Had Any Lemons Lately?

What a Face! We’ve all seen little kids get their first taste of something bitter (lemons, pickles, etc) and it seems funny. But it isn’t pretty, cute or funny when that face is on an adult who isn’t eating lemons! When you think of tasting something “bitter”, it brings to mind the Israelites.

The Israelites Were Bitter Exodus 15:22-23, “Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah…

The Israelites Were Bitter Exodus 15:24-25, …So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" Then he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them.”

The Israelites Were Bitter God brought bitter people face to face with bitter water which revealed their evil, grumbling heart. After they complained, God provided sweet water so they could drink but they were never satisfied and died in the wilderness. (Numbers 14:22ff) God allows us to be tested to see if we are going to be “bitter” or “better”!

Bitterness Affects Good & Evil Esau when his blessing was given to Jacob “When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!“ And he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing” (Genesis 27:34-35).

Bitterness Affects Good & Evil Job after he lost his wealth, children and health (Job 7:11; 10:1). "Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” "I loathe my own life; I will give full vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.”

Bitterness Affects Good & Evil Hannah when she didn’t have a child “Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat” (1 Samuel 1:4-5).

Bitterness Affects Good & Evil King Hezekiah when he was facing death “…I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. "O Lord, by these things men live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health and let me live! "Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness”. (Isa. 38:15b-17a)

Bitterness Affects Good & Evil Mordecai was bitter when he heard all the Jews were to be killed as decreed by the king. “When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly” (Esther 4:1)

Bitterness Affects Good & Evil Simon the Sorcerer (after he was rebuked for desiring to buy the gift of God with money) was poisoned by bitterness. "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity“(Acts 8:23).

Bitterness Affects Good & Evil When bad things happen, are you bitter and do you ask, “Why me, Lord?” Don’t be bitter toward God!

What Does Bitterness Do? It grieves the Holy Spirit. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (Eph. 4:30-31)

What Does Bitterness Do? It is a spiritual poison which binds people in their iniquity. "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity“ (Acts 8:23).

What Does Bitterness Do? It is connected with sin and destruction. "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS…DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS“. (Romans 3:14, 16)

What Does Bitterness Do? It causes you to come short of God’s grace and defiles many other people. “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15). The Hebrew writer goes on to describe Esau who was rejected by God having refused to repent of his sins (v. 16-17).

What Does Bitterness Do? Unresolved bitterness makes you miserable (mentally, emotionally, and physically) and vents its poison on others. But you can overcome bitterness.

Make the Decision to Seek the Lord’s Help & Will How To Overcome It Make the Decision to Seek the Lord’s Help & Will

Seek The Lord’s Help & Will Job repented of his sins after God had spoken to Him out of the whirlwind. (Job 40:3-4) His suffering ended, and he was blessed even more abundantly in the end. (Job 42:6)

Seek The Lord’s Help & Will Hezekiah prays to God & weeps saying that he had walked before Him in truth and with a whole heart and did what was right in His sight (2 Kings 20:3). God answers by adding 15 years to his life (2 Kings 20:5-6).

Seek The Lord’s Help & Will Hannah prays to God and promises to give her son to the Lord all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:10-11) Samuel becomes a great judge and prophet which blessed Israel. (1 Sam. 7:15; Acts 13:20)

Seek The Lord’s Help & Will Mordecai wails bitterly about the decree but instead of thinking woe is me, he tells Queen Esther about it - with a warning that if she remained silent, deliverance would come from another place. (Esther 4:14) The Jews were spared and their enemies were destroyed (Esth. 9:1-5).

Seek The Lord’s Help & Will Simon the sorcerer asks for prayers after being rebuked for desiring to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:24). He received forgiveness.

Seek The Lord’s Help & Will Are you seeking the Lord’s help and will to overcome your bitterness? If you are a Christian, repent of your sin of bitterness, confess it, and accept His forgiveness.

How To Overcome It Make the Decision to Seek the Lord’s Help & Will Be Willing to Forgive as God in Christ Has Forgiven You

When they say, “I’m sorry.” (Matthew 18:30-34) Be Willing To Forgive Bitterness chokes the life out of us so much that we don’t want to forgive others. When they say, “I’m sorry.” (Matthew 18:30-34)

Matthew 18:30-34 "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. "So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened…

Matthew 18:30-34 "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?‘ "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

Be Willing To Forgive Bitterness chokes the life out of us so much that we don’t want to forgive others. When they say, “I’m sorry.” (Matthew 18:30-34) When they don’t say, “I’m sorry.” (Luke 17:3)

Luke 17:3 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.”

“I’ll forgive ... But I’ll NEVER forget!” Be Willing To Forgive “I’ll forgive ... But I’ll NEVER forget!” How many Christians hate and will not forgive their parents, spouses, children or brethren but continue to bring up their past sins which have already been forgiven and will not let it go?

God will not forgive you, if you don’t forgive others. Be Willing To Forgive God will not forgive you, if you don’t forgive others. "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matthew 6:14-15).

The power to eliminate that sin comes by the grace of God. Be Willing To Forgive The power to eliminate that sin comes by the grace of God. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

How To Overcome It Make the Decision to Seek the Lord’s Help & Will Be Willing to Forgive as God in Christ Has Forgiven You Count Your Blessings and Learn to Be Content

Count Blessings – Be Content Job had lost all his wealth, servants, and all 10 of his children but he still remembered his blessings from God (Job 1:21). Do you remember to count your blessings when suffering unjustly or do you bitterly criticize the faithful in their tribulations as Job’s wife did? (1 Thess. 5:18; Job 2:9)

Count Blessings – Be Content The apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh in which he prayed three times that it might be removed (2 Corinthians 12:7-8). Instead of being bitter about the Lord’s response, he was content (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Have you learned to be content when God doesn’t answer your prayers the way that you want or what seems best to you?

Conclusion Do you have bitterness in your heart? Are you discontent? Do you have a bitter & hostile disposition? We can’t see the end from the beginning from our limited perspective of God’s providence in our lives.

Conclusion The righteous have feelings of bitterness just like the wicked. But Christians do not allow their trials to sour them on life but realize that it helps their faith to grow stronger (James 1:2-4) and have a sweet attitude (2 Cor. 2:14). You can overcome it! (Phil. 4:13)

Conclusion Seek God’s will so that you can have rest for your soul (Mt. 11:28-30; Acts 2:38, 41). Be willing to forgive instead of harboring the poison of bitterness in your heart. (Ephesians 4:31-32) Be content with your circumstances and realize just how blessed you truly are. (1 Timothy 6:6-7)

Instead of acting like you’ve been sucking lemons, taste the kindness of God. (1 Pet. 2:3; Rom. 2:4) Obey Now!

YOU CAN OVERCOME! 1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. 1 John 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, Because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, Because you have known the Father. 1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the evil one.