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
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.
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
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