We have been doing a series on bitterness and how we must Destroy the root that has taken hold of our lives. It doesn't always show up the same way each and ever time bitterness arises. Bitterness stems from a life time of hurt, abuse, addiction, and fear. Bitterness is a vice satan uses to control our minds and take All thoughts away from The Most High. Bitterness if left unattended grows into personality traits and values, morals and ideology that produce hate, violence, judgemental minds, and resentment. Bitterness does Not allow for the Most High to Dwell 100% within us as Darkness and Light cannot co-exist.
After Reading Hebrews write the answer to the questions listed below
Hebrews 12:1-17 ESV
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
1. In what way are we to run the race?
* I wrote down: We are to acknowledge our witnesses to the freedom and Grace Abba Yah/ Father God has given us. Not only in the Holy Spirit in which He forgave us, but the witnesses who forgive each other. We are to lay aside all weight and sin running with patience.
2. How is Jesus and Example for us?
* I wrote down: Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. The word for author is G747-ἀρχηγόςarchēgós, ar-khay-gos'; from G746 and G71; a chief leader:—author, captain, prince. Understanding that Jesus is our Captain, our Leader from The Lord God Almighty, He is the door that Leads us to The Father. Finisher is G5051-τελειωτήςteleiōtḗs, tel-i-o-tace'; from G5048; a completer, i.e. consummater:—finisher.
Biblical Outline of Usage for finisher is
perfector
one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith
*I also wrote down that Jesus found Joy in doing God's Will. Jesus withstood shame, He endured hostility from Sinners, and He paid the ultimate Price by dying for Us All.
3. How are we to View God's Discipline?
* I wrote down God disciplines who He Loves. God Chastises whom He receives. God Treats us like His Children, His Discipline is Why we Endure. Endure is G5278-ὑπομένωhypoménō, hoop-om-en'-o; from G5259 and G3306; to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere:—abide, endure, (take) patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
Biblical Outline of Usage of Endure
to remain to tarry behind
to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee to persevere: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ
to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments
* I also wrote: His Discipline is for our Good. His Discipline yeilds righteousness. His Discipline is for Healing.
4. What is the Goal of God's Training?
* I wrote: His training allows us to share in His Holiness. His training yeilds righteousness. His training provides Healing, and it roots out Bitterness. Chastising means G3809-παιδείαpaideía, pahee-di'-ah; from G3811; tutorage, i.e. education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction:—chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.
Biblical Outline of Usage of Chastising
the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body
whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes and curbing passions.
instruction which aims at increasing virtue
chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment)
5. Why are we to pursue peace and Sanctification?
* I wrote: We are to strive for Holiness so we can see God. We are to be diligent and look before we act so that grace Remains and the root of bitterness cannot take hold. We are to strive for our inheritance and not sell our souls. We are not to be sexually immoral/ fornicators. fornicator is G4205- πόρνοςpórnos, por'-nos; from πέρνημι pérnēmi (to sell; akin to the base of G4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), i.e. (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine):—fornicator, whoremonger.
Biblical Outline of Usage of Fornicator
a man who prostitutes his body to another's lust for hire
a male prostitute
a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, a fornicator
6. Why is Bitterness Mentioned?
* I wrote: Bitterness yields to sexual immoral acts. Bitterness yields to unholiness. Bitterness causes trouble, bitterness Defiles our Spirit and Souls. Where bitterness is, The Lord God Almighty cannot fully reside.
Bitterness in the New Testament focuses on that angry and resentful state of mind that can develop when we under go troubles, trials, hardships...
Lamentations 3 describes Jeremiah and Israel (God's People) bitterness. Read the following verses and comment on how Jeremiah handled his feelings of bitterness. (This will be a self study, with no comments from myself)
Lamentations 3
I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission.
50 Till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven.
51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
52 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
55 I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.
56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
59 O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me;
62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
64 Render unto them a recompence, O Lord, according to the work of their hands.
65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord.
Bitterness is Intensely personal. Bitterness arises in our hearts when we do not let the Lord God Almighty take control of our lives. If anyone had a reason to be bitter it was Joseph. Sold by his brothers into slavery, falsely accused by his master's immoral wife, and forgotten by the one he helped in prison. Joseph Never Lost Sight of the Fact God was In Control. In the end, Joseph was able to forgive his brothers and say to them: You meant evil against me, But God Meant it for Good.
Genesis 50: 16-21
16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
The Lord God Almighty wants us free so that we can Live. Bitterness Hinders our Freedom because it Does Not Produce anything other than malice, hate, envy and strife. Let God work on You and Up Root That Bitterness Today!!
Strong's Hebrew Greek Concordance
More about Jesus and being the Author and Finisher of our Life
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