1 / 16

Overcome Bitterness

Overcome Bitterness. November 16. Think about it …. How would you describe the taste of bitterness? Sometimes the harsh, disagreeable feeling comes in relationships Joseph could have felt that way towards his brothers. Today we look at how he overcame bitterness.

alvinwalter
Download Presentation

Overcome Bitterness

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Overcome Bitterness November 16

  2. Think about it … • How would you describe the taste of bitterness? • Sometimes the harsh, disagreeable feeling comes in relationships • Joseph could have felt that way towards his brothers. • Today we look at how he overcame bitterness.

  3. Listen for who was surprised. Genesis 45:3-4 (NIV) 3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!

  4. Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean Forgetting • Imagine that you are Joseph and your brothers show up. What reasons might you have for not telling them right away who you are? • Now imagine yourself as one of the brothers … you are brought before this important official as a foreigner … you are accused of being spies … Why would you not recognize your own brother?

  5. Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean Forgetting • What did Joseph say to his brothers when he revealed who he was? • Why would the brothers have been troubled at Joseph identifying himself to them? • What did Joseph do to try to ease their concern? • Why do you think Joseph added the reminder that they had sold him into slavery in Egypt?

  6. Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean Forgetting • So what kind of mixed emotions did Joseph and the brothers experience?

  7. Listen for reassurance given. Genesis 45:5-8 (NIV) 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping.

  8. Listen for reassurance given. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

  9. Forgiveness Focuses on the Future • What did Joseph tell his brothers when he revealed who he was? • Joseph acknowledged God’s guidance in and through his trials. Why would it be hard to view one’s trials in this way? • How does God sometimes help us by allowing us to go through adverse circumstances?

  10. Forgiveness Focuses on the Future • What are some ways the bad intentions or bad actions of others could bring about good in your life? • Why is it hard to forgive someone who has wronged you? • Why is it important to forgive others?

  11. Listen for instructions Joseph gives. • What did Joseph want his brothers to do immediately? • What assurance was Joseph trying to give his brothers through his plan for them? • What actions on our part lead to reconciliation?

  12. Listen for instructions Joseph gives. • What’s the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation?

  13. Application • Don’t feed bitterness • You might never forget the hurt suffered. • But you can stop focusing your thoughts and conversations on the problem. • Ask God to give you understanding and strength to help you forgive.

  14. Application • Choose to forgive • As God provides the opportunity to meet with the one who has hurt you, share your pain and your desire to forgive. • Ask God to guide the conversation and heal the relationship. • In God’s strength, be done with bitter feelings.

  15. Application • Ask for forgiveness • Ask the Lord to show you where you may have been the one to cause the hurt. • Humbly seek God’s forgiveness and forgiveness from the one you hurt. • Pray that God’s Holy Spirit will work in both your lives to restore your relationship

  16. Overcome Bitterness November 16

More Related