04/10/2026
STREAMS OF LIFE DEVOTIONAL (Sunday, 4th October, 2026)
DON'T TAINT YOUR FAITH - Pastor Efosa Asemota
Bullet Verse: Hebrews 12:15 KJV
"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;"
Jesus said, "Betrayals are inevitable.." As long as we live in this body, our love and trust for people will sometimes be betrayed, and we may be hurt, some deliberately, some might just be an honest mistake, others out of selfishness and a lack of consideration. Some of the wounds caused by the actions of friends and loved ones can be very deep. You might be tempted not to let go, and can become toxic and poison your soul. Such hurt, when you don’t let go of it, will keep you stuck in a cycle of pain and bitterness.
Paul said, in the bullet verse, "....., lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” First, the phrase ‘springing up’ comes from the Greek word 'phuoo'. This word depicts a little plant that is just starting to sprout and grow. It’s a small seedling that is just beginning to peek out through the soil. However, the very fact that it’s peeking through the ground and becoming manifest, or apparent, means there was a seed hidden in that soil from which this new growth emerged.
This is a very significant picture. It tells us that bitterness doesn’t overwhelm us all at once, shouting, “I’m here!” Instead, it grows a little here and a little there until it finally becomes a huge, ugly growth that defiles our entire lives — and even the lives of others.
Bitterness usually starts peeking up out of the depths of our souls in the form of negative thoughts about another person, or a sour, sharp, distrustful, and cynical attitude toward someone who has offended us. If the root is not quickly uprooted and removed, that root of bitterness will eventually grow into a full-blown tree that produces bitter, wounding, hurtful, and scornful fruit for everyone who eats of it.
The word ‘trouble’ comes from the Greek word 'enochleō', which means to trouble, to harass, or to annoy. It refers to something inside that bothers and upsets you so much, you are constantly pestered by thoughts about it. In fact, your whole life is haunted by these persistent, troubling thoughts. What you have allowed to take root and fester inside your soul has now become a major nuisance to your peace, keeping you upset and emotionally torn up all the time. If I may ask: Do you have a grudge against someone that “gnaws” at you all the time? You might not even be fully aware a nasty seed of bitterness has taken root in the recesses of your soul. There are signs to know; every time you see a particular individual, do you feel something sharp and ugly inside? When you hear about that person being blessed, do you wonder how God could possibly bless him?
The word ‘defiled’ comes from the Greek word 'miaino' which means to stain with paint or dye of another colour, and by extension, to taint, soil, or tarnish. Bitterness will taint your faith, it will paint your life with the colour of hate and ungodly, poisonous anger. These bitter roots are not just annoying — they are very dangerous. It can hinder you from experiencing God’s grace, blessings, and favour.
Beloved, you need to get a grip on yourself and let the Holy Spirit help you permanently rid yourself of this destructive seed of bitterness before it destroys you.
FAITH DECLARATION:
Lord, I ask You to please forgive me for allowing negative thoughts about others to consume me. Even though I don’t like what they did to me, I have no right before You to be bitter and resentful. I realize now that I am acting ugly inwardly, just as they acted outwardly. In Your eyes, I have sinned and fallen short too. I am truly sorry for allowing these attitudes to grow inside me and hinder me from your best for my life. To the best of my ability, I turn right now from the wrong thoughts that have been consuming me, and I choose instead to speak well of those who have offended or hurt me. Holy Spirit, help me uproot those wrong feelings from my heart and replace them with love and forgiveness instead. In Jesus name, Amen
FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 17:1-6; Ephesians 4:30-32
ONE YEAR BIBLE STUDY PLAN:
Amos 4-6
ACTION POINTS:
1. Meditate on the bullet verse and the reflection points.
2. Examine your heart: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, or negative thoughts you may have allowed to take root in your heart.
3. Release the offence: Make a conscious decision to forgive the person who hurt or offended you. Refuse to rehearse the offence or speak negatively about the person.
4. Replace bitterness with love: Whenever negative thoughts about the person arise, deliberately respond with God’s Word, prayer, love, and forgiveness. Refuse to allow bitterness to taint your faith and affect your relationships.
Join us today for October Communion, Anointing and Impartation Service with Pastor Efosa Asemota. Time: 8am. Venue: Gospel Field International Headquarters. It will be an awesome time in God's presence. There is a seat reserved just for you.
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Happy new month. Welcome to October. Enjoy Pleasant Surprises all through this month till the end of the year.
#2026
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