Bitterness and Negative Riders

 Greetings,

Many times, I ask people if they have bitterness and they say no.  Perhaps they can’t identify what bitterness encompasses so we must go to the dictionary to define bitterness.  Similar words are from the dictionary are: Sharpness, acidity, harshness, resentment, dissatisfaction, discontent, grudge, indignation, spite, petulance, trauma, pain, agony, grief, unpleasantness, nastiness, awfulness, upset, heartache, heartbreak, unhappiness, misery, despair, tragedy, hostility, enmity, friction, anger, hate, hatred, loathing, venom, poison, poison, bile ill feeling, ill will, and bad blood to name a few. Does this clarify bitterness and how it can pertain to us?

I have identified some riders that are associated with bitterness in this teaching.  It started with a few and the Lord started showing me more.

It’s important to understand the mind-body connection as it pertains to our thoughts. Where do our thoughts come from? Is everything we think from ourselves? For Christians, some of our thoughts are from the Holy Spirit. Some of our thoughts are from us. Some of our thoughts are also from the enemy – Satan who is forever tempting us or reminding us of our weaknesses.  Your body is a responder to who you are in thought.  It’s referred to as the min-body connection.  It’s not anything new to a believer.  God already told us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7. God knew what He was talking about. It’s a biological truth that the things we think about and dwell on actually become part of who we are.  We will never get to the spiritual roots of disease if we don’t first understand the biology of how our minds affect our bodies.  I hope this teaching brings understanding to that which is not taught. Please share.

Blessings to you all

Bitterness and Negative Riders – Bitterness has the following riders attached to it and contribute to bitterness.  All these negative riders and many more not mentioned affects our health.

Unloving – Have you felt unloved your entire life? Romans 1:31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, John 3:16.

Rejection – How many times in your life have you been rejected? 1 Peter 2:4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious. Have you rejected yourself?

Anger – Anger at others and self will control you at times and it gets worse throughout your life. Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  James 1:20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Unforgiveness – If you forgive someone and it still stings, then you have not forgiven them.  Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  Forgive them over and over until it does not sting anymore.

Hatred – Most people have some level of hatred of others and self. 1 John Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.  Hatred affects you more than the person you hate.

Offences – Take inventory of all of those who have offended you and especially those who won’t show love towards you. Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!  Forgive them!!  Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Gossip – Gossipers cannot stop themselves and it is not ever 100% accurate. It is a huge problem in the world and is not addressed in the church.  It is character assassination to the highest level and especially rampant in the family.  Ask yourself: Who doesn’t gossip? Leviticus 19:16 You shall not go about as a talebearer (gossiper) among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. Proverbs 20:19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore, do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.  Proverbs 26:20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.  Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.  1 Timothy 5:13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

Slander – Slander is a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation. Slander and gossip are tied together. Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 1 Peter Therefore, laying aside all malice (evil), all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking (slander and gossip).  

Regrets – This is a feeling of sadness or disappointment over what we have done.  It can lead to guilt, shame, self-hatred, self-condemnation, feeling like a failure, and feeling not worthy to be loved.  People beat up on themselves which leads to self-bitterness.  Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things (regrets) which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. When we beat up on ourselves with our thoughts it will affect us mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Envy and Jealousy dries the bones – Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.  “Dries the bones” is a metaphor for the destructive and corrosive nature of envy. It means that harboring envy and jealousy can negatively impact a person's well-being, physically and emotionally, leading to a slow decline or decay from within.  Why are bones in this scripture?  Medically and scientifically, it is where bone morrow is located which produces White T Cells that fight off immune diseases including cancer.  Envy, which is tied to bitterness is rottenness to every part of the body.  Not just the bone marrow. Bitterness causes excessive cortisol drip that destroys soft tissue all over the body.

Negative Declarations – Declarations are very seldom discussed in the church and the body of Jesus Christ. Declarations can be good or bad depending on what comes out of the mouth, James 3:8-10 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.  What are you declaring to yourself and others?

Unloving Spirit – It means we don’t feel loved or worthy to be loved.  It is the most common issue in ministry. We must turn to God for love because mankind’s love is conditional and imperfect.  Unloving has a fear rider as well says the Lord, 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. Only trust God’s love and do not fear.

Sorrow – Sorrow is prevalent throughout the Bible, reflecting the human experience of pain and suffering.  It is portrayed as a response to loss and brokenness.  Extreme sorrow can lead to health issues associated with all the topics in this teaching.  It leads to depression. Fear that it cannot be fixed.  Doctors do not know the cause of depression, but God does, Proverbs 12:25   Anxiety (fear) of the heart of man causes depression. Sorrow leads to a broken heart but, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" Psalms 34:18.  Psalm 6:6-7 I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies.

Fear – Fear is can be found in all these topics.  All of them can cause stress and anxiety, which is fear. We are responders to our thoughts good or evil.  Our evil thoughts and actions work together to bring us into captivity. All of these topics can lead us into premature death.  Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These topics are sinful and result in sickness and disease because of disobedience, Deuteronomy 28:15-68.  The world does not take into account the causes that lead to sickness and disease.  They only consider the symptoms and we remain sick and diseased. Yet, biblical scripture has all the answers to keep us physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. God has given us a spirit of stupor because we don’t believe, Romans 11:8 “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God.

It’s God’s desire for us to be in health – Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers, 3 John 1:2