Cultivating Bitterness

Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of Bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;’

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. ‘

Bitterness is A root of poisonous (toxic, venomous, evil) fruit that defiles many. Since it is A root spirit, it is hard to recognize this on the surface. A person with Bitterness in their heart can defile many unknowingly. Bitterness is a typical door the enemy uses, unknowingly to most Bitterness is being cultivated in the hearts of many. 

Cultivate Defined: To prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops., To foster the growth of something. 

Bitterness Defined: A deep-seated ill will (spite, grudge, the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress)

Cultivating Bitterness means to foster the growth of the poisonous fruit of Bitterness in the heart; this is evil fruit, and it is designed to corrupt many. Jesus warned us it’s not what goes in that defiles us, but what comes from the heart. 

• Matthew 15:11,18-19 It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.” But whatever [word] comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what defiles and dishonors the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slanders (verbal abuse, irreverent speech, blaspheming). ‘

In the scripture above (Heb 12:15), we are warned about Bitterness springing up and causing trouble. When something springs up, it grows/appears suddenly (seemingly overnight). This shows the danger of opening the door for the spirit of Bitterness. At the most unexpected time, the spirit of Bitterness (which has been cultivating/growing) in the heart will spring up and cause trouble. Along with this spirit is Resentment lets define resentment and understand how this takes root. 

Resentment Defined: a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury.

The spirit of offense and resentment – Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city, And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle. ‘

There are (especially in these last days), several instances where individuals are hurt by A fellow brother or sister in Christ. Any hurt, presumption, wound, or distrust can open the door for the spirit of offense. The goal of the spirit of offense is to cause disunity. (Disharmony in the body of Christ is the plan of the enemy) remember he comes to steal kill and destroy. 

Jesus warned us in the last days (due to persecution) many will be offended by their association with him. Because of this, many will fall away from their faith in Jesus. As A Result, this will open the door for betrayal, persecution, and hatred against the saints. Matthew 24:10-14

If you know someone who is offended, advise them to pray, forgive, and reconcile. It is A dangerous thing to harbor an offense as it leads to Bitterness and resentment. Ultimately, the person who continues to walk in A spirit of offense will begin to operate in criticisms, scornfulness, and resentment. Be careful; you do not want to walk, stand, or sit in the scornful seat. Guard your heart against everyone operating in A spirit of offense. 

• Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;’

 Bitterness is progressive; it starts with un-forgiveness; the spirit of un-forgiveness keeps every detail and hurt in our lives by using memory recall. When we replay past hurts or incidents in our minds, the most trivial events are neither forgiven nor forgotten. Since these incidents are continually replaying in the individual’s mind, it brings forth spirits of resentment, anger, and hatred. Bitterness is also the result of rejection, which is connected to stubbornness; most people who are bitter refuse to forgive. They feel justified to harbor resentment. 

The goal of the enemy is to get us to operate in Bitterness, when we are bitter, we automatically lose the spiritual battle against the kingdom of darkness. When we operate in Bitterness, we have given place to the devil; from this one doorway, we can be led into sin. 

• Ephesians 4:27 AMP And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating Bitterness].

The flow of love: The love of God is sacrificial; God loved the world that he GAVE his only begotten son. If we are operating in A spirit of Bitterness, we no longer impart life to others; instead, we impart death. 1st Corinthians 13 implies Godly love is not resentful. We cannot have a love of God flowing out of our vessel if it is defiled by Bitterness. A bitter heart makes you give to get; it only is looking out for SELF.

Since Bitterness is A root spirit, we can imply the manifestations of the spirit of Bitterness will spring up unexpectedly, let’s look at some of the signs of the spirit of Bitterness:

• Resentment

• Hatred

• Un-forgiveness

• Violence 

• Temper

• Anger James 1:20 for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].

• Retaliation (These spirits advocate returning evil for evil. Retaliation is not biblical as we know vengeance belongs to the Lord)

• Murder 

• Cursing

• Infirmity (Sickness is normally tied to unforgiveness, and Bitterness) Read Forgiveness: “Letting go of grudges”. 

Someone who is nurturing resentment in their heart results typically in the occult/witchcraft. Because of their offenses, hurt, wounds, etc., some people will begin to operate in the flesh (in which we understand witchcraft is A work of the flesh). Operating via A spirit of control, intimidation, or manipulation to get your will accomplished is witchcraft. Many have gone down this road because of their sin of Bitterness. 

How to overcome the toxic spirit of Bitterness: 

Forgiveness is the key; when we forgive, we are to let go of the wrong that was done to us and the resentment. As we want our heavenly Father to forgive us, we should forgive others. 

When we forgive, this brings A release in our lives, and God wants us to release the person to go further into freedom. 

• Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment]. ‘

• Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

• Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.
• Mark 11:25 Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others].

• Colossians 3:13 bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.

It is time to allow Jesus to cleanse our temple and deliver us from everything that is not like him. If there is anyone you need to forgive, release them, and let it go. Bitterness is toxic and poisonous to our health, let’s destroy this evil fruit of Bitterness and begin to plant good fruit in our lives. I pray for deliverance for those who are bound by Bitterness in Jesus’ name! 

With Love, Tanicia 

Please visit our site for bible-studies and teachings @ omegaministries.org

Sources:

Watch: Demons of Bitterness

Books: Fasting for breakthrough and deliverance, Pigs in the Parlor

Read: Root Of Bitterness, Unforgiveness Spiritual Poison A Spirit of Offense