Untitled Sermon (13)

Battling Bitterness

Hebrews 12:15; Gen. 45

Introduction

Have you ever seen a kudzu vine? They grow well in the southern United States with the warm, humid weather. One little clipping- one tiny leaf with a root attached- digs into the soil and takes off. If it is no uprooted and killed immediately, it continues to grow at an astonishing rate. Wrapping its way around everything in its path, kudzu can easily engulf entire trees, smother their light source, and kill them. All of that destruction comes from one innocent – looking plant.

That is the way bitterness operates. It can grow out of small and seemingly minor offense or a series of offenses. Once a spirit of unforgiveness sets in, all it needs is time and the fertilizer of a nursed grudge or an unresolved conflict.

“Bitterness blows out the candle of joy and leaves the soul in darkness”

It is like an acid that eats away at the container

Have you ever been hurt? Hurt to the point that you start thinking, man, I ‘m going to get him. Do you know what he did to me? I’ll get back at him.

Stop rehearsing your hurts

Bitterness is deep seated resentment that results from past hurt, disappointment or emotional wound.

Basically, bitterness is a lack of forgiveness. And it will hold you hostage.

The root of bitterness is underground; it is easy to hide and camouflage. Seldom do you find anyone who will admit that they are a bitter person. They will either deny it or disguise it. A bitter person is hypersensitive, ungrateful, insincere, holds grudges, and has mood swings.

The Fruit Of Bitterness

Bitterness will affect you physically, emotionally, and spiritually because the fruit of bitterness is an acid that destroys its container. When your heart is bitter, God will not be real to you be. Why? Because hatefulness and holiness do not dwell in the same heart. And without holiness you will not see the Lord (see Hebrews 12:14). AR

Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness and wrath be removed from you”

Imagine carrying a backpack full of rocks. At first, it might feel manageable, but with each stone of resentment, that weight gets heavier. Eventually, you can’t enjoy the journey. Just like in our spiritual lives, if we let bitterness build up, we’ll find it hard to embrace God’s joy! Let’s lighten our load and leave the rocks behind!

Characteristics of a bitter person

1. Very sensitive

2. Has little or no gratitude

3. Will harshly criticize or vainly flatter

4. Holds grudges

5. Mood swings

The world is full of people who have not dealt with an old hurt. They look for things to criticize, people to find fault with, and ways to justify the way they feel. Have you ever seen people who are hypercritical? Generally, they are bitter people. They know how to push your hot buttons until you react in a way to further justify their bitterness.

Read Hebrews 12:13-14

Be Careful not to let a root of bitterness to set in

1. Careful Look v. 15a

“looking carefully”- see to it, oversight.

“lest you fall short of the grace of God”- the grace of God provides every power, every opportunity , every strength necessary to grow to full maturity in the Lord.

“Fall short”- fail to reach a goal

Wouldn’t it be awful to live and come to the end of your life and realize you missed all kinds of opportunities

2. Careless Life v. 15b

“Lest a root of bitterness springs up”

Satan will use bitterness to take away our strength

Take away our happiness

Bitterness will poison all of life- johnny hunt

“by this you may be defiled”-

“No matter the situation, your Savior is bigger and stronger. Keep you eyes on Him” Tony Evans

Vs. 14 is clear- pursue peace with everyone!

Think about Joseph

His brother sold him into slavery

His brothers hated him, mistreated him, and got rid of him. They were jealous

And jealousy is dangerous

Undeserved treatment from his family

Untrue accusations

Joseph dealt with pain, abandonment, and unfair treatment.

However, his pain and struggles did not define him.

he Bible Story of Joseph, from the Book of Genesis, is one of heroic redemption and forgiveness. Joseph was the most loved son of his father, Israel, given the famous robe of many colors. When Joseph reported having dreams of his brothers, and even the stars and moon, bowing before him, their jealousy of Joseph grew into action. The brothers sold him into slavery to a traveling caravan of Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard.

In Egypt, the Lord’s presence with Joseph enables him to find favor with Potiphar and the keeper of the prison. With God’s help, Joseph interprets the dreams of two prisoners, predicting that one of them will be reinstated but the other put to death. Joseph then interprets the dreams of the Pharaoh, which anticipate seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh recognizes Joseph’s God-given ability and prompts his promotion to the chief administrator of Egypt.

Shortage of food in Canaan forces Jacob to send his sons to buy grains from the Egyptians. Benjamin, Joseph’s younger brother remains at home as Jacob fears of losing him, as he did Joseph. When Joseph finally encounters his brothers again, he deliberately conceals his identity. He accuses them of being spies and tells them to return with Benjamin or he will not sell them grain. The ongoing famine forces Jacob to reluctantly send his sons back to Egypt with Benjamin, and they are unexpectedly invited to dine at Joseph’s house. Joseph then tests the character of his brothers by placing a silver cup the sack of Benjamin and falsely accusing him of theft. When Judah offers to stay in place of Benjamin, Joseph knows that his character has changed and reveals that he is their brother. Joseph explains they need not feel guilty for betraying him as it was God’s plan for him to be in Egypt to preserve his family. He told them to bring their father and his entire household into Egypt to live in the province of Goshen because there were five more years of famine left. Joseph supplied them Egyptian transport wagons, new garments, silver, and twenty additional donkeys carrying provisions for the journey. Jacob is then joyously reunited with his son Joseph.

I. A Response of Grace 1-5

A. Joseph’s past hurt did not hinder his willingness to forgive

“Joseph could not keep his composure in front of all”

Joseph cleared the room of all the Egyptians, servants and slaves.

This would be a grand time, a reunion, a time

Vs. 2 “he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it”

Emotion overtook him. Think about his journey.

Think about the struggles.

But think about God working it all out for His good

Vs. 3 “I am Joseph”

Remember, back home, Joseph’s brothers had run out of food and everyone was hungry. God’s special family was in danger- if they didn’t get food soon.

So, Joseph’s family traveled to Egypt to buy food.

The family came and bowed before the Prince of Egypt.

You see, Joseph had a dream about all of this. He knew they would be coming. He knew God would allow this to happen,

Can you imagine this scene,

I am Joseph

The brothers were gripped with fear! Sin was revealed

They had done wrong.

Here is the point, In spite of his family,

In spite of the hurt,

In spite of the abandonment, Joseph was not chained up in bitterness

Why?

Because love prevailed

God was ever present and working in His life.

B. It is a matter of the Heart

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”(Jeremiah 17:9).

A. Changed Heart

Forgiveness is powerful

“when you forgive, you set 2 people free, one is yourself”

Bitterness imprisons life; love releases it. Bitterness paralyzes life; love empowers it. Bitterness sickens life; love heals it. Bitterness blinds life; love anoints its eyes.

Harry Emerson Fosdick

Application

Who has wronged you?

What has hurt you in your past to cause a root of bitterness to spring up?

Our model for forgiving is God himself

Nehemiah 9:17-19

“ But you are God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abouding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, “ this is your God who brought you up out of Egypt.” And had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness.”

It is a step of obedience

Eph. 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”

Revenge is of the flesh

Rom. 12:17-19 “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.”

B. Compassionate Heart

Think about it. He could have hated them.

He had every human reason to seek revenge

Yet, his response is impacting

C. Committed Heart

Come to the land- genuine love and care

Opposite of fake

Our issue is pride, flesh, and a heart that has never truly forgiven

II. A Realization of God’s Sovereignty 5-8

You see, the thing that Joseph could see in all of this was that God had permitted it for a purpose. God was moving in his life.

Joseph was seventeen when he was brought into Egypt.

He was thirty when he stood before Pharaoh.

There had been seven years of plenty and now there have passed two years of famine.

So Joseph is thirty-nine years old and had been living in the land of Egypt for twenty-two years.

He sees the hand of God in all of this.

“My problems began when I got so worked up about the contractor who didn’t

build my basement and driveway right. I hated what he’d done to my home. And

since he lived next door, I saw him almost daily. Each time I saw him, my anger

and bitterness grew even more intense until I finally cracked.”

No wonder God’s Word is so emphatic: “Get rid of all bitterness”

(Ephesians 4:31). Why? Because if a “bitter root grows up” within

you, it will “cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15).

III. A Resolve to Reconcile 9-15

His Plea

“Go to my father”

Tell him I’m alive

Tell him about me, where I am, what has happened

His Provision

His whole family was welcome to come to Egypt and settle in the land

Application

Some of you have been hurt. You are hurt.

You think to yourself, how can I get back at this person

How can I jab at them and hurt them

Illustration- poor, pitiful me

I’m miserable and I want you to be miserable as well

A rattlesnake, if cornered, will sometimes become so angry it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harboring of hate and resentment against others is—a biting of oneself. We think that we are harming others in holding these spites and hates, but the deeper harm is to ourselves.

IV. A Renewal of the Heart 16-27

“Hatefulness and Holiness do not dwell in the same heart”

It is a matter of the heart.

The Bible speaks at length concerning our heart.

Read Gen. 50:15-21

Notice Joseph’s kindness, grace

Vs. 20 “you planned to harm me, but God meant it for good to bring about the present result”

Could it be all that you have gone through is for a purpose?

Illustration

Parable of the unforgiving servant- Matt. 18:23-35

Jesus on the cross- lk. 23:34

Stephen Acts 7:60

1. Believe that what the Great Physician says is good advice. If he says, “Put away anger,” don’t ignore the counsel. Put it in your mind and resolve to keep it.

2. Believe that you are forgiven, and that being forgiven by an infinitely holy God is an awesome thing.

3. Believe that vengeance belongs to God, that he will repay those who do wrong.

4. Believe that God’s purpose in all your trials is to turn the cause of your anger for your good. Piper

Gospel Point

Joseph forgave his family. He showed mercy and grace to them.

In Christ, we have been forgiven. The hostility has been removed.

God has given us mercy and grace to save us from our sins!

Conclusion

In what ways did Joseph’s experiences illustrate the theme of forgiveness and overcoming bitterness?

What biblical references were used to emphasize the importance of letting go of bitterness?