Bittersweet Ep. 2

Takeoff || The Bitterness Pandemic

Have you noticed, has anybody noticed that the world seems a little angry these days?

Like we're all about to snap or lose it?

We have people that are angry with government officials. We have students mad at teachers, teachers angry with students. We have government officials frustrated with their citizens. We've got employees that are angry with their employers, and frankly they're quitting their jobs, and we have the largest need of labor in the history of our generation. We've got parents of teenagers, who let's be honest, we have always been angry.

We have never stopped being angry, right? Case in point, listen to this.

Let's just talk about airline travel for a moment. Before 2020, the average number of investigated incidents on an airline with an unruly passenger was 143. In just 2021, just this year, just since January 1st, any guesses? 3,715 reports to the FAA of unruly passengers. It almost feels like bitterness within humanity is a whole entirely different pandemic that we are now facing.

Transition | And so today, as we continue on in this message series, Bittersweet, we're going to talk about what do you do when bitterness takes over. If you've got your you version open, I'd love for you to turn to the book of Hebrews, chapter 12.

Tension ||

Psychology Today article: All bitterness starts out as hurt. And your emotional pain may well relate to viewing whoever (or whatever) provoked this hurt as having malicious intent: As committing a grave injustice toward you; as gratuitously wronging you and causing you grief.

Anger—and resentment—is what we’re all likely to experience whenever we conclude that another has seriously abused us. Left to fester, that righteous anger eventually becomes the corrosive ulcer that is bitterness.

What does God’s forgiveness mean for how we see people who have hurt us?

How do you kill a root of bitterness?

Transition |

Text | Hebrews 12:14-15 NLT

Transition | Prayer

TEACHING | THE BURDEN OF BITTERNESS

BITTERNESS IS A HIDDEN DESTROYER.

It’s interesting that the author of Hebrews refers to bitterness as a “ROOT.” Image of root system

—Live oak tree. All roots lined up can equal a linear mile.

In other words—it is what you cannot see deep beneath the surface of the soul that, left unchecked, is slowly growing deeper and deeper and robbing you of the life God desires for you.

In fact, you may have experienced a hurt, a disappointment, an offense … You may not even know that an offense has taken root.

Sometimes small … sometimes life-paralyzing offenses. Family members abuse. Spouse’s betrayal. Business partner deception.

Bitterness is like drinking poison, hoping it will kill your enemy.

AN INVISIBLE ROOT ALWAYS YIELDS VISIBLE FRUIT

· BITTERNESS POISONS OTHERS

Hebrews 12:15

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

defile: miaino (me-ah'-ee-no); stain, pollute or contaminate.

Our culture today is one that celebrates that bitterness should be broadcasted. My life so revolves around this anger and resentment that I have to invite as many people to join me in it.

Jeff Bezos—people lose their kindness gene behind a keyboard

Hatred and holiness cannot coexist in the same heart. When we invite people into our bitterness, we are becoming a stumbling block in their pursuit of faith and peace.

· One bitter person can destroy a LifeGroup

· Can divide a family

· Can ruin a friendship

TAKE AWAY | How do you kill a root of bitterness?

Expose the objects of your bitterness.

Ephesians 5:11

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Have we actually gone to the place of calling out why we are chronically paralyzed with this wound?

· Bitter at God because you lost your parent to covid

· Bitter because your older brother seems to do no wrong

· Bitter because…

You cannot heal from what you are unwilling to admit.

When you start praying about why you are bitter, the discovery may surprise you.

My thoughts are either victimized or judgmental. Been there many times. Take a break. Clear your head. The problem wasn’t them, it was me. My soul was depleted, and I was vulnerable to every offense.

With whom or what are you bitter?

Upside-down kingdom. What Jesus modeled and the life that God’s Word teaches us to live is almost always opposite of human nature and culture.

Great—serve

Someone slaps you—give them the other cheek

Kill bitterness—love

Hebrews 12:15 - See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

The following feel impossible unless our actions flow from a place of grace.

Cancel the debt, not the person.

Matthew 18:32-35

“… ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

They deserve it … my anger is a righteous anger. Let me encourage you … Jesus only turned the tables over once. Every other of the 1,277 days of his public ministry he was an instrument of peace, a healer to the sick, a friend to the foreigner, and forgiver to the sinner.

• Give up your claim to revenge and blame.

Ace of spades … lay the card down … today I choose to not hold it against them.

Bless your offender.

Luke 6:27-28

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Bless: eulogeo (yoo-log-eh'-o) to speak well of

One of the reasons we struggle with allowing a root of bitterness to grow is because we tend to compare sin. We compare what we have done with what others have done.

Sin is an archery term—to miss the mark.

The millimeter sin and the mile sin both need the blood of Jesus.

When you realize what we have been given, how dare we withhold it from someone else.

The person that I have spent the most time being bitter toward is ME.

True forgiveness is second hand.

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. –

Colossians 3:12-15 NLT