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Ridding Your Life of Bitterness and Hate

November 19, 2017 Speaker: Gibson Largent Series: Esther

Passage: Esther 3:1–16

Esther 3:1-15

Main Pastoral Point:

Bitterness will destroy you. You must love your enemies

Outline - by the end of this sermon:

  • See the destruction of Haman as bitterness and revenge and pride combine to destroy his life and his family
  • What you do with your hatred/jealousy/bitterness may be one of the most important choices you will ever make

Application

  • Love Your Enemies:
    • Matthew 5:43–48 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [48] You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)
  • How to love your enemies:
    • Pray for them fervently
    • Pray for yourself fervently - for your heart change
    • Forgive them fully
      • “You become like the person you are most bitter toward. How do you think they became they way they are? Hurt people hurt people - they can’t help it. And they hurt people because they were hurt.”
    • Reengage relationally but carefully
      • Matthew 7:6 - “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (ESV)
      • Proverbs 4:23 - “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
    • Refuse to sin as you deal with your feelings of hate
    • Acknowledge that Jesus loves them passionately
  • Follow Jesus passionately
    • Jesus loved his enemies
    • Romans 5:6-8 - “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)

More in Esther

January 21, 2018

Victory: You can have relief from temptation

December 17, 2017

The Invisible Providence of God

December 10, 2017

The Destructive Power of Pride