Bitter Roots

In my last post, I stated that I am not against peaceful protests and I believe in justice and equality for all, but I think we need to beware that the enemy is trying to lead people into bitterness, anger and unforgiveness. I also shared about how the Lord showed me that there are several demonic forces coming together to try to deceive, divide and conquer Christians as well as non-Christians. The Bible tells us that in the last days the deception and delusion would be so great that if it were possible, even the very elect (God’s chosen ones) would be deceived (Matt. 24:24). I see the enemy mixing lies with the truth of God’s word and it seems many Christians are buying into it.

For instance, I see a lot of anger and destruction going on and it is being portrayed on the media and even by some Pastors as being okay, because they have a” right” to be angry. I do believe that God gives us anger as an emotion that has to do with our sense of justice; it lets us know when we or someone else is being mistreated. But on the other hand, the Bible says to be angry and sin not; do not let the sun go down upon your wrath, but rather leave room for God’s wrath (Ephesians 4:26, Romans 12:19). God says vengeance belongs to Him and He will repay, so when we choose to stay angry and try to punish others or take vengeance, we are not trusting God to take care of the situation, we are setting ourselves up as judge and jury. When we hold on to our anger, it leads to bitterness and unforgiveness, which is an open door for the enemy and it can lead to a spirit of witchcraft, which is control and manipulation.

Hebrews 12:14-15 says: 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled, (NKJ).

So what we do with our angry emotions can either contaminate us (when it leads to bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness, etc.) or it can cleanse us (when we take it to the Lord and choose to forgive and allow Him to cleanse us of hatred, wrong attitudes, and unforgiveness, trusting Him to take care of the situation in His time and His way).

Jesus said that if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also, but if you do not forgive men their trespasses (their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment), neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses (Matt. 6:14-15, The Amplified Bible). Forgiveness does not mean that you are saying what the person did to you or someone else is okay, but that you are trusting the Lord with the situation. I have heard it said that unforgiveness is like dragging a dead body around everywhere you go (you are shackled to the person you refuse to forgive in an unhealthy way) or drinking poison and hoping your enemy will die. Again, to forgive means to release and it’s really for your own benefit, rather than the benefit of the one you are forgiving; you are releasing yourself from bondage (poisonous feelings that contaminate you and affects your relationships with others). Bitterness and unforgiveness gives a person a filter in their mind; it causes the lens of their perception to be distorted and it will cause that person to put up walls, view others with suspicion and prejudice, and have an expectation of rejection or mistreatment, even if there is no evidence to support those expectations. It affects all your relationships or potential relationships, not just the ones you have unforgiveness against.

I heard several Prophets say that Pentecost 2020 would be the beginning of a new era; the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit that has ever been experienced that would go on for many years and also the beginning of the greatest harvest of souls ever being won to Christ and I believe it is true. Our Pastors and the leadership in our church have begun to sense a shift in our focus. We have now started doing Bible Studies in one Apartment Complex near us and we plan to do more in other complexes. We sense the Lord saying, it’s time to take the word of God outside the four walls of the church to those who may never come to the church unless someone goes and gets them. We have also begun sensing a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit (the new wine), but Christians need to guard and examine our hearts. We cannot be full of bitterness and unforgiveness or a judgmental attitude towards others and walk in love and be full of the Holy Spirit at the same time, which is what it takes to win people to Christ.

Many different races of people have suffered through ill treatment, great atrocities and/or slavery in the United States and many other countries, among them are the African Americans, Italians, Irish and the Native Americans (I have the last two in my heritage). Rather than trying to erase or re-write history, I think we should try to learn from it and I think it is time that we all choose to walk in love and forgiveness and not take the bait of Satan, which is offense (a stumbling block).

So, again, I appeal to my brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of what race you are, let’s come together in the unity of the Holy Spirit and walk in forgiveness and love. We have a harvest to reap!

In Christ –Kelly Rowe