SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS CAN NOT SEE HOW BITTERNESS AND UNFORGIVENESS
DRIVES THE HEART OF INDIVIDUALS AND DIVIDES THE HOME.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
SPIRITUALLY BITTER, SPIRITUALLY BLIND PEOPLE SELL TREASURES FOR TRINKETS?
SPIRITUALLY BITTER BLIND PEOPLE SELL OUT DEEP THINGS FOR THE WORTHLESS.
TEXT:
Mark 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
I. WHEN ONE IS SPIRITUALLY BLIND --- HE CAN NOTSEE THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS BELOW THE SURFACE.
Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned
out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 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;
A. ROOT:
The part below the surface supplies nourishment.
Firmly fixed to cause growth.
B. BITTERNESS:
Not sweet, to be sharp and pungent.
Caused by, feeling or showing mental pain or resentment.
A harsh, virulent.
Piercingly cold.
Stinging, cutting.
C. Virulent:
Strongly poisonous.
Diseased, violent, or malignant.
Bitterly hostile
II. THE TONGUE CAN BE AN INSTRUMENT OF RAZOR LIKE CUTTING. THE TONGUE CAN BE A POISONOUS TOOL --- SPREADING BITTERNESS.
A. THE TONGUE IS NEITHER GOOD OR BAD, IT IS NEUTRAL.
IT IS WHAT WE DO WITH OUR TONGUES THAT MAKE IT GOOD OR BAD.
B. What kind of fruit is in your mouth? Sweet? Bitter?
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
C. Spiritually blind people refuse to accept the power of the tongue.
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of
nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
III. JESUS WARNS ABOUT BITTERNESS IN THE FAMILY?
A. The Bible is non gender, we can know God wants no bitterness in the family.
Col. 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Col. 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
B. BITTERNESS STEALS THE JOY OUT OF ANY FAMILY.
IV. DYSFUNTIONAL FAMILIES ARE BITTER AND THEIR BITTERNESS FREEZES COMMUNICATION LINES.
A. TODAY OUR FAMILIES FIGHT A TERRIBLE BATTLE, WE MUST NOT BE BITTER.
B. The family must focus to keep communication lines open!
Genesis 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
V. BITTERNESS CAN HINDER YOUR POTENTIAL AND WHAT YOU GET IN LIFE! YOU CAN HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT? WHAT DO YOU WANT?
A. HEROD THE KING IS PLEASED WITH THIS YOUNG WOMAN.
B. Here is a great opportunity for a young woman.
She could have the fastest Mustang of her day? Horse of course?
She could have had the best clothes and shoes made?
She could have a palace in which to live?
C. TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITY?
Matthew 14:7 Whereupon Herod promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
D. There is a spiritually blind and bitter mother named Herodias.
E. Herodias is married to Philip.
Herodias has had a sexual affair with her brother-in- law, the King.
You talk about blind and setting a poor example for her daughter!
F. Many believe Herodias had more than a sexual desire, she was power hungry and she could advance her standing in the society by this affair with the King.
G. There was a mighty man of God named John the Baptist. John did not sugar coat nor did he fear those spiritually blind.
John preached a message, HEROD AND HERODIAS THIS IS SIN, IT IS WRONG.
H. They were spiritually blind and would not repent.
IF THIS IS WRONG I DON’T WANT TO BE RIGHT.
I. BITTER, ANGRY PEOPLE ARE DRIVEN BY VENGANCE AND VINDICTIVE SPIRITS.
Matthew 14:8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
J. THIS BITTER MOM WAS MANIPULATIVE AND CONTROLING AND SHE GOT HER OWN WAY!
How sad are missed opportunities.
This young lady could have been the queen and had 1/2 of the Kingdom.
Matthew 14:11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
K. BY BEING DRIVEN BY A SPIRITUALLY BLIND MOM THIS DAUGHTER RECEIVED A HUMAN HEAD ON A SILVER TRAY.
PLEASE DO NOT LET SIN DRIVEN, SPIRITUALLY BLIND, BITTER PEOPLE DRIVE YOU.
Today, how many young people are not driven to church by their bitter parents?
Has the preacher corrected your spiritually blind ways and you avoid the preacher, church and God?
L. Imagine many years later, when this lady realizes:
WHAT HER MOTHER COST HER? The blind leading the blind FALLING into ditches?
ARE WE BETTER OR BITTER? IT IS UP TO YOU!
Bitterness looks backwards, worry looks around, faith looks up!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
PLEASE JOIN MY TEAM AND PASS THIS ON TO AT LEAST ONE OTHER?
