A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Chris Musgrove of Future Now)
Scripture for the Day Jan. 24, 2019
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:30-3)
We live in a time where hate and bitterness are rampant. Bitter envy and self-seeking are not from above but are sensual. Sensual living is the domain of the five senses, concerned with this life only. Being sensual is being lustful, having illicit desires, and unclean practices that open a person to the demonic.
James 3:14-16: But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
The Amplified Bible says, “But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth. This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal). For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.”
Galatians 5:6 says, “Walk in the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”
Hebrews 12:15 says, “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.”
A move of God can quickly be stopped if you allow a root of bitterness, anger, hate or jealousy to grow. It grieves the Holy Spirit. If allowed to grow it leads to confusion and includes disorder, commotion, and instability. It will infect the life of a family and a church congregation and it leads to every evil work. Paul describes this in his letter to the Church at Corinth in II Corinthians 12:20, “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.”
The New Living Translation says, “For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.”
In James 4:5-7 is our answer to James 3:14-16 when it says, “Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?’ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Let’s draw near to God and reject all bitterness and hate.
