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!

Recent Sermon Notes

Bread for the Soul | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim wished all the mothers in the congregation and online a very happy Mother’s Day. It was a day dedicated to the celebration of motherhood, acknowledging the great devotion mothers have toward their families. He pointed out there was one specific thing at which mothers are very good—how to feed their children the Bread of Life like no one else can.

The Accuser of Brethren | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught a message entitled, “The Accuser of Brethren.” “This message is important,” he said, “because it encapsulates our challenge in this life and summarizes things in a significant way.” His subject? How to avoid deception! The basic truth of this message is this: If the enemy can’t deceive you, he can’t defeat you!

GRACE UNVEILED, #33, “The Holy Spirit Leads You Out of the Dominion of Sin” | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim preached a message subtitled, “The Holy Spirit Leads You Out of the Dominion of Sin.” This is his 33rd message in his teaching series on the book of Romans called “Unveiled Grace.” The message was based on Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.” (Amp.) This verse tells us that through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to put to death the evil deeds of the body.

Portal of Power | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught a message on the celebration of Easter. He said, “The kingdom of God is based upon the Word of God. In fact, the kingdom of God is a manifestation of the Word of God and His purposes on the earth.” The celebration of Easter is a centerpiece of all that He’s done to enable humanity to rise to the level only possible in Him—and to escape the realm of death!

GRACE UNVEILED: “From Condemnation to Fulfillment” #31

Pastor Jim taught the 31st message in his series on Romans: “Unveiling Grace.” The Bible is clear, under the New Covenant, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Yet many believers are walking around under the weight of condemnation. Pastor Jim explains these believers are trying to absolve themselves of their sins through their own self-effort, which is another way of saying “through their flesh.” What they’re trying to do is live under Old Covenant laws. There’s a word for Christians like that—miserable!