Priscilla Van SutphinUpstream MinistriesUpstream10@

PRISCILLA VAN SUTPHIN
Upstream Ministries
California
www.upstreamca.org http://Upstream.InJesus.com www.Facebook.com/tearsofmercy

Feb 7th, 2010

Congruent :   Two line segments are congruent if they have the same length. But they need not lie at the same angle or position on the plane.

Line of demarcation
Military: A line defining the boundary of a buffer zone or area of limitation. A line of demarcation may also be used to define the forward limits of disputing or belligerent forces after each phase of disengagement or withdrawal has been completed. See also area of limitation; buffer zone; disengagement; peace operations.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005

Medical: A zone of inflammatory reaction separating gangrenous from healthy tissue.

Legal & Wikipedia:
The Line of Demarcation was a longitude, moved slightly from the line drawn by Pope Alexander VI to divide new lands claimed by Portugal from those of Spain. This line was drawn in 1493 after Christopher Columbus returned from his maiden voyage to the Americas. Territorial disputes between the two seafaring nations led the Pope to adjudicate in the hope that this would lead to peace between the two powers. It allocated territory as between Spain and Portugal, excepting only those areas already ruled by a Christian monarch or power; the interests of the people then inhabiting the affected lands were not otherwise taken into account.
As such, the Pope's arbitaration could be considered as laying the legal and political foundation for countless other international documents drawn over the next four and a half centuries, based on the implicit or explicit assumption that European powers had the right to divide the rest of the world among themselves without regard to the wishes and aspirations of the peoples living there - an assumption still taken for granted in the Nineteenth Century (for example, in the partition of Africa between colonial powers in the Congress of Berlin) and only gradually coming into question during the Twentieth Century. Thus, Alexander VI can be considered to have laid an important cornerstone in the legal foundation of Colonialism.
I heard the Lord say “ congruent lines of demarcation” and looked up the above, and listened for what He might say…

Those in secret circles of influence have drawn congruent lines of demarcation between governmental powers in the world and in the church in order to rationalize and implement Draconian measures to assure the annhilation of all opposition to their plans. But I tell you their plans though some may succeed for a time, will be annihilated by My plans.

I want you beloveds to read Psalm 149 slowly and deliberately and see that I have ordained you to speak – to prophesy to nations and rulers within the scope of MY KINGDOM. You are to execute My vengeance on the nations and punishment on the heathen. You are to destroy strongholds of the enemy over areas, over land and peoples. YOU are called to prophesy the WORD to the demon rulers, and to pray MY WILL upon the systems of this world. I have seated you in heavenly places with ME. You can only do this, if you ABIDE in ME.

You will only have authority over what I give you authority over. I AM the KING of Kings and the LORD of Lords ! It is I Whose throne is in the heavens and whose footstool is the earth. It is I Who alone knows the time and the seasons for war and for peace. I AM GOD, and there is no others.
I have not made you gods in the same sense that others use that term. But I have made you AS gods to the false rulers and authorities of this earth, the demonic hordes that try to make you think their power is greater than Mine.

High praise is praise that is in conjunction with heavenly praise at this moment in time. It is orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. The two edged sword is the sword of My WORD. It divides between bone and marrow, between good and bad, between believer and unbeliever, between heart and mind, between will and conscience. I AM is a great Divider. The SWORD brings division. The Word will drive people to Me, or drive people away from Me.
Sometimes people walk away as if they didn’t want to hear it, but inside their mind, I’m working on their conscience, that you had no idea that I pricked when you spoke My Word.

PSALM 149 NKJV    Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute on them the written judgment — This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord! Let All Things Praise the Lord

My WORD never returns void. My WORD is a sword that will extinguish the false fires of the enemy, and light the true fire of My love and power. Men will tremble at My Word. They tremble not now, unless they have My Spirit, but the days are upon you when you will see great power manifest when you speak My Word. I will set your tongues aflame with My WORD, and as you speak, it will BECOME ! This is why YOU MUST TAME YOUR TONGUES.
For if you use this authority to mame your brother or sister, it will fall on you in same manner.

A two edged sword can cut either direction. It can cut to bring good, it can cut to destroy bad, it will DIVIDE. IT WILL make you able to distinguish the true heart of a man or woman, boy or girl when you speak it. Their reaction will illuminate your understanding. But it is not meant to destroy anything but wickedness, and if you become wicked in your use of it, it will swing back in your direction to remove the wickedness in you.
You might not like the resulting pain and suffering if you willfully inflict it on others by defaming, slandering and defiling another.

When an unbeliever hears the Words of righteousness, and considers it in his heart and mind, he responds in agreement or disagreement. In the days ahead you are going to be surprised at the ones who will agree when you thought they were beyond salvation. You may think their hearts are too far gone and cold right now. But I am the one Who knows what is in the heart of a man. So you must come to ME to ask. Come to me and get MY OPINION.
For I am a JUST GOD, and I am FULL of righteousness, but you are not yet
Full of My righteousness except by MY blood by positioning yourself IN ME.

I have promised you more and I am coming with MORE of My presence in your life. I will ILLUMINATE your soul, and sanctify My temple with MY GLORY once again. Will you RECEIVE what I have to give to you ? Will you open your heart to receive, or will you resist My HOLY SPIRIT ?   If it’s not how YOU think you should experience it, will you reject it as evil ? Will you rebuke the LORD OF GLORY or receive what I have to give to you ? I am not a man that I should lie, nor a son of man that I should change My mind.
I have declared My glory is coming and it WILL cleanse My threshing floor.

I will break every chain that has encumbered you. You only have to receive the truth that I will impart to you. Scoffers abound. But scoffers should not be in the church of JESUS CHRIST ! Remember what I said to Corazin?
Remember what I said about such cities, and how I rebuked them, for if I had gone to Tyre and Sidon, and done the miracles I did, they would have repented. And so it shall be in this hour in many places. For the hearts of many have grown cold and faithless. But once again, I am pouring out from on high, that all those who will come can receive the fullness of what I have to give in order to reap the coming Harvest of souls, and to endure the time
to come.

I AM LIFE. I AM the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. All that is life comes from ME. EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT comes down from the Father of Lights. EVERY GOOD and perfect gift comes from ME. Anything that is not good, is not perfect, is not healing to your soul, does not come from ME.
Like a good father, I encourage My sons and daughters. Like a good earthly Father, I give GOOD gifts to My children. But the gift that is perverted, that is twisted into something to exalt man or the ENEMY, that is not from Me.
James 1:17-18 NKJV Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

I did not come to exalt man. I came to free him from self exultation. I came to set an example of humility, of kindness, of peace, of love and joy. I AM the LIGHT of the World, and NO MAN comes to the Father, except through ME. So take in the TRUTH of My WORD, and do not be deceived by the lies and perversions of truth that are in the world and in the church that has gone a whoring after other gods. CLING TO ME. ABIDE IN ME and I will abide in you. Flee from corruption and liars, and all false authorities, who make themselves to be something they are not.

Gal 6:3-5 AMP   For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another's load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.
4 But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.
5 For every person will have to bear ( be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [little] load[of oppressive faults].

For I tell you the truth, that they will drag you into courts of their church like the inquisition and they will tear and gnaw at you with their accusations and they will think they are doing ME a favor by doing so. But I will give you what to say. In NO WAY be terrified of them, for it will be perdition to them. I am doing a new thing in this hour. I assure you that those confident in their flesh will reap a just reward. For all who make you a prey, I WILL MAKE them a prey ! Remember the boys who laughed and mocked Isaiah ?
And those who think they have the perfect torture or end for my beloveds will be surprised at the protection of My Holy ones, whom I will empower as I did John the beloved.

I tell you, DO NOT FEAR man. Fear HIM who has the power to destroy both soul and body in hell. Do not make the things of this earth your treasure. MAKE ME your treasure as I treasure you. Return to your FIRST LOVE. Turn back to the things you once did beloveds. For these will be days of wine and roses – wine of the lees, and the sweet fragrance of the Holy One in your midst.

Zech 2:10-11 NKJV "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the Lord. 11 "Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.

Today I was asked, “When are all these things spoken going to happen ?” and the implication was, for years people have been prophesying, when is GOD finally going to do something ? All of us have doubted at times, but there is a warning of the times we are in, because Satan is loosing demons from the pit to destroy FAITH on earth.

The Lord said to me on Jan 20th, 2010
“UNBELIEF as a spirit has grown and grown, and is a terror and intimidator in these times.”

The other night, a young friend came who is not consistent or really grounded in her walk as she doesn’t come regularly, and doesn’t read the Word like she needs to. She has had ADD. And she is sometimes easily influenced by those around her, and what they think. She said to me, that she doesn’t know whether she believes in Jesus anymore but still believes in God. Of course I was upset because this girl has had some powerful impartation from the Lord, seen the glory cloud which I’ve never seen…and gotten a lot of deliverance when she comes, but she is inconsistent. I read from the Bible a few passages and spoke with her.

We talked and she finally asked me to pray with her, hands on, to help her repent, then afterwards left. My mind then went back to a time when I watched the Zeitgeist movie that was going around the Internet a long while ago. I remembered that the first part at that time was about 9-11 and the lies told us, then it went on to have a communist sort of agenda undermining ANY belief system and especially in Jesus.

I remember the evil spirit of unbelief that came in the room at that time. The Lord allowed me to feel what we would be up against and it was very strong but it finally left. When it was there, I had strong feelings of unbelief and questions of doubt come up in my mind, strong FEELINGS that tried to make me doubt what I believe is true. The argument made by the movie is very convincing but twists the truth, like the serpent of old who is the father of lies, trying to say that all religion is bogus, and making one thing proceed from another as to produce doubt, when actually the facts were reversed and twisted to make a convincing argument, like a lot of men's philosophies.

The thing is that religious spirits ARE terrible and vicious for sure. They are the ones who killed our LORD Jesus. But this is meant to wipe out any belief in any kind of faith in GOD. If people are not fully grounded in understanding the truth, and carnal in their actions, they will be toast in these days. God is shaking all that can be shaken.

[ Zeitgeist the Movie has now become a “movement” with a date of March 13, 2010 on the official site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pgRUpDDrb0&annotation_id=annotation_994351&feature=iv ]

DOUBT, SKEPTICISM & UNBELIEF

Luke 18:6-8 NKJV Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

The Word says about Unbelief:

Heb 3:12-19 KJV Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

[ so it is sin and compromise that hardens our hearts toward believing as well as an unhealed soul that still shelters hidden pockets of unbelief in our hearts and minds ]

Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:1   Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

The Word says FAITH comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD OF GOD.
Thus getting the Word in our heart, not just our head, is vital to preserving faith. WE MUST EAT THE SCROLL. We MUST eat the word daily, communing with GOD in this hour to strengthen our faith. The WORD builds truth, and faith, and hope and is our “compass” for righteous living. In Joshua 1 it says…

Josh 1:7-9 NKJV   Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The priests used to bind to their foreheads a sampling of the word in a little box-like object called teffilin to symbolize the WORD of GOD on their minds. You see an example in the movie “ The Gospel of John” in the clothing
worn by the character of Nathaniel the disciple Philip brought to Jesus.

http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/things/tefillin.htm
The leather boxes of the tefillin contain scrolls of Torah passages, specifically Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21. These passages command Jews to bind the word of God on their bodies.
"And you shall bind them as a sign on your arm, and they shall be as frontlets on your head between your eyes." (Deuteronomy 6:8)
Certain Jewish groups, including probably the Sadducees, and definitely the medieval Karaites, understood the command to be figurative: that one should always be preoccupied with words of Torah, as if they were in front of one's eyes. The Pharisees, however, took the text literally: the words of the Torah are to be inscribed on a scroll and placed directly between one's eyes and on one's arm. Today, observant Jews wear tefillin both in literal obedience to these Torah verses and to remind the wearer of God's commandments.

Skepticism from Websters:
1 : an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object
2 a : the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain b : the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics
3 : doubt concerning basic religious principles (as immortality, providence, and revelation)       synonyms see uncertainty
Doubt   v. doubt·ed, doubt·ing, doubts
v.tr.
1. To be undecided or skeptical about: began to doubt some accepted doctrines.
2. To tend to disbelieve; distrust: doubts politicians when they make sweeping statements.
3. To regard as unlikely: I doubt that we'll arrive on time.
4. Archaic To suspect; fear.
v.intr.
To be undecided or skeptical.
n.
1. A lack of certainty that often leads to irresolution. See Synonyms at uncertainty.
2. A lack of trust.

Unbelief - Lack of belief or faith, especially in religious matters.

Matt 21:21-22 NKJV So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

How will be able to do any miracles without faith and expectation in our hearts ? Hopelessness and unbelief kill miracles. Note that when Jesus wanted to raise the dead girl, He only brought Peter James and John into the room with Him, along with the mom & dad who had invited Him to come.
The thing is the mother and father were surrounded by mockers. They mocked and laughed when Jesus said she was only sleeping.

Luke 8:51-52 NKJV   When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.

The story of the woman healed of the issue of blood also shows us the necessary faith it takes for some healings. Now in the story of Lazarus, Lazarus had NO FAITH. He was dead, and Mary and Martha were doubting,
Yet GOD still raised him from the dead and once again amazed everyone instilling more faith in His disciples and Lazarus’ family that He truly was who He said He was.

But back to the dear woman who was weak from bleeding and had been to many doctors, not only did she not get healed, but she spent all her money/livelihood on the doctors, yet remained unhealed.
This again shows us not all things can be healed by doctors. And what she had to do required GREAT faith, because NO WOMAN was to touch a rabbi.
ESPECIALLY someone bleeding as she was considered UNCLEAN. So here
She was thinking, if only I can touch the hem of his garment…just the ends of the tzitzit [hem of His garmet] then I could be healed…so she went for it as we Americans would say. And the Lord JESUS said, Matt 9:22 KJV But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

The word for HEM there in the greek is
NT:2899 kra/spedon kraspedon (kras'-ped-on); of uncertain derivation; a margin, i.e. (specifically) a fringe or tassel: KJV - border, hem.
Fringe or tassel means it was the tzitzit she touched…the hem of his tallit. Why is this significant you may say…
        The Torah states in Numbers 15:38: "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, that they shall make themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and they shall put on the corner fringe a blue (tekhelet) thread."   Wearing the tzitzit (plural: tzitzyot) is also commanded in Deuteronomy 22:12, which says: "You shall make yourself twisted threads, on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself
Kraspedon is the Greek word that was used to translate the Hebrew word tzitzit in the Septuagint Version of the Hebrew Scriptures.
In John D. Garr’s book, The Hem of His Garment, he says,
     “ The fringes that God that God required His people to attach to their garments reminded them not only of His commandments but also that they were NOT to live their lives after their own ways. Theirs were to be lives not only of obedience but also of TRUST, not only of submission but also of LIVING FAITH.
       In the wrappings, twistings and knottings of the tzitzit is found the mystery of this principle. In Psalm 25:1-3, King David declared, ‘O my God, I tust in thee…let none that wait on thee be ashamed…’ In Isaiah 40:31, the prophet declares that those who ‘wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..’ The word translated “WAIT” in these passages is qavah, which literally means “ to twist, to bind as rope.” It is also the normal verb
“to hope”, the root of which is seen in the Israeli National Anthem, HaTikvah [ The Hope].
      Those who want to be successful in their relationship with GOD, mounting up with wings as eagles, will find themselves making a spiritual tzitzit daily by twisting , tying, and binding their LIVES together with the life of the Lord, thereby gaining strength that is needed for victorious living. The Holy Spirit, indeed , is the shamash, the longest, helper strand of the tzitzit that binds the believers’ lives together with the life of God. And those who have wisdom will see that they are tightly wrapped in relationship with the GOD of the universe.” [ p. 38 – The Hem of His Garment] end quote.

Is that not beautiful?

Dr. Garr goes on to say on p. 39:
“ Some have suggested that the knots were originally designed to indicate the binding of evil spirits as the leitmotif of tying and loosing knots was seen to parallel binding and loosing of demons.”
That to me is interesting because Jesus used the WORD to fend of Satan in the wilderness. The WORD IS LIFE TO US.
Ps 119:50 NKJV   This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.

As the Word of God is life to us, the words of doubt are death to our faith.
If we entertain doubt, skepticism and unbelief which are fruits of witchcraft/rebellion, we can succomb to this spirit now invading our lands.

Ps 46:1-7 NKJV 6 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Remember the words of Habakkuk:
Hab 3:2-18 NKJV
2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of His praise.
4 His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand,
And there His power was hidden. 5 Before Him went pestilence,
And fever followed at His feet. 6 He stood and measured the earth;
He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, The perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting.

7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian trembled. 8 O Lord, were You displeased with the rivers, was Your anger against the rivers, was Your wrath against the sea, that You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation? 9 Your bow was made quite ready; Oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah   You divided the earth with rivers.
[ Rev 6:2 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. NKJV]

Hab 3: 10 The mountains saw You and trembled; the overflowing of the water passed by. The deep uttered its voice, and lifted its hands on high. 11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; At the light of Your arrows they went, at the shining of Your glittering spear. 12 You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger. 13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, by laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah

Hab 3:13-16 NKJV   You thrust through with his own arrows the head of his villages. They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me; Their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret. 15 You walked through the sea with Your horses, through the heap of great waters.   16 When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones;
And I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble.
When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.
A Hymn of Faith
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls — 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. [ WORSHIP IS KEY ]

Hab 3:19 AMPLIFIED [ I put this in amplified as it’s so awesome]
19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!

Now I want to go to Revelation to look at the evidence of great unbelief in end times…

Rev 9:20-21 NKJV But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Rev 16:8-11 NKJV Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched
8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

Now even with the judgments, there is great unbelief, and stubbornness in hearts that makes people shake their fist at God still unbelieving, still unrepentant. How sad this state of man. How horrible their punishment.
Thus our hearts should weep at the condition of those around us.

Now let’s look at the POWER OF WORSHIP

In Revelation are many instances of worship going on in heaven. Now if they are doing 24 hour worship there, and responding all the time to events on earth in worship, should we not also ? A LONG time ago the Lord showed me through a book written by a YWAM teacher on spiritual warfare, that worship is the key to breaking the power of idolatry and witchcraft over lands, nations, people.

Rev 7:9-12 NKJV After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

Yeah and AMEN ! This also is our strength in maintaining intimacy with the Lord. There is no way getting around daily disciplines. I don’t care if you don’t FEEL like worshipping. The WORD says, to offer a SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. So no matter our condition, if healthy or if sick on our back in pain, if rich or if poor, if alone or having family to do it with us, WORSHIP is a great key to intimacy and entering His presence and when Holy Spirit is around, the devil can’t mess with you much, unless it’s an affliction ordered of the Lord, for your intecession or growth in humility.

Rev 11:15-19    Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
      "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth." 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

What if the ark can’t really be found here, what if it’s translated to the heavenlies because He who is responsible for rending the veil of the temple has already died and made the way into that temple through His blood ?
I’m not saying it is - just a thought. Why should animals be killed anymore when He Who was so humiliated, and murdered for our sakes has already paid the price. To offer that sacrifice is like spitting in the face of God is it not ?   What if THAT is why the antichrist stops the sacrifices ?
What if Satan does that in response to God’s orders because HE allowed the temple to be torn down because WE have become His temple ? We know nothing is done here that is not allowed or ordered by God. - even the rise of the antichrist. Just somethings to think about. It says in Revelation that the BEAST hates the harlot, and that it is to FULFILL GOD’s purposes !

Rev 14:1-5 NKJV   Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

You realize it is the BLOOD alone that has made us without fault before His throne? Does it not say that we can come before His throne with boldness now ? Heb 4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Rev 15:2-4 NKJV    And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!   4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."

If you are tempted to feel doubtful in these times, come to these scriptures and speak them aloud, and remind the enemy of HIS END !
THE KING TRIUMPHANT

Rev 19:11-21 NKJV   Christ on a White Horse
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Rev 19:17-20:3 NKJV    The Beast and His Armies Defeated
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,   18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."

19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Satan Bound 1000 Years
20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

Remember whose you are when fear tries to grip you. Remember the promises He has given about His glory. Many, Many have seen it come, long before this generation. WAIT on the LORD. He is arising…

Isa 33:9-16 NKJV
9 The earth mourns and languishes, Lebanon is shamed and shriveled; Sharon is like a wilderness, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
Impending Judgment on Zion
10 "Now I will rise," says the Lord; "Now I will be exalted, Now I will lift Myself up.
11 You shall conceive chaff, You shall bring forth stubble; Your breath, as fire, shall devour you. 12 And the people shall be like the burnings of lime; Like thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire. 13 Hear, you who are afar off, what I have done; And you who are near, acknowledge My might."
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"

15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil: 16 He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.

Father, grant to us Your supernatural FAITH. Faith that is a gift from You, that we may endure the coming days and walk in the light as You are in the light. Increase our faith that we may do all YOU want us to do, as You promised that we will do great exploits in this hour. In the name and blood of JESUS we ask Abba !
AMEN !

Jan 21, 2010

I heard these words, after watching the Matthew movie again. When I looked it up on Google I found there was some heavy metal band by that name, and a book about Malcolm X by that name, and searched a bit and then just listened for the still small voice…

“ There is coming upon this nation a great injustice, that is also partly My judgment. Just as ancient Israel was invaded by Babylon, so too, Babylon has come to you and residents of Babylon within your borders. But there are other invading armies that want a piece of America as well. America has sold herself off to many nations, piece by piece, trying to pay off her debts, and establishing what they call a “new world order”.

But I’ve told you that the fullness of what I have planned will not come to America because of the intercessors here who cry out in spirit and in truth, and all those who truly worship ME. Still it will be devastating and hard to bear for those who have prayed and prayed to see the things which are coming upon her. Many say her greatness is ended, but not so in My sight. Though she will be brought low in pride, her greatest hour is yet upon her.

For she will still yet live out the call to the nations to bring help and nurturing, to bring the gospel and it’s Prince of Peace to those hurting and broken. But those you go to will not always be grateful. There are those who will try to terrify those who go. Great jealousy will arise for what I do in you My Bride, so keep your war boots on as you prepare. Keep your heart close to Mine, that you will only do what I want you to do. OBEDIENCE is VERY critical in this hour. It is vital.

Evidence of extraterrestrial life they will try to sell as a perversion of the truth to subdue and cause fear & UNBELIEF in many peoples. But I have given you the real TRUTH in My Word. UNBELIEF as a spirit has grown and grown, and is a terror and intimidator in these times. It is integrating itself into many media programs. Defiance against ME is at an all time high. Yet will I pour out my great grace and mercy on many, and you must have strength beloveds in the WORD to be able to fight as JESUS fought with the Word. Worship is KEY because of the rise of witchcraft in the earth.

There are Judas’ s in the church, and in the world in many forms in this hour.
Antichrists are arising, and the full demonstration of the antichrist is close at hand.
[I had a sense of whisperings, like when a bunch of people in a crowd are awed by something they see, and whispering trying to communicate low their concern for what is going on…hearing all these shushings, and whisperings.
I was wondering what that is about. ]

There will be disbelief when the judgments hit America and many other parts of the world. People will be in terror because of the overwhelming number of them, that CHAOS will be loosed causing panic in the hearts of people. This will cause many to wonder and fear God. Others will shake their fists, and be defiant. But I will subdue many through your righteousness and intercessions, and interventions, seeds sown, and kindnesses manifested.
So do not allow thoughts of defeatism and do not dwell on the troubles that are manifesting. Think, “What does God want me to do ?” What is my part?
Who can I tell about Jesus today ? Who can I touch for You Lord ?

Be WISE AS SERPENTS in your relationships My people. Know that many will be Judas’s in the church and turn you in to authorities when it will be to their advantage monetarily and when many will want favor with pharaoh.
Acknowledge MY ways and I will direct your path. In all things PRAISE Me and worship at My feet beloveds, for you will SHINE like the stars in the heavens and lead many to righteousness in the days ahead. I will lead you into paths of glory for the sake of MY KINGDOM, and the salvation of many.

Do not let the voice of disparagement try to make you feel disqualified. For the Glory brings revealing of your true heart, and it is sobering indeed, but do not give in to self hatred or self rejection and condemnation. Know that I LOVE YOU, and that nothing can separate you from My love, just as nothing can separate you from the love you feel for your own children…I love you. Throw off all doubt and skepticism. Love what I love, hate what I hate. Love whom I love. For I said to love your enemies, to be good to those who hate you. That is why you have gone through fires, that you might learn to love with MY heart of patience and forbearance.

I know it is difficult to love the bitter and unlovely people who have been wounded so greatly, and to love those who seem not to appreciate it. But I tell you that I APPRECIATE IT ! Do all as unto ME. Ask for MY HEART and I will give it to you.

End.

God bless you and may Holy Spirit overshadow you and empower you to overcome all that has come against you. Priscilla

Bitterness
“The Mem has a "m" sound and is a picture of a water. This letter can also mean the flowing water of man and animals, the blood. Blood is passed from one generation to another and can therefore mean "from." When this letter is prefixed to the word erets the word me'erets is formed meaning "from a land."

Resh which is to the left in ANC IENT HEBREW. The Ancient picture for this letter is , the head of a man. This letter has the meanings of head or man as well as chief, top, beginning or first. The modern Hebrew name for this letter is resh, a Hebrew word meaning head.
[ http://www.ancient-hebrew.org ]

Combined, these letters mean waterhead or head waters. The Ancient Hebrew lexicon goes on to explain the head waters of a river are only a trickle and have stagnant pools causing the water to be bitter. Something that is bitter of taste or attitude. Rebellion is one with a bitter attitude.
Bitterness is also associated with grief, provoke, vex & weakness.

Bitter from Webster’s dictionary:
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English biter; akin to Old High German bittar bitter, Old English bītan to bite — Date: before 12th century
1 a : being or inducing the one of the four basic taste sensations that is peculiarly acrid, astringent, or disagreeable and suggestive of an infusion of hops — compare salt, sour, sweet b : distasteful or distressing to the mind : galling <a bitter sense of shame>
2 : marked by intensity or severity: a : accompanied by severe pain or suffering <a bitter death> b : being relentlessly determined : vehement <a bitter partisan> c : exhibiting intense animosity <bitter enemies> d (1) : harshly reproachful <bitter complaints> (2) : marked by cynicism and rancor <bitter contempt> e : intensely unpleasant especially in coldness or rawness <a bitter wind> 3 : expressive of severe pain, grief, or regret <bitter tears>
You’ll see as we go to the scriptures how much the above is illustrated in them.
Eph 4:31-5:2 AMP Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). 32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. 5:1 THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. 2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. [Ezek 20:41.]
O.T. - KJV: bitter, bitterness, bitterly, chafed, angry, discontented, heavy Strongs 4751 which is used in the following verses…
1 Sam 1:10-11 KJV    [ from story of Hannah ]
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

Hannah was grieved sorely at the tauntings of the other wife and grief over
Not having a child. It makes you wonder if God allowed it to have a child dedicated to HIS purposes, knowing how she was so faithful and would respond.

Job 7:11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.    KJV

Job had plenty to grieve for with all the loss he went through, yet he was not indicting God in hatefulness of heart…loss of children, loss of livestock,
Having a wife that said curse God and die old man was surely no help.

Job 10:1-3 NKJV "My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; Show me why You contend with me. 3 Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, that You should despise the work of Your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?

We know from the rest of the story that Job had reason to wonder don’t we? After all when Satan went to God, God bragged on Job and on how wonderful Job was, and Satan said, well let me test him and see if he won’t curse you. And Satan taunted GOD, that if he touched him in his body, surely he would curse God. Interesting given that so many today think that
Those with sickness are not suffering persecution from the enemy, but being punished or something when this is a clear example of the enemy testing whether Job would stay faithful to GOD. It is no different today, except that we now have the blood of JESUS to cover us and can run to the throne of GRACE with out sins.

Job 21:25-26 KJV And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. 26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

Bitterness makes a person as if you could already see the worms devouring their flesh. It is insidious and affects everyone around them. Retelling , and retelling and retailing the facts of their bitter rantings.

Prov 14:10 KJV   The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
Prov 14:10 NIV   Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

No one can know the sufferings of another. We think we can, and people judge, but you have no idea what that person has been through. Only GOD knows.

Hezekiah’s words…
Isa 38:15-18 KJV   What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. 16 O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. 17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. 18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

Hezekiah was given 15 more years and for this He was truly grateful, yet
The consequences would befall the next generation.

Lam 1:4-5 KJV   The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. 5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

Jeremiah of many in the bible had good reason to become bitter, and he was bitterly disappointed over and over, persecuted, jailed, mocked yet his heart remained tender as he expressed his heart to God. The leaders he prophesied to didn’t listen to him, he couldn’t marry, there were no real comforts the Lord allowed him, save the land he bought later during the siege in Anathoth. He was married to the LORD and His purposed, and the Lord saved him from bondage in Persia. He is an excellent example today of
Keeping your heart free from the things of this world, and soft to the workings of GOD.

Lam 3:14-24 NKJV   I have become the ridicule of all my people — Their taunting song all the day. 15 He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink wormwood.   16 He has also broken my teeth with gravel, and covered me with ashes. 17 You have moved my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity. 18 And I said, "My strength and my hope have perished from the Lord." 19 Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul still remembers and sinks within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. 22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"

This is encouraging yourself in the Lord. Jeremiah had a lot to be bitter about seeing the corruption in his own nation, the idolatry grow and grow, and no repentance, much like our nation today. Yet here is where this beautiful scripture is, “through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Hallelujah ! And GOD made even his enemies to be at peace with him. He did not go into Babylon.

Ezek 3:14 KJV So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.

Ezek 27:30-32 NKJV They will make their voice heard because of you;
They will cry bitterly and cast dust on their heads; They will roll about in ashes; 31 They will shave themselves completely bald because of you,
Gird themselves with sackcloth, And weep for you with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing. 32 In their wailing for you they will take up a lamentation, And lament for you: 'What city is like Tyre, Destroyed in the midst of the sea?

It seems to me that self pity is one of the companions of bitterness, along with unforgiveness. Poor me, I had to endure all this, feel sorry for me, give me, give me, give me. Woe is me. Give me, give me, give me. It’s all about ME.
The article by Jim Wilson was a great find. All the problems when we have bitterness is in our own hearts. It’s not about the other person, but how we react to the situations we face and have been through. God clearly indicates in the gospels that unless we forgive we will not be forgiven. Jesus said 70 X 7 you must forgive that person, 7 being the number of completeness.
Forgiveness is also PROCESS. Just saying “ I forgive him” is not the end of it. YOU MUST FORGIVE FROM YOUR HEART, from your emotions, not just your mind in order to ROOT OUT these bitter pains. I loved the example where he got down on his knees when he knew he had offended his wife and he stayed there till it was all gone.

And so if we find ourselves on REPLAY again and again, then we must also take it back to God and ask Him to help us let go of it and lay it at the cross completely.

This one uses Strongs 4843 but it has very similar meanings…

Zech 12:10-12 KJV And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Imagine the grief when the Jews see the LORD in the air or when just one realizes he has been mocking the Holy One Who came to save them ? Do you remember when you were first saved and how incredulous it was that He could forgive all your sins ?

In the new testament Peter confronts Simon the sorcerer:

Acts 8:18-24 KJV   And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

The GALL OF BITTERNESS sure doesn’t sound good does it. Gall is defined as an excrescence of any form produced on any part of a plant by insects or their larvae. They are most commonly caused by small Hymenoptera and Diptera which puncture the bark and lay their eggs in the wounds. The larvae live within the galls. OOOH. Worms again. The little worm like larvae live in the excrement oozed out by the insect. That is like bitterness for sure…
The anger lives in the oozings of what comes out of the mouth, and after it accumulates for a time, then it just oozes out all the time from your mouth and defiles everyone with all that buried anger. Trying to get others to take up “your cause” so to speak, to be bitter with you. Perhaps this is where the saying comes from, “ misery loves company”.

Gall of bitterness in one dictionary says this:
The bitterest grief; extreme affliction. The ancients taught that grief and joy were subject to the gall, affection to the heart, knowledge to the kidneys, anger to the bile (one of the four humours of the body), and courage or timidity to the liver. The gall of bitterness, like the heart of hearts, means the bitter centre of bitterness, as the heart of hearts means the innermost recesses of the heart or affections. In the Acts it is used to signify “the sinfulness of sin,” which leads to the bitterest grief.
http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/brewers/gall-bitterness.html

It is this very gall of bitterness and iniquity that leads people into witchcraft/rebellion against GOD. It’s not a very big jump when you are already angry and resentful which are already on the tree of rebellion.

In the Greek the word for bitterness is: Pikria

NT:4088 pikri/a pikria (pik-ree'-ah); from NT:4089; acridity (especially poison), literally or figuratively: KJV - bitterness.
     NT:4089 pikro/$ pikros (pik-ros'); perhaps from NT:4078 (through the idea of
         piercing); sharp (pungent), i.e. acrid (literally or figuratively): KJV - bitter.
           NT:4078 ph/gnumi pegnumi (payg'-noo-mee); a prolonged form of a primary
        verb (which in its simpler form occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses); to
        fix ("peg"), i.e. (specially) to set up (a tent): KJV - pitch. [As in tar – sticky.]

To fix was interesting in that when people are bitter they will retell the same facts and anger over and over again like a record that sticks, and it replays over and over again. They are like stuck in the muddy bitter waters.
Rom 3:10-19 KJV As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Poison we saw in the definitions. Now here we also see, THERE IS NO FEAR of GOD. They have lost it because of anger at Him. And what follows bitterness is DESTRUCTION and MISERY. It’s like self fulfilling prophecy. If you keep expecting nothing or worse, more destruction, it will come. Because you are prophesying every time you open your mouth. So if all your focus is on the negative instead of GOD, then destruction will follow you…and it only leads to more and more bitterness, so somehow we have to throw a metal cog in the cycle/wheel of bitterness in order to stop it. And that is to come before the Lord and ask HIM to excavate your heart from any roots of bitterness, and to give you GRACE [ His power ] to FORGIVE whatever offenses are there.
Heb 12:14-17 KJV   Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
So not only must we repent and forgive, but we also must ask forgiveness from the Lord for offending others with our bile strewn all over everyone we complained to, and directly to anyone He shows us we have offended. And there is also the issue of forgiving self. For if you hold on to that little portion of gall, it will invite the other back. Let me give you example. If I suffer from self condemnation for example, and I have, then you also tend to condemn others. So if you don’t root out the SELF condemnation, you will attract the other spirits that accompany each other in groups as it seems. So forgive everyone and forgive yourself. Sometimes when things are forgotten or hidden then it requires GOD to search your heart, so HE can bring up only that which is yet not surrendered to Him.
Now I want to look at the scriptures with the root word bitter to add dimensions of understanding to the causes and manifestations of bitterness.
Ex 1:14 NKJV And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage — in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.
Hard bondage makes bitter. For example, I was a “foster child” to a family. And I was used for a lot of the hard jobs no one else wanted to do. I remember my free time that other children had to play or be with friends, taken up with ironing all the clothes and starched shirts for the family, cleaning the bathrooms, cleaning the basement, cleaning the garage, or working at the news agency after high school, then home and work, work, work. It was the German work ethic. So the advantage was I became a good worker but I had lots of resentment towards what felt like a ripped off childhood. LOTS of RESENTMENT. That led me into rebellion later on.
Then later on when I married late in my adult life, I had to quit work, had three children to care for and homeschool, and did everything related to household duties, no help from hubby, cause he was busy working full time plus a part time job to pay for everything. But this began to FEEL like before in my childhood, and I built up more resentment. It had that same feel because I wasn’t healed yet of those wounds, as Mom D. and all the lost childhood. So now I felt like inescapable drudgery. “ A woman’s work is never done” was not a fun comment to me. : )   And I was bitter and no doubt defiled others with my bitterness, till I repented and was healed.
Ex 15:23-25 NKJV Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.   24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" 25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
The Cross is sweet news to such as I. It was lifesaving manna/water to me to know I could be forgiven. As Matthew Henry talks about this later here, he explains that most think the wood thrown in the water represents the cross of Jesus Christ redeeming our bitterness of heart.
They were in the wilderness of Shur – Shur means the idea of going around, or a wall – as in going about a wall. [ blockage ]
[ From Matthew Henry’s commentary:
II. That at Marah they had water, but it was bitter, so that though they had been three days without water they could not drink it, because it was extremely unpleasant to the taste or was likely to be prejudicial to their health, or was so brackish that it rather increased their thirst than quenched it, v. 23. Note, God can embitter that to us from which we promise ourselves most satisfaction, and often does so in the wilderness of this world, that our wants and disappointments in the creature may drive us to the Creator, in whose favour alone true comfort is to be had. Now in this distress,
1. The people fretted and quarrelled with Moses, as if he had done ill by them. What shall we drink? is all their clamour, v. 24. Note, The greatest joys and hopes are soon turned into the greatest griefs and fears with those that live by sense only, and not by faith.
2. Moses prayed: He cried unto the Lord, v. 25. The complaints which they brought to him he brought to God, on whom, notwithstanding his elevation, Moses owned a constant dependence.
Note, It is the greatest relief of the cares of magistrates and ministers, when those under their charge make them uneasy, that they may have recourse to God by prayer: he is the guide of the church's guides and to him, as the Chief Shepherd, the under-shepherds must upon all occasions apply.
3. God provided graciously for them. He directed Moses to a tree, which he cast into the waters, in consequence of which, all of a sudden, they were made sweet.
Some think this wood had a peculiar virtue in it for this purpose, because it is said, God showed him the tree. God is to be acknowledged, not only in the creating of things useful for man, but in discovering their usefulness. Or perhaps this was only a sign, and not at all a means, of the cure, any more than the brazen serpent, or Elisha's casting one cruse full of salt into the waters of Jericho.
Some make this tree typical of the cross of Christ, which sweetens the bitter waters of affliction to all the faithful, and enables them to rejoice in tribulation. The Jews' tradition is that the wood of this tree was itself bitter, yet it sweetened the waters of Marah; the bitterness of Christ's sufferings and death alters the property of ours.
4. Upon this occasion, God came upon terms with them, and plainly told them, now that they had got clear of the Egyptians, and had entered into the wilderness, that they were upon their good behaviour, and that according as they carried themselves so it would be well or ill with them: There he made a statute and an ordinance, and settled matters with them. There he proved them, that is, there he put them upon the trial, admitted them as probationers for his favour. In short, he tells them, v. 26, (1.)
What he expected from them, and that was, in one word, obedience. They must diligently hearken to his voice, and give ear to his commandments, that they might know their duty, and not transgress through ignorance; and they must take care in every thing to do that which was right in God's sight, and to keep all his statutes.
They must not think, now that they were delivered from their bondage in Egypt, that they had no lord over them, but were their own masters; no, therefore they must look upon themselves as God's servants, because he had loosed their bonds, Ps 116:16; Luke 1:74,75. (2.) What they might then expect from him: I will put none of these diseases upon thee, that is, "I will not bring upon thee any of the plagues of Egypt." This intimates that, if they were rebellious and disobedient, the very plagues which they had seen inflicted upon their enemies should be brought upon them; so it is threatened, Deut 28:60.
God's judgments upon Egypt, as they were mercies to Israel, opening the way to their deliverance, so they were warnings to Israel, and designed to awe them into obedience. Let not the Israelites think, because God had thus highly honoured them in the great things he had done for them, and had proclaimed them to all the world his favourites, that therefore he would connive at their sins and let them do as they would.
No, God is no respecter of persons; a rebellious Israelite shall fare no better than a rebellious Egyptian; and so they found, to their cost, before the got to Canaan. "But, if thou wilt be obedient, thou shalt be safe and happy;" the threatening is implied only, but the promise is expressed: "I am the Lord that healeth thee, and will take care of thy comfort wherever thou goest." Note, God is the great physician. If we be kept well, it is he that keeps us; if we be made well, it is he that restores us; he is our life, and the length of our days. ] end quote

I’d like to propose another thought, and that is God often aligns trees to men, and water to the Holy Spirit, or His Word in our lives. The Word of God cleanses us, and is life to our bones. Throwing a tree in water can have this meaning, though it was murky water that it was thrown in, so perhaps God is giving an object lesson that the bitterness of their wandering has to alter all the proud bitter attitudes acquired in Egypt. If God just suddenly blesses someone who has been rejected all their lives and blesses them to the ultimate, right away, it may lead to their downfall. We see this in Hollywood young stars all the time, nouveau riche, and then end up dead from drugs. God cannot bless till he eradicates all the bitter attitudes of the past. So do not press Him too. For He is a loving Father who does what is best for His children

Num 5:18-22 KJV And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: 19 And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse:
20 But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband: 21 Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The Lord make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the Lord doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell; 22 And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.
OH MAN, I do not want the rotten belly !
Deut 32:31-35 KJV   For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. 32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: 33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. 34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? 35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
GOD is the One Who avenges. We are NOT to take it in our own hands, and bitterness is an attempt to do so in words if not actual. We destroy reputations of others, and we take bitter vengeance through turning others away from those who have hurt us with their words and contempt by talking and retelling and retelling the pains of our attack.
Rom 12:19 NKJV Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
2 Kings 14:26-27 NKJV For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter; and whether bond or free, there was no helper for Israel. 27 And the Lord did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
It is GOD Who saves. We cannot save ourselves. There are times we try, and self sufficiency is prominent in America due to her thus far wealth. But those days are soon at an end. WE must depend on GOD to be our help, and repent from our pride and bitterness. Pride goes with bitterness because bitterness is saying, I HAVE A RIGHT TO DO WHAT I THINK. We have no rights. We are bought and paid for by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD, and our rights are turned over to HIM. We are to only OBEY what HE wants.
I remember this story James Ryle told after his wife was propositioned by another pastor. He was angry and talking to God and God told him he had a right to NOT FORGIVE, anything he was not guilty of. Trouble was that when you weigh all our sins. We have all lied, murdered [ hatred being as murder ] and so there isn’t anything he could say. He had to forgive that affront on his wife and marriage.

God has reminded me of that many times when I have struggled with forgiving others. Now I’m not saying you have to be best buddy with someone or trust someone who has bludgeoned you. But you MUST be free of unforgiveness and be able to send love to that person. Whether they repent or not is not your responsibility. Yours is to make your own heart free of any wrath, anger or unforgiveness.
Est 4:1-2 NKJV When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
Mordecai had it right. He cried out to GOD.
Job 3:20-23 NKJV   "Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, 21 Who long for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than hidden treasures; 22 Who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they can find the grave? 23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?
Bitterness and hardship accompanying it can make you so broken that you wish for death. And yet it doesn’t come. You feel like IF ONLY I COULD go home GOD. Jeremiah felt that way seeing the destruction of Israel I’m sure, yet he cried out to the Lord in his grief and found his Salvation was close at hand.
Job 13:26 NKJV For you write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
This was Job against his accusers. It doesn’t help broken people to recite to them how they must be a bitter disappointment to GOD. They are already feeling that. Remember it says in Prov 14:20 “Each heart knows its own bitterness”. Now the heart that doesn’t know God may be reached by acknowledging that bitterness, like Paul did to Simon the sorcerer, but we must be careful not to judge lest we fall into the same bitterness we accuse in others. Judging is to say “ I WOULD NEVER DO THAT” somehow in our heart. You don’t know what you’d do if you were in those circumstances unless you go through them. But you can say whatever God shows you to say, and often God will show you the ROOT in prayer for that person, then you can pray HE rout it.

Bitteness and the pride that goes with it is the root of JEZEBELIC patterns of behavior. So I thought it would be good to review those and am attaching a pdf book of the 21 footprints of jezebel to the email.

Job 23:2-4 NKJV "Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning. 3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! 4 I would present my case before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
Job 27:2-4 NKJV "As God lives, who has taken away my justice, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, 3 As long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils, 4 My lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
The hardship of Job was more bitter than most of us have endured, but seems short lived compared to the pain and sorrow of a lot of people I know. I truly it takes MORE FAITH to believe when you aren’t healed immediately than when you are. Job is a prime example of suffering that is IN THE FLESH for Christians today. Indeed it is a bitter pill to swallow with all the immaturity of the church.

Ps 64:2-6 NKJV Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, 3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows — bitter words, 4 That they may shoot in secret at the blameless; Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. 5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, "Who will see them?" 6 They devise iniquities: "We have perfected a shrewd scheme. "Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.
There is no fear of the Lord in those bitter jezebelic types that want to hold on to all the pain, or they will say, I’ve forgiven and reject any offer of inner healing when they are still spewing forth bitter rantings over and over again, defiling all they come in contact with. There also is the trick of pretending to be not bitter and speaking smooth words to worm their way into your life, then they pounce, just like a big cat, like a leopard. In fact in visions often jezebel is represented by large cats, like mountain lions or leopards, or the oriental jezebelic tiger figure.
Prov 5:3-4 NKJV For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
Bitterness towards gender has a certain characteristic of being alluring, but then withdrawing affections. The one who’s been trapped feels the fun of engaging in conversation in relationship until there is a snag in the expectations, and the one who seemed so sincere and docile turns livid and bares her claws.

Prov 27:7 NKJV A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
This is a mouthful. For the one whose heart is bent on staying tender, will perceive things differently than the bitter of heart. They will understand that all works for the good to those who belong to Him.

Prov 31:6-7 NKJV Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Yea, there is the rub. Often those bitter drown their sorrows in alcohol or drugs, smoking or sex, or spending, eating or not eating. Addictions abound in those bound by unforgiveness and woundedness. God is good to the brokenhearted and HE will remove every memory if we just are willing to sit at His feet and bend to HIS WILL.

Eccl 7:26 NKJV And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be trapped by her.
Here is a good application of Ahab and jezebel relationships. If Ahab had been a good Jewish boy, he would not have married Jezebel. But once he gave in, all hell broke loose and he was ensnared by her.

Isa 5:20-21 NKJV Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
This is keen discernment, because this is exactly what happens when we get bitter. Our compass gets skewed. We start giving in to sins that we would never have had we stayed tenderhearted. Pride takes a hold and it is a terrible evil. It reminds me of the scripture in James….so I’ll quote it here:
James 3:13-16 NKJV Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
Bitterness engenders envy. One is mad that others have it better and if you give into that envy and jealousy, it is a twisting serpent and it distorts everything you see. You will fail to see the goodness of God when it does come toward you unless the Lord delivers.

Jer 2:19 NKJV   Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you," Says the Lord God of hosts.
And there is the goal of the enemy. To get you bitter so that you will turn on GOD, and bitter people will blurt out things like “ God doesn’t give a d___!” because they are overtaken by that spirit. Bitterness also invites murder out of the vengeance desired. So any hatred becomes pronounced.
I was sitting at dinner and falling into a trap of allowing negative trap in when I suddenly blurted out, “ I hope they all die !” I was shocked it came out of my mouth and immediately repented, and realized that because I allowed myself to be defiled, that a murderous spirit from that person had tweaked with me having entertained bitterness. Then I was truly sorely grieved at that and had to search my heart for any more weaknesses in me and found some resentments still there. So I spent time in prayer and it was fruitful and I suddenly had to vomit and got delivered by the Lord. Praise His glorious name ! Beautiful JESUS !
Jer 4:17-18 NKJV Like keepers of a field they are against her all around, Because she has been rebellious against Me," says the Lord. 18 "Your ways and your doings have procured these things for you. This is your wickedness, because it is bitter, Because it reaches to your heart."
Again we see the relationship of bitterness and rebellion in the heart against GOD.

Jer 31:15 NKJV    Mercy on Ephraim - Thus says the Lord: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more."
War, murder, mistreatment, are a terrible grief. I just watched this film of HAITI where for years they have been putting up with UN troop abuses, where the troops went into a part of Port au Prince, and just killed random people who were in opposition to the U.S. installed president and wanted Aristide back. They had been protesting. So the gov’t had them surrounded in that neighborhood by the UN troops, and they were killing unarmed citizens. You could see the bitter grief and anger in their faces. There is so much healing needed in the world and in the church, that our focus needs to always be on JESUS so we can be part of the healing instead of heaping more hurt on others.

[The Chaldeans are Iraqi’s: and in this scripture could represent the muslim people arrayed against the world ]
Hab 1:6-10 NKJV For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs. 7 They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. 9 "They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. 10 They scoff at kings, and princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, for they heap up earthen mounds and seize it.
[ Note how this mirrors the Joel army scriptures, terrible and dreadful being used ] God has warned us over and over that we are about to enter into a season of persecution as never known before in America, and perilous times. Our hearts will see things we have no desire to see. And our hearts will be broken for what we see happening in the world. We MUST be free of any bitterness NOW to be able to keep our sanity, and to stay in a secret place with the LORD in order to be of use at all to HIS KINGDOM.

Zeph 1:14-18 The great day of the Lord is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers.
17 "I will bring distress upon men, and they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the Lord; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like refuse." 18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land.

Col 3:19 NKJV Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
This is certainly a warning not only for husbands but also wives. We must learn to love one another and subdue our flesh. It will not go well with us unless we give up our RIGHTS to eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. When there is bitterness of heart, there is also CONTROL. When both are bitter trying to control one another out of pride and fear, it creates a mess. Bitterness is at the root of many of the problems in marriages. We need to submit ourselves to the LORD for healing if we want our marriages to survive and be healthy and whole.

James 3:11-12 NKJV Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Like Jim Wilson expressed in the article I sent out and putting below this one…both cannot proceed from the same person. If there is bitter, then it must be extricated. The Lord told me last year I think it was that if people don’t repent, they will go insane in the days ahead as it will be too much for them to bear.

So let’s overview the Key characteristics of bitterness…
1         Unforgiveness.
2       Resentment - just hearing another person’s name makes hair stand on end.
3       Obsessive thoughts of revenge
4       Sarcasm
5       Critical or unkind comments
6       Self righteousness
7       Constant reliving of wrongs
8       Retelling information over and over about others faults
9       Conflicts with others
10    Hostility – bite back quickly
11     Aggressiveness in relationships
12    Controlling behavior [ witchcraft control ]
13    Pride
14    Unteachableness
15    Envy or jealousy of how others are doing better
16    Pretense
17    Denial
18    Grief over past hurts that keeps on over months and years
19    Lack of repentance
20 Lack of thankfulness
21    Lack of joy for the blessings others get
22 Inability to grieve for others