Main Scriptures: Eph.4:30-31
More Scriptures: Rev.12:10, Rom.10:10, Ps.51:10
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 clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Eph.4:30-31)
Whenever I read or listen to husbandmen who are having challenges with their sheep, I observe that bitterness is the cause. The husbandman is bitter against his wife and this affects his relationship with his wife and children, negatively. It kills the joy he has for his wife and kills him slowly. Let me make this clear to you. You cannot be bitter with your wife and children and be better as the godly man, husband and father. You cannot speak evil against your wife and children and be seen to be righteous before God. You cannot hold malice against your wife and children and think you can grow a healthy sheep and sheepfold.
These are some of the risks of holding bitterness against your wife and children. Bitterness hinders your capacity to grow unto maturity. It beclouds your ability to judge rightly. It shuts down the flow of inspiration. It drains you of your spiritual energy and it is a burden. Do you think it is worth the trouble being bitter towards your wife and children? The Scripture describes bitterness as a sin.
But how do I overcome the power and force of bitterness as the godly husbandman and the head of my family? Firstly, you must recognize and understand what bitterness is. That is, bitterness is a sin. Secondly, you must fight every suggestion and influence of bitterness, using the spiritual forces of prayers and fasting and confessions (Rom.10:10). Thirdly, you must contend using the blood of Jesus Christ as a weapon of warfare (Rev.12:10-11). You can and will always win by the prevailing power in the blood of Jesus Christ. And lastly, engage the help of the Holy Spirit to recreate a clean heart and a right spirit within you (Ps.51:10). Because until your heart is filled with the right virtues of Christ’s love, your response to your wife and children will be wrong. It takes a right heart and spirit to act like the godly husbandman.
And as you fight to overcome the deceitfulness of bitterness, you will enjoy unhindered blessings from the Lord. You will also enjoy unhindered answer to your prayers. In 1 Pet.3:7, the Scripture warns that when we as husbands deal with our wives without knowledge, our prayers are hindered. The reason why satan would want you to be bitter towards your wife and children is not just for you to spite your sheep, but very importantly, he wants to render your prayers impotent. And you will agree with me that unanswered prayers may lead to frustration, because according to Scriptures, hope deferred makes the heart sick. Overcome bitterness!
SPIRITUAL EXERCISE
- Father, in the Name of Jesus, deliver me from the spirit of bitterness.
- Father, in the Name of Jesus, deliver me from every form of filthiness and unforgiveness.
- Father, in the Name of Jesus, sanctify my spirit, soul and body with the power of purity and love.
FAITH CONFESSION
I overcome the force of bitterness against my sheep with the love of Jesus Christ because that is what makes me the good and godly husbandman in Jesus name. Amen.
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