* If you sow the seeds of bitterness in your heart your kids will swing from the branches.
* When people do you wrong, it’s tough to not let it grow into bitterness.
* Paul knew what this felt like.
* He even mentioned it in the opening of his letter to his young protege, Timothy.
* Vs 15 - he mentioned two guys who did him wrong - he had to warn Timothy about them.
* Paul didn’t forget what they did.
* But he didn’t focus on it.
* KEY - You won’t forget, but don’t focus.
* Watch what Paul does:
* Vs 16-18 - he focused on the one person who did him right.
* Notice what Paul did:
* He spoke 16 words on those who did him wrong.
* He spoke 67 words on those who did him right.
* He had twice as many enemies (two guys) as he did friends (one dude).
* When someone does you wrong, we have two ways we can deal with it.
* The bad path: Anger - Grudge - Bitterness - Hatred (AGBH)
* The good path: Anger - Resolve - Forgiveness - Restoration (ARFR)
* Both start with anger.
* Anger is an emotion with a purpose.
* Anger’s purpose is to see that justice is done.
* NOTE:
* You know you have a grudge when the mention of someone’s name illicits a negative emotion and you have a hard time pivoting from it.
* But if they repented you might consider forgiving.
* You know you have bitterness when you have no desire to reconcile at all.
* You hold them hostage in your heart so you can stay in control.
* A bitter heart attracts other bitterness.
* KEY - if you’re bitter you can’t nourish others (people don’t eat bitter food).
* You know you have hatred when you want them out of your life no matter what.
* This is when consequences don’t matter anymore.
* But there’s a better way (ARFR).
* You can “resolve” in your heart that you won’t grow bitter.
* Two aspects - 1) Confront them, 2) Release them (to God)
* Walk through the steps of forgiveness.
* Be “ready” to forgive, but don’t grant them something they don’t ask for - give it to God.
* Seek restoration if possible.
2 Timothy 1:15 (10/26/22)
Overcoming Bitterness
October 26, 2022 • Benham Brothers • 2 Timothy 1:15
2 Timothy 1:1-18 (10/22/15)
October 22, 2015 • Benham Brothers
• Paul was set for execution and almost all his friends had deserted him. • So what did Paul do in his last days? He didn’t sulk - he didn’t play bridge and golf in Florida. • He poured into Timothy. • In this chapter he encourages Timothy with three essentials for success: • 1) Courageous enthusiasm (vs 1-7) - Christianity was not the for the faint of heart. • He was to fan into flame the gift that was in him (vs 6-7) - this means being where Satan would try to blow your light out. • 2) Shameless suffering (vs 8-12) - he needed to be ready to embrace suffering. • 3) Spiritual loyalty (vs 13-18) - he needed to maintain reverence to God’s Word and not concern himself with relevance to culture.
2 Timothy 1:4-5 (10/22/20)
October 22, 2020 • Benham Brothers
* The best job of all is raising up kids who love Jesus. * Nobody can do that job for your kids better than you. * Anyone can replace you at a meeting, but nobody can at the ballgame. * Paul was Timothy’s mentor, but the spark of Tim’s faith came from his mom and grandma. * Vs 4-5 - they didn’t have a book or blog or on the speaking circuit, but they were faithful to raise a young boy who would turn the world upside down for Christ. * A river touches places its source knows nothing of. * Tim’s mom was faithful when nobody was watching. * Much like the mom who packed the lunch for the kid who’s lunch Jesus used to feed the 5,000. * My mom did the same thing. * Anyone could’ve spoken at a conference or written a book I read, but only one person could’ve walked my lunch up to me at school - and she was faithful to do just that. * As a parent, what do you do? * Run at the pace of your people. * Whatever the pace is in your kids’ lives, wrap your life around that.
2 Timothy 1:7 (10/18/18)
October 18, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Darkness isn’t a thing. It’s simply the absence of light. * We have flash lights, not flash darks. * Fear is not a thing. It’s simply the absence of power, love, and a sound mind. * When we’re not living by the power of the Holy Spirit with a love for people and a sound mind bent on truth then fear will fill the void. * God made our spirits fully capable of power and love, but we have to walk in it by having a sound mind. * So what do we do to keep fear out? * We renew our minds in God’s truth, fueled by our love for Him and others, so that we can walk in power against the threats of the enemy. * Power, love, sound mind.