Come let us Grow Together: Uprooting the Root of Bitterness

Come let us Grow Together is a weekly series that deals with the many topical categories that exist within the Word of God.  The purpose of this series is to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in things pertaining to God.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” (Jn 1:29-34)

John knew who Jesus was!!

“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” (Mt 11:2-6)

While in prison John began to question whether or not Jesus was the Son of God and sent his disciples to ask Jesus.  Notice carefully Jesus’ last words to tell John.

John was either beginning to develop a root of bitterness or the Lord knew that he was about to start developing a root of bitterness and instructed John not to be offended in Him.  John was in prison for the word’s sake. “For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.” (Mt 14:3-4)

John did not realize that his ministry was now about to be fulfilled as a martyr for Jesus Christ and the Gospel’s sake.  He began to doubt as to whether or not Jesus was the son of God.  So he sent his disciples, even though God had revealed to him, “Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending …. the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” (Jn 1:33b)

Careful!! “Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” (Heb 12:15b)

There are also those that have no root in them who also get offended for the word’s sake.

“And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” (Mk 4:16-17)
It is time to get off of the stony ground and it is time to also get rid of any root of bitterness that has sprung up in you.

You must forgive whoever has offended you and grow strong roots in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and “be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jer 17:8)

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.” (Pro 12:1-3)

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1 Jn 4:20-21)

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” (Col 2:6-7) “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;” (Eph 3:17-18)

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