The Root Of Bitterness

Bitterness is known in the Bible as spiritual poison and a means by which many are defiled (Hebrews 12:15). It is the source of countless spiritual and physical problems in millions of lives today. For a healthy 2018 pay attention to any underlying root of bitterness because one way or another bitterness can wreak havoc and MANY can be defiled:

Bitterness can be tricky to recognize because it's not a symptom or visible on the surface like anger usually. Many claim that they aren't an angry or hateful person, but that's not what bitterness is all about. Bitterness is an underlying problem that doesn't always manifest on the outside, but dwells in that person's system. Sometimes it lies hidden so well and so long that the first inkling of the damage it's doing begins to manifest physically in the life

Bitterness is a root!

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."

What is a root? A root is a source, or a bubbling fountain that is laying under the surface. Roots do not directly manifest or make themselves known, but are a source of nutrition or fuel for other elements that are on the surface. You don't usually see a plant showing off it's root system, but if the plant didn't have a root system it wouldn't survive. A root's job is not to manifest on the surface, but to brew under the surface and fuel things that are on the surface.

Let's take a closer look at a plants root system... where does the roots dwell? Under the surface of the soil. Can everybody see it's root system? No, because it's hidden under the soil or surface. The same is true with bitterness in a person's soul. It is a hidden element that lies under the surface, and out of it springs up anger and other negative emotions against others and against the circumstances around us. People who have a root of bitterness find it easy to get upset over things that other's are doing around them. It's like a brewing fountain that lies beneath the surface, waiting to fuel something that is on the surface.

Bitterness can be kept to one's self

Countless women who are raped develop awful emotional and spiritual bondage. It's not because they were raped, but because they allowed the trauma to get to them. Many women are in bondage today because they became bitter under the surface about what was done to them years ago. I believe Clinton Clark once said that from his observation, it seemed that boys who are molested by older men and forgave the molester and forgot about it right away, walked away without picking up unclean homosexual spirits, but those who allowed the trauma to bother them walked away with homosexual spirits and other bondages. That's how the demonic spirits gain access into a person's life through rape and abuse. It's not the abuse or rape, but the bitterness and unhealthy feelings that build up within a person who has been taken advantage of. Demons thrive on bitterness and unforgiveness, and it's a wide open door for them to move right in on a person and develop many spiritual, mental and even physical bondages.

Now many of these people who have been hurt, don't express it on the outside, but rather hold the hurt and bitter feelings inside where they fester and grow. I know women who have been raped, and they are kind and gentle and loving people, but inside they are bound up because of what was done to them many years ago. Just because they aren't angry or outrageous individuals, does not mean they are free from the root of bitterness. As I said earlier, bitterness is a root, and roots are not always visible on the surface. They may promote ungodly anger and other emotions on the surface but bitterness itself works under the surface.

Bitterness is a root, thereby making it harder to identify and expose than many surface issues, but none the less it's a deadly poison that needs to be released. If left alone, it will grow and fester, and it has the ability to spring up many surface issues such as irritability, anger, hatred, etc. Individuals who have a root of bitterness will often find it easy to become upset over little things that go on around them. It is easy for them to look at the circumstances around them as the source of their problems, rather than seeing how they are handling those circumstances. Instead of letting it go and forgiving, they let it get to them, and it devours them alive. This is a very common route by which demons enter people today.

Whether bitterness is manifest on the outside or not does not matter. Due to the nature of bottled up feelings and emotions, they are not always made noticeable on the surface, but that by no means discounts the fact that they are there. If there is a root of bitterness, it needs to be cut off at the root and removed from one's soul. We need to make a choice to release all hurt and bottled up feelings inside our systems, and repent for holding that poison in our hearts. Turn from those feelings and forsake them, and allow the Lord's love to minister to your soul!

Further reading

Bitterness is a deadly poison that needs to be brought into the light and addressed in order to bring many people out of spiritual, emotional and even physical bondage. Bitterness is a means for defilement and countless sickness and diseases are a result of bitterness. I have more on bitterness in my teaching titled, Unforgiveness: Spiritual Poison. I also have a teaching on how you can help overcome bitterness and unforgiveness in my teaching titled, Unforgiveness and How to F

Through The Eyes Of A Child

“’My daughter has a question to ask you.” The daughter, a shy six year old, stood before the chair where I was sitting and stared at me with wide eyes as she grasped her mother’s hand. I had no idea what was to come:

I was at this stage, not a pretty sight as I sat snotty-nosed with my insides hanging out before the people. It was about as comfortable as using the toilet before an audience of thousands. But that occasion and others like it taught me that looking good and preaching a dynamic sermon to huge crowds would accomplish little unless the life of Christ within me was being released through a broken vessel. The Alabaster box of ointment!

This particular home meeting had been a bit unusual. After a time of song and praise, I had opened my mouth to begin teaching when I was pierced with the conviction that I had been selfish and discriminating in caring for others. As I began to confess these shortcomings to the 30 or so packed into the living room, I broke into sobs. Unable to continue speaking, I simply sat blubbering while the faces of the people became blurred through the tears.

After what seemed to be about two weeks, I regained my composure and asked forgiveness of the people. The prayer and repentance that resulted was followed by expressions of joyful thankfulness. Now, as the mother and child stood before me, I wondered what such a young girl was so intent upon asking, but she continued to stare at me without saying a word. Finally her mother explained: “She wants to know what that light was surrounding your head.”

“I don’t know what the little girl saw nor do I remember how I answered her, but I will never forget what was impressed upon my spirit. I believe that the Lord wanted me to know that true ministry can flow only from a place of brokenness and humility; that it is as we lay down our soul life for our friends that His glory is revealed and others are invited to eat of Jesus with us. I was not a pretty sight as I sat snotty-nosed with my insides hanging out before the people. It was about as comfortable as using the toilet before an audience of thousands. But that occasion and others like it taught me that looking good and preaching a dynamic sermon to huge crowds would accomplish little unless the life of Christ within me was being released through a broken vessel.

Leading Like Jesus

“Jesus never managed anyone’s life. Nor did He teach anything that was not illustrated by His own life. Rather, He invited those who would follow Him to “come and see.” Those who took Him up on the offer saw where He stayed and how He lived. They saw Him communicate with His Father and eat with sinners. They watched Him respond to the harassment of the Pharisees and to the praise of some who heard Him teach. And as they walked with Him, he used simple illustrations to teach them how to start connected with Father and to love one another in the face of these challenges. In short, Jesus led mainly by example. His life was open and vulnerable to all who were willing to “come and see.”

“Jesus never attempted to lead a large group of people. Though he sometimes taught and fed the crowds, there were only a few who actually walked closely with Him. And so it is today. Those who are on that journey sometimes need the touch of a more mature brother or sister to walk with them for a season as they grapple with the dynamics of life as a member of God’s family They need someone to love them through their times of failure and self-doubt; someone they can feel safe with. They long for someone who has become real and touchable to them because that person has invited them into their own life. They have at least heard about and most likely witnessed God’s transforming power in the life of their friend. And as they have seen him or her follow after the heat of Father, they are encouraged to do the same. As they grow in Christ, they will find themselves leaning on the Great Shepherd in situations where formerly they would have sought out a human substitute. This way of leadership encourages a person to develop a trusting relationship with Father rather than to misplace one’s dependence upon another. Extending a leadership role beyond the temporary need retards growth and robs us of the joy of discovering Father’s heart together simply as brothers and sisters. (pages 69-70 from chapter 5 “Follow the Leader” from the book “When the Church Leaves the Building” by David Fredrickson)

Many pastors and other church leaders are often taught in Bible College and seminary to keep a good distance from the congregation. They are taught NOT to allow members to get too close to them, just the opposite of what Jesus taught. This is just one of many examples revealing that the “traditions of men which make the word of God of no effect” has crept into institutional Christianity even as those same kinds of traditions prevented the Jewish leadership of Jesus’ day from seeing Jesus as the Messiah. They called “the Truth” a blasphemer and crucified Him for being “the Truth.” The lie in their hearts hated “the Truth” which exposed the lies in their hearts. Could Church leadership and their flocks be in the same condition as Israel was nearly 2,000 years ago? Have our