“A Root of Bitterness” – Hebrews 12:15
Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
I. Where Bitterness
Hebrews 12:15 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;
Bitterness grows in a heart that does not process hurt correctly.
Proverbs 14:10a The heart knoweth his own bitterness.
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
When we allow bitterness to fill our hearts it will invariably impact every single area of our lives.
II. Where Bitterness
Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Bitterness hurts its host.
Joshua 22:20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
III. Where Bitterness
Ruth 1:20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
People who are bitter develop a poor view of themselves and a poor view of God by seeing themselves as oppressed and God as complicit.
Hebrews 12:15 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;
Unresolved conflicts, unforgiveness, anger, self-pity, and so on are all tell-tale signs of bitterness.
If we look diligently and deal with the root, we can avoid the bitter fruit that comes from it all.
Hebrews 12:2 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.
Of all the people who have ever lived, Jesus endured the worst treatment. Yet we never find bitterness in Him.
Luke 23:34b Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Exodus 15:23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
Exodus 15:25b And the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
Jesus will meet injustice with justice.