Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. ~Romans 12:16-21
The temptation to vindicate ourselves is somewhat natural prior to contact with the nature of Christ. Once we know of His nature and fill our hearts and minds with his Holy Spirit and His words, we know that He longs to be our vindicator. In order to see His hand of vindication active in our circumstances, it requires seasons of testing as we learn to trust Him more and more as our protector and true judge while simultaneously learning to be forgiving towards others. It is a normal part of a Christians life to learn to co exist in a world filled with those who do not know Christ and seek to do their own vindicating. They can be cruel and spiteful and learning to turn the other cheek, as Christ does, is not always easy. But what about those Christians who are continuously vengeful and seem to seek retaliation frequently? Or worse, what about the ones who claim Christ and turn around and behave violently? Are you surrounded by people such as this? Do you have loved ones in your family who behave like this? Do you yourself get angry about it and react poorly instead of peacefully removing yourself from it? No matter what you do, do you find yourself not being able to escape it? Do you feel trapped or bound to it? You may have unknowingly fallen subject to the ruling spirit (principality) simply known as the Spirit of Bitterness.
While the name of this principality may seem simple, it has the potential to be a very dangerous spirit if allowed to run it’s coarse. The longer the Spirit of Bitterness has it’s grips in someone, the stronger the sub spirits attached to it become and the further they take root. What starts out as forgiveness unchecked feeds Spirits known as Resentment, Retaliation, Anger, Wrath, Hatred, Violence, and, eventually even the worst of evil Spirits the Spirit known as Murder. The Spirit of Murder includes gossip and slander with the tongue as well as physical murder. The goal of the Spirit of Bitterness is to eliminate someone from their life and to keep the Body of Christ as a whole divided. If you have identified this spirit active in someone’s life, you are going to want to keep yourself at a safe distance until the Lord Himself releases you to see the fruit of them having received their own deliverance. The Spirit of Bitterness also can lead to sickness, insanity, and disease as it’s poisonous venom can take over our entire bodies. People who have given themselves over to being ruled by the Spirit of Bitterness eventually become subject to violence and staying in close relationship with them can keep you in harms way. Use wisdom in making healthy decisions for yourself and your family as you stay in faith for them while avoiding risk. There are ministries dedicated to bring deliverance to those who have become violent. Perhaps you can recommend one and let them handle it. Make a regimen of praying for them regularly while putting your safety and healthy boundaries, your relationship with God and yourself, first. Once you know you and your family are safe, stay in faith for them the that Lord truly wants what is best for them and take the time to look at your part in this. How have you attracted this evil presence in your own life? Is there something you are unknowingly doing or not doing?
While bitterness is a ruling spirit, it also can be as simple as harboring our own forgiveness in a certain area or towards a specific individual. If a certain behavior angers us, it is a clue to 2 things. First, it’s a clue to an area in society we are created by God Himself to help bring correction to. However, we can not be effectively used by God until we are no longer controlled by the emotion of anger ourselves. Secondly, our anger is a clue to an area we need to seek God’s face in. When we react out of anger, as righteous as that anger may be, it shows we are sensitive to that particular kind of behavior. It’s a clear indicator that we have a chink in our armor and that chink is where we invite Satan and his spirits of darkness in. We may have been wounded by old hurts and haven’t taken those wounds to the cross. We haven’t forgiven those who inflicted them. If we do not do our own self inventory and forgive others regularly, we can develop our own strongholds and relationship with the Spirit of Bitterness. The Bible tells us to take the offenses of others to the cross daily. Once we apply forgiveness, we are free to find peace in working out our own salvation through deliverance for ourselves and those we love. If you have identified a Spirit of Bitterness as a stronghold in your own or someone in your family’s life, here is some applicable scripture and a prayer of deliverance you can pray to break this off of you and your generations.
Looking diligently lest any man fall of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby may be defiled. ~Hebrews 12:15
When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he takes from him all of his armor wherein he trusted, and divides his spoils. ~Luke 11:21-22
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive not men of their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ~Matthew 6:14.15
Recompense to no man evil for evil, Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord. ~Romans 12:17-19
Be ye angry, and sin not: Let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. ~Ephesians 4:26, 27
Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools. ~Ecclesiastes 7:9
Of his own will fathered He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. Whereas, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the en-grafted word, which is able to save your souls. ~James 1:18-21
The discretion of man defers his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. ~Proverbs 19:11
And God said to Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. ~Genesis 6:13
Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He that sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. You are your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. ~John 8:42-44
Prayer of Deliverance:
Heavenly Father, As I don’t want to walk in your unforgiveness, I forgive those who have hurt me and call them out by name to you individually now (speak their names outloud). I lay the burden of their sin and the wounds it has caused me at your feet and look to you to forgive them personally as I know this is not my weight to carry. I ask your forgiveness for harboring unforgiveness, resentment, or bitterness towards them. I take responsibility for my ancestors on all sides dating back to Adam and Eve where we saw the fruit of bitterness between their sons Cain and Able as a result of unforgiveness, shame, and resentment. I repent for my participation with this principality and renounce all curses associated with bitterness. I ask that you would use this prayer to formally break them for all of my future generations. I renounce participation with all sub spirits that fall under the Spirit of Bitterness to include Unforgiveness, Resentment, Retaliation, Anger/Wrath, Hatred, Violence, and Murder and I cast all of you out. Leave my family now for all of eternity. I ask that you replace all of these spirits with the fruit of your Holy Spirit so that my family might be vessels of love able to be used by you to bring about your glory. In the Name of Jesus and through His Blood shed for our bitterness, Amen.
Additional reading for comfort:
In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord‘s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. ~Psalm 11
Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?
If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:
"God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen"
If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@awministries.org so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don't want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.
