Sunday Morning, November 27, 2016

The Danger of Bitterness

Hebrews 12:15, Deuteronomy 29:18, 29

I. Five Falsehoods about Bitterness

A. I Would Never Become Bitter. The Sin of Bitterness Will Not Tempt Me Eph. 4:31

B. I Would Notice Bitterness Before it Starts Heb. 3:13; 12:14; Ac. 8:23

C. I Would Quickly Get over it If I Do Become Bitter

1. Bitterness Deceives as to its Wrongness: Bitterness Is Sin Eph. 4:30, 31; Heb. 12:15

2. Bitterness Deceives as to its Power: Bitterness Is Controlling

Deut. 29:18, 19; Prov. 5:22; Prov. 22:24, 25

3. Bitterness Deceives as to its Cost: Bitterness Is Not Comforting

Jonah 2:8

D. I Am Not to Blame for Being Bitter Ps. 95:8

E. I Can Run from Bitterness by Changing My Circumstances Jn. 16:33

II. Three Dangerous Times That One Is Tempted to Bitterness

A. You May Be Tempted to Bitterness after Your Redemption Exo. 15:21--27; Matt. 13:21

B. You May Be Tempted to Bitterness after God's Goodness Exo. 15:27--16:3

C. You May Be Tempted to Bitterness in [Prolonged] Difficult Trials

Heb. 12:12, 10:32; Num. 14:1--2; 13:26--27

III. Five Remedies for Bitterness

A. To Have God’s Perspective on Trials—heb. 12:5ff

B. To Confess Bitterness as Sin Eph. 4:26, 27; Eph. 4:31

C. To Speak the Truth in Love Eph 4:25

D. To Commit All in Prayer Phil. 4:6, 7

E. To Wait for the Lord Exo. 15:23; Lam. 3:25; Ps. 10:14--17
Quotes:

Worry is not believing God will get it right, and bitterness is believing God got it wrong. –Tim Keller

"I asked the Lord that I might grow

In faith, and love, and ev'ry grace;
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

"I hop'd that in some favour'd hour,

At once he'd answer my request;
And by his love's constraining pow'r
Subdue my sins and give me rest.

"Instead of this, he made me feel

The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow'rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev'ry part.

"`Lord, why is this?' I trembling cried;

`Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?'
`Tis in this way', the Lord replied,
`I answer pray'r for grace and faith.'

"`These inward trials I employ,

From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may'st seek thy all in me.'

-John Newton