HIJACKED: What's Holding You Captive?
Breaking free from the
Bondage of Bitterness
Memory verse: Ephesians
4:31–32 (NKJV) 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil
speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to
one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ
forgave you.
Text: Ephesians 4:30-5:2
Introduction: Psalm 133:1
“A
feeling of anger and resentment, caused particularly by perceived unfairness in
suffering or by adverse circumstances.”-- Martin H. Manser
1.
The
Causes of Bitterness:
2 Samuel 13:22; Esther 5:9; 1 Samuel
30:6
2.
The
Consequences of Bitterness:
Hebrews 12:15; 1 Samuel 30:6; 2
Samuel 13:28–29
3. The Cures of Bitterness Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; Heb
12:15; Eph 4:31; Colossians 3:8; 1 Peter 2:1; Ephesians
4:32; Colossians 3:12-13; Matthew 6:14–15;
Genesis 33:1–11; 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 ; Ephesians 5:1–2 ; 1 John 3:16; Romans
12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35; Genesis 50:20.
Bitter people are “hard to be reconciled”-- Aristotle
·
First, Remove Bitterness Ephesians
4:31; Colossians 3:8;
Heb 12:15;
Eph 4:31; Colossians 3:8.
·
Second, Follow biblical Advice.
Ephesians 4:32
·
Forgiveness is the greatest antidote
for bitterness. BURY THE HATCHET.
·
Third, Imitate Jesus Ephesians 5:1–2, 1 John 3:16, CF. 1
Corinthians 13:4–5
·
Fourth, Change your perspective about
what people have done to you in the past. Genesis 50:20
·
Finally, if you perceive that you
have been treated unfairly, let God fight your battle for you. Deuteronomy
32:35; Romans 12:19
