What a Face!We’ve all seen little kids get their

first taste of something bitter (lemons, pickles, etc) and it’s

funny.

But it isn’t pretty, cute or funny when that face is on an adult who

isn’t eating lemons!

When you think of tasting something “bitter”, it brings to mind the

Israelites.

The Israelites Were BitterExodus 15:22-23,

“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the

wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and

found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named

Marah…

The Israelites Were BitterExodus 15:24-25,

…So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"

Then he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree; and

he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He

made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested

them.”

The Israelites Were BitterGod brought bitter people face to face with bitter water which revealed their

evil, grumbling heart.

After they complained, God provided sweet water so they could drink but they were never satisfied and died in

the wilderness (Numbers 14:22ff).

God allows us to be tested to see if we are going to be “bitter” or “better”!

Bitterness Affects Good and EvilEsau when his blessing was given to

Jacob “When Esau heard the words of his

father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!“ And he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away

your blessing” (Genesis 27:34-35).

Bitterness Affects Good and EvilJob after he lost his wealth, children

and health (Job 7:11; 10:1)."Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the

bitterness of my soul.” "I loathe my own life; I will give full

vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.”

Bitterness Affects Good and EvilHannah when she didn’t have a child

“Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. It happened year after year, as often as she went up to

the house of the LORD, she would provoke her; so she wept and

would not eat” (1 Samuel 1:4-5).

Bitterness Affects Good and EvilKing Hezekiah when he was facing

death

“…I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. "O Lord, by these things men

live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health and let me live! "Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness”

(Isa. 38:15b-17a).

Bitterness Affects Good and EvilMordecai was bitter when he heard

all the Jews were to be killed as decreed by the king.

“When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and

wailed loudly and bitterly” (Esther 4:1)

Bitterness Affects Good and EvilSimon the Sorcerer (after he was rebuked for desiring to buy the gift of God with money) was poisoned

by bitterness.

"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of

iniquity“ (Acts 8:23).

Bitterness Affects Good and Evil

When bad things happen, are you bitter and do you

ask,

“Why me, Lord?”

Don’t be bitter toward God!

What Does Bitterness Do?

It grieves the Holy Spirit.

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the

day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along

with all malice. (Eph. 4:30-31)

What Does Bitterness Do?

It is a spiritual poison which binds people in their iniquity.

"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in

the bondage of iniquity“. (Acts 8:23)

What Does Bitterness Do?

It is connected with sin and destruction.

"WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING & BITTERNESS…

DESTRUCTION & MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS“ (Romans

3:14, 16).

What Does Bitterness Do?

It causes you to come short of God’s grace and defiles many other people. “See to it that no one comes short of

the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes

trouble, and by it many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15).

The Hebrew writer goes on to describe Esau who was rejected by God

having refused to repent of his sins (v. 16-17).

What Does Bitterness Do?

Unresolved bitterness makes you miserable (mentally, emotionally,

and physically) and vents its poison on others.

But because of God’s faithfulness you can overcome any temptation to sin including bitterness (1 Cor. 10:13).

But you must seek God’s way of escape and not your own (Proverbs

3:5-7).

What Does Bitterness Do?

Unresolved bitterness makes you miserable (mentally, emotionally,

and physically) and vents its poison on others.

But because of God’s faithfulness you can overcome any temptation to sin including bitterness (1 Cor. 10:13).

But you must seek God’s way of escape and not your own (Proverbs

3:5-7).

How to Overcome BitternessSeek the Lord’s Help & Will

Seek the Lord’s Help & WillJob repented of his sins after God had spoken to Him out of

the whirlwind (Job 40:3-4)–His suffering ended, and he

was blessed even more abundantly in the end (Job

42:6)

Seek the Lord’s Help & WillHezekiah prays to God & weeps saying that he had walked before Him in truth and with a whole heart and

did what was right in His sight (2 Kings 20:3).

–God answers by adding 15 years to his life (2 Kings

20:5-6).

Seek the Lord’s Help & WillHannah prays to God and promises to give her son to

the Lord all the days of his life (1 Sam. 1:10-11).

–Samuel becomes a great judge and prophet which blessed Israel (1 Sam. 7:15; Acts 13:20)

Seek the Lord’s Help & WillMordecai wails bitterly about the

decree but instead of thinking woe is me, he tells Queen Esther about it - with a warning that if she remained silent, deliverance would come from

another place. (Esther 4:14)

–The Jews were spared and their enemies were destroyed (Esth. 9:1-

5)

Seek the Lord’s Help & WillSimon the sorcerer asks for prayers after being rebuked for desiring to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:24).

–He received forgiveness.

Seek the Lord’s Help & WillAre you seeking the Lord’s help

and will to overcome your bitterness?

If you are a Christian, repent of your sin of bitterness, confess it, and accept His forgiveness.

How to Overcome BitternessSeek the Lord’s Help & Will

Forgive as God in Christ Has Forgiven You

Forgive as God has Forgiven YouBitterness chokes the life out of us so

much that we don’t want to forgive others.

–Even when they say, “I’m sorry” and desire to recompense you for

your loss after you have been forgiven an unpayable debt

(Matthew 18:30-34)

–Even if they have sinned against you 7X/day and repent, you should

forgive (Luke 17:3-4)

Forgive as God has Forgiven You“I’ll forgive ... But I’ll NEVER

forget!”

How many Christians hate and will not forgive their parents, spouses,

children or brethren but continue to bring up their past sins which have

already been forgiven and will not let it go?

When God forgives, He forgets, and we must do the same (Heb. 8:12; 1

Cor. 13:

Forgive as God has Forgiven You“God will not forgive you, if you

don’t forgive others."For if you forgive others for their

transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matthew 6:14-

15).

Forgive as God has Forgiven YouThe power to eliminate that sin

comes by the grace of God.“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ

forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)So forgive others as you have

been forgiven by God!

How to Overcome BitternessSeek the Lord’s Help & Will

Forgive as God in Christ Has Forgiven You

Count Your Blessings and Learn to be Content

Count Blessings- Be ContentJob had lost all his wealth, servants, and all 10 of his children but he still remembered his blessings from God

(Job 1:21).

Do you remember to count your blessings when suffering unjustly or do you bitterly criticize the faithful in their tribulations as Job’s wife did?

(1 Thess. 5:18; Job 2:9)

Count Blessings- Be ContentThe apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh in which he prayed three times

that it might be removed (2 Corinthians 12:7-8).

Instead of being bitter about God’s answer, he was content (2 Cor. 12:9-

10). Have you learned to be content when God doesn’t answer your prayers the

way that you want or what seems best to you?

ConclusionDo you have bitterness in your heart?

Are you discontent?

Do you have a bitter & hostile disposition?

We can’t see the end from the beginning from our limited

perspective of God’s providence in our lives.

ConclusionThe righteous have feelings of bitterness just like the wicked.

But Christians do not allow their trials to sour them on life but realize that it

helps their faith to grow stronger (James 1:2-4) and have a sweet

attitude (2 Cor. 2:14).If life gives you lemons, make

lemonade! You can overcome it (Phil. 4:13)!

Instead of acting like you’ve been sucking lemons,

taste the kindness of God. (1 Pet. 2:3; Rom. 2:4;

Acts 2:38) Obey Now!