July 22, 2005 – ARE YOU CARRYING A GRUDGE (ILL WILL)?

~Jesus, the example  Hebrews 12:1  therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  2  let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This morning as I meditated on the things the Lord is teaching me, I came to a horrible realization.  I remembered that my beloved grandfather was a man filled with grudges.  Even worse, he died with a grudge against God.  He was a good man in every way but that one and I knew he could have been freed if he had repented and released his grudge. Satan had a stronghold in his heart because my grandfather allowed satan to fill him with real or supposed wounds by others and it fed the evil spirit of self-pity in him.  He enjoyed rehearsing in his mind, the things he felt against others—true or not.

Whenever there is dissension in a family it usually involves grudges.  Hear the word of the Lord regarding this.  Lev 19:18  “‘do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. James 5:9  don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The judge is standing at the door!  Think of how our lives would be changed if we did not allow ill will to take root in our lives.  Our burden would indeed be light if we turned every ill over to God.  I know I have been guilty of momentary hurt that brings ill will.  Now I know to guard against it, and give everything over to the Lord. This is a widely used destroyer that satan employs against us.

This world is full of “ill will and hatred” today.  Terrorism is spawned by satan through hatred and ill will against their supposed enemies. Not one of the innocents that has been killed probably had any hatred toward their enemy.

Family estrangement is often brought through ill will.  What would happen in a marriage that is being shredded by satan, if we kept God’s law and loved as we love ourselves. God is love and all we have to do is ask God to give us love and forgiveness.  Think of the silent killer called  “stress” that would be removed from our lives if we would be obedient.

This is not a pleasant topic, but if you are holding grudges, I am giving you the truth that will set you free.  Lam 3:22  because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  23  they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  24  I say to myself, “the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”  25  the Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;  26  it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  Lam 3:39  why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?  40  let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord