Offense, Unforgiveness, & Bitterness. | Overflow Church Grand Prairie, Tx | Notes
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Offense, Unforgiveness, & Bitterness.

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John 10:7–11 (NIV), I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd.


Progressive destruction
1. Offense
Proverbs 18:19 (NLT) An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.

Matthew 24:10 (NKJV) Many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
  • Offense: Scandalon(gk) A trap used to hold bait in order to lure animals.

2. Unforgiveness
Matthew 18:21–22 (NLT) 21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

Unforgiveness is a big deal to God. Potentially the biggest.

“The greatest injustice that can be committed is when we won’t extend the forgiveness that we have freely received.”
When we fail to forgive others we rob ourselves of foriveness. 

3. Bitterness
Offense robs you of freedom. Unforgiveness robs you of forgiveness. Bitterness  robs you of life.

Bitterness takes the sweetness away. 

Hebrews 12:14–15 (NLT) 14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
The longer it lingers, the larger it grows.
The larger it grows, the harder it is to remove. 

The bitterness test:
1. Are you bothered when someone who hurt you succeeds?
2. Do you secretly hope for the misfortune of those that offended you?
3. Are you generally 
skeptical of people?
4. Do you
 lead with criticism
5. Are you unwilling to pray for them?
6. Have you made the statement 
“I forgive but I will never forget?”
7. Ask the Lord….
Ephesians 4:30 (NIV) …Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Uprooting bitterness:
1. Ask the Lord to make you tender
  •  The lie that we believe is that the bitterness is protecting us when The reality is that it is destroying us.
2. Go to that person(if possible) 
  • Matthew 18:15 (NLT) If another believer sins against you, go privately….
3. Bless those that hurt you. 
Luke 6:28 (KJV) Bless them that curse you and pray for them which despitefully use you.
4. Celebrate their wins. 
5. Ask for tears when they ache
6. Ask Jesus for His heart towards them