Forgiveness is important to the believer in many ways.
Satan’s strategy in the Body of Christ is to divide and to destroy, bring separation in three areas. Separation from others, God and self. Bitterness is the greatest weapon available to him – it is the seedbed of all demonic work.
We are all going to get hurt by others but not broken. Brokeness is a result of not dealing with bitterness properly and being stuck in the past of past events and past hurts.
Symptoms of Bitterness:
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Resentment
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Murmur and Complaining
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Retaliation
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Evil Tongue
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Gossip
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Ungratefulness
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Discontent
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Angry
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No peace
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Your physical health deteriorates (arthritis, cancer, etc.)
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Critical attitude towards others
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Always blaming others. Cannot maintain steady relationships.
Lamentations 3:15Lamentations 3:15
English: King James Version (1611) — KJV
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. bitterness: Heb. bitternesses
WP-Bible plugin “15
He has filled me with bitterness; He has made me drink to excess and until drunken with wormwood [bitterness].”
Evil Tongue: Psalm 64:3Psalm 64:3
English: King James Version (1611) — KJV
3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
WP-Bible plugin “3 Who whet their tongues like a sword, who aim venomous words like arrows,”
Bitterness has the effect of taking the circumstances of our pain and negative feelings until the time has come where we find ourselves slaves to the limits of our will/mind choices – we remain slaves to the pain and in the poverty of the consequences.
Sources of Bitterness:
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Unfulfilled needs – bitterness against the family.
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Abuse – physical and emotional, which is very much tied to bitterness against the family.
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Hurts (come from relationships) – bitterness against others.
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Circumstances in life – accidents, death of loved ones, sickness, and so forth.
Bitterness is like a poison:
- Bitterness defiles others.
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Bitterness builds walls of isolation (prisons) from others, God and self.
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Bitterness leads you to Self pity and depression — the super glue to the hell of your past.
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Your life becomes self-centered with no proper regard or respect for the needs of others.
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You become “very touchy”, being quick to take offence.
What does God’s Word Say About Bitterness:
Mental Torment — Many mental diseases are a result of bitterness/unforgiveness.
“And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matthew 18:34–35Matthew 18:34–35
English: King James Version (1611) — KJV
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
WP-Bible plugin.
You Will Not Be Forgiven: Mark 11:22–26Mark 11:22–26
English: King James Version (1611) — KJV
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. Have…: or, Have the faith of God
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
WP-Bible plugin clearly teaches us that unforgiveness hinders our faith from working. The Father can’t forgive our sins if we don’t forgive other people. We reap what we sow. Sow mercy, and you’ll reap mercy; sow judgment, and you’ll reap judgment.
The Lord is our hedge of protection but if we refuse to forgive, then the Lord cannot be our hedge of protection from demonic forces.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whosoever breaks through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
When you hold an offense, then you are judging another person. Not only that, you are only hurting yourself holding an offense. Even if someone evil hurt you, abused you or molested you, we are commanded to forgive. The reason why we are to forgive so that we close the door to the enemy.
By: Traci Morin
Touch of God Healing Deliverance Ministry in Dallas, Texas


