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Ephesians 4:31-32-Amplified Bible
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. 32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave [a]you.
1. Bitterness-Bitterness is defined as anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly. It is synonymous with resentment and envy. One of the most well-known stories of bitterness in the Bible is the account of Cain and Abel. Cain became consumed by bitterness for his brother and God when he felt unjustly treated when he compared himself to his prosperous brother Abel. Cain cursed God and killed his brother out of hatred and pity for himself. This classic story warns us of the sinful essence of bitterness and at the same time as believers, have humility while in despair. We must take ownership of our situations and relinquish what is out of our control to God.
Bitterness is the root cause of and sets in motion the following destructive manifestations:
One of the most pervasive sins which too often feeds our fleshly attitudes and appetite is bitterness. Bitterness is often the root of many emotional outbursts and is too often birthed by a smothering resentment against the injustice or unfairness of another or due to problematic circumstances. Some of these circumstances may be real while others may be perceived, some of these circumstances may have been avoidable, and others unavoidable.
Bitterness is seen in this passage as a root that can morph into a number of other sinful attitudes and ungodly practices. It can smolder into deep-seated wrath or mushroom into explosive anger. It can be exhibited in slanderous speech, malicious gossip, or clamorous complaining.
But when bitterness is allowed to take root in our heart, it can grow into a poisonous volcano that spews its toxic venom over all who pass by. Bitterness is also like a tree which can branch into every area of our life and cause devastation, distress, and destruction, to ourselves and to others.
But we are instructed to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. We are exhorted to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ, God forgave you.
Kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and grace were shown to us at the Cross of Christ, and they are the spiritual fruit that Paul tells us can halt and reverse the growth of bitterness in our heart.
The main component to annihilate bitterness in our heart and its ungodly companions, seems to be forgiveness. When genuine forgiveness is married to kindness, compassion, and grace, it deactivates bitterness and all its ruinous counterparts. When kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and grace is sprinkled over the root of bitterness, the bitter root will shrivel away and allow us to love in the same way that Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/ephesians-4-31
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. Joel 2:28-32 KJV
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the “power factor” for ministry in the life of every believer. It is described as a FILLING with the Holy Spirit, and this idea of filling is almost always associated with the extraordinary power for ministry in the Book of Acts. Notice that when the baptism with the Spirit happens in Acts 2:4, Luke says, “And they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit.” The effect of that filling was a powerful, and even miraculous testimony to the truth of Christ that resulted in 3,000 people being converted (Acts 2:41).
This is true because Luke says that being baptized with the Spirit is being filled with the Spirit, and being filled with the Spirit is always for extraordinary power in ministry, and living an overcoming victorious life, each and every day.
It is true because Luke says that being baptized with the Spirit is a fulfillment of the promise of Joel 2, and Joel 2 promises an upsurge of prophetic power among God’s people.
It is true because Luke describes being baptized with the Spirit as receiving power to witness when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Acts 1:8.
And it is true because Luke says that being baptized in the Spirit is being clothed with power from on high so the message of Christ can be taken effectively to all the nations of the world. Luke 24:49.
“Make the Chili”
A good friend of mine unexpectedly lost his wife. A couple months later we were golfing together, chatting about nothing. He asked what my dinner plans were and I told him wifey wanted my homemade chili and cornbread, but I didn’t feel like stopping at the store. We golfed a few more minutes when he quietly said, “Make the chili.”
It took me a few minutes to realize we were no longer talking about dinner. It was about going out of your way to do something for someone you love because at any moment, they could unexpectedly be taken from you. So today I’m sharing with you that wisdom handed to me by my dear friend, that I’ve thought of many times since that day. The next time someone you love wants you to go for a walk or watch a football game, or play a board game, just put your phone down and give them your undivided attention, just do it…”Make the chili.”
Mr. Gable had a leak in the roof over his dining room table, so he called a repairman to take a look at it.
“When did you first notice the leak”? the repairman inquired.
Mr. Gable scowled, “Last night, when it took me two hours to finish my soup.”