Larry Lilly's Journal Beware The Bitterness Vol 20-Issue 10
Years ago a boxing sensation, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter was a top-notch Middle Weight boxer. He was falsely convicted of murder! For 22 years he was locked away. He finally had his case overturned and walked out of prison a free man!
When asked about how he handled the unfairness of it all. His answer is classic as well as supernatural:
“The question invariably arises, it has before and it will again. “Rubin, are you bitter?” And in answer to that I will say, “After all that’s been said and done, the fact that the most productive years of my life, between the ages of twenty-nine and fifty, have been stolen; the fact that I was deprived of seeing my children grow up, wouldn’t you think that I would have a right to be bitter? Wouldn’t anyone, under those circumstances, have a right to be bitter? In fact it would be very easy to be bitter. But that has never been my nature, or my lot, to do things the easy way. If I have learned nothing else in my life, I’ve learned that bitterness only consumes the vessel that contains it. And for me to permit bitterness to control or to infect my life in any way whatsoever would be to allow those who imprisoned me to take even more than the 22 years they’ve already taken. Now that would make me an accomplice to their crime.” Copied from Dr. David Jeremiah, Slaying the Giant of Anger, page 117.
Most people who have lived very long have had some “bitter pill,” come their way. I know I have. One of the bitterest was in a severe dispute with our government and a group of fellow Christians; the IRS was more reasonable to me than the bible totting saints. During that time and after the same question that came to Rubin Carter was often asked concerning how I dealt with the pain.
My answer then and over these long 30 years has been the same. I learned to not only lean on but to desperately trust this grand passage:
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV).
“Trouble can make you bitter or better. The choice is yours.”
Bitterness, resentment, anger is part of a myriad of outrageous conduct and Ideas. A glance at Esau, the man who was cheated by his brother Jacob, became a bitter person and his bitterness led to a profane heart set and sexual impurity. In most criminal activity, there is a touch at least of bitterness.
Note Hebrews 12:15 in part: “lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many be defiled: lest there be any fornicator like Esau..”
With most things that have a destructive bent to them, we are given a choice, bitter or better? Which will you choose? In a modern society which has thrown God out, well-meaning “moralists” attempt to move the universe by removing all temptation, thus creating a flawless culture. Such efforts as Prohibition in the 1920s demonstrate the folly of such. Marijuana, long banned is now becoming OK, as the attempts to make the penalty for using it, despite long jail sentences have failed as did the banning of beverage alcohol. Our little Mid-Western burg is battling over a Casino Gambling hall, the arguments being such a place will increase sin. It will only concentrate the folly in unique confines.
Remember Your Choices determine consequences!
People choose to do any of the terrible things they Choose! Here’s the rub: Let those who make a choice pay the consequences thereof! That’s right; you make a choice; you pay the price.
God did not ban apple trees from the fair haven of Eden. Nor did God accept Adam’s weak excuse for disobeying the explicit instruction given by the LORD not to eat of the forbidden fruit of the tree because his wife enticed him. God makes no excuse for drunkenness, drug addiction, or whatever because it’s there. Even though it’s there, you still have a choice to touch or leave it alone. One of the ridiculous excuses ever is a 50-year-old man, pastor of one of the largest churches in the world, president of the college associated with it, and the leader of a school attempting to get a Federal Judge to lay the guilt on a 16-year-old student for “enticing him!”
Can, does, Jesus forgive such things? YES! When forgiveness is sought, and the Choice is reversed to as Jesus said in John 8 to the woman taken in adultery, “Go and sin no more.” In other words, exercise your power to choose the good over the evil.
Robert Louis Stephens stated it like this:
“Every now and then we each must sit down to a plate of consequences!”
Sounds brutal, doesn’t it. Yet, the entire human race must face the consequence of one man, Adams, rebellious act. The “glamorous” gender sins of today are mentioned in the Bible as sins against God’s plan for marriage between one man and one woman. Paul makes this clear in Romans 1. He also deals with a practice that is verboten in modern times. It’s currently typed a “conversion therapy.” Each of the fashionable gender sins is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, with this climactic statement:
“And such WERE some of you! But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Conversion Therapy at its best. Worked then, works now, with positive eternal consequences!
The theme of this article is the importance of overcoming a root of bitterness, of internal rage, of conquering destructive inner drives toward that which is forbidden. The arguments, “God made me this way” have never washed with God or a well-ordered society. They now get a little mileage due to many in our church community departing from God’s revealed will in such practices.
Any person anywhere engaged in anything can be the beneficiary of the Grace of God in Jesus Christ and experience the deliverance and joy of the Corinthians with the word “were” written after their name! This action includes whosoever will may come to Jesus. LML.
When asked about how he handled the unfairness of it all. His answer is classic as well as supernatural:
“The question invariably arises, it has before and it will again. “Rubin, are you bitter?” And in answer to that I will say, “After all that’s been said and done, the fact that the most productive years of my life, between the ages of twenty-nine and fifty, have been stolen; the fact that I was deprived of seeing my children grow up, wouldn’t you think that I would have a right to be bitter? Wouldn’t anyone, under those circumstances, have a right to be bitter? In fact it would be very easy to be bitter. But that has never been my nature, or my lot, to do things the easy way. If I have learned nothing else in my life, I’ve learned that bitterness only consumes the vessel that contains it. And for me to permit bitterness to control or to infect my life in any way whatsoever would be to allow those who imprisoned me to take even more than the 22 years they’ve already taken. Now that would make me an accomplice to their crime.” Copied from Dr. David Jeremiah, Slaying the Giant of Anger, page 117.
Most people who have lived very long have had some “bitter pill,” come their way. I know I have. One of the bitterest was in a severe dispute with our government and a group of fellow Christians; the IRS was more reasonable to me than the bible totting saints. During that time and after the same question that came to Rubin Carter was often asked concerning how I dealt with the pain.
My answer then and over these long 30 years has been the same. I learned to not only lean on but to desperately trust this grand passage:
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV).
“Trouble can make you bitter or better. The choice is yours.”
Bitterness, resentment, anger is part of a myriad of outrageous conduct and Ideas. A glance at Esau, the man who was cheated by his brother Jacob, became a bitter person and his bitterness led to a profane heart set and sexual impurity. In most criminal activity, there is a touch at least of bitterness.
Note Hebrews 12:15 in part: “lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many be defiled: lest there be any fornicator like Esau..”
With most things that have a destructive bent to them, we are given a choice, bitter or better? Which will you choose? In a modern society which has thrown God out, well-meaning “moralists” attempt to move the universe by removing all temptation, thus creating a flawless culture. Such efforts as Prohibition in the 1920s demonstrate the folly of such. Marijuana, long banned is now becoming OK, as the attempts to make the penalty for using it, despite long jail sentences have failed as did the banning of beverage alcohol. Our little Mid-Western burg is battling over a Casino Gambling hall, the arguments being such a place will increase sin. It will only concentrate the folly in unique confines.
Remember Your Choices determine consequences!
People choose to do any of the terrible things they Choose! Here’s the rub: Let those who make a choice pay the consequences thereof! That’s right; you make a choice; you pay the price.
God did not ban apple trees from the fair haven of Eden. Nor did God accept Adam’s weak excuse for disobeying the explicit instruction given by the LORD not to eat of the forbidden fruit of the tree because his wife enticed him. God makes no excuse for drunkenness, drug addiction, or whatever because it’s there. Even though it’s there, you still have a choice to touch or leave it alone. One of the ridiculous excuses ever is a 50-year-old man, pastor of one of the largest churches in the world, president of the college associated with it, and the leader of a school attempting to get a Federal Judge to lay the guilt on a 16-year-old student for “enticing him!”
Can, does, Jesus forgive such things? YES! When forgiveness is sought, and the Choice is reversed to as Jesus said in John 8 to the woman taken in adultery, “Go and sin no more.” In other words, exercise your power to choose the good over the evil.
Robert Louis Stephens stated it like this:
“Every now and then we each must sit down to a plate of consequences!”
Sounds brutal, doesn’t it. Yet, the entire human race must face the consequence of one man, Adams, rebellious act. The “glamorous” gender sins of today are mentioned in the Bible as sins against God’s plan for marriage between one man and one woman. Paul makes this clear in Romans 1. He also deals with a practice that is verboten in modern times. It’s currently typed a “conversion therapy.” Each of the fashionable gender sins is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, with this climactic statement:
“And such WERE some of you! But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Conversion Therapy at its best. Worked then, works now, with positive eternal consequences!
The theme of this article is the importance of overcoming a root of bitterness, of internal rage, of conquering destructive inner drives toward that which is forbidden. The arguments, “God made me this way” have never washed with God or a well-ordered society. They now get a little mileage due to many in our church community departing from God’s revealed will in such practices.
Any person anywhere engaged in anything can be the beneficiary of the Grace of God in Jesus Christ and experience the deliverance and joy of the Corinthians with the word “were” written after their name! This action includes whosoever will may come to Jesus. LML.
Comments and Notes from Other Pens
What the Bible Say’s About Prayer
Pray in Jesus Name: “Whatsoever ye ask in My name, that will I do.” John 14:13
Pray According to God’s Will: “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us; and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we desired of Him.” 1John 5:14-15
Pray According to God’s Word: “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
Pray in the Spirit: “We know not what we shall pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:16-27, Jude 20.
Pray Always: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:16
Pray Boldly for Help: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Pray in Faith Believing: Jesus Said, “Have faith in God…What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:22-24
Pray Persistently: “Men ought always to pray, and not faint…Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 18:1-8, 11:5-10
Pray With Thanksgiving: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”
Col. 4:2 From Moments With The Book, P.O. Box 322, Bedford, PA 1552//Good News Margaret Leighton.
****
Thank you again, my friend for a timely "read." And since preaching is in my DNA after all of these years I read and listen not only for the challenging and often convicting illumination of my own heart, but also ways to illustrate and drive home important matters to people who have fallen into the circumstances of hearing me preach. I read that Spurgeon always had on his person a little notebook so that as he walked or traveled he would record things he had witnessed that would serve as illustrations / object lesson in his sermons. You have given me a great little nugget to illustrate the perils that are real when we fail to tune in to God's "radio waves." Thank you again for your investment in being one of God's radios. Have a great day, my Brother! Professor Jim Gibson. Brother Jim refers to Turn Your Radio On.
***
“There is no pit so deep that Jesus is not deeper still!” Betsie ten Boom
“The fingerprints of God are often invisible until you look at them in the rearview mirror?” Levi Lusko
The Bookworms Corner Joyce Lilly
The Book of Revelation for the Third Millennium
William Grant Nelson Ph.D., D.Min., Th.D., D.D. 22 Chps.187 pgs+numerous historical background pages.
Larry said and I agree; “The most thorough, and most understandable book on The Revelation out there.”
Dr. Nelson closely follows the advice of Dr. Charles Ryrie, who stated to his Pre-Trib class at Dallas:
“There are two extreme attitudes toward Revelation. Some say the book cannot be understood, and therefore it should not be studied, taught or preached. Others consider themselves to be sure of every detail of the book that set dates and propose highly fanciful interpretations. To them, Revelation seems to be the only book in the Bible worth studying. The proper attitude toward this book does not lie in either extreme. Even though this book is largely about the future, knowledge of it should affect our living in the present.”
Dr. Nelson uses 5 ½ pages on a brief bio and impact of the Apostle John. These pages are worth any price paid for the book! Did you know that John, according to Eusebius, lived in exile on Patmos for 15 years before being released back to Ephesus! He passed at about 100 years old — the last of the disciples to die. His brother James was the first.
At the request of Sandy, Dr. Nelson’s widow, you may have a copy of this book by asking for it. It is free. send a note to Larry Lilly P.O.Box 5212 Terre Haute, IN 47805 or larrylilly@larrylilly.net and ask for the October book! (an offering is appreciated). JDL.
William Grant Nelson Ph.D., D.Min., Th.D., D.D. 22 Chps.187 pgs+numerous historical background pages.
Larry said and I agree; “The most thorough, and most understandable book on The Revelation out there.”
Dr. Nelson closely follows the advice of Dr. Charles Ryrie, who stated to his Pre-Trib class at Dallas:
“There are two extreme attitudes toward Revelation. Some say the book cannot be understood, and therefore it should not be studied, taught or preached. Others consider themselves to be sure of every detail of the book that set dates and propose highly fanciful interpretations. To them, Revelation seems to be the only book in the Bible worth studying. The proper attitude toward this book does not lie in either extreme. Even though this book is largely about the future, knowledge of it should affect our living in the present.”
Dr. Nelson uses 5 ½ pages on a brief bio and impact of the Apostle John. These pages are worth any price paid for the book! Did you know that John, according to Eusebius, lived in exile on Patmos for 15 years before being released back to Ephesus! He passed at about 100 years old — the last of the disciples to die. His brother James was the first.
At the request of Sandy, Dr. Nelson’s widow, you may have a copy of this book by asking for it. It is free. send a note to Larry Lilly P.O.Box 5212 Terre Haute, IN 47805 or larrylilly@larrylilly.net and ask for the October book! (an offering is appreciated). JDL.
Page Four!
Dr. Dale Byers
ANOINTING THE WOUNDS Dale Byers
Psalm 23:5
Thou anointest my head with oil:
God has anointed us with the Oil of the Holy Spirit. He has also commissioned us to go into all the world and preach the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must be anointed with the power of God to do His work of proclaiming the glories of our Savior. That anointing of the Holy Spirit also involves the ministry of comforting His sheep.
There is another practical way in which we proclaim the beauteous glory of our Savior. We must be stripe washers. We must not only proclaim the truth of our Savior in word, but, we must also demonstrate that love by the act of anointing the wounds of those who hurt. If God is Truth He is also Love. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love. As our Shepherd comforts us we must become comforters.
Note Acts 16:30-33:
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
Saved and thy house. And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord,
And to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
The Apostle Peter understood the significance of proclaiming the truth of Christ but also the imitation of Christ’s love. Many Christians have forsaken the ministry of stripe washing. When Peter proclaimed the Truth of salvation to this jailer the jailer in turn demonstrated his love for Christ by washing the bloody, bleeding back of the others.
Consider the words of Samuel McPheters Glasgow, Daily Communion; p.229).
“Stripe-Washing will mark the conduct of the truly changed life, the life that has met the Master face to face. When we become like Christ we will make restitution. We will seek to undo all the wreckage sin has wrought through our lives. When men are saved from the tyranny of sin, they love and gladly do things they once spurned and hated. They turn resolutely from the course of life they once loved. This marvelous transformation takes place when men “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Here is the big question. “Am I still washing the stripes of other hurting lives?”
* Blogsite for past articles: http://daleabyers.wordpress.com/
**
Washing wounds Has many faces: Bob Buford wrote:
“Doing something for yourself and doing something for others are not opposite ends of a continuum. The whole point of altruistic egoism is that when you help others, you help yourself even more. The opposite is also true: If you focus solely on yourself, you will eventually become restless, even miserable. Start with the questions, “What do I want to do?’ and “What makes me really happy?” Then find ways to do those things in a way that helps others. For example, if you love sports, trying to find significance by serving food in a soup kitchen will not bring as much fulfillment as volunteering to coach a inner-city Little League team. God wired you the way He did for a purpose.”
***
“The feeling of being hurried is not unusually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life.” Eric Hoffer.
Psalm 23:5
Thou anointest my head with oil:
God has anointed us with the Oil of the Holy Spirit. He has also commissioned us to go into all the world and preach the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must be anointed with the power of God to do His work of proclaiming the glories of our Savior. That anointing of the Holy Spirit also involves the ministry of comforting His sheep.
There is another practical way in which we proclaim the beauteous glory of our Savior. We must be stripe washers. We must not only proclaim the truth of our Savior in word, but, we must also demonstrate that love by the act of anointing the wounds of those who hurt. If God is Truth He is also Love. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love. As our Shepherd comforts us we must become comforters.
Note Acts 16:30-33:
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
Saved and thy house. And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord,
And to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
The Apostle Peter understood the significance of proclaiming the truth of Christ but also the imitation of Christ’s love. Many Christians have forsaken the ministry of stripe washing. When Peter proclaimed the Truth of salvation to this jailer the jailer in turn demonstrated his love for Christ by washing the bloody, bleeding back of the others.
Consider the words of Samuel McPheters Glasgow, Daily Communion; p.229).
“Stripe-Washing will mark the conduct of the truly changed life, the life that has met the Master face to face. When we become like Christ we will make restitution. We will seek to undo all the wreckage sin has wrought through our lives. When men are saved from the tyranny of sin, they love and gladly do things they once spurned and hated. They turn resolutely from the course of life they once loved. This marvelous transformation takes place when men “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Here is the big question. “Am I still washing the stripes of other hurting lives?”
* Blogsite for past articles: http://daleabyers.wordpress.com/
**
Washing wounds Has many faces: Bob Buford wrote:
“Doing something for yourself and doing something for others are not opposite ends of a continuum. The whole point of altruistic egoism is that when you help others, you help yourself even more. The opposite is also true: If you focus solely on yourself, you will eventually become restless, even miserable. Start with the questions, “What do I want to do?’ and “What makes me really happy?” Then find ways to do those things in a way that helps others. For example, if you love sports, trying to find significance by serving food in a soup kitchen will not bring as much fulfillment as volunteering to coach a inner-city Little League team. God wired you the way He did for a purpose.”
***
“The feeling of being hurried is not unusually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life.” Eric Hoffer.
Larry & Joyce 55th Anniversary
Friendly Reminder
If this ministry has blessed you, consider supporting our work online and in prisons. Thank you for your prayers and gifts! Together, we can make a major difference in the lives of our readers!
You may send your offering to the address below this block.
Your prayers and financial help are essential to the successful reaching and growing people for Jesus Christ. You are important to Jesus Christ.
Send notes/offering prayer requests to:
Larry Lilly
P.O. Box 5212
Terre Haute, IN 47805
God is enlarging the outreach of this ministry! Beginning December 2 The Monday-Friday Spot ministry will began broadcasting! Stay tuned for full information. And please say a prayer for God's hand on this miraculous opportunity.
If this ministry has blessed you, consider supporting our work online and in prisons. Thank you for your prayers and gifts! Together, we can make a major difference in the lives of our readers!
You may send your offering to the address below this block.
Your prayers and financial help are essential to the successful reaching and growing people for Jesus Christ. You are important to Jesus Christ.
Send notes/offering prayer requests to:
Larry Lilly
P.O. Box 5212
Terre Haute, IN 47805
God is enlarging the outreach of this ministry! Beginning December 2 The Monday-Friday Spot ministry will began broadcasting! Stay tuned for full information. And please say a prayer for God's hand on this miraculous opportunity.