As we read in Part 1 and listened to what the Father is saying out of His word, we will now touch on Jealousy leading to Bitterness and how to get rid of Bitterness.
Jealousy is an emotion that says I want what that person has. It could be position, authority, finances, health, etc., and if not checked instantly, it can lead to bitterness. That ugly thing will cause you to lose more than just position or authority, it will lead you to a broken body, a mindset, and even relationships. God’s word is clear on bitterness. Here are a few to read and reflect on Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (NKJ, Spirit-filled bible)
There is a time when you will need to be honest with yourself and stop and ask the Holy Spirit, Have I walked in what is evil in your eyes and walked in darkness? You said out of your word in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” And then ask the Lord where have you changed your holiness with God with the sin you are following after that leads to bitterness. As I read a little further, I found the end of the scripture that” sin “is” bitter. That virtue, or holiness, is sweet: that is, the one is attended with painful consequences and the other with pleasure. (Barnes, Albert commentary)
Job 10:1 “My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.” (NKJ, Spirit-filled bible)
Oh, Job loathed his life because of all that he lost. He complained about where he was and had a bitterness in his soul. His mind, will, and emotions were affected by all the trauma he had gone through. He did have to come to the end of himself and repent. Where have you complained and stepped into sin to gain your position faster? Instead, stop and reflect on what Zechariah said, “Do not despise small beginnings.” why does the flesh despise those first? Because we have given our eyes to the lust of the flesh, and not on the spiritual things above.
Ephesians 4: 31-32: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJ, Spirit-filled bible)
Then we come to what Paul wrote in Ephesians, and He walked this, knowing that it would benefit the body of Christ. Jesus, the Body, the bride has to make ready before the groom comes, and that means stopping and allowing the Holy Spirit to go into the chambers of the heart and allow His light to expose any bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and even evil speaking to put it away and walk in kindness, tenderhearted forgiving one another. Walk out how Jesus Forgives.
How do you stop being bitter and resentful? (By wycliffe.org)
First, Ask Jesus to forgive you for taking that on and not letting it go.
Practice empathy
Reflect on times when others have forgiven you.
Write in a journal, pray, or look up scriptures to meditate on.
Be aware that forgiveness is a process.
We are now in a place of a new era, in this era, we make a bold choice either staying where we were or moving forward in the forgiveness and love for others who are stuck in sin. We have many choices at this time as believers in Christ Jesus. We leave the bitterness, anger, wrath, clamor, and evil speaking and we step into the era of kindness, tenderhearted forgiving one another. Take the steps of faith, each step directed by God, and be intentional in your walk. Being intentionally asking the Lord to take you higher in this new era of living for Him. Let go of the former things and put on the new. Isaiah 43:18 “Remember ye, not the former things, neither consider the things of old”. Then look at how You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. Ephesians 4:22
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