Acts 8:23
“For I see that you are full of
bitterness and captive to sin.” (New International Version)
INTRO: Bitterness is described as
sharp and unpleasant, biting and severe. At all times bitterness is harsh and
cruel.
I. WHAT BITTERNESS SUCCEEDS IN US
A.We learn to
find fault (Ruth 1:20) we learn a lot from the story of Naomi as we read that
she said, “don’t call me Naomi but Marah (bitter) because God has made my life
bitter."
B. We weep in regret for what we have done (Mt
26.75) like the story of Peter when he heard the cock crow after he denied
Jesus.
C. We become full of anger, passionate and
hateful (Eph 4:30) with shouting, insults and hateful feelings (singkahay, insultuhay,
kaligutgot)
II. WE CAN SUCCEED AGAINST BITTERNESS
A.The example
of Christian couples (Col 3:19) “faithful, loving and not cruel” (Higugmaon ug
dili modaug-daug)
B. Be at peace with everyone. “Try to live a holy
life and guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become
like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison.”
(makahasol sa uban pinaagi sa hilo.”
C. Get rid (ilabay), make free (buhii) (Eph 4:31)
relieve (pulihi) and clear (hawani)
CONCLUSION: New life in Christ is
free of bitterness and bitter persons are ignorant and stubborn. Bitterness,
therefore, is a shameful virtue of a Christian. “"Sin" is thus
represented as a "bitter" or poisonous thing; a tiring not only
"unpleasant" in its consequences, but ruinous in its character, as a
poisonous plant would be in the midst of other plants, Jeremiah 2:19, "It
is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God";
Jeremiah 4:18; Romans 3:14, "Whose mouth is full of cursing and
bitterness"; Ephesians 4:31. The meaning here is, that the heart was full
of dreadful, malignant sin.” (Barnes Notes on the Bible)
