FREEDOM FROM BITTERNESS (Parts 101-110)
WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS
PART 101: I AM SPECIAL! (7/29/22)
John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us."
But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:38-40).
This judgment is the judgment of exclusivity. My church, my ministry, or my posse has got something unique as to truth…or as to doctrine…or in ministry values…or in method. So other believers not privileged to belong to my circle are somehow inferior, less called, less anointed, and less effective. In this story, the disciples tried to stop the work of an “outsider.” Jesus immediately rebuked them.
The judgment of exclusivity makes me feel special. Judging others elevates me and my group. It soothes my insecurities and it feeds my pride. My judgment assures me that I am something special.
The Pharisees condemned the fallen woman in John 8 because it made them feel special.
The prodigal son’s older brother condemned the prodigal son because it made him feel special.
So many times, the selfish need to feel special is the true source of judgment and offense. I need to feel special. “Special” is a need that I have. So when I judge another person and paint them as inferior, I feel good about myself. I maintain and hold onto an offense because it makes me feel special.
And here is the irony: I am special! But I am special because of who I am to God – His beloved child. I am special in His eyes.
The source of “special” in our lives should arise in our relationship to God, not in our relationship to other people. The problem with God as the source of special is that it requires humility and contrition on our part. And humility and contrition often don’t make us feel special in the way that our flesh wants.
Meditation: Think of an occasion that you felt unfairly judged by another believer. How did that make you feel? What impact did that judgment have on you? Now consider the impact of your judgments on other people.
Next post: Walking in freedom – bitterness: Authority to judge
WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS
PART 102: AUTHORITY TO JUDGE (7/31/22)
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:13-15).
“Man, who made Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
When a person studies judgment in the Bible, it can be a little confusing. There are multiple commands that basically say “Judge not lest you be judged” (Matt. 7:1). But on other occasions, we are instructed to “judge with right judgment” (Jn. 7:24). So when do we have a right to judge?
The answer goes back to authority. I have the right to judge when I have been given the authority to judge. In this case, Jesus, Who was God in the flesh and Who had power to discern, refused to speak a judgment on the offended man’s claim. In response to the request to intervene, Jesus declined. He declined on the basis of authority. Jesus was not the proper authority to resolve the dispute.
When I judge another person but have no authority to do so, I have seized authority that I do not possess. I have engaged in presumption before the Lord. When I judge another person without right, I not only commit an offense against that person, I also commit an offense against the Lord and His authority. Ouch!
Many times, our offended hearts cause this infringement of authority. In order to justify my offense, I judge another person. I think bad thoughts about that person. I say bad things about that person. But I infringe on the Lord’s authority when I do so. So my offense against another person actually leads to an offense against the Lord.
I have authority over my own life. I can judge my own thoughts, words, and actions. But I do not have authority over another person without some position that gives me an area of authority.
A relationship of accountability is different though. In a relationship of accountability, my friend can give me authority to judge. If my friend grants me authority or asks for my judgment, then I can deliver it.
Meditation: Meditate on two things. First, meditate on God as the righteous Judge. Consider the judgments of God and the power and majesty of His judgments.
Second, meditate on the relationship between authority and judgment. Focus on the idea that judgment without authority is a fearful infringement on God’s authority.
Next post: Walking in freedom – bitterness: Fear of God and fear of judgment
WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS
PART 103: FEAR OF GOD = FEAR OF JUDGMENT (8/5/22)
And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."
But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively (Jude 1:6-10).
He did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment.
If anyone deserves a blast of judgment, it is the devil, right? After all, he is full of rebellion, evil intention, and perverse acts. But Michael, the righteous archangel, refused to speak judgment against him. Even when the devil was trying to claim something that did not belong to him, Michael refrained from words of judgment!
Only God has the authority to judge the devil, who is a fallen archangel. The respect that Michael had for the authority of God was so great – so deep, that he refrained from infringing on it. That is why this scripture says that Michael refrained from a “blasphemous judgment.” It is blasphemous to infringe on the authority of God through improper judgment.
And here is one more twist: the offense by the devil in arguing about the body of Moses was a veiled temptation. The devil was tempting the archangel, Michael, to blaspheme by judging him. If Michael had spoken a judgment against the devil, he actually would have aligned himself with the rebellion of the devil. That is why the word “presume” is used. If Michael had pronounced judgment on the devil, he would have presumed to infringe on the authority of God.
Do you think it is possible that when an offense occurs against us, that it actually is a veiled temptation for us to engage in improper judgment? …that the reason for the offense is to draw us into rebellion and blasphemy by thinking and speaking improper judgment about another person?
O, deception is such a powerful thing!
Meditation: Ask the Lord to put a guard over your lips. Spend time in the Presence of the Lord. Write a prayer to the Lord about words and judgment. In your own words, ask Him to put a guard over your lips as to judgments and gossip.
Next post: Walking in freedom – bitterness: The accusation
WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS
PART 104: ACCUSATION (8/7/22)
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Rev 12:10-11).
The Bible has a label for the devil. The devil is the “accuser of the brethren.” He accuses the children of God day and night before God. He wants them to come under judgment and to be thrown into hell.
But as we think about that title, is it possible that an improper judgment about a fellow believer actually aligns with the devil? Is it possible that a denigrating word joins in the accusations of the devil? We need to be careful about our thoughts and words.
But praise God! The blood of the Lamb stands between the accusation and the judgment. His sacrificial intervention is the application of grace.
Our call is to grace. Our call is to encourage, to exhort, to uplift, and to honor our fellow believer and not to tear that person down. Encouragement is a part of the “word of testimony” that overcomes accusation. Encouragement witnesses to the grace and mercy of God.
Next post: Walking in freedom – bitterness: Timely encouragement
WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS
PART 105: A TIMELY ENCOURAGEMENT (8/12/22)
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."
Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches (Acts 15:36-41).
After the completion of the First Missionary Journey, Paul wanted to launch again. Barnabas, who had a heart for younger men, wanted Mark to go with them on the second journey. Paul did not want to take Mark because Mark had turned back on the first trip. Paul took Silas; Barnabas took Mark; and Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways. It isn’t that Paul was right or that Barnabas was right. Out of their partnership, two teams were launched.
But pause for a moment and think about the impact of this incident on Mark. Mark had “withdrawn” from the first mission. Paul’s reaction could have stamped “failure” on Mark’s forehead. It could have been very discouraging for him, and led to disillusionment. Mark even could have quit.
But Barnabas still believed in him. At a crucial time in Mark’s life, Barnabas (who had the gift of encouragement) essentially said, “I still believe in you. Don’t get discouraged or down. You are still valuable. The Lord has work for you to do and has His hand on your life. Come with me!”
A word of encouragement rather than a word of judgment at the crucial moment can be the difference between success and failure. Mark kept going. He went with Barnabas and he did well. We know this fact because later on it is PAUL who testifies about Mark: “Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service” (2 Tim. 4:11).
One more thing: This same Mark, whom Barnabas helped through this difficult experience, went on to write the Gospel of Mark. For Mark not to quit his ministry was pretty important.
Next post: Walking in freedom – bitterness: Cancel culture
WALKING IN FREEDOM - BITTERNESS
PART 106: CANCEL CULTURE (8/14/22)
“A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle” (Prov 18:19)
“I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,
And send him on his way.
“Don't try to patch it up
Tear it up, tear it up!
Wash him out, dry him out,
Push him out, fly him out,
Cancel him and let him go!
Yea, sister!” – Rodgers and Hammerstein in South Pacific
Reconciliation is a great source of joy. But disengagement is a classic human response to bitterness.
Bitterness destroys relationship, which explains why we live in a “cancel culture.” We judge the persons who offend us. They are evil. Because we have passed judgment, we vilify them and we disengage from them. It is a form of depersonification. We dehumanize them so we can justify their elimination. We “cancel” those persons against whom we are bitter.
I knew a woman who was bitterly divorced. She took family pictures with her when she separated in order to “preserve family memories.” She wanted the pictures of her children, but many of the pictures also showed her former husband whom she disliked just a little bit. What to do?
The woman decided to cut her former husband out of the pictures. So when a person looked at her photo album, there were “family pictures” with empty gaps or a shape cut out. Problem solved!
Or was it?
Next post: Walking in freedom – bitterness: Let us reason together
WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS
PART 107: LET US REASON TOGETHER (8/19/22)
Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool (Isa 1:18).
Come now, let us reason together.
Bitterness/Unforgiveness are like bad veils of the Lord – almost as bad as a head turned the wrong way! In fact the problem with unforgiveness, the reason we must forgive as we have been forgiven, is that…
When we are not forgiving someone, what we see is HOW WRONGED we have been, and we totally lose sight of HOW FORGIVEN we are, causing us to see our hurt, instead of seeing the love, forgiveness, sacrifice, and kindness of the Savior!
What do I want to be more filled with---my wound, or how forgiven and saved I am?
O Father, let me arise, come on the scene, and overcome the trifles and lies that act as veils in my life! They must be dealt with, they must be shunned, set aside, and conquered for the transformation that I need to take place—change that comes by beholding!
If change comes by beholding the Savior, I will not be changed if I allow things to block my view of Him!
I want to be changed, transformed into Your image, into Your likeness, O blessed Redeemer! Come and give me deeper hatred, repulsion, and distaste for every trifle/lie that tries to block my view of the Savior!!
O this child/sheep needs the help of the Savior!! -Pastor Daniel Martin, 11/12/14
Engagement. Through his prophet, Isaiah, the Lord wants to engage His people. But it is an engagement that has a premise – the removal of the stain of sin. The basis for reconciliation and restoration of relationship is forgiveness.
Listening is vital to reconciliation and restoration of relationship. Hearing the heart of another and their motivation is important. “Let us reason together!”
I hear the words or I see the action of another, and I judge the motivation. So I become offended. But maybe I misinterpreted or misunderstood. Many reconciliations begin with the words “I didn’t mean to say that” or “I wasn’t trying to do that.”
But there is an important element to the listening. That element is a heart that wants to forgive. As Pastor Martin states, unforgiveness blocks my view. Unforgiveness blocks my view of the Lord and unforgiveness blocks my view of the other person. When I listen with a heart desiring to forgive, reconciliation is a likely outcome. If the other person does not want to reconcile, I have at least reconciled myself to the Lord.
The heart of the Lord desires to forgive!
Next post: Swept under the rug
WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS
PART 108: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES (8/26/22)
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”
But I say to you, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:43-48).
This teaching is a hard one - learning to love my enemy.
But the examples of amazing forgiveness we have recently discussed, like Nelson Mandela and Corrie Ten Boom, achieved great things because they decided to forgive their enemies.
We all have enemies. Our enemies are the persons who have abused us, who have spitefully used us, and who have persecuted us. We tend not to call them our enemies because that word has negative connotations. We also don’t tend to use the word “hate” because of similar connotations. But we all have people that we “really don’t like.”
So why does God love His enemies?
The nature of love is…love. God’s love is perfect. His love is constant, consistent, and unchanging. Love is His unchanging attribute. It does not waver.
Our love is imperfect. If another person is mean or spiteful to us, our love may quickly change to anger, pain, or vengefulness. We often want to lash out and to pay back the offense.
But it is not so with God. His love does not change. Whether treated well or treated spitefully, God still loves perfectly. God loves His enemies because His love endures from everlasting to everlasting.
Learning to love our enemies is a part of learning how to love like God loves.
Next post: Walking in freedom – bitterness: A pastoral word
WALKING IN FREEDOM – BTTERNESS
PART 109: THE JOY OF RESTORATION (9/2/22)
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him (Psa 103:10-13).
When I was a young child, I loved to play soldier. One day, I marched around the house with a curtain rod that was my spear. I entered an empty room that had a running box fan on the floor. I charged the fan and stabbed it with my “spear.” Curtain rods in box fans make an awful racket. Terrified, I left my spear in the fan and fled from the room. My parents ran toward the room as I ran out of it.
My father asked me if I knew anything about the curtain rod he found in the fan. Scared and ashamed, I denied any knowledge. He asked me if I knew how the curtain rod got into the fan. No knowledge. To my parents’ credit, they did not discipline the young child despite the compelling circumstantial evidence.
That evening, my father and I went on a walk. My father told me the story of Peter and his fearful denial of Jesus. Peter fled in tears – ashamed and hurt by his own lies and betrayal. Next he told me of Jesus’ restoration of relationship with Peter through love.
Then my father asked me if I had put the curtain rod into the fan. With conviction, I confessed my guilt and he forgave me. There was no further discipline.
It was an unforgettable lesson to a young child about truth, denial, shame, confession, and forgiveness. I also will never forget the relief that I felt as I unburdened myself, but even more, as the relationship between me and my father was restored.
Next post: Walking in freedom – bitterness: The power of restoration (Part I)
WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS
PART 110: THE POWER OF RESTORATION (PART I) (9/4/22)
Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No."
He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea (Jn 21:2-7).
“He threw himself into the sea.”
Peter loved fishing. We know this because on the occasions when Peter was not “doing ministry,” he was fishing. Peter was fishing when Jesus called him. When the disciples needed money for taxes, Jesus sent Peter to catch a fish with money in its mouth, for Pete’s sake (Mt. 17:27).
Jesus: “Peter, go catch a fish to get money for taxes.”
Peter: “That’s easy. I can do that!”
But the crucifixion of Jesus was a very confusing event for the disciples. At the crucial moment, Peter denied Jesus and fled ashamed. Jesus was ignobly crucified and His disciples abandoned Him. Peter is shaken and “out of sorts.” So he returns to what he knows and what he apparently loves - fishing. In fact, Peter is the one that initiates the fishing trip with the other disciples. But Peter experiences frustration. He fishes all night and catches nothing.
Then Jesus appears on the shore and solves the problem. In moments, it goes from pure frustration to a trophy catch – 153 fish in one cast! Years from now, the fishermen will be able to tell their children and grandchildren “Did I ever tell you about the time that we caught 153 fish?” It is the highlight of a fisherman’s career. We know it was big to those guys because they counted!
But in that moment, John realizes something. He says “It is the Lord!”
And in the next moment, Peter realizes something. As big a fishing moment as it is, he cares about Jesus even more. As much as he loves fishing, his love for the Lord is greater. Peter leaves the trophy catch, grabs his clothing, and dives into the sea to swim to Jesus.
Peter realizes that he truly loves Jesus. All of a sudden, for a man who betrayed and abandoned, fishing does not seem so important. “For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep” (Ps. 64:6b).
Next post: Walking in freedom – bitterness: The power of restoration (Part II)
