There is an obstacle that can sometimes block us from receiving healing – especially in autoimmune diseases
ROOT OF BITTERNESS & UNFORGIVENESS
Hebrews 12:15 (Passion Translation)
Watch over each other to make sure that no one misses the revelation of God’s grace. And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.
Hebrews 12:15 (Amplified Bible)‘See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;’
Bitterness refers to a deep rooted enmity that poisons the inner man, it occurs when we foster hostility (unforgiveness) towards someone who has hurt us, with intentionally or unintentionally
Unforgiveness – When unforgiveness is operating you can probably give several reasons why you don’t like somebody or what they did or said to you and you may be having flashbacks about things that have been done against you. The next thing that happens is keeping a record of wrongs … leading to
Resentment – The record of wrongs is now being fuelled by feelings of holding onto it and you begin to think about it meditating on it and its gets a foothold, your mind is part of your soul which is only renewed by the word of God – Romans 12:2
This is what begins the separations from others and is the foundation for the root of bitterness to get a foothold.
Retaliation – When resentment gets a foot hold the next step is wanting to get even with that person ..they need to pay for what they have done etc
Anger – after all this has been building up and retaliation has a foot hold feelings of anger start to happen
Hatred – After the anger comes hatred … the anger fuels the retaliation and the whole thing starts to add fuel to the situation and it builds you don’t want to be near that person again This can then lead to
Violence – You’re going to feel my pain ..you’re going to experience it. A outward explosion of inner feelings which could lead to
Murder – The final fruit of bitterness once violence erupts is murder …either murder with the tongue –could be verbal abuse or character assassination, a loud outcry against someone or something leading to slander, speaking evil about someone, or the worse case scenario physical murder.
These things start in the mind but as we meditate on them they take up residence in the heart and it becomes defiled …it can become a spiritual issue
Mathew 18 : 21 – 35 is all about forgiveness but the most important verse is at the end of the chapter (Passion Translation)
The king said to him, ‘You scoundrel! Is this the way you respond to my mercy? Because you begged me, I forgave you the massive debt that you owed me. Why didn’t you show the same mercy to your fellow servant that I showed to you?’ In a fury of anger, the king turned him over to the tormentors until all his debt was repaid. In this same way, my heavenly Father will deal with any of you if you do not release forgiveness from your heart toward your fellow man.”
Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”