The Cure for the Bitter Heart

INTRODUCTION

Take God’s word with me this morning to and let’s get ready to look this morning at one of the most perverse issues plaguing our walk with God - it is the HOLD OF BITTERNESS - and it is a great problem in almost every area of life:

THE WORK PLACE: NO ENJOYABLE WORK, SNIPPY TOWARDS OTHER

FAMILY: IT CAUSES GREAT PROBLEMS IN THE HOME AND DRIVES A WEDGE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS.

MOTHERS/WIVES - SAY THINGS THEY MEAN IN THE MOMENT

FATHERS / HUSBANDS - SHORT TEMPER, I WISH I NEVER MET YOU

Colossians 3:19 NKJV

Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

SOMETIMES WE BECOME THE BITTER HALF INSTEAD OF BETTER.

BITTERNESS CAUSES PROBLEMS IN CHURCHES:

PEOPLE THAT ARE BITTER BECOME CRITICAL AND BEGIN TO LOOK FOR THINGS TO CRITICIZE - ALWAYS FINDING FAULT WITH OTHERS.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR FAULT - YOU WILL FIND IT

THERE IS NO PERFECT CHURCH.

THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS BLOWS OUR THE LIGHT OF JOY AND THEREBY LEAVES OUR SOULS IN UTTER DARKNESS - HOPELESS.

BITTER PEOPLE ARE LIKE:

PORCUPINE - THEY MAY HAVE A LOT OF GOOD POINTS BUT THEY ARE HARD TO BE AROUND:

HARSH, SARCASTIC, UNREALISTIC, UNEMOTIONAL.

ICE-BURG - CALM AND COOL, ALOOF - SEEMS LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG ON THE SURFACE, BUT LIKE AN ICEBURG MOST OF THE PROBLEM IS UNDERNEATH. THESE PEOPLE ARE POLITELY INDIFFERENT, FAIL TO MAKE REAL CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS BECAUSE OF FEAR OF HURT - BITTERNESS SETS IN.

CRY BABY: THE SELF PITY KING OR QUEEN, ALWAYS COMPLAINS, ALWAYS SEEING THEIR WAY OF DOING THINGS, MUMBBLERS, GRUMBLERS, UNHAPPY WITH LIFE & EVERYONE KNOWS IT, THIS TYPE OFTEN RESORTS TO ATTENTION GETTING SCHEMES, GOSSIP (THAT THEY FEEL IS NEWS OR HELPFUL) GRUDGES!

BITTERNESS DOES MORE TO HOLD BACK THE POWER OF GOD THAN ANY OTHER FORCE. IT KEEPS YOU FROM EXPERIENCING GOD’S POWER, PROGRESS, AND REVIVAL. IT IS THE SINGLE MOST DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE FAMILY OF GOD.

HOW DID IT START?

ALL BITTERNESS HAS ITS BEGINNING AND ROOTS ITSELF IN OUT LIFE UNLESS WE QUICKLY DEAL WITH IT, AND CUT IT OFF AT THE ROOT.

REAL : WHEN SOMEONE ACTUALLY HURT YOU.

PERCEIVED: YOU THINK A PERSON HAS WRONGED YOU

EITHER OF THESE STARTS THE ISSUE OF BITTERNESS

BOTH ARE ISSUES OF THE HEART.

BITTERNESS DEVASTATES.

Hebrews 12:15 NKJV

looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

A. THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS IS EASY TO HIDE : IT’S UNDERGROUND

B. THE BITTER PERSON MAY BY:

VERY SENSITIVE

SHOW LITTLE TO NO GRATITUDE/ NOT THANKFUL.

HARSHLY CRITICIZES - ALWAYS ABLE TO FIND WRONG/NEGATIVE & LOVES FINDING FAULT

HOLDS GRUDGES - OFTEN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

MOOD SWINGS.

THERE WILL BE THE FRUIT OF BITTERNESS

THE SEED - WHERE & HOW IT STARTED

THE SOIL - YOUR HEART, AND HARBORING ILL (BITTERNESS)

THE ROOT - HIDDEN, A SMOLDERING UNDERGROUND.

THE FRUIT - THIS IS THE OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF BITTERNESS

IF YOU NOTICE GERMINATION HAS TAKEN PLACE. IT STARTED WITH THE SEED (EVENT) AND THE SOIL (YOUR HEART) AND NOW IT HAS GROWN ROOTS (ROOTS ARE LARGER THAN THE FRUIT, ALWAYS SPREADING UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE, GROWING STRONGER AND STRONGER - SO NOW AS OUR PASSAGE SAYS : IT IS SPRINGING UP - THE ROOT HAS FULLY DEVELOPED AND NOW THE FRUIT WILL BECOME CLEAR TO OTHERS.

BITTERNESS AFFECTS YOU IN ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE:

PHYSICALLY - TIRED, SICK, WEAK. YOU CAN BE SICK AND NOT BE BITTER, BUT YOU ARE UNLIKELY TO FIND A PERSON THAT IS BITTER AND NOT SICK IN SOME WAY.

A FAMOUS CARDIOLOGIST WROTE A BOOK THAT LISTED 55 ILLNESS THAT CAN BE SPURRED ON BY BITTERNESS - ISSUES THAT ARE NOT FORGIVEN WILL EAT YOUR LIFE AWAY WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION. BITTERNESS IS AN ACID THAT DESTROYS ITS CONTAINER.

b. EMOTIONALLY - ANXIETY, STRESS, DEPRESSION, HATRED, WORRY

Proverbs 15:17 NKJV

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.

C. SPIRITUALLY - IT KEEPS YOU AWAY FROM THE POWER AND PLEASURE OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

WE ARE TO SEEK PEACE WITH PEOPLE - REAL PEACE. NOT A FAKE PEACE THAT GIVE NO SATISFACTION, AND IS AGAINST GOD.

BITTERNESS IS A CHAIN REACTION

Ephesians 4:26 ESV

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

DO NOT KEEP A LONG ACCOUNT OF WRONGS. WORK IT OUT.

Ephesians 4:30–31 ESV

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

BITTERNESS - IS THE ROOT , THE BEGINNING

WRATH - IDEA IS A SMOLDERING HEAT

ANGER - WRATH BECOMES ACTIONS:

CLAMOR - WE PUT OUT TONGUE FROM HELL IN TO ACTION

James 3:6 ESV

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

5. EVIL SPEAKING - NOW WE MAKE IT EVEYONES BUSINESS AND SPEAK EVIL AGAINST THAT PERSON. HURTFUL WORDS TO THEM AND TO OTHERS.

6. MALICE - THE IS HATE IN ACTION. YOU “GO OFF”

THIS IS WHEN SOMEONE HAS GONE THROUGH ALL OF THE ABOVE AND NOW THEY REACH THE POINT THAT THEY TAKE EXTREME ACTION SUCH ARE PHYSICAL HARM - KILLING.

IT WAS AND IS A CHAIN REACTION! IT MUST BE STOPPED AT THE VERY ROOT.

THE CURE FOR BITTERNESS

LET GOD REVEAL IT!

YOU MAY SAY - I KNOW MY HEART AND I AM NOT A BITTER PERSON. THE FACT IS YOU CAN NOT DIAGNOSIS YOUR SELF. A DECEITFUL HEART CANNOT DIAGNOSIS A DECEITFUL BITTER HEART - ONLY GOD CAN DO SO. LET GOD REVEAL IT TO YOU.

Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

OUR RESPONSE :

Psalm 139:23–24 ESV

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

WE SHOULD BE PRAYING THIS GREAT PRAYER FROM GOD’S WORD. GOD WILL REVEAL TO YOU MANY THINGS - ACT ON THEM.

2.LET GRACE REMOVE IT :

2.

Hebrews 12:15 ESV

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

WITHOUT THE GRACE OF GOD WE ARE WONDERERS THAT WILL NEVER FIND OUR WAY.

STORY OF CORRIE TEN BOONE: NAZI CAMP, SHOWERED WITH MEN WATCHING HER, AND AS SHE SAID IN HER BOOK “HIDING PLACE” THEY WERE ALL BUT RAPING HER WITH THEIR EYES.

SHE WAS LECTURING IN GERMANY MANY YEARS LATER AND A MAN CAME UP TO HER - ONE THAT HAD BEEN THERE, ONE THAT HAD VIOLATED HER, BEAT HER, AND MADE HER GO NAKED.

AFTER THE LECTURE HE CAME TO HER AND TOLD HER I AM NOW A CHRISTIAN TOO. HE REACHED HIS HAND OUT AND ASK HER TO FORGIVE HIM - SHE SAID THAT HER HEART FELT COLD AND HATE BUT THAT MERCY AND GRACE OVERTOOK HER AND SHE REACHED OUT AND TOOK HIS HAND. AND AS SHE FORGAVE HIM SHE SAYS THAT A TINGLING WENT ALL OVER HER BODY AS IF A GREAT WEIGHT WAS LIFTED FROM HER SOUL. FORGIVNESS - MERCY AND GRACE WAS DEMONSTRATED.

HE DESERVED DEATH FOR HIS CRIMES

SHE GAVE HIM MERCY AND GRACE

WE DESERVE DEATH FOR OUR CRIMES - GOD GIVES US MERCY AND GRACE.

WRATH - IS WHAT WE DESERVE

MERCY IS WHAT WE GET WHEN WE TURN TO CHRIST

GRACE IS WHAT MAKE IT ALL WORK - MAKES IT ALL HAPPEN.

HE LOOKED BEYOND MY FAULT AND SAW MY NEED - AND MY NEED IS JESUS, YOUR NEED IS JESUS.

3. LET GOD REPLACE IT.

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

A LIFESTYLE OF STRIFE, AND BITTERNESS, COMPLAINING PLACES A GULF BETWEEN YOU AND GOD - YOU CANNOT SWIM THE GULF ALONE. BITTERNESS BINDS THE POWER OF GOD.

HOW CAN GOD REPLACE SUCH A HEART? - GRACE! IT IS SIMPLE.

WE LEARN TO BYPASS JUDGMENT (WHAT WE DESERVE)

SHOW MERCY (OVERLOOK )

SHOW GRACE (SOMETHING YOU CAN NEVER EARN, BUT CAN BE FREELY GIVEN.

LOOK AT JESUS - HE PROVIDED A WAY FOR GOD TO OVERLOOK OUR SIN BY HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK ON THE CROSS, WHEN WE COME TO JESUS AND ALLOW HIM IN OUR LIFE AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS - THE PENALTY IS THEN OVERLOOKED BY GRACE ALONE.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

CONCLUSION

ALLOW GOD TO MAKE ALL THINGS NEW BY SURRENDERING YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST.

THERE IS NO ONE SO BAD THAT THEY CANNOT BE SAVED AND NO ONE SO GOOD THEY THEY DON’T NEED TO BE SAVED -

SURRENDER YOU LIFE TO JESUS TODAY.

CALL ON JESUS

REPENT - (RE = AGAIN) (PENT = HIGH PLACE)

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10 ESV

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Romans 10:13 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

REMEMBER: THE SEED - THE SOIL - THE ROOT AND THE FRUIT.

Romans 13 ESV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

DON’T GO ANOTHER DAY WITHOUT PEACE, FORGIVNESS, AND ALLOWING GOD TO WORK IN YOUR LIFE.

PRAYER.