04/08/2026
Speaker: Apostle John Kimani William
Topic: DEALING WITH BITTERNESS
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The world is full of bitter people. Unfortunately, many of those bitter people are in the church.
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Bitter people are very defensive.
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Bitterness holds back the power of God more than alcohol and po*******hy.
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Some bitter people are very spiritual which makes it hard for them to seek help.
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Medical science has established that bitterness is the cause of about 50 sicknesses.
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Proverbs 4:23 commands us to guard our hearts because they are the wellsprings of our lives.
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The hearts of many people are poisoned by bitterness. Bitterness kills relationships, spiritual gifts, the work of our hands and progress.
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Hebrews 12:14-15 teaches that bitterness defiles men and hinders people from walking in holiness. It also instructs us not to allow a root of bitterness to grow in us because it can cause trouble and defile many.
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Roots are invisible but they supply plants with nutrition. Similarly, bitterness grows, destroys and defiles people by feeding their lives. Bitterness is poisonous.
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Our lives can be compared to containers which have a limited capacity. Weshould remove bitterness so that we can create space for good things. Psalm 103:5.
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We need to take an inventory of our hearts and remove all unprofitable things to make space or worthwhile things.
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Bitterness, anger and rage make those who harbour them grow old faster than people who are not bitter because their youth is not renewed.
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Bitterness is a heavy weight and it hinders believers from running their race of faith. It drains one's energy, passion and creativity.
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When you forgive and let go, you do yourself a favour.
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Ephesians 4:26 permits us to be angry but commands us not to let the sun go down when we are still angry. We need to forgive fast.
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Ephesians 4:31 (AMP) lists the things that happen when people are bitter which include wrath, resentment, quarreling, slander and malice.
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Bitter people are judgmental, critical, crybabies, hypocritical, finding fault, sensitive, take offense easily, ungrateful, hold grudges and have mood swings.
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Bitter people are hurt either intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes, bitterness is caused by a perception.
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Bitterness hardens the heart, preventing one from receiving God's blessings and prevents people from attaining destiny.
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Hurting people hurt others very easily.
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Hope deferred makes the heart sick.
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Genesis 4:1-8 teaches that Cain killed his brother Abel because he missed the opportunity to do what's acceptable. Grace can be defined as the desire and ability to do God's will.
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Those who miss the grace of God in the church pray evil against others, get discouraged and seek to discourage others. They defile others by speaking against the good they do.
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Jesus taught that offenses must come. His will is that we refuse to let them to hurt and embitter us.
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The Bible emphasises that we should be ready to forgive others. Many believers are eager to receive God's mercy and forgiveness but they are not ready to extend the same to others. This should not be the case.
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Matthew 18:21-35 documents the parable of the unforgiving servant. In it, Jesus highlights the need for His followers to have compassion on those who wrong us. God has forgiven us many sins but many people are unwilling to extend grace and forgiveness to others.
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Bitterness is a prison that tortures the one who harbours it. It causes stagnation.
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In Matthew 5:21-24, Jesus teaches that unforgiveness hinders our prayers and sacrifices.
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Bitterness makes the one who harbours it a slave of the one they have not forgiven.
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Matthew 6:12 teaches that God forgives us if we forgive others.
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Forgiveness is costly but worth it. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to offer it.
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When you forgive, you set two people free and one of them is yourself.
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Job 34:3 teaches us to taste the words we hear the same way the tongue tastes food. Bitter people speak distasteful words.
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James 3:11-12 teaches that no spring produces both clean and salty water. Bitter people produce words that hurt others.
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The people who hurt us are those who are closest to us such as our parents, children, spouses, workmates....
๐ What have you learnt about bitterness? What's/who's that have you not forgiven?
๐May God give us the grace to release all bitterness and forgive.
Arising Vessels Of Worship