the NAS (Acts 8:23; Rom. 3:14; Eph. 4:31; Heb. 12:15). Pikria is used 27 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Exod 15:23; Deut 29:18; 32:32; Job 3:20; 7:11; 9:18; 10:1; 21:25; Ps 10:7; 14:3; Isa 28:21, 28; 37:29; Jer 2:21; 15:17; Lam 3:15, 19; Ezek 28:24; Amos 6:12)
In the first use of pikria in the Old Testament, Moses records…”And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter (pikria); therefore it was named Marah. (Ex 15:23)
Bitterness reflects a smoldering resentment, a brooding grudge–filled attitude, an unwillingness to forgive or a harsh feeling. Bitterness is the opposite of sweetness and kindness (cf. husbands toward wives in Colossians 3:19 – see note). It harbors resentment and keeps score of wrongs (cf 1Cor 13:5)
Bitterness applies to the bitterness of spirit to which men give vent by bitter words.
Barclay adds that, “the Greeks defined (pikría ) as long-standing resentment, as the spirit which refuses to be reconciled. So many of us have a way of nursing our wrath to keep it warm, of brooding over the insults and the injuries which we have received. Every Christian might well pray that God would teach him how to forget.” (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press)
Eadie says that pikria is…A figurative term denoting that fretted and irritable state of mind that keeps a man in perpetual animosity, that inclines him to harsh and uncharitable opinions of men and things, that makes him sour, crabby and repulsive in his general demeanor, that brings a scowl over his face & infuses venom into the words of his tongue.
Newell adds that their “Bitterness is ever ready! What fearful folly for a race speaking thus to imagine that by “being baptized, ” and “joining the church” they are ready to “go to heaven, ” and be in the holy company on high, with the meek and lowly Son of God and the holy angels, -and all this without a thought of being forgiven, washed, born again!” (Romans 3: Devotional and Expositional)
Wiersbe has this practical comment on “bitterness” to which even believers can fall prey (although here in Rom 3:14, the reference is of course referring to an unsaved individual):
“An unforgiving spirit is the devil’s playground and before long it becomes the Christian’s battleground. If somebody hurts us, either deliberately or unintentionally, and we do not forgive him, then we begin to develop bitterness within, which hardens the heart. We should be tenderhearted and kind, but instead we are hardhearted and bitter. Actually, we are not hurting the person who hurt us; we are only hurting ourselves.
Bitterness in the heart makes us treat others the way Satan treats them, when we should treat others the way God has treated us.
In His gracious kindness, God has forgiven us, and we should forgive others. We do not forgive for our sake (though we do get a blessing from it) or even for their sake, but for Jesus’ sake. Learning how to forgive and forget is one of the secrets of a happy Christian life.” (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)
In Acts Peter confronts Simon the sorcerer declaring, “I see that you (Simon) are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity” (Acts 8:23).
Comment: Note in Acts 8:13 “Simon himself believed” but his subsequent actions and Peter’s assessment make it clear that this was not belief unto salvation but was intellectual and/or a belief only in the signs and wonders
Gall (chole gives us our medical term cholecystitis for gallbladder disease) is a bitter ingredient or bile and with pikría (bitterness), it conveys an extremely bitter, harsh, and distasteful condition, vividly picturing the reality of one in the bondage of iniquity. This verse then describes a spiritual poisoning—a heart of great wickedness—in Simon the sorcerer. The sin of bitterness, like all sin, is a harsh taskmaster, Solomon recording that a man’s “own iniquities will capture the wicked and he will be held with the cords of his sin.” (Proverbs 5:22–notes) (Comment: Sin’s built-in consequences are inescapable)
Writing to the Ephesian saints Paul exhorted them to. “Let all bitterness (pikria) and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Eph 4:31–note).
In the final use of pikría in the NT, the writer of Hebrews exhorts his readers to”See to it (continually be on the lookout so) that no one comes short (to come too late, to be left out = if an unbeliever dies before trusting in Christ, he will be lost forever) of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness (in context this is the attitude of apostates within the church who are corruptive influences) springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled” (Heb 12:15–note)
MacArthur writes that in this context,
“The root of bitterness refers to a person who is superficially identified with God’s people, and who falls back into paganism. But he is no ordinary apostate. He is arrogant and defiant concerning the things of God. He thumbs his nose at the Lord. God’s response to such boastful unbelief is harsh and final. “The Lord shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the Lord and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven” (Dt 29:20).” (MacArthur, John: Hebrews. Moody Press) David described cursing, bitter persons as those who
“have sharpened their tongue like a sword … aimed bitter speech as their arrow, to shoot from concealment at the blameless; suddenly they shoot him, and do not fear” (Ps 64:3-4).
Every age of mankind, our own certainly included, has been characterized by people who use their tongues as vicious weapons. Their attacks not only are against those they know well enough to hate but sometimes, as David seems to intimate, even against strangers, simply for the perverse pleasure of venting their anger and hatred.” {-Preceptaustin.com}
Bitterness is sourness of spirit– begins when we choose to YIELD to a thought. It may begin with a thought of an unloving response in our heart. It may be caused through a hurt we receive. It is then embraced, and our THINKING is not to respond in “LOVE” but to respond even inwardly in “UNLOVING” thoughts- the desire for vengeance- which is only God’s right . It is a hurt that we choose NOT to forgive.
Bitterness is a result of a lack of REPENTANCE and UNFORGIVENESS on our parts when we are choosing to live in bitterness.
Bitterness sometimes takes this route;
We are Hurt
We become angry
We become resentful
We choose to Hate the person or persons
We want vengeance and the other person to hurt as we have-
We want them to pay for it- and take joy in their pain
We feel justified in our “right” to be bitter and withhold forgiveness and love
We speak evil of them.
THE INFLUENCE OF BITTERNESS;
A Bitter person cannot be bitter alone- listen to this warning -“…Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.- Heb 12:15
The root of bitterness goes deeper and deeper like roots into our thinking and into our heart- IT GAINS ENTRANCE THROUGH -ONE DROP- of unforgiveness, of unlove in our RESPONSE, until it begins to like a kettle full of hot water is brought to the boil and if not turned off the water will overflow, and it will BURN others if they seek to touch it! So the root of bitterness spreads to others who are influenced in turn and it defiles them, if they CHOOSE TO RESPOND with ONE DROP of UNLOVE!
Then their view of God, their view of the individual or individuals of others- and it in turn affects their relationship with God and relationship with others. Their speech is “SOUR”- their outlook is ‘SOURED- they have been INFECTED with the bitterness of another who has refused to FORGIVE, a lack of forgiveness is that DROP OF UNLOVE. IT ONLY TAKES ONE THOUGHT OF UNLOVE TO BE EMBRACED, YIELDED TO- ONE RESPONSE OF UNLOVE TO ALLOW THE SEED OF BITTERNESS TO BE SOWN IN OUR THINKING AND RESULT IN OUR DOING, AND SPEECH AND – IT IS A DEADLY WEAPON THE EVIL ONE, WITH OUR PERMISSION USES TO INFECT US AND SPREAD LIKE A DEADLY VIRUS TO OTHERS OF UNLOVE!
Bitter people are not Spirit controlled people, but Spirit opposed!!
THE SOLUTION?
1. Acknowledge your hurt to God. The pain caused. the “feelings” you are struggling with
2. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY- No one but you or me is RESPONSIBLE FOR our Reactions and choices but we ourselves. NO ONE FORCES us to be BITTER- WE CHOOSE to and we CHOOSE TO HOLD onto it. Sometimes we “enjoy” it!
3. REPENT of the sin of Bitterness.
4. REFUSE TO ALLOW IT TO MASTER YOUR THINKING ANYMORE- but
5. REPLACE THE SIN OF BITTERNESS BY CHOOSING TO FORGIVE- pardon- NO LONGER HOLD THE OFFENDER in your prison of bitterness AND MAINTAIN THAT ATTITUDE OF LOVE
6. RESTORATION IS GUARANTEED – of your relationship with GOD who is offended and “grieved” through bitter attitudes we hold unto. Jesus died to deliver us and gave us the power to lay it aside…. By through choosing to OBEY GOD – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be BEING kind and BE BEING compassionate to one another, BE BEING forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.- “Eph 4:31-32
HOW TO COUNTERACT BITTERNESS;
FOCUS on the three positive commands IN EPHESIANS 4:32 -COUNTERACT BITTERNESS by CHOOSING TO BE BEING KIND, COMPASSIONATE AND FORGIVING- Motivated – Just as God has forgiven you! GOD IS OUR STANDARD…. not SIN, satan or the desire of the old man SELF. who likes to HOLD grudges, Nurse them, and eventually become settles in a fixed attitude that takes roots and grows deeper and deeper and Do not be deceived when you and I CHOOSE TO BE BITTER- look around and SEE whom we have infected WITH the deadly venom of bitterness- others are affected!
If anyone should be bitter surely it should be God, how often have we hurt Him, how often have we been ungrateful to Him, how often have we sinned against Him. BUT THERE IS NO BITTERNESS FOUND IN LOVE. Too often we confuse “feelings” with ACTS. LOVE IS A SACRIFICIAL CHOICE TO BENEFIT OTHERS, SEEKING NOTHING IN RETURN BUT THEIR HIGHEST GOOD, FOR JESUS SAKE! IT IS AN ACT OF THE WILL.JESUS SAYS,”LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.” Paul told Timothy to have the people pry for those in authority- at that time Nero the vicious and evil king was in power and persecuting the believers. Do you think they “felt” warm and fuzzy about that? It is a choice of LOVE- I do so to EXPRESS my LOVE TO GOD. “Forgive your enemies…” HOW. Jess tells us….” PRAY FOR THEM, BLESS THEM DO GOOD TO THEM….” Note the ACTION of LOVE.
CHOOSING TO LOVE WILL KEEP YOU FROM BITTERNESS. OR ACTING ON BITTERNESS WILL CHOOSE TO KEEP YOU FROM PRACTICING LOVE
His Love covers a multitude of sin. His Love through the blood of His dear Son, has cleansed you and me from all unrighteousness. Does this mean we do not speak to the one who has offended us. We can make the choice to cover it with love or to confront in love seeking not VENGEANCE or to return hurt for hurt- but to seek restoration! This is always the GOAL of LOVE.
THE SIN OF BITTERNESS – HOW DID YOU OR I GET HERE- IF THAT IS WHERE WE PRESENTLY FIND OURSELVES?
WE CHOSE TO! It all began with one THOUGHT OF UNLOVE WE YIELDED TO in a moment in time and Held onto that thought and Acted on that Thought!thought…. one unloving responses and in it grew the seed of anger, resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness until it took root and as a bitter person can never be bitter unto themselves it is spread through speech, unforgiveness, resentment and others then choose to respond and they are defiled in their spirit… if they are not guarding their own heart, who in turn through IGNORANCE or DISOBEDIENCE CHOOSE SIN!
They begin to choose to think the worst of others, based on YOU.
They choose to yield to that ONE DROP of bitterness and they in turn are infected by the poison of YOUR unlove.
I remember once driving and seeing in a distance trees and an old building covered by what seemed a huge plant. “That is nice ” I thought until someone explained it was the “kudzu,” which left unchecked grows , spreads and distorts, taking over all in its sight. The building could not be seen, the trees were defaced and so is bitterness in the spiritual realm left unchecked, it distorts the image of God, It dishonors God, it DEFILES others!
THE SINFUL CYCLE IS OF THE SIN OF BITTERNESS – LOSES ITS POWER AND IS BROKEN THROUGH…
1. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY...Taking personal responsibility for your own sin of BITTERNESS. “I ALONE, AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS OF BITTERNESS.”
2. PERSONAL REPENTANCE TOWARDS GOD AND CHOOSING TO FORGIVE.
3. REFUSE TO YIELD TO SINFUL THOUGHTS. CHOOSE when the evil one BRINGS up those THOUGHTS of the past hurts, come to mind RECOGNIZE…. TO CHOOSE TO EMBRACE THEM IS S TO SIN AGAINST GOD, AND WILL LEAD TO YOUR BONDAGE AND OTHERS CONTAMINATION… Take the thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and maintain your stance of forgivness saying”LORD I have forgiven them, I will not sin against you through yielding to an attitude of bitterness.”
BECAUSE THE THOUGHT COMES BACK TO YOUR MIND DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE NOT FORGIVEN… NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE ARE WE TOLD”FORGIVE AND FORGET” WE ARE TOLD TO “FORGIVE”- “RELEASE” ” SEND AWAY” “DO NOT KEEP RECORDS OF WRONGS” TO USE AGAINST OTHERS to manipulate, hurt, embarrass them through gossiping about them to others! WE ARE COMMANDED TO “FORGIVE” we are told the reason why,” JUST AS GOD IN Christ HAS FORGIVEN YOU.” – We are not old to “forgive yourself”- Our sin is ultimately against God and it is Him we have offended by OUR OWN Sinful Choices to REFUSE to Extend Forgiveness. “BUT GOD….” has supplied the BLOOD, precious, Costly, Powerful Blood of His dear Son, to Cleanse you from all Sin and Has given you “everything pertaining to life {the power of the inner life} and Godliness,{the external power to live} through the KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST.”- 1 Peter 1:3 You KNOW Jesus and He has given you all your need for everything inwardly and outwardly to RESPOND IN A GOD HONORING WAY. CLAIM THIS PROMISE, AVAIL OF THIS PROMISE, MEDITATE ON THE GOD WHO GIVES THIS PROMISE! Indeed Peter goes on to say, God has given us “precious { incomparable to anything else} and magnificent PROMISES.”
So here how it works.
The evil one INJECTS the thought, sometimes floods of them of past hurts, you can CHOOSE TO THINK on them or you can choose to respond knowing the purpose of the temptation is always for you to trip up and SIN against GOD. So when the thought to be “bitter” comes, claim HIS PROMISE and ACT UPON IT,”NO TEMPTATION has overtaken you { including the temptation to be bitter- your not the only one tempted to sin in that area} but such as is common to man, GOD IS FAITHFUL who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, {in other words, God will never put you in a place where your only way out is to SIN against Him, which in the case of sinful thoughts of bitterness} but with THE TEMPTATION} note the word “THE” it is a specific temptation…} God provides “THE” {NOTE AGAIN the word, “THE”} WAY OF ESCAPE.” in this PROMISE when tempted, God promises YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SIN, I SO SPECIFICALLY PROVIDE “THE” WAY OF ESCAPE FOR YOU…with thoughts of Bitterness. it is to refuse them by replacing the thoughts with PRAISE to God who has saved you from living such a life of bondage, it is to THANK Him He has made you aware of the purpose of “the” temptation, It is to Thank him He has imparted to you “everything you need to live Godly and THANK Him for His precious, powerful promises to use as “weapons” in the “spiritual warfare of evil attacks on your mind to seduce you to sin by planting ONE THOUGHT OF UNLOVE, and you choosing to act upon rather than by faith appropriating the powerful Word of God. Also remember in EVERY TEMPTATION you are never LONE,THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IN YOU TO STRENGTHEN and REMIND you of His Truth, the Motivation of DOING RIGHT – LOVE FOR GOD AND OTHERS!.
We are never told to “forgive ourselves” but to seek forgiveness of Him in whom we have offended!. Forgiveness…EXTEND IT TO OTHERS…,”just as God in Christ has forgiven YOU.” PRAY for the individual who has hurt you, Ask God to bless them Ask him to bring them to a deeper knowledge of you if they know Him and to “abound in love…”-Phil 1:9. If the individual does not know the LORD Jesus , ask Him to have the Holy Spirit convict them of sin and save them that they may Love God with al their hearts and love others!. Turn the temptation to be bitter into a platform to PRAY and PRACTICE the PROMISES and avail of the POWER OF GOD and KNOW HIM mole and More because of the temptation you find yourself in,”CALL ON ME IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, I WILL DELIVER YOU AND YOU WILL GLORIFY ME.”-Psalm 50:15- DAYS OF TROUBLE ,CHOOSE THEM TO BE DAYS YOU CAL ON GOD. What the evil one means for evil you choose to turn for your good by calling on God and choosing to OBEY HIM! Knowing you can!!!
Bitterness embraced is love displaced!
BITTER PEOPLE ARE NOT SPIRIT CONTROLLED BUT SPIRIT OPPOSED!
Look and see Has anyone been contaminated, infected because you allowed ONE DROP- of bitterness into your heart?
4. CHOOSE TO LOVE- 1 COR 13:4-7
As you confess YOUR sin, and lay It aside through repentance- turning away from living in tat attitude and turning to God and by replacing it with choosing to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving motivated by the forgivness of God for you- by faith the ROOTS will be UPROOTED- FORGIVENESS EXTENDED “Forgive us as we forgive others”…. LOVE WILL RULE… GOD WILL NO LONGER BE GRIEVED ND THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT WILL BE IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU, which are”LOVE, JOY , PEACE..”ALL THESE ARE ABSENT IN A BITTER HEART… THE ABSENCE OF LOVE FOR GOD AND THE ONE WHO HAS HURT YOU…THE ABSENCE OF JOY, SATISFACTION WITH THE LORD , AND THE ABSENCE OF PEACE….
GOD WOULD HAVE US…
* THINK ON HIS WORD- PHIL 4:8
* PRACTICE DOING RIGHT- PHIL 4:9
THE RESULT? PEACE OF GOD WILL BE PRESENT – {Phil 4:7 }
ONE DROP of bitterness affects and defiles OTHERS… FORGIVENESS EXTENDED HONORS GOD and Influences OTHERS for GOOD and Hid glory!
YOUR CHOICE! TO FORGIVE OR HOLD ONTO UNFORGIVENESS!
WHAT ABOUT THE “FEELINGS” I “FEEL?”
NO WHERE IN THE BIBLE ARE YOU COMMANDED TO LIVE IN SUBMISSION TO YOUR SINFUL “FEELINGS” OF BITTERNESS AS THE AUTHORITY OF YOUR LIFE! Don’t wait for the “feeling” Of forgiveness to come- FORGIVENESS IS AN ACT OF THE WILL- A DEFINITE CHOICE TO RELEASE THAT PERSON…. IT CAN BE DEVOID OF “FEELINGS” WE LIVE BY FAITH IN GOD NOT IN OUR EVER CHANGING “FEELINGS.” CHOOSE TO OBEY GOD NOW AND REPENT. RETURN TO GOD, REPLACE BITTERNESS, HATE, ANGER, WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS and see Him break the bonds and the sour heart He replaces with the sweet fruit of the Holy Spirit which is devoid in the life of the bitter person be that you or me. WE LIVE BY FAITH IN HIM AND WHAT HE SAYS- NO WHERE IN SCRIPTURE ARE WE TOLD TO LET “FEELINGS’ BE OUR GUIDE ON HOW TO LIVE. WE OBEY GOD…GOD RESPONDS WITH RESTORATION TO HIM, RELEASE FROM THE SIN OF BITTERNESS THAT HAS ENTANGLED US FOR WAY TOO LONG. And as I read somewhere, someone has said it affects us, it can physically! it is NOT GOD’S will for you or me to live in this bondage which Jesus died to deliver, rescue us from so that we may CHOOSE with His Power to love LOVING GOD AND OTHERS….
IT IS A CHOICE WE MAKE- A CHOICE OF LOVE FOR THE SAVIOR… and to maintain the attitude of bitterness is a LOVE FOR SELF and a LACK OF LOVE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEFILED B IT…..
WE Have NO RIGHT to be BITTER but we do have the RESPONSIBILITY to GUARD our Hearts knowing to do otherwise, opens our-self up to be used by the evil one to sin against God, contaminate others so they Sin against God!
YOU CAN BREAK THE CHAINS OF BITTERNESS- BECAUSE GOD ALREADY ON THE CROSS OF HIS SON HAS!
– YOU HAVE THE POWER- 2 Pet 1:3
– YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY- PHIL 2:12-13
– IT COMES DOWN TO A CHOICE- A CHOICE TO LOVE HIM- or a CHOICE to Continue to Love SELF and harbor anger, resentment, hatred, unforgiveness, bitterness and continue to DEMONSTRATE A LACK OF LOVE TOWARDS OTHERS by influencing others through your words, actions, so that they ignorantly, or willingly choose to participate in the evil of the SIN OF BITTERNESS AGAINST GOD!
GOOD NEWS FOR THE BITTER;
By Faith confess your sin …. ask for forgiveness…HIS BLOOD CLEANSES FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, including Bitterness- this is the great NEWS. If it is a SIN ISSUE take it to Jesus for the PROMISE is “and YOU shall call His Name JESUS and He WILL SAVE His people FROM Their SIN.”- Matt 1:21 TO “CONFESS” is to “agree with” God what God calls it- SIN. When we confess it GOD IS GLORIFIED- Josh 7 – Even in our sin when we agree with him He gives us hope and as we turn to Him away from the sin He gives us grace to live in Love by the power of His Spirit in accordance to His Word. TAKE THE STEP NOW in your heart release that person… replace it with an attitude of love- which is an action not feeling- 1 cor 13:4-7 Motivated by Love for Him who first loved you
THE CHAINS ARE OFF, LIVE IN LIGHT OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND SAYS!… the evil one will bring back the thoughts to seek to enslave you….but he has NO POWER over you UNLESS YOU GIVE him it…For you are “In Christ” and you need not yield to ONE DROP of UNLOVE ever again. You will be Tempted, but temptation and yielding to it are two different things. Temptation is Not sin, it is when we act on it , then we knowingly sin against GOD! Think on that. I know what is right but before You God I refuse to do what YOU say…. you see the rebellion in our own hearts at that stage and then to continue to influence others is now sin upon sin against God. “Shall we continue in SIN? God forbid!… where sin abounds GRACE SUPER -ABOUNDS…” “To him who knows to DO RIGHT and DOES NOT do it to him IT IS SIN!”
“Guard your heart….”
below are some thoughts I read…HOPE THEY ENCOURAGE YOU
“I. THE HORRIBLE EFFECTS OF BITTERNESS!
• A. It Will Hinder Your Relationship with the Lord and Your Service for Him!
• B. Bitterness Opens the Door to the Enemy!
• C. Bitterness Will Even Affect You Physically!
• D. Bitterness Will Hurt and “Defile” Many Others!
II. WHY DO PEOPLE BECOME BITTER?
• A. Fiery Trials: Will They Make You Bitter or Better?
• B. Putting the Blame on God!
• C. Putting the Blame on Others!
• D. Bitter and Hateful Thoughts: The Devil’s Evil Seeds!
• E. The Voice of Bitterness: Murmuring!
III. HOW TO AVOID BITTERNESS!
• A. Love Is the Most Important Thing!
• B. “Confess Your Faults One to Another!”–Jam.5:16
• C. Keep a Positive and Thankful Outlook!
• D. Guard Your Thoughts!
• E. Take Things as from the Lord!–Rom.8:28
IV. HOW TO GET RID OF BITTERNESS!
• A. Confess You’ve Got It!
• B. Attack, Attack, Attack!
• C. “Forgive Us Our Sins as We Forgive Others”
• D. Spiritual Renewal! ”
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.- Eph 4:31-32
I PRAY TODAY if you have been hurt, and YOU have CHOSEN to be resentful, hateful, bitter and refused to extend forgiveness in your heart- you will glorify God in confessing it as YOUR sin and turning TO God away from it and Choosing to BE KIND,BE COMPASSIONATE, BE FORGIVING JUST AS GOD IN CHRIST HAS FORGIVEN YOU. NO ONE FORCES US TO BE BITTER- IT IS AN ATTITUDE WE ADOPT AND IT OVERFLOWS INTO ACTIONS THAT INFLUENCE OTHERS TO THINK AND ACT IN AN UNLOVING MATTER- Such is the power we hold!
You may go to the store and the label on the Soda says “SUGAR FREE.”…. By God’s Grace we can live and show through our living we are, “BITTER FREE.” Can you? It is God’s Will for you and me!
DIGGING UP CORPSES;
Someone said going back over past hurts, and raking over them and bringing them up again and again and holding against a person is like going to a grave yard and digging up a corpse! Nothing good comes out of digging up a corpse- ONLY THE BITTER GO BACK TO THE GRAVE AND DIG UP FUEL FOR THEIR BITTERNESS! “LOVE holds no records of wrongs…”- 1 COR 13 :4-7. WE ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS- and as you well know that is a full time job?! Could you imagine seeing someone with a shovel, digging up graves, or hearing of someone who does, you would think they are strange, not right in the head, there is something wrong with them. imagine if you heard when they dug up the grave, the opened the casket, and crawled into it and slept with the decomposing corpse if it has just been freshly laid, or even if it is there along time, re arranging the bones and sleeping with them, going there every night, thinking about it, acting on it and sleeping with corpses! How insane! yet how many of us “dig up corpses” – past hurts, we seek them out, coddle them, go to bed with them, wake up with them, think on them throughout the day and make our decisions based on them- it is called, “holding grudges” it is lovelessness according to 1 Cor 13:4-7. When we “hold onto hurts, they fester, like a corpse, they decompose, they stink, they are not to be embraced but buried under the blood of Jesus, “bitter ” thoughts, lead to “bitter” actions” which offend God, “Infect ” others potentially and what is devoid in a corpse is life- so when a believer embraces such “bitterness” what is devoid is LOVE FOR GOD and LOVE FOR OTHERS.
oh, some may object and say, “I do love others, just not that person or those people…” this is not LOVE which God speaks of which includes FORGIVENESS. Bitterness is unforgiveness and is to be detested as to that which hurts, offends God. It is to dig up corpses and live among them in the “spiritual” realm and to deny you are a “new creation” in Christ. Not that you forfeit your salvation, but you are not living it. To be saved- means to be rescued, delivered out from and Delivered TO… you and I have been RESCUED, SAVED, DELIVERED OUT FROM A LIFE OF LIVING AMONG THE CORPSES– SPIRITUALLY DEAD… AND WE HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO… JESUS CHRIST AND GIFTED ETERNAL LIFE …to “WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.” The Bibles says, “PUT OFF”- DISCARD… as you would a fllthy, contaminated garment and “PUT ON…LOVE.” as the NEW GARMENT of graciousness, which bitterness is devoid of. STOP living like a lost person. START Choosing to LOVE and Live out this NEW Life imparted to you. Indeed it is not perfection but a new direction. It is to discard old habits, thinking patterns and acting upon those sinful thought patterns and replace those thought with GOD’S WORD, and LEARN TO THINK ON TRUTH and PRACTICE it and develop new PATTERNS of THINKING, SPEAKING, DOING…Because you CAN, Because God in Christ has made this not only a possibility but POWER TO MAKE IT ACTUAL. Stop Digging up Graves and sleeping with corpses and carrying them around. START Living with WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST- A NEW CREATION, A NEW MASTER, A NEW POWER, A NEW BEGINNING.
GOD IS YOUR VERY HELP AND HOPE THIS MOMENT TO BEGIN ANEW!
“IT was for FREEDOM that Christ died, so you may never , ever again be placed back under the bondage of Bitterness- HOPE IN GOD and Guard your Heart, Practice and Maintain Love for God and be a LOVING INFLUENCE on Others- for JESUS SAKE!
THIS GOES FORTH WITH PRAYERS FOR A NEW BEGINNING FOR YOU, AND ME – NO LONGER A CHOSEN SLAVE TO BITTERNESS BUT A SUBMISSIVE SLAVE TO JESUS CHRIST TO FOLLOW HIM IN OBEDIENCE AND… LOVE.
TWISTED THINKING-
Justifying bitterness to ourselves is twisted, warped , sinful thinking. the purpose of our mind is to “love God with All your …MIND” Now how does you or my bitter thinking express love to God, Glorify Him and express love to others. How can we say we love God whom we cannot see if we hate our brother whom we can see? BITTERNESS results through a lack of REPENTANCE and UNFORGIVNESS which is what is the ROOT of Bitterness.
God loves you and Jesus died to set you free, keep you free, and the enemy and indeed our own selves seek and some kind of twisted “enjoyment, fulfillment” out of being bitter towards others. We “feel” we now have “power” to over them . When if you loo through the lens of Scripture, you are not free but have placed yourself in a prison and dishonored the work of the Cross of Christ as irrelevant to you. YOU KNOW BETTER, YOU KNOW HIM, it does not minimize your hurt, pain, grief, but like Him and in His Power you choose to allow not ONE DROP OF UNLOVE for you Know who it offends and hurts ultimately when you do that- GOD and OTHERS! Guard your heart… START AFRESH….LOVE GOD….LOVE OTHERS and THINK AND LIVE CONTINUALLY “BITTER FREE!”
DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO THE LORD about YOUR bitterness?
IN HIM at His Throne of GRACE, you WILL FIND A FRIEND, A KING, WHO IS HOLY, WHO IS FULL OF Mercy TOWARDS YOU. Mercy is always for the wrethchedness of our sin. At His Throne you will find His is not a THRONE of Condemnation for the believer- you but a THRONE of KINDNESS, GRACIOUSNESS AND POWER…., and He says “COME TO RECEIVE”- Look AGAIN…”TO RECEIVE”- HE WANTS to GIVE YOU SOMETHING….? What could it be in this time of your need? He says I want you to RECEIVE from me the ALMIGHTY SOVEREIGN GOD, YOUR LORD, YOUR SAVIOR what will help you …. namely , ” GRACE TO HELP in this your NEEDY TIME….”
YOU DO HAVE A FRIEND IN JESUS. How long does it take to be “BITTER FREE?”
It should not take longer than it takes you to own your sin and confess it, turn from it and receive His cleansing and arise in faith. God has heard you and acted and restored you to right relationship to him as your Father and you His child relationship! As soon as you or I turn to God and confess OUR choice to be bitter and ask him to cleanse us- He IMMEDIATELY WILL. No seven days of penance required. No works to try and prove your love to Him, YOU JUST HAVE EXPRESSED LOVE TO HIM BY COMING AND CALLING IT WHAT HE CALLS IT AND AS YOU TURN FROM IT YOU ARE FORGIVEN, CLEANSED….. Now go on “GUARDING YOUR THOUGHT LIFE- THINK ON THINGS THAT ARE TRUE AND LOVELY- WHICH BITTERNESS IS NOT….. LEARN FROM YOUR PAST SIN, DON’T LINGER THERE- LOOK AWAY TO JESUS AND KEEP ON FOLLOWING AND I KNOW by God’s Grace your Influence on others will have ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE- LOVE ALWAYS DOES! And when the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives and we submit to Him and His Word…. what comes out? “….Love…. joy….peace….”
THINK, THINK, THINK ON HIS TRUTH- PHIL 4;8. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE HIS TRUTH- PHIL 4:9
A NEW BEGINNING FOR YOU, FOR ME…CHOOSE TO LOVE GOD, CHOOSE TO LOVE OTHERS …. BE “BITTER FREE” TODAY.