Uprooting Bitterness
Notes
Transcript
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
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;
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
A. Define what bitterness is and how it can take root in our hearts.
A. Define what bitterness is and how it can take root in our hearts.
1. Bitterness
1. Bitterness
i. a: being, inducing, or marked by the one of the five basic taste sensations that is peculiarly acrid, astringent, and often disagreeable and characteristic of citrus peels, unsweetened cocoa, black coffee, mature leafy greens (such as kale or mustard), or ale
b: distasteful or distressing to the mind : galling
a bitter sense of shame
i. a: being, inducing, or marked by the one of the five basic taste sensations that is peculiarly acrid, astringent, and often disagreeable and characteristic of citrus peels, unsweetened cocoa, black coffee, mature leafy greens (such as kale or mustard), or ale
b: distasteful or distressing to the mind : galling
a bitter sense of shame
B. Reference Hebrews 12:14-15 about the root of bitterness and its potential impact.
B. Reference Hebrews 12:14-15 about the root of bitterness and its potential impact.
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;
1. The Personal Impact of Bitterness
1. The Personal Impact of Bitterness
i. Bitterness has such an impact on us and can be fatal to us spiritually!
i. Bitterness has such an impact on us and can be fatal to us spiritually!
ii. The reason I think a lot of people end up being plagued by depression and such is because you are trying to hold yourself to a standard that you can’t seem to attain to and you can’t forgive yourself for not making it there.
ii. The reason I think a lot of people end up being plagued by depression and such is because you are trying to hold yourself to a standard that you can’t seem to attain to and you can’t forgive yourself for not making it there.
a. You will never be able to attain completeness without the help of the Holy Ghost!
a. You will never be able to attain completeness without the help of the Holy Ghost!
b. You must allow the Holy Ghost to HEAL the inside
b. You must allow the Holy Ghost to HEAL the inside
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
c. God isn’t looking for you to hide anything from Him! He longs to take the things you struggle with from whatever part of life and remove it from you so that it will have NO hold on you anymore!
c. God isn’t looking for you to hide anything from Him! He longs to take the things you struggle with from whatever part of life and remove it from you so that it will have NO hold on you anymore!
ii. This is why we should CONSTANTLY be searching our hearts and praying prayers like David did!
ii. This is why we should CONSTANTLY be searching our hearts and praying prayers like David did!
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: Then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
C. Simon the Sorcerer
C. Simon the Sorcerer
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
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:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
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.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
1. We cannot allow popularity to draw us away from the things that God desires for us to operate in!
1. We cannot allow popularity to draw us away from the things that God desires for us to operate in!
2. When we see things changing and God moving we become anxious and desire not to change certain things.
2. When we see things changing and God moving we become anxious and desire not to change certain things.
a. Simon was about to be exposed and he didn’t want the people that had looked to him to change their view of him!
a. Simon was about to be exposed and he didn’t want the people that had looked to him to change their view of him!
b. He said let me buy this from you with money!
b. He said let me buy this from you with money!
c. You can’t buy the Holy Ghost and the freedom from the bondage of sin!
c. You can’t buy the Holy Ghost and the freedom from the bondage of sin!
d. You must allow the Holy Ghost to change you.
d. You must allow the Holy Ghost to change you.
e. We allow ourselves to be influenced by the things we are lacking and long to put up a facade to make everyone think that you are doing ok. You must be careful of that root of bitterness and uproot that thing so that you CAN bear the fruit of righteousness!
e. We allow ourselves to be influenced by the things we are lacking and long to put up a facade to make everyone think that you are doing ok. You must be careful of that root of bitterness and uproot that thing so that you CAN bear the fruit of righteousness!
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
