It means that bitterness is a spiritual poison that blocks progress, peace, and divine favour. A bitter heart cannot grow, receive, or reflect the goodness of God. Let’s enumerate and support this with scriptural examples and explanations:
Bitterness corrupts the heart and defiles destiny.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.”
Bitterness starts as a small root but grows to pollute a person’s entire life.
When the heart is defiled, the grace of God (which makes a person better) withdraws.
A bitter person blocks divine favour and cannot make progress.
CAIN became bitter and ended up cursed, Genesis 4:3–7, 11–12
> Cain was angry and bitter because God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected his. That bitterness led him to murder his brother, and instead of becoming better, he became cursed.
Bitterness made Cain blind to correction. Instead of improving his offering, he destroyed his future.
When you nurture bitterness, you sabotage your progress.
SAUL’S bitterness towards David made him lose his throne, 1 Samuel 18:8–12. Saul became jealous and bitter when the women sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
His bitterness grew into hatred and obsession.
God departed from Saul, and the Spirit of bitterness consumed him until he died in defeat (1 Samuel 31:4).
A bitter heart loses the anointing and cannot rise higher.
THE ISRAELITES: Some missed the promised land of milk and honey because of bittered hearts. Exodus 15:23–24; Numbers 14:1–2
> When they faced bitter water (Marah), they murmured against Moses and God.
Later, their bitterness and constant complaints led to their destruction in the wilderness.
A bitter spirit complains instead of trusting.
JOSEPH refused bitterness and became better, Genesis 50:19–21
> Despite betrayal by his brothers, Joseph said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
He forgave them and rose to greatness.
Refusing bitterness opens the door for divine promotion.
Joseph’s heart of forgiveness made him better, not bitter.
Jesus taught forgiveness as the cure for bitterness, Matthew 6:14–15.
> “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Forgiveness is the pathway to becoming better.
Unforgiveness breeds bitterness, which blocks access to God’s mercy and blessings.
Be warned please;-
Bitterness defiles the heart. Hebrews 12:15.
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6 emphasized that Forgiveness brings freedom.
Conclusion:
> A bitter person focuses on pain and loses vision, but a better person focuses on God and gains promotion.
If you are bitter, you cannot be better because bitterness blocks the flow of grace, favor, and transformation.
Bishop Dr Gbenga Barnabas is of the Rooted To Flourish Ministry, Gwagwalada Abuja, FCT. He can be reached on Telephone: +2347067543533.
Note Please: Sunday Sermon is a new introduction on the staple of DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS. Interested Pastors, General Overseers, and Ministries/ Churches should contact the Managing Editor on +234 8052903275 or on email: babalolatunde2002@gmail.com; decencyglobalnews2020@gmail.com
