Let Go of Bitterness!

[Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

The live production of the story of Jonah, was great!! To me, it was about forgiveness; I see that coming up a lot, since Minister Everett James and I have been teaching on forgiveness!!

Jonah wanted God to destroy the people of Nineveh - it’s one thing to read about it, but this live production of the story of Jonah, is amazing - it brings it to life!! You can see the hatred Jonah had for the people of Nineveh! 

I didn’t know the Soldiers of Nineveh, had killed Jonah’s father - no wonder Jonah wanted them destroyed!! I believe God chose Jonah to go warn the people, so they could be saved, because He loved Jonah, just as much as He loved the people of Nineveh - God wanted Jonah to be set free from unforgiveness, which is the first spirit, in the principality of bitterness’ armor. Once unforgiveness has gained a foothold, here comes resentment, then retaliation, then anger, then hatred, then violence, and then murder!!  

I saw these spirits play out in Jonah (since he was holding unforgiveness against the people of Nineveh, for killing his father, Jonah begin to resent them, then Jonah wanted to retaliate against the people, by not warning them - he would rather die, than warn them. Jonah was angry at the people, even when he warned them - he did not do it with love, but just to say he was obedient to God! And some of the people tried to touch Jonah, but he snatched his arm away from them; and another person asked Jonah to pray for them, but Jonah told her, he could not, and turned and walked away - that’s the hatred! We see the first pieces of the principality of bitterness’ armor, has gained a foothold in Jonah (unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, anger, and hatred; there were two more pieces needed, for bitterness to have full control of Jonah - violence and murder). Jonah tried to get God to do those things for him; he wanted God to destroy the city of Nineveh (violence) and kill the people (murder)! 

Let me interject this, when we do something God ask us to do, let’s check our heart; check the spirit in which we do it!! Let’s not be like Jonah; doing it to say, “Well I did what God told me to!” We must do what God ask us to do in love, with humility, recognizing that it’s God doing the deed through us, as we HUMBLE ourselves to Him!! WE have NO power, on our own to do anything!! It’s ALL God and ONLY GOD should get the glory!! 

Jonah did not care that all the people were not involved in the murder of his father; neither did he care that there were innocent children or animals there - he just wanted God to destroy them ALL!!  But that’s what happens when a person has ALLOWED the principality of bitterness, to setup in his/her heart - ALL rationality goes out the window - there is no reasoning with him/her!! 

It’s time to get before God and ask Holy Spirit to reveal what’s in your heart; who you need to forget!! I am doing the same thing!! You will be surprised at how much better you will feel and how the sickness, will leave your body, when you do!!  

Unforgiveness is toxic; it not only destroys you, but others around you - in one way or the next!! God is the ONLY One who can go into your soul and uproot bitterness out!! BUT YOU must give Him permission to do it and be WILLING to work with God, until ALL bitterness is gone, in Jesus’ Mighty Name!! 

Another thing about the live production of the story of Jonah, it showed we must show people the same love and mercy, God shows us!! Who are we to tell God who to destroy? WOW!! That’s a BOLD move!! We, mere humans, going to TELL our Creator, the Almighty God, to kill someone or give God commands on anything!! The fact that God didn’t strike Jonah, or us down when we give Him commands, shows that God is a merciful and LOVING God!!  

This live production also SHOWS God’s mercy; it SHOWS God’s love for us, mankind, who deserved punishment for our sins, but God loved us enough, to come down in the flesh, and save us!! God DID NOT give us what we deserved!! Therefore, why do people wish others harm, and want to hang onto hate? 

We need God’s help to love people, like He loves us; and God WILL give it to us, IF we ask; IF we humble ourselves unto Him and repent like the people of Nineveh!! It’s time for us to turn to God, like never before; it’s time to fall on our faces and pray to God; SURRENDER to Him - asking Him to heal our hearts of bitterness, which begins with unforgiveness!! That’s the only way we’re going to be able to love our neighbors as ourselves - MOST of all, love and serve God with a pure heart!!  

We CANNOT serve and love God, or man, with bitterness in our hearts!! When I say serve man, I mean to help others who need help; we are God’s servants - Jesus was our example!! Matthew 20:28 tells us that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many!! 

It’s time we as disciples of Christ, step it up!! How can WE, who name the Name of God, who SAY we are of God, hate our brothers and sisters; especially if we both are saved!! How can WE see one another in Church, or on the streets, and be so cold towards each other - where is our love?? Where is the love of God?? WE got to do better!! WE don’t want to make it to the end, and God say, “Depart from me, you worker of iniquity!” 

Lord help us!! I love what Apostle Dannie Williams, of Citadel of Hope Ministries, in Leesburg FL says, “Walk in love, and stay in faith!” 

We definitely need to perfect our love walk!! Love will win EVERY TIME over hate!! NO MATTER what is going on around us, we need to “Walk in love, and STAY in faith!!” 

We need to put people who hurt us in God’s hand and let Him deal with them - vengeance belongs to God, and He will repay!! But we should not sit-up like Jonah, to SEE God destroy or punish them!! Jonah had gotten a ringside seat, to watch the city burn!! God IS NOT a hitman; He doesn’t kill or destroy people; especially just because someone tells Him to!! God rains on the just, as well as the unjust and He shows mercy to ALL of mankind because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection!! 

God is a good, loving, merciful, forgiving, God, who wants ALL people to be saved; He doesn’t want anyone to perish!! 

But mankind has a choice; Jesus HAS given mankind a way to be restored to the Father - “IT IS FINISHED!” Salvation was given to mankind by God, through Jesus!! When Jesus died on the cross, He had canceled ALL of our debts - EVERY requirement of the Law, had been FULFILLED!! That is why Jesus said, “Tetelestai!” - “IT IS FINISHED!”

Colossians 2:13-15(ESV) tells us, “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Psalm 103:10-14 (AMPC) tells us, “He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe]. For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.”

John 1:29 (AMPC) says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! [Exod. 12:3; Isa. 53:7.]”

Hebrews 9:26-28 (AMPC) tells us, “And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment, Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.”

God sent His ONLY Son Jesus, to die for us and take our place - mankind HAS eternal life ONLY through Jesus (Acts 4:11-12) - there is NO other way, that mankind can be saved or forgiven, but through Jesus - by accepting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior!! Here is what Acts 4:11-12 (AMPC) says: “This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone]. [Ps. 118:22.] And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.”

Jesus said in John 14:6 (AMPC) “... I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.”

Whoever don’t KNOW Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, can receive Him right now. Romans 10:9-10 (AMPC) says, “Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.”

1 John 1:8-10 (AMPC) says, “If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts].”

Therefore, submit to Jesus, and ask Him to come into your heart, and tell Him you will follow Him - ALLOW Jesus to lead you to the Father - get in your RIGHT position of being in fellowship with your Heavenly Father!!  

God’s Blessings to you all and your families!! Let God use you, for His glory, and purpose!! Let go of the world, and its ways, and cling to Jesus, like NEVER before, and watch God turn your life around!! 

I have included the link (click title) to the TBN’s Special Event, “Jonah.” It is only playing this weekend; today, Sunday August 23rd, is the last day to watch it. 

Also, I have included information about Dr. Art Mathias, of Wellspring Ministry Alaska, so you can learn more about satan’s major strongholds, and other valuable things, to help you in your faith walk.

Dr. Art Mathias’ information:

I highly recommend that you all buy a copy of Dr. Mathias,’ book “Biblical Foundations of Freedom Destroying Satan’s Lies With God’s...

In his book, Dr. Mathias fully explains about the major strongholds of the devil, and other Biblical principles. Wellspring Ministry’s Ministers teach on their Facebook page every Wednesday night, a section of Dr. Mathias’ book! On Wednesday, August 19th, Janice Coulter taught about self-bitterness, on their Facebook page – click here to watch.

I had an opportunity to attend one of Dr. Mathias,’ “I Found Freedom” seminars in 2010, and it was a life changing event for me. I saw firsthand what God was doing at his seminars; I witnessed how powerful forgiveness is. People were getting set free because they decided to forgive – some had been holding onto unforgiveness for years and that is why I decided to adapt Dr. Mathis’ book into my Recovery program. Forgiveness is powerful because when we decide to forgive, we are obeying God’s Word and when we obey God, we will be blessed.

From Dr. Mathias’ book, I created the “Biblical Foundations of Freedom” (BFOF) Program, with permission from him and his wife Patti. After attending Dr. Mathias’ workshop in 2010, God instructed me to start, Abused Woman Ministries’ School of Healing (AWMSOH) online. The online school has the lectures on there, from the BFOF Program that I taught in 2010, and ever since. That’s one thing about the Word of God, it NEVER gets old, because it NEVER changes! Another website that has a lot of information about my Ministry, and other sites, is www.abusedwoman.org.

Click Here for PDF version of Teaching

If you have any questions, you can reach me at [e-mail], or on my Ning website.

Again, God’s Blessings to you all and your families!!

Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks