Give to Israel

Love in Context: The Root of Bitterness |Pastor Mac Hammond | September 11, 2022

Recap:
We live in a time where we can’t simply live on cruise control. We need to focus our attention outward, tune into the Spirit of God, and learn how to live daily by the law of love. Love isn’t a feeling, but an action. Love is a choice to put others first. How do we do this? This past weekend, Pastor Mac continued teaching from his series, Love in Context, and he focused on how to deal with the root of bitterness, for bitterness corrupts and defiles and keeps you from fulfilling the royal law of love. It must be eliminated from our lives through the power of forgiveness!

Dive Deeper:
God’s love is unconditional. He gives it to every person without discrepancy of who they are or what they have done. God wants us to give His love to others. That is not easy, but it is 100% possible!

What does it look like to give of God’s love to other people? First, it is done with truth as its foundation. Love without truth is deceptive. Second, we love people through following peace. We don’t stir up conflict or fan the flames of disorder. We follow after peace. Third, we follow after holiness.

If you want your relationships to be typified by peace—or you could say, the absence of conflict—you will ensure that bitterness is not allowed in your heart. A root of bitterness is the worst cancer, spiritually speaking, that a person can experience. It not only will rob you of everything that’s worth experiencing in the kingdom of God, but it will ultimately kill you.

Bitterness is often a product of feeling betrayed by someone close to you, but it can only exist in your life if you choose not to forgive. Unattended unforgiveness will progress to a root of bitterness. That means that you have to stop keeping a list of the wrongs someone else has done to you. You have to learn to forgive, and then deal with offense when it comes your way so that offense isn’t allowed to stay. It is vital to deal with the root of bitterness through forgiveness!

Read About It: 
Hebrews 12:14–15 KJV
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 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;

James 2:8 KJV
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

2 John 1:1–3 KJV
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; for the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Ephesians 4:15 KJV
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Discussion Questions: 
1. Do you currently have a mental list of the offenses that someone else has done to you? How can you get rid of this list through forgiveness?
2. Who can you forgive today?
3. Why does it sometimes seem easier to hold onto bitterness rather than choosing forgiveness?

Rewatch or catch up on the full sermon with the link below!

Watch Now
Share
Share
Share

Recent Sermon Notes

A Faith-Building Weekend With Nancy Dufresne

Apr 21, 2024

What a weekend we had with guest minister Nancy Dufresne. She shared on the power of faith and reminded us that God and the Holy Spirit should always remain our focus. That means when we face difficulty, listening to the Holy Spirit, our guide on the inside, is the best thing that we can do. You can walk in faith toward your miracle!

GRACE UNVEILED: “All Under Sin,” #7 | Jim Hammond

Apr 14, 2024

Pastor Jim delivered his seventh installment in his series on the book of Romans, entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” The first three chapters of Romans focuses explicitly on the definition of sin. “Because,” as Pastor Jim says, “if you don’t understand what sin is, you will not understand the solution to the sin problem.” Paul wanted them to understand that all of mankind has a sin problem, and no matter who you are, you will never, ever be able to achieve righteousness through your own merit. If doesn’t matter if you’re a secular pagan who worships Zeus or a religious Jew who strictly follows the law, God will never see you as righteous through your own effort. Pastor Jim has much more to say in this message subtitled, “All Under Sin.”

They Brought | Mac Hammond

Apr 7, 2024

Last Sunday, Pastor Mac taught a message entitled, “They Brought.” He said, “If you’re in a relationship with the Lord, you’re in a covenant with Him. And that covenant is one of blessing.” Yet, many covenant believers do not seem to walk in the level of blessing the Bible promises. Why is that? Pastor Mac said walking fully in the provision and purpose of God begins by understanding what the definition of a covenant actually is.

Focus for Effect #4: The Resurrection of Christ | Pastor Mac Hammond

Apr 1, 2024

What a wonderful Easter weekend we had as we celebrated Jesus! His resurrection is the focal point for our faith, for it bridges the gap between the seen realm and the unseen realm. As you go through your day today, remember that the resurrection power of Jesus has the ability to raise your circumstances high above anything you can imagine. The touch of death does not need to destroy your life! God’s resurrection power is at work in you and through you to touch this world for Him.

Grace Unveiled: Everyone Is Guilty (Rom. 2:1–9)  | Jim Hammond

Mar 24, 2024

Pastor Jim gave the fifth installment of his series entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” The first three chapters of Romans can be summed up by saying people who rely on their own righteousness, their own ability, their own self-effort will not escape the judgment of God. It is only through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can any man escape His judgment. In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul defines New Testament righteousness as the ability to stand before God without a sense of guilt or inferiority.