Bitterness- Identify and exterminate. Bitterness can be deep feeling of anger or resentment. - Bitterness A root of bitterness is a very interesting thing. You cant see the bitterness, and many times it goes unnoticed even by the person that has it. This is why it is described as a root, its under the surface. This is why we need to look carefully an examine our own lives to see if there is any bitterness. Hebrews 12:15 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; The root of bitterness has destroying properties, and if left unchecked will hinder your happiness, your relationship with others and your relationship with God. Needless to say we should seek out, identify and destroy any roots of bitterness in our lives. - Identify In Identifying bitterness one must be honest with himself. What am I stressed or angry about? What bothers me? Often these things are a result of resentment (IE) bitterness. It doesnt even have to be some hurt you endured, it could be the fact that you dont seem to have enough, or you may have an ailment. These are the type of things that can entice us into bitterness. -Remember you dont have bitterness, bitterness has you. Romans 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Bitterness is often followed by outward actions. It just goes to show that what we think will eventually come out. Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Bitterness can be spotted by us taking notice of any anger, resentment or speaking ill of another individual. So once we have found were our root or Roots of bitterness are we can show them the door. -Exterminate Now although we can get rid of bitterness by thinking it. It may be an everyday thing. We are daily being bombarded with seeds of bitterness that if we allow will turn into roots of bitterness. It all comes down to our choice. We can exterminate bitterness by changing our attitude ~First of all if everyone thought of everyone else as better than themselves. We will exterminate the root of bitterness. Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. ~Secondly if we remember how much we have been forgiven it won't seem so hard to forgive others. Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. In the area of bitterness and anger we must realize that it is entirely about how we respond. Our life is only effected when we responded to a situation. Someone gives you a hundred dollars- you responded with a very big smile. When an outside force effects you in a positive or negative manner you choose how it will affect you. Well at least how it will effect your attitude. Have you every done something nice for someone and have them be completely unimpressed? Exactly Or have you ever been short with someone and had them respond with a humble attitude? shocking isn't it? We can react properly to our circumstance it just takes a bit of effort. ~Thirdly forgive others for what they have done. Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ~Fourthly forgive others for what they haven't given you. (something you feel you deserve) Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. I deserve more love, more friendship, more attention, more appreciation, more acknowledgment. Dont we feel like we deserve more. God says to forgive them, God says to remember what you have been forgiven, Gods says to put others before yourself.
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Darren Dinsmore
Here are some messages, topics, and discussions from sermons I have preached. Archives
January 2016
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