Someone has a Bitterness issue! 7.10.16

Someone has a bitterness issue!
(Hebrews 12:14-15)
Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." So how can we do that? How can we prevent bitterness from moving into our hearts? How can we deal with our feelings instead of letting them grow into bitterness?

14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Hebrews 12:14-15

1. THE GERMINATION OF BITTERNESS 

The seed of bitterness is a hurt.
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:5-11


II. THE DEVASTATION OF BITTERNESS
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
A. The root of bitterness is underground and easy to hide. 
Characteristics of a bitter person: 
1. Very sensitive 
2. Has little or no gratitude
3. Will harshly criticize or vainly fatter 
4. Holds grudges
5. Mood swings 

The fruit of bitterness 
It will affect you physically. 
It will affect you emotionally. 
Proverbs 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

It will affect you spiritually. 
Hebrews 12:14  Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Bitterness has a chain reaction. 
Ephesians 4:26, Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
 30-31 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
a. Bitterness 
b. Wrath 
c. Anger 
d. Clamor
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
e. Evil speaking 
f. Malice

III. THE ERADICATION OF BITTERNESS 
Let God reveal it
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Jeremiah 17:9 
Let grace remove it. 
Hebrews 12:15 
Let love/good replace it. 
Hebrews 12:14 

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,