Scripture: Hebrews 12 v 14 - 15: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
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."John 9 v 1 - 4: "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
Just as we inherit the eyes, ears, mouth or features of parents, grandparents or other ancestors, so do we inherit some problems as well. Doctors take a full history of what our parents suffered from, as it could affect us as well.
Spiritually, the sins of the fathers (ancestors) are visited upon the children to the third and fourth generation. The sins we commit have consequences that may haunt us when we see our children falling into errors.
When we cry over our children addicted to heroin, Crystal meth, cocaine and other drugs, we don't think that the root has grown from experiments or addictions we had or still have from days gone by. We need to go back in time and kill those roots to help this generation get free of slavery to recreational drugs.
We cannot fight for their freedom if we are still in chains ourselves. Our God is not unmindful of our concerns, but He needs our cooperation and commitment to break these chains.
One of the deadly roots is bitterness. There is a topical case this week of Archie Battersbee in England. This twelve year old boy died after being in a coma since April. He was brain dead from playing a TikTok game, the latest craze, of finding different ways of rendering yourself unconscious, then sharing it online.
Whatever Archie did, it killed him, the life support machines were turned off yesterday, to the great distress of his family. There have been two other unnecessary deaths from this awful game. It leaves a trail of bitterness and pain. What strange thing did we do that opened this evil door? And do we know what our children are busy with on their phones? Have we warned them about being sucked into things that may harm them, or worse?
The root of bitterness always brings pain to oneself and others. The way we recognize bitterness in our self or others is by the fruit we observe. The visible ones are smoking, addictions, alcoholism and outbursts of anger. I used to visit a rehab in the Eastern Cape and talk to the people there, and pray with them.
In every case there was someone that had hurt them very badly, whom they could not forgive, and needed to "self-medicate" to "take the edge off". Every case. Before your son or daughter can get the victory over substance abuse, they must forgive from the heart every person who has ever hurt them. They must also ask forgiveness from every person they have hurt. Get right with God first, then the devil will run more easily.
Bitterness and Unforgiveness are indications of a more serious problem called Anger Towards God. We blame God for many tragedies, losses, deaths, physical problems, mental disorders, disabilities of every kind. Remind yourselves that God sent Jesus to die in your place, bear your burdens, take your sins and sicknesses upon Himself, so why would He cause you unnecessary anguish?
Matthew 18 v 32 - 35: "Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
Mark 11 v 24 - 26: "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."
From these two passages of scripture you get the answer from Jesus Himself. First, if you do not forgive from your heart, the Father will hand you over to the tormentors. Fear, pain, disease, loss, broken dreams, disappointments, shock, financial upheaval etc.
Second, if you refuse to forgive then our Father refuses to forgive you your sins. You have not received salvation, nor is your name written in the Lambs Book of Life. It's that serious. There will be a brass ceiling between you and the Lord. You cannot hear His voice nor receive His blessings, until your heart is free of bitterness and unforgiveness.
This spirit of bitterness is passed down from generation to generation. A family feud can last forever. Over some forgotten misdemeanour, bitterness can and will prevail until we break the curse. Uproot this whole bitter tree and throw out the evil fruit that has soured your life. Let the Blood of Jesus cleanse you of anger, hate, violence, addictions, revenge, rioting, looting, burning and wanton destruction.
Putin has a personal grudge against Zelensky and the whole Ukrainian war is his way of getting even. Nearly 50000 Russian soldiers have been sacrificed on the altar of bitterness and revenge, along with many dead Ukrainians. And and and......energy crises all over the world, famine, heartbreak, millions displaced, economies affected by huge inflation. Cities have been reduced to rubble. Marieupol was the most pro-Russian city in Ukraine, and its been wiped out. But Putin won't quit. He wants Zelensky's head on a platter. Pride is another root that's deadly.
By China's reaction there is now growing animosity between East and West. Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan this week has unleashed tensions that have been simmering for years. China is terribly possessive over Taiwan, which wants to stay independent. The war in Ukraine has brought extreme concern to this island as its causing China to boldly go into restricted airspace, because an American official put a foot on it.
This world is becoming its own powder keg with nuclear weapons being readied for the total annihilation of the planet. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is the Divine Restrainer who protects God's people until the Rapture takes us out. Thereafter its going to be rough.
There is just too much anger and bitterness in the world. Violent protests are the norm. And it all could be healed if everyone was on the same page and ready to forgive and forget. Jesus came to set the captives free, our job is to tell them and help them.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You laid this message on my heart this morning and I pray fervently that good will come of it. Lord its not always easy to forgive murderers, rapists, thieves, governments, regimes, abuse, but being bitter really only hurts ourselves. Help us to be willing to do it for the greater good. In Jesus' name. Amen.