9-15-24 Setlist: Praise Holy Forever More Than Able God Only Knows Sermon Notes: Key Passage: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18 (NIV) The Danger of Resentment 1. Unresolved resentment turns to bitterness Key Verse: For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." Acts 8:23 The Danger of Resentment 2. The deceitfulness of resentment Key Verse: Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15 (NLT) Key Verse: But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. John 12:4-6 The Danger of Resentment 3. The detection of resentment Key Verse: Haman was a happy man as he left the banquet! But when he saw Mordecai sitting at the palace gate, not standing up or trembling nervously before him, Haman became furious. However, he restrained himself and went on home. Then Haman gathered together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, and boasted to them about his great wealth and his many children. He bragged about the honors the king had given him and how he had been promoted over all the other nobles and officials. Then Haman added, “And that’s not all! Queen Esther invited only me and the king himself to the banquet she prepared for us. And she has invited me to dine with her and the king again tomorrow!” Then he added, “But this is all worth nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew just sitting there at the palace gate.” Esther 5:9-13 How do we defeat the spirit of resentment? 1. Admit I have a problem How do we defeat the spirit of resentment? 2. Ask for help Key Verse: If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 How do we defeat the spirit of resentment? 3. Forgive quickly How do we defeat the spirit of resentment? 4. Root out double standards How do we defeat the spirit of resentment? 5. Trust God ultimately How do we defeat the spirit of resentment? 6. Be proactive How do we defeat the spirit of resentment? 7. Keep the cross in the center Key Passage: Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 How do we defeat the spirit of resentment? 8. With the Holy Spirit’s power. Key Passage: We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Discussion Questions 1. What do you feel like God is saying to you through this message? 2. What spoke to you during this message? Why? How can you apply it to your life? 3. Is there anyone in your life that you may have resentment/bitterness towards? If so, what steps do you need to take to defeat the spirit of resentment?