Deliverance from the Root of Bitterness
Scriptural Text: Ruth 1:1-6
Background on the Book of Ruth
This book was probably written during the time of the Judges.
Please note Ruth 1:1. Ruth was a Moabite woman who married an
Israelite man. The book of Ruth is said to have happened more
specifically during Gideon's judgeship over Israel. It was
during this time that a famine took place in Israel. Note Judges
6:3-4.
Lesson
Naomi was a blessed woman. Her name means "pleasant." She was
married to a man named Elimelech. From this marriage she gave
birth to two sons whose names were Mahlon and Chilion. Death
visited Naomi's household by taking not only her husband, but
her two sons as well. Her sons had been married at the time of
their death. Therefore there were three widows. In her grief,
Naomi suffered bitterness of soul. She had been in a position to
be charitable to others. Now that her husband was gone, she was
in need of charitableness from others. With no husband or sons
to take care of her, she now found herself at the bottom of the
society pole. In those days unless you had a son to take care of
you, you would find yourself living a very poor life. She went
from the house on the hill to standing in the line for bread. In
her great natural affliction, she became disconsolate. There is
hope for those who are in bitterness of soul. Note Is. 47:9 and
51:19.
Before I go on, I must also make it clear that Ruth said that
God's hand was against her. (Ruth 1:13b) The fact that she had
become bitter because of what had happened to her was revealed
in the fact that she changed her name to "Mara" which means
"bitter." (Ruth 1:20). Not only was she bitter in soul, but she
named herself bitter.
This lesson is for those who are in bitterness of soul. Your
name has been changed to bitterness because of what you have
experienced. There are answers in the Word of God for you. There
is hope for those who are in bitterness.
How to Deal Effectively with Bitterness According to the Word of
God
Hebrews 12:15 Exercise foresight [and] be on the watch to look
{after one another}, to see that no one falls back from {and}
fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual
blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor,
bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble {and}
bitter torment, and the many become contaminated {and} defiled
by it--
Before you seek deliverance in this area, this is a negative
emotion that must be dealt with. Here are the steps that you can
take to have deliverance from this emotion.
1. EXPRESS YOURSELF You must first admit the bitterness that you
feel. Do not deny it any longer. Naomi admitted her bitterness
through the changing of her name. Remember her new name Mara
meant "bitterness." In order to be set free from this negative
emotion, you must truly tell the truth and shame the devil! Your
deliverance lies in the truth concerning how you feel. Tell the
Lord. Tell someone who can pray with you for deliverance.
Renounce it in the Name of Jesus! Ask the Lord to deliver you
from it replacing it with a right spirit. Ask the Lord to renew
the right spirit within you as well.
2. ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS TOUGHT/MINDSET
Too many times, we blame others for how we feel instead of how
we have responded to the situation. In a book on spiritual
warfare, the author calls it "reactionary sin." This means that
you have reacted in the wrong manner toward whatever has
happened to you. You must line yourself up, including your
emotions, with the Word of God. Only then can you be free of any
bondage. Note what Romans 12:1-21 and I Peter 3:8-9 says. Do not
allow an adverse situation to overcome you so much that you lose
your joy! The Word of God says for us to rejoice, and again I
say rejoice. When bitterness has consumed you, then the devil
has a stronghold in your life. The devil has been given access
to an open door to your spirit. The Bible strictly tells us not
to give place to the devil. Allowing you to be overtaken by
bitterness is definitely giving place to the devil. He will come
with other things to bind you spiritually. You must do something
about what is going on in your life. The Word of God tells us
that we are to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the
faith.
For those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal
Savior now is your time to accept Him. Confess your sins and ask
the Lord to wash and make you clean from you sins. Then as you
surrender your life to Him, ask Him to deliver you from the Root
of Bitterness. This root has many fruits which I will get into
at a later time. For now you must understand that the root of
bitterness must not be allowed to continue within you. Your
deliverance, your victory is in the Name of Jesus Christ!
3. CONFESS YOUR WRONG RESPONSE
A. confesses it to the Lord. You need the forgiveness and
cleansing that only the Lord can give you concerning this--I
John 1:6-2:1. B. Confess it to your prayer partner so that they
may pray with you concerning your deliverance. This is called
"verbalizing" the wrong. It is therapeutic for you to bring this
darkness out into the light. C. Confess into those whom you
feel caused you to become bitter. This should be done
prayerfully because this is not always possible. Matthew
5:22-24; 6:12-15; Mark 11:25-26; Matthew 18:21-35. This is the
opportunity for the offender to face their sin(s), seek your
forgiveness and release from the wrongdoing. Then you both can
be restored to right fellowship with one another and with God.
Then both of you can have unhindered fellowship with the Lord.
Of course, this step should be prayerfully taken.
4. ASK YOURSELF: DO I REALLY WANT TO BE HEALED FROM THIS? The
reason I am including this step as part of your healing process
is because some people are wallowing in this feeling. When this
is done, there is no knowledge of what this mindset toward the
root of bitterness is doing to them. It is only making the root
of bitterness even stronger!
5. BY FAITH, CHOOSE TO FORGIVE AND WALK IN WHOLENESS Forgiveness
is an act of your will by faith. Even if you don't feel
forgiveness, speak it and God will help it become a reality in
your heart. I know what I am talking about because I forgave
someone even though I did not feel it in my heart. I spoke it
according to the Word of God, and then one morning I awakened to
find that it was coming from my heart! God had transformed my
heart concerning that individual. I found myself praying for
them and asking the Lord to extend mercy in their lives! There
is liberty when you forgive God's way. You will truly love that
person with the love of the Lord and not just lip service love.
It will bean unfeigned divine love. This does take time. Let God
heal your heart and heal the pain that you feel. It will happen
as you bask in His Presence. DO NOT NOURISH THE ROOT! DESTROY IT
BEFORE IT DESTROYS YOU!