Day 26 - Bitterness

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 34

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

Every pastor and counselor has dealt with unforgiveness & bitterness in so many of their members’ lives.  Only the sin of unbelief exceeds these.  Michael has 3 “days” in a row that could change family histories if those with “ears to hear” would lend an ear and a heart to what is covered.  We will spend this week, and the two following weeks, looking at this “divisive and destructive force.”

DAY 26

Bitterness

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled. --Hebrews 12:15

(special note from Lee:  I could highlight with the different colors almost every sentence in this writing.  However, I have done so on what I think are the most absolutely critical points.  Please highlight others as you see the need or the fit!)

On occasion I will talk to a brother (or sister) contemplating divorce, and I will immediately explain to him how he is presently feeling. Often his response will be, "How did you know exactly how I was feeling?" “Quite simply,” I tell him, “I just described the characteristics of a bitter person.” His mate's behavior is not dictating how he feels, although he believes it is. Bitterness is the true dictator, a most divisive and destructive force to which many believers have succumbed. "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31, 32). 

What are some of the common signs of bitterness in a relationship? The bitter person is responsible for them, remember, for it is not the actions of others that cause bitterness, but rather a hard heart and ears attuned to the enemy's accusing voice that give bitterness the soil it needs to grow. There is a difference between being offended and being bitter. We do not find Jesus, the one Man in all of humanity who was offended the most, ever bitter. Blame must rest squarely on the shoulders of the person who is bitter. Bitterness is an attitude that grows until its roots are entangled throughout the person's mind, will, and emotions. Any attempt to remove this poisonous plant will be met with resistance through desire, intellectual arguments, and the sense of hopelessness. Bitterness can even be considered an addiction, for there is a soothing inner calm in those who have become accustomed to it; though everything outside them is out of control, they can at least direct their bitterness and make others pay for the perceived wrongs they have done. The majority of believers under emotional stress will either have an outer expression or an inner explosion (which normally converts to depression), and with the passing of time all is forgotten. However, the bitter have done neither of these, and anger and resentment have accumulated to the point of the persons’ accepting a lifestyle, a path allowing for the luxury of avoiding personal responsibility for the remainder of life. A child is bitter toward the parent, and the more the child fails in life, the more anger he exhibits toward the parent. This is living in a distorted reality, a neurosis. When events begin to pressure the bitter people into accepting blame, they immediately recall all of the wrongs that have been done to them, once again avoiding life. An interesting thing about bitter Christians is that they often maintain their bitterness under the guise of being extremely spiritual, "so spiritual" that God has called them to suffer by being cut off from others, and yet the proof of carnality is that everyone who has disappointed them is covertly punished for the perceived failure.

It is extremely interesting and important that we don’t slide by God’s word to all believers: “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that…”  Oh, thank God for His grace!   Of course, that is only helpful when we know and understand the truth of what God’s grace is (from “Day 123,” “At my point of need, God is everything to me that I thought He was not!...God is to me all that I am not.”).

Bitterness is a dictator.  God has told us plainly: put it away!  Get rid of it.  But, most of all, don’t let it get a root in our lives in the first place!  How many Christians’ lives must be destroyed (families!) before the church learns how to recognize and help folks who are headed toward it, caught up in it, or in the middle of being destroyed by it?

Make note of ALL the bitter person’s responsibility.  Make note that bitterness is an attitude.  Make note that bitterness can be considered an addiction.  Make note that bitterness can become a lifestyle.  And make note that bitterness is often maintained under the guise of being extremely spiritual (can we even imagine that, much less accept that?!?  Yet, it is TRUTH.)

Oh, but bless God…there is hope.  Christ is our hope.  Don’t forget:  “There is NOTHING the nearness of Christ can’t overcome/heal/put away…”  His GRACE is sufficient, because it is HIM being all we can’t be…doing whatever we can’t do.  Oh, hallelujah!  Our God is able!

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

P. O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                      936-559-5696