Becoming Bitter Or Better

Becoming Bitter or Better TEXT: Psalm 109:1-5

O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, 2 for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. 3 With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. 4 In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. 5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship

During this time period, David sees no evidence that God cares. Everything David does is met with stubborn opposition and expressions of hatred. Here he describes his experience with betrayal…Few experiences are more painful than betrayal.

Life happens- wake up tomorrow, life happens.

1. Anger threatens to steal your joy. (Powerful emotion.)

You’re tempted to seek revenge rather than justice.

You yearn for opportunities to defend your reputation and declare your innocence.

4. You are baffled by the apparent success of those who abused you.

**If you’ve felt the anguish of betrayal, you’re not alone: God was betrayed by Lucifer; Jesus was betrayed by Judas.

**Here’s five steps you can take to honor God after experiencing betrayal:

Forgive your betrayers…even if they are unrepentant. However, never confuse forgiveness with trust. Forgiveness can be given freely, but trust must be earned.

Matthew 6:14-15NLT “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Refuse to speak against your betrayers; instead kindly correct misinformation and allow God to be your Defender.

Romans 14:10-13NLT 10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’”12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

Pray for those who have hurt you. And ask the Lord to give you a gentle spirit.

**While on the cross, Jesus cried out to the Father for man-kinds forgiveness.

Don’t allow yourself to be deterred from the task God has assigned you. (Broken focus= loss hope)

Offense: What good comes from it?

James 3:13-18 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

**Keeping an offense (Holding resentment, staying angry) is like drinking poison and expecting your offender to die.

Determine in your heart to be a person of loyalty and integrity.

Galatians 5:22-26NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.