Possess the Land: Bitterness

Series: Possess the Land
Sermon: “the land of the emotions: Bitterness”
7-11-10
Intro
 The prime intention of Satan is to bruise
 Bruise create an open door to the enemy to do his destructive work
 Bruises bind the person, but the work of Christ is to set at liberty them that are bruised, Lu 4:18KJV
 Bruises keep the body divided and the enemy dwells in the land
 Fear and distrust separate those bruised within the body
 The body of Christ needs to be healed
 As the body is joined together the fullness of the head will flow down through each member.
1 John 3:8 for this purpose Jesus Christ was manifest to destroy the works of the devil
The Works of the Devil
Gal 5:16-21 KJV
Need the picture of the mind and soul for powerpoint here.
Obj
 When the Northern and Southern tribes separated in Israel it created war and division between brothers
 That strategy is being used by Satan today-Separate and Destroy
 Bitterness is the greatest tool at his disposal today, leaving a path of destruction in the Church all because our brothers and sisters left the principle and command of Jesus to Love others
 Ex: we are like an apple that has dropped off the tree, and bruised, no sign of damage for a few days
 Then there appears a dark spot that turns into rottenness and spoil
 This is the way bitterness works after a hurt
Eph 4:26-27 KJV 26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil.
Place=topos position of opportunity
Time does not heal all wounds, Jesus does.
 Time makes it worse like a cancer eating away at you.
Lu 4:18 Jesus came to heal the broken hearted, preach deliverance to the captives and set at liberty them that are bruised!
Hebrews 12:15 (King James Version) 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
1. Bitterness comes from hurts
 Child-parent, husband-wife, other relationships
 Proximity breeds contempt=the deepest hurts come from those closest to us
2. Bitterness pollutes one’s whole system and others.
Speech, actions, attitudes, breakdown in physical health
3. Bitterness builds walls of Isolation
Fear of further hurt, fear and distrust of people, fear of inner hurts and weakness being exposed, loneliness,
4. Bitterness always results in broken relationships
Cut people out of your life, critical attitude toward others
Broken relationships cause blind spots
1 John 2:9-11(New Living Translation)
9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister,[a] that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister[b] is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.
Blind spots stop us from acting wisely, from seeing ourselves, and others as they really are, meaning created in His image.
Broken relationships cause insensitivity
Life becomes self centered, and no proper regard for the need of others
Broken relationships cause immaturity
 The emotional growth stops at the time of injury
 Personality does not mature with the body
 You need to be healed before you can grow as a healthy individual
 Emotional growth resumes when healing and release comes
Pathway of Unforgiveness
1. resentment becomes bitterness
2. blame becomes hatred
3. deception becomes perversion
Conclusion
Bitterness is the seed bed of every demonic work
It will destroy you
It will make you not love
We must remain in the spirit of forgiveness continually
When satan comes to bruise, do not receive the hurt,
Immediately release hurt by forgiveness
If there are years compacted by bitterness, start with the Lord’s Prayer
Mat 6:9-15 KJV