Bottom line is bitterness and critical spirits are always things we should be aware of! And don't mistake needed criticism for a 'critical spirit'.
Why a post about "this hour" in particular? And these two particular things - bitterness and critical spirits?
I see that these two things are particularly prevalent right now and they seem to be potentially two of the most toxic things that will hinder what God intends to do.
As I've argued, I believe we are in a unique hour of history. There is a kairos moment that we are about to enter into. And the path forward is littered with landmines - two of those are succumbing to bitterness and to critical spirits.
It isn't that I can't think of other 'landmines', but these two have been highlighted to us.
So if the shoe fits, then wear it. If somehow you don't track with what I am saying and don't see these potential pitfalls, praise God. Pray for me!
We have come through one of the most difficult and confusing seasons of our lives, going back to 2016. More division has come to been created - both in society and the church, than I would argue we have ever seen. I believe you can't explain what we have seen apart from referencing demonic forces tearing people apart.
Society might remain so, but we know prophetically that the church will not. The church will come into a level of unity and agreement before Christ Returns than at any time in history. Jesus' prayer in John 17:9-11:
(9) I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. A(10)All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. (11)And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
I don't believe this prayer will not be answered. This could well be the greatest miracle of all time! A church truly unified!!!
These two things, bitterness and critical spirits, however are HUGE barriers currently within the Body of Christ that are hindering and will hinder the unity that God wants to bring.
Let's consider them for a moment. I'll begin with the 2nd one I've named as this is the one I am struggling with the most. When I am speaking of a critical spirit, I am thinking of how it manifests in finding anything and everything wrong with another person, another church or another ministry. Instead of rejoicing in what is encouraging, the critical spirit nitpicks. It will even look at something seemingly good or beautiful and defile it by questioning the motives of the participants. We have to recognize the critical spirit for what is behind it - pride. The pride that says, "I would have done it this way and my way is right".
We have got to guard ourselves from this in the coming days. The bottom line is God uses all sorts of people we may not like or agree with. He always has and He always will. The critical spirit is unable to recognize this. It gets offended at who God might be using more than us and who has a bigger platform, more influence, etc.
There can be a lot of other things mixed in - envy, self-pity, entitlement.
The solution to the critical spirit??? Getting our eyes off of others and get them squarely focused on Jesus Himself! Getting our eyes off of other ministries/churches/individuals and get focused on the task at hand. If we are truly busy with the Father's business we will be unconcerned about the other people's business.
The second issue is bitterness. We have all been hurt. We have all been betrayed. The past few years have led to more broken relationships and unforgiveness than I think I've ever witnessed.
We must wage war on unforgiveness and bitterness. I think we all realize how spiritually damaging unforgiveness which festers into bitterness is. Jesus dropped a Kingdom Bomb when He put it this way in Matthew 6:14-15:
(14) For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (15) but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
These are some of the most challenging words spoken anywhere in God's Word! And arguably the most disbelieved!!
Living a lifestyle of forgiving others and free from bitterness is the only way we will be free and fulfill the destiny and purpose God has for our lives.
I am running into more overt bitterness than I think I've ever seen. Christians who are living in ongoing states where they are refusing to forgive others who have wronged them. This is horrifying.
We won't accomplish anything in the days to come if we don't commit ourselves to get free from any and all bitterness. Don't worry, we'll have plenty of opportunities to forgive people in the future too, but as for now, we need to wage war on this cancer in the Body of Christ.
Just to review my argument in recent posts that we are in a special hour in history - an hour in which we will see God move in unprecedented ways. We don't want to miss out on anything He has for us, right? We don't want to find ourselves disqualified, defiled as we sit on the sidelines while God is working. We want to get rid of anything and everything that would hinder Him from using us.
For that, we have to be sure to get our lives "gardened" by the Lord who will get us free from bitterness and critical spirits if we will let Him.
For such a time as this...
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