What in the world is a "Gall of Bitterness"?

Yeah..that was what I was asking myself too!

As I was reading this morning, I read a story that I have heard and read many times however this time, something stood out to me. It's what I want to talk to you about today.  I want to talk to you about being poisoned with the "gall of bitterness."

 Peter introduced this phrase when he rebuked Simon a new convert who had offered money in exchange for the power of the Holy Ghost to lay hands on people for baptisms and miracles.

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



As I looked up the original meaning of the word "Gall" I found that one meaning was "envy"--a dangerous poison. And Simon was infected with it!

I also believe that he had a heart to help people, which helped disguise his condition..from himself..and from others around him. But the bible says out the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and Peter recognized where his heart was.  Verse 13 says he believed, was baptized and "continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done."  He was right there in the middle of all of the action.  He was faithful to go with them wherever they went and wanted to be a helper in whatever the Lord was doing among them.

However, something deadly lay underneath! Peter recognized it because he was a man of God who had also battled his own flesh in his journey to the call that God had upon his life.  Anyone who is filled with the Spirit and operates in discernment, (especially if they have been aflicted with the same charactor flaws) will be able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Peter knew that all the while Simon was saying to himself, "I can do that, too! I'm gifted. I have talent. I love God too. I feel for people. It's my turn. Give me a chance!"

Simon had a dangerous mixture in his heart. It was a desire to be used by God--mixed with a desire for prominence and a need for man's affirmation! He truly wanted God to use him, but he also had a  need for recognition. He wanted power and place, without paying the right price! He wanted a shortcut to where he believed that God could take him without having the patience to allow God to work the process that would develop the character in him that would allow him to be truly anointed.

So it is in the work of God today. Many are trying to take shortcuts to get to a place of power and usefulness. We offer our talents and abilities to the Lord--but if you have the talent and don't have the character, fruit of the Spirit, experience and maturity that comes with time and submission to another man's ministry, then God can't use you! Only time, experience, and maturity can take you to where God is taking you and keep you there. 

If we find ourselves looking at others and wanting what they have then we must be willing to do what they had to do and go through what they went through to get to where they are.  Those who are TRULY ANOINTED by God did not become what and who they are today overnight, with ease, and without some blood, sweat, and tears along the way!

In his third epistle, John tells of a man named Diotrephes who "loved to have the preeminence among them" (3 John 9). When things did not go his way, he began "prating against" the brethren with malicious words.

A "prater" is one who becomes wounded and begins to run his mouth about it. Diotrephes was offended by John's message, and he began to spew about it. His vanity had been pricked, his pride had been wounded, his ego was bruised and his need for recognition had been deprived. So he went about telling a story of being wounded to other servants of God. He disrupted the peace of the brethren and won many to his side by his ability to play the "victim" so well. Perhaps he insisted that John was trying to "stifle his anointing".  He may have even accused John of not wanting to "share his glory" or "thinking he is the only one that God can use".

This wasn't blatant sin; it wasn't some doctrinal error. It was the sin of impatience! He couldn't wait for God to do the work. He wanted prominence--and he probably sounded so right-to himself and to many around him.

My husband has always told me.."Shelby..Easy come, Easy go".  What he is trying to say is that if the ministry and position of God comes easily to us then it can go just as easily.  One of my favorite sayings is "Talent can not take you where Character can not keep you".  God isn't into "Social Promotion".  He doesn't promote people to places of prominence in ministry simply because they are good people and have a good heart.  PEOPLE DO THAT ALL THE TIME...but it definitely isn't a GOD THING.  IF MAN PROMOTES YOU THEN MAN HAS TO KEEP YOU THERE.  Whether the man is YOU or someone else.  I don't want man to promote me to where God has called me to.  Because, truthfully, I don't trust man to keep me there.  If I can climb over someone on the ladder of success in order to promote myself to a position then someone else can ALSO CLIMB OVER ME!

Another definition for a "Gall of bitterness" is a "wounded spirit".   A WOUNDED SPIRIT IS FERTILE GROUND FOR A ROOT OF BITTERNESS!!

"A wounded spirit who can bear?" (Proverbs 18:14). How could the Israelites of Isaiah's time have become so fallen, so backslidden, so depressed in such a short time?

Isaiah explains it: "From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores:: They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment" (Isaiah 1:6).

The prophet went on to warn the people of God who had open wounds, sores and bruises. He said as long as they went on bleeding, with blood on their hands, God could not hear them in such a condition:

 "And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood" (v.15).


Whose blood is the Lord talking about? Your own! You're bleeding from an open wound in your heart! It's oozing blood! You need healing! You need your wound soothed with the oil of the Holy Ghost!

Yet many of you don't run to the Master for healing. You don't realize that Satan is trying to get you into this witchcraft of rebellion. You see, God won't listen to a voice that cries out but won't accept His deliverance!  What if God's path for your deliverance is going to come through the hands, word and heart of the very one that you are holding bitterness against????

Beloved, bitterness blinds! You lose your spiritual vision in proportion to the growth of your bitterness. The more your bitterness grows, the more your blindness grows. Let a root of bitterness fester--let the wound turn to a gangrene, --let the sore spread its poison all through your soul--and you will end up just like these violent Pharisees, so blind they finally crucified the Son of God!


If you continue in the gall of bitterness, you will end up with other bitter or jealous souls, prating; throwing stones at God's holy servants, deciding where they are wrong and picking apart everything they do because "I can do it better". Many could win Oscars for their role in playing the part of a poor, misunderstood victim.

Some will end up at the gall-gatherings, where others share their rebellion. Remember the old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together".  Just because you can get 100 people to agree with your perspective, it DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE  RIGHT!  Don't let wrong agreements entered into by others cause you to become deceived into believing a lie.

STRONG WORD OF WARNING HERE: If you continue in the gall of bitterness, you will open up your very heart and soul to demon possession! You could end up a mouthpiece of the devil. Your tongue will become a spear that pierces the side of Christ. You will hang Him in open shame before all who know you. And you will shut out the voices of all preachers and prophets who are sent to reveal the truth to you.

The work of God will go on, with other children who are willing to obey. But God will say to you what Peter said to Simon:

"Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God" (Acts 8:21).

Notice the words.."In the sight of God".  You may be able to fool "some" of the people some of the time, but you are probably not fooling "all" of the people and you are CERTAINLY NOT fooling God. 

You may be asking, 'Why won't my pastor promote me? Why am I always overlooked for promotion on my job? Why do they always mention Sister SOinSO's name and not mine?"  Perhaps it's not man that is refusingn to lift you up but GOD who knows that your need for recognition must not be fed...because what you feed will grow...and if it grows, it will destroy you.

Has someone in the body of Christ wounded you? Do you find yourself jealous of another person promotion or success?  Do you try to imitate their success but are unwilling to wait patiently for the purpose that God has called YOU to?  Do you have a root of bitterness?

I beg you: Run to the Healer of all wounds and ask Him to pluck it out by the roots!

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice" (Ephesians 4:31).

Wait patiently for what God has called you to do.  Learn where you are and don't shut the door to those that God has sent to teach and mentor you because you are jealous of the recognition they they are receiving right now. Dont' let past wounds cause you to put up walls of defense that will cause you to resist the truth that God is bringing to you for your good!

Stop it -- STOP IT NOW!