What is bitterness?
What does bitterness look like?
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How do we know if we are bitter?
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Does bitterness have accompanying sins? What are they?
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Where does bitterness come from?
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Do hurts, disappointments, abusive or unfair treatment make us bitter, or do they tempt us to be bitter? What is the difference?
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For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.’" (Mark 7:21-23)
According to the scriptures, who is responsible for bitterness?
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Why does bitterness keep us in bondage?
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Who does it hurt?
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See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12:15)
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. (James 3:14)
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:30-31)
These scripture show that our bitterness hurts many others, hurts ourselves by not being forgiven by God, and it grieves the Holy Spirit of God.
Freedom of forgiveness
How do I break free from bitterness?
How do I get rid of the root of bitterness?
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a) Identify the source of my bitterness/anger/unforgiveness…often misdirected
When have I been most tempted to be bitter?How did/does it show?
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Who am I most tempted to be bitter toward?
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b) Feel the hurt…what happens when we don’t do that? Can we forgive someone when we don’t hold them responsible? What does this mean?
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c) Confront the source (Matthew 18:15-17)
What are different ways to accomplish this?
d) Offer forgiveness. See Jesus’ example:
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23:34)
Joseph’s example (see below)
How do I forgive? The example of Jesus
He gives the example…Perhaps Jesus’ greatest temptation to sin was on the cross
Was Jesus.tempted with bitterness?
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How was he able to overcome?
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23)
What does forgiveness look like so I can know if I have forgiven someone?
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as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)
Why is it freeing to forgive?
How does freedom that forgiveness brings show itself in this Biblical example?
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Joseph stayed in
Who will decide if I am a bitter woman, enslaved; or a forgiving woman, set free?
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Links to all the Designed on Purpose class notes can be found in the Introductory Article.
