Lee McDowell Christian
Ministries LMCM
Nacogdoches,
Texas Gal. 2:20 KJV
Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness For His Strength - # 36
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
If you don’t have one of Michael’s books as yet,
let me encourage you to contact ALMI and get one…so many great “days” where
Michael has shared the jewels of wisdom God gave him over the years of
ministering around the world with 1,000’s of people. His Heavenly
Discipleship book ought to be every Christian pastor, teacher, and
counselor’s textbook, with My
Weakness For His Strength the perfect “compliment.”
Three “days” in a row
in Michael’s book…three weeks now in a row for us to consider these damaging
decisions and emotions. It is no wonder
the Apostle Paul wrote that we must “stand firm and do not be subject again to
a yoke of slavery.” And, do not “let a
root of bitterness spring up…” Look at
where Michael tells us this leads...
DAY 28
Bitterness
Bondage
It was for freedom that Christ set us
free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of
slavery. –Galatians 5:1
Bitterness is
oppression from the enemy,
who has invested many hours whispering about the supposed misery caused by
others. The most
predominant trait of the bitter is that he considers himself a victim,
having had to suffer and go it alone without help, support, or respect. He is
isolated, forced to a place of self-sufficiency. No one even cares, and he is
angry. This attitude of
bitterness can begin with a dislike, distrust, or even hatred of one's mate,
but soon turns into hatred of the opposite sex. Women are viewed as
complaining, impossible to please, picky, manipulative, non-submissive,
rebellious, and domineering; they only care about seeing a paycheck, they lack
respect, and a man never knows what he is coming home to. To a bitter wife, men
are seen as proud, insensitive, arrogant, passive know-it-alls who only care
about themselves, sex, and having their egos continually stroked; they are slow
to fulfill their responsibilities and cannot do things right. Soon both spouses
decide that they can live without sex, communication, approval, or the support
of their mates. I have talked with couples that had mutually decided through
bitterness to withdraw sexually from one another for periods of more than ten
years. These attitudes
will often be communicated to the children of the couple through various overt
or covert messages, leaving many today fearful of the opposite sex.
It takes a
surprisingly short amount of time for bitterness to become a person's comfort
zone. It is
actually easy to withdraw and put the mate under the magnifying glass, waiting
for the next word or action that will prove the negative assessment of the relationship
and the hopeless state of the mate. I have been amazed at how frustrated a
bitter believer becomes at the suggestion that his mate may not be as bad as he
believes. He hates to hear such a thing! As I draw attention to the bitter
one's inability to love in spite of offenses, the conversation is immediately
turned away from his failure back to the inexcusable behavior of the other. I can only ascertain that this
type of person has every intention of remaining bitter.
Just this week I heard
another sad story of family members being estranged from one another because
one had hurt the other…years ago…and there never has been the humility and decision
to “ask forgiveness” (even to admit “I’m wrong”) that leads to forgiving and
reconciliation that God so strongly desires for everyone to experience. It is the epitome of our relationship with
Him.
And with so many
Christians living with the mask of “I’m fine” greeting others, when the fires
of unforgiveness and bitterness smolder beneath the surface and behind the
mask, it is no wonder the church has become weak and inept and is not winning the world to Christ.
If you know someone who
is living with bitterness, ask God to give you the opportunity and the
wherewithal to get them to the point of getting help to rid themselves of this
bondage. And one key ingredient in total
restoration is the healing of the damaged emotions that are present in any case
of unforgiveness and bitterness. God
wants to heal the emotions as much as He wants to deal with the forgiveness.
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
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