Bitterness
Ephesians 6:12 ” for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spritual wickedness in high places.”. Their sin is our enemy –NOT THEM!
Bitterness is a principality; under it and answering to it are seven spritis that reinforce bitteress. 1.) Unforgiveness If you keep records of wrongs you have unforgiveness. 2.) Resentment is when you hold onto unforgiveness and start meditating and chewing on it. Resentment is a spiritual problem. It is what seperates us from others; the fear of man, fear of rejection, fear of failure, and fear of abandonment. 3.) Retaliation After resentment starts to simmer, we find ways to get back at the person who caused it. 4.) Anger After the above then anger starts to sets in. 5.) Hatred causes the pressure cooker to get going, “you do not have a reason to exist anymore, especially in my presence.” 6.) Violance After hatred comes violence. “Before I eliminate you, you are going to feel my pain. You are going to know my hatred, You are going to experience it. 7.) Murder is the final fruit of bitterness. It could be physical murder or murder with the tongue.
We can battle this with discernment. Any of the above, if left unchecked gets progressively worse then the one proceeding it. God calls us to forgiveness. How many times do I forgive my brother? Matthew 18:22 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven time: but, Until seventy times seven.” What if they continue to do it again? God says forgive 70 X 7. Romans 14:10 says “for we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.”. We are not the judge; the Lord is judge.
When we let the Lord be the judge, we can be released from the spirit of bitterness and we can get our heart right with God. My freedom does not depend on their resolution – it depends on my resolution. To forgive, we do not have to condone their sin. So walk away, keep your heart right, pray and ask God to bring reconciliation.
As a therapist, I often see the clients as they tell their story, the bitterness they carry. There are horrendous acts out in the world every day. They have a right to be bitter. We have the right to be bitter. I have the right to be bitter. But God is saying “I got this.” Forgive, let it go, have reconciliation. It is only with the grace of God that we can do that, truely. Go through the above list. Where do you struggle? Remember it is only going to get worse. Go to God so you too can forgive and have the peace inside. Reading A MORE EXCELLENT WAY chapter 3. 