“Get Rid Of All Bitterness”

Ephesians 4:26-32

Bitterness is defined as a feeling of pain or distress; hostility; grievousness; hating; anger. 

Bitterness blows out the candle of joy and leaves the soul in darkness. The seed of bitterness is a hurt that is planted in someone. It may be intentional or unintentional. Someone does not mean to hurt you, but you were hurt. Sometimes the hurt is only imagined. No one has hurt you, but somehow you feel that someone has done something wrong to you. The soil of bitterness is a heart that harbors hostility and does not deal with hurt by the grace of God. When someone becomes bitter, the bitterness takes root in the heart and grows deeper. 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. The word tells us in Hebrews 12:14-15 to “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 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 root of bitterness is underground; it is easy to hide and camouflage. A bitter person is hypersensitive, ungrateful, insincere, holds grudges, and has mood swings. There are 3 steps to get rid of bitterness; (1) Let God reveal it. - A deceitful heart cannot diagnose a deceitful heart. You need to let God the Holy Spirit do radical surgery. (2) Let Grace reveal it. - By the grace of God, bury that hurt in the grave of God's forgetfulness. Justice is God giving us what we deserve, mercy is God not giving us what we deserve, grace is God giving us what we don't deserve. (3) Let Good replace it. - You cannot be holy unless you follow peace with men. It is so worth it when you forgive. But, you say, "Look what they've done! I am not going to let them off the hook." Well, they are not on the hook, you are. When you forgive, you set two people free and one of them is yourself.

I come by this morning to let you know we must let go of the bitterness and allow God to cleanse your heart of hurt, pain and unforgiveness. You’re missing out on so much happiness and peace. I pray God reveal you to you so you can get the opportunity to truly live. Be bless and I love you!!! JE