What Kind Of Root Is Growing In Your Heart? LESSON

What Kind Of Root Is Growing In Your Heart?
(Ephesians 4:26    Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:)

Good morning young people, 

Today we are continuing our series of lessons about the power of God through His Spirit in us.   Our series began with the greatest Commandments "loving God with all our heart and loving others as Christ has loved us." I will be speaking about forgiveness today.  Forgiveness is vital in a Christian's walk with God, for a number of reasons.  We will be talking about some of those reasons this morning.

 On the first page of your folder, You will find a prayer that we are going to pray together in unison.  By praying in unison you will learn how to pray and learn about the importance of unity.  Please let us pray in agreement as we seek God's blessing on each of us this morning and upon these lessons.

Heavenly Father,  We come before you with praise and thankfulness for your forgiveness towards us. Help us understand just how powerful forgiveness is in the life of your children.  Search our hearts today and speak to our hearts as we learn

how to honor you with our lives.  Give us the grace to do the things you teach us to do and help us to live in your power.  Give us wisdom as we trust you and seek to please you with our lives. I'm reminded of this verse, Lord, let it be a beacon as we look to you this morning. Ephesians  6:10 ¶  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.   In the name of Christ Jesus,  We pray this, Amen

I would like to remind you, before we continue, Be sure to pay attention and take notes so that you will be prepared to answer some questions at the end of this lesson.  Be sure to keep all your notes from week to week until the conclusion of this series.  You will use those notes to prepare for our "BIG DAY BIBLE BEE".   Please do not interrupt with any questions until we are open for discussion.  Thank-you.

  Around seven or eight years ago, I was working in my garden.  There were three or four huge bushes growing on the side of my house.  They were very tall and very full, they took up a lot of room.  The former owner of our home planted them there years and years before.  I decided I wanted to get rid of them.  I cut them down, that was quite a chore, but honestly, the hard work had just begun.  I started to dig up the first root.  I worked nearly all day on one root, digging with my shovel and chopping with an ax.  I cannot remember exactly how many days I worked on digging those roots. Each day,  I was exhausted after working in the heat, my hair was a mess, my face was red and my hands had blisters.  I was dirty from the top of my head to the tip of my toe.  I was on the last root, digging and chopping, I couldn't get the root loose, I was tired and wanted to quit, but I was so close to being done.  My husband offered a hand and we got the last bit of root out together.   I'm telling you this story because the Bible speaks of a root, a root that can grow into your heart.  Once it grows there, it's hard to get rid of.  The root will rob you of your joy and of your peace.  It will rob you of your youth and of your health. 

     Forgiveness is a choice and sometimes very hard to do.  It is something that requires great humility and dying to oneself.  It is obedience to God's will.

  Usually, if you're mad at someone you don't want to forgive them.  It is a struggle to forgive them, but when you want your life to be blessed by God and you want God pleased with you, you're going to ask God to help you to forgive.  It may take years of asking God to help you forgive until you finally you do.  I can say that because it took me a long time to forgive some things from my childhood.  Not forgiving only hurts yourself it doesn't hurt the one that hurt you unless they happen to love you, then it hurts them. 

   
   Christ is within us if we know Christ as Saviour and we have the power to forgive things that are unforgivable.  We must not let our hearts become embittered.  If we do it hinders our walk with the Lord, our relationship with God suffers.  It grieves the Holy Spirit.

 Forgiveness is something we have to do every single day that we live.   God tells us to be angry and sin not.  So what does that mean?  When does anger become sin?  

 There are a lot of injustices in life that make us angry, and justly so.  We should be angry at those things.  That's why we have law enforcement and laws to protect people.   Anger becomes sin when it starts taking control of us.  We can not go to bed angry lest it turns into a root of bitterness. When anger changes us and changes our relationships between people and with God, that's when it has taken hold.  

 I remember when my eldest daughter came home from school angry over something a teacher had done.  I told my daughter "you must forgive her, you can not stay angry."  She refused to forgive her.  I prayed with her, she still refused to forgive her.  It was bedtime
and again we talked about forgiveness.  I taught her about the verse in the bible that says not to let the sun go down on our wrath.  (Ephesians 4:26    Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:) She still refused. I wouldn't let her go to sleep until she realized how important it was not to go to bed angry.  We put a gift together for her teacher and I taught her to show her teacher love and to apologize for sticking her tongue out at her.  She finally agreed after hours.  I didn't want my daughter to grow up bitter but to fight against the temptation by showing love.  We prayed until she was ready to obey.  I was so proud of her, it took strength to show love to her teacher.  

We are not to go to bed angry about this world, but rather praising the Lord.  Our eyes can't be on the wind and the waves, but upon the one that can calm the sea.  He is the one we need to keep our eyes upon, not upon the many sorrows of life.  He's the one that helps us do the impossible, He's the one who helps us fight the battles of this life.

  Becoming bitter will make you old and sick and will hurt your own family.  I've had to cry out to God myself to help me forgive some things that have brought grief to my life.    Though we know these things, we are tested on them every time hurt or trouble comes along.  We must be dependant on God to overcome these obstacles.

  The Bible compares a root to bitterness, anger, and resentment.  All of these are out shoots of bitterness.  If you think about it the root could be almost any sin that can get hold of your life.  

What kind of root is growing in your heart?  
Please, let us ask ourselves this question as we talk about "Forgiveness".

   


Hebrews 12:15 
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled

More Soon - Not Quite Done Yet

Other Lessons In This Series:

Believe In The Power Of Love

Staying True To God's Love
Lesson Helps:
The Ten Commandment Scripture Poster


Other Posts About Forgiveness On This Blog

The Power Of Forgiveness - Illustration It's Time To Forgive
We Need To Ask Forgiveness
The Hurt Heart
Short Kids Devotional - Forgiveness
You Were The Because - Teen Lesson
Puppet Show - Lemon Of Bitterness -

Responding To Problems
Forgiveness Puzzle

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