Bitterness is the cancer of the soul.
It starts out as a HURT. We have all been there. Some of us have sought healing and received it; others have not.
Then it develops into ANGER. All you can think of is how unfair the situation is.
Sooner or later it grows into BITTERNESS. Now it is a monster.
The old addage--Time will heal the wounds--is not always true.
As bitterness rages, thoughts and plans of REVENGE and SPITE obsess the individual.
There are different responses to bitterness:
Some Recognize it and deal with it.
Some React to it, only to make matters worse.
Nu. 33:9 Says. They removed from Marah and came unto Elim.
Some of the sweetest words in the bible are:" and it came to pass".
Just like Job. If we will respond correctly to the bitter waters in our lives, we will become better.
Just like Joseph, he said (the devil meant if for evil but the lord meant it for good, to save much people alive as it is this day).
Joseph went through bitter waters, but he didn't allow them to make him bitter, but instead they actually served to make him better.
David and the Ark of the Covenant--2 Samuel 6:6-11
Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark and was struck dead by God. The law was clear, regardless of his intentions. However, David became very upset with God over this matter. I would say that he became bitter. He decided not to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem; rather he sent it down the road to the house of Obededom. For 3 long months, David and the people of Israel passed their time without the presence of God.
--bitterness will cause you to push God as far away as possible
--it will make you believe that God only wants to hurt you
Acts 8:18-23--Simon the Sorcerer Gall of bitterness----Acts 8:23
Acts 8:9
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Acts 8:13
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
--believing is not enough; even the devils believe and tremble
--you can go into the baptistry a dry sinner and come out a wet sinner if you haven't been washed by the Blood
--wrong spirits have a way of deceiving; even to the point of pretending to be sudued
--Simon was bitter because he had lost his following
--he was "going through the motions" to figure out how he could come up with something to win back his fame
--Peter was moved upon by the Holy Ghost to expose Simon
--"gall of bitterness" = ate up with poison
--in other words--you better get help quick, before you perish
James 3:11
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
I feel that there are some youth in this service who are ate up with the poison of bitterness. For spite, you are determined to go contrary to the holiness standards of the Bible. You know that this eats at your pastor and it tears up your parents, so you keep at it.
John Mark--Acts 15:36-39 (Acts 13:13) As a young man, John Mark made a missions trip, but went back home before it was finished. This infuriated Paul, who thought that this young man was unfit for future ministry. He would not even hear of having Mark go on another ministry trip with them. Later on, (2 Tim. 4:11), Paul asks for Mark to help him out in the ministry, even remarking that he was "profitable" for the ministry. Evidently, Mark did not get bitter and quit.
Heb. 12:14-17 Esau
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; {fail...; or, fall from}
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
--bitterness is a contagious virus
--No one is an island to himself or herself
--there is a limit to the grace of God for your life
You think that you will pray through later on, when you are good and ready. Bitterness tells you to get some revenge a little longer. You don't know the game you are playing.
Bitterness is a choice. The longer that it rules your life, the harder it is to overcome.
Example: The Hatfields and the McCoys. The fued started generations ago and continues unto this day. Oddly enough, nobody seems to remember or know exactly what actually started all the fighting.
Leonardo da Vinci had a "falling out" with a fellow artist during his time of painting "The Last Supper". He was just starting to paint the faces of his subjects. He decided to paint the face of his colegue on the person of Judas. For spite, he knew that others would recognize the face and make the association. As time went on, he painted the other faces and came to the task of painting the face of Jesus. He spent much time mulling over what to do. He could not seem to advance. Then it occured to him that he needed to make the face of Judas differently. He erased the face he had previously painted and changed it completely. Then he found freedom to paint the face of Jesus on the canvass. Thus, the famous painting was finished and we see its many copies even today.
The lesson we learn is that bitterness can keep you from seeing the face of Jesus, if you don't get it taken care of.
In South America, there is a vine that is called the "Matador". It starts growing as the base of a tree and winds itself around and around the tree as it grows ever upward. When it finally gets to the top and has completely smothered the tree to death, it blooms a crowning flower, as if to say that it has conquered. That is what bitterness does when it is left unchecked or not dealt with in a proper way.
Eph. 4:31,32
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Some of the fruits of the root of bitterness:
1. Defilement
2. Division
3. Deadness to the Holy Ghost
4. Deception
5. Depression
6. Deliriousness
7. Damage
8. Distraction
Trees and bitterness
1. Garden of Eden
2. Marah
3. Gethsemane
