Pulling Up Bitter Roots

Ephesians 4:31 and Hebrews 12:14-15

Nut-grass. Wild-turnips (Stories of getting jobs to pull a field of wild turnips) Pig-weeds in the fields...

But there is another weed you don’t want in your fields. There is another weed, that may be very difficult to pull up once it grows over time… and it is a weed that will take over.

What is it? The Weed of Bitterness

Bitterness: What is it? We know the taste from the tongue. We know that sharp… nasty… makes your face curl nastiness...

But this text and Ephesians 4:31 - Let all bitterness be put away from you...

What is that? This is that attitude of sharp/intense anger and hostility. Like the taste… It is sharp… It cuts within the person that has it and it flows out of that person to cut other people as well...

Bitterness hurts and will hurt. Bitterness will eat away at a person… and it will destroy life, family, church, any relationships...

It could start off as a disagreement. It could begin with a misunderstanding. Something was said and done, causing anger… and then bitterness began to grow.

It happens… and it can happen so quickly.

What must we do? See to it. Look carefully. Be on the lookout for this. There is a poisonous weed growing in your life. It is going to do damage in your life and others. You are turning from grace, mercy and love...

Get rid of it… By the roots...

You have a whole plant. It’s a whole big thing. But how is it fed? It is fed by the roots? What is it drawing from?

Anger, Un-forgiveness, and ungratefulness, caused by hurt or unfairness.

What do we do? You cling to the anger and resentment… and bitterness starts, and grows.

Now: It is not easy to pull up these roots once they go on for a long period of time… Why? They go deep into the heart wound caused by some hurt…

And we do not want to let go after a long time… Because that is in and of itself… Painful... to confess and deal with it.

Pride comes in and covers it with some good fertilizer… and off it goes and grows...

And listen: It may even become our identity after a long time of living with this sin: Where we don’t even know who we are without the bitterness that we have for life and people… We don’t know how to think or to talk about anything else… other than the source of our bitterness...

This becomes your lifestyle. Here are some key characteristics of a bitter lifestyle: Ready? Is this you?

Resentment and obsessive thoughts of revenge. 2. You live a life of sarcasm, with critical and unkind comments. 3. You are self-righteous towards people. 4. You show hostility and have conflict with others. You are aggressive and controlling in your relationships.

(If the boots fit… wear it. If not, this can be you tomorrow)

Listen: Anger can be very dangerous. We are to be angry, but we are not to sin… We are not to become bitter and live out of bitterness.

We will not be able to love the Lord God with our whole being and we will not love our neighbor as ourselves if we are bitter.

You are going to have a worship problem, a God problem, and a relationship with people problem - It will destroy you.

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Are you ready to be honest and real with yourself and God?

If the answer to this is “Yes!” Let’s move on...

What do I have to do?

Obey the Doctor and Gardener. The Great Physician and Holy Gardener says put away your anger. See to it. Jesus, my Lord, wants me to put away my anger. What He says is right and good. It will lead to me being like Christ, and I will be filled with the Spirit… And this will glorify God… I believe this. I will walk by faith and trust that this is right and good.

Trust and Obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to Trust and Obey! By faith, say “yes.”

2. Cherish being forgiven by God.

John Piper has said, “ The battle against bitterness in your life is a battle against unbelief in the promises of God.”

Ephesians 4:32 - The cause and effect is found. Treat these people this way… because Christ has treated you this way.

Our faith: Christ has forgiven me; I am forgiven; I am cherished; I am loved… Produces and motivate us to love others. By the mercies/promises of God… I will live this out.

Loved people, love people. Forgiven people, forgive people.

There are many professing believers today, who say that they are forgiven… and that they know what they are forgiven from… But they will not forgive… and they remain bitter.

If you cherish your faith, you know what you have been saved from… And this saving faith produces power/motivation to forgive and to remove the bitterness.

What am I going to do? Battle bitterness… by looking to the mercy and grace you have received. Battle bitterness… by looking to the blood that was shed and the life that was given.

3. Trust that the God of the universe will do what is right and that justice will prevail perfectly.

Church family… Vengeance is not yours and it is not mine.

Someone has harmed you or hurt you. They have lied about you, stolen; they have been unfaithful; they have let you down in some way… They have rejected you.

Our conclusion is… they should be punished. They need to be punished. And you may be right...

You are going over the situation, over the event, over the words… over the actions… And you are meditating on it, and it is chewing your insides out.

And if you keep meditating on this… You will be destroyed.

It is not life-giving to think about these things over and over again. The Bible tells us to meditate on the Person of God, the Word of God, things that are true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, pure, lovely… To have our minds renewed by the Word of God, and to set our minds on things above.

Not to mediate on the hurt… on the pain… on them… over and over again...

And here is our lie and unbelief: “I do not believe that God cares. I do not believe that God will do anything about it. I do not believe that God’s justice will prevail.

Romans 12:19 - Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord...”

And our bitterness shows us that we do not believe the Word of God. We do not believe God will take care of us and deal with those offenders.

I like this rhyme: “If you keep a grudge, you doubt the Judge.”

Trust that God will fight your battles and judge perfectly.

4. Next: Trust that God will cause all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

You will suffer and God will work through it. You will go through trials and practice faith, and grow in faith, and be conformed more and more into the likeness of Christ.

Trials will make us angry. They are suppose to. Sinful people will make us angry. They are suppose to.

And without them… our faith would never be refined and become mature. It doesn’t take much effort to love something that doesn’t argue, talk back, or doesn’t have their own opinion.

It doesn’t take much effort to love someone that does everything right in your own eyes. You will not have opportunities to show God’s love, mercy and grace...

Unless, or until… someone makes you mad… Unless they hurt you, reject you… and so on… then you have an opportunity to grow in faith… in Christlikeness...

Then, instead of giving them what they deserve… you give them what they don’t deserve (grace/mercy) and you show the life of Christ to them...

God can and will work through it all for good.

A few more practical steps:

Stop meditating on the offense, Quit replaying the sin over and over in your mind. Break this by meditating on the Gospel.

Stop throwing the offense up in the relationship. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Talk to the person, work it out, and do not bring it back up. Do not bring it up to them or anyone else. Give it to God in prayer.

Be quick to confront the bitterness, Starve bitterness, before it takes root by praying and showing lovingkindness to that person. Practice love... to keep bitterness from starting.

Bitterness is poisoning someone today. Bitterness is destroying relationships today. Bitterness is a weed that is plaguing hearts and churches everywhere...

And the sad truth is… We cultivated it and grew it ourselves.

Remember this:

God knows and He cares. God is grieved by the evil committed against you, and He will avenge you. Believe in Him and trust Him to do the right thing perfectly.

God is well pleased that you are desiring to forgive and to get rid of this bitterness in your heart, and he will help you and reward you. He will bless you. Do it His way.

There is mercy waiting for everyone who desires to kill sin in their lives. There is mercy waiting for every repentant sinner...

Even you and me...

If anyone should be angry/wrathful and bitter… It should be God. Our sins, our bitterness sent Jesus to the Cross to die for us. Our ungrateful bitter hearts should keep God mad at us forever...

But through the Cross… God chooses to love. He chooses to show grace and mercy… instead of anger.

And there is mercy, grace and love that is waiting for every repentant sinner who will turn from their sins and trust in Christ today… and God will choose to love you as His child.

And now as His child… reflect Him. Reflect His love. Show it off and begin glorifying God today… and reap the blessings from it.

Today, let’s start cultivating forgiveness. Today, may God work the Gospel deeper into your hearts… to root out every hint of bitterness that can be found… And fill you with a life of joy in the Holy Spirit.

Can you be honest today and confess it: Lord, I am bitter. I have bitterness in my heart. Help me today to pull it out.

There is a Physician and Gardener that is ready.

Pray.