ANGER ISSUES?

"Be angry and yet, do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger" Ephesians 4:26-27.

It's amazing how many people are subject to outbursts of anger and frustration these days. The world is a very tough place to live in the midst of all the heightened pressures of our society.

Jesus warned us in John 16:33 "...In the world you will have tribulation;(literally...pressure, oppression, stress, anguish, squashing, squeezing, distress) " I'm sure that no one reading this article has ever experienced the "squeezes" of life! If you're alive....you are always experiencing pressure. The good news is that Jesus did not just leave us hanging there in the middle of all the pressure the world has to offer, but He added "...but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33b

Because I've had many opportunities to counsel people dealing with anger issues, and because I've also experienced them myself in the past, I began to check out what the Manufacturer's Handbook (The Bible) had to say about anger.

Ephesians 4: 31 says, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger...be put away from you..." In other words, let all kinds of anger be put away! Colossians 3:8 teaches the same. "But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice and abusive speech..."

If you think about it, most of our anger issues are a result of our selfishness. How often do we become angry because our rights have been denied or we have been wronged or hurt? Whether we've had our feelings hurt, or we are jealous, or not getting recognition, or believe that our rights have been denied, all these things lead to selfish, sinful anger.

In today' Scripture, "Be angry and yet, do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger" Ephesians 4:26-27, God has commanded us to deal with our anger issues every day! What most often happens is that when there is a problem between people they not only let the sun go down on the anger issue, but they also allow many days, months and even years to pass by, as well. Years later, they are still bothered by issues that were never taken care of Scripturally, when they first occured. Over the passage of time, other things have been added to the original issue, and now the issue has become mountainous and they are harboring anger and bitterness in their hearts!

Have you ever thought about what transpires when a person (or yourself) goes off at the least little thing? The Lord gave me a tremendous example to describe exactly what happens when someone explodes in anger. If you think about a barrel of gunpowder, when there are only one or two grains of powder in the keg and a spark is introduced, there is never an explosion. When you get to a larger number of grains piled together, there comes a point when the same spark is introduced and an explosion occurs.

It's the same way concerning anger. Unresolved issues represent the grains of powder. When there are only a few unresolved issues to deal with, the explosive anger rarely occurs. However, let these issues remain unresolved and add more issues over a period of time, there will come a point when one seemingly insignificant issue couples with a spark and all the other unresolved issues will blow the lid off your cool!

In Ephesians 4 the Bible tells us not to let the sun go down on our anger. The Holy Spirit wants us to deal with issues on a daily basis. If you will identify potentially explosive, unresolved issues every day and deal with them according to Scriptural principles, your anger will not get the best of you! If anger has continually got the best of you, then you need to set aside a time every day to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal these problem areas or relationships to you and the Bible way of eliminating the associated anger.

If you do this daily, you will be able to prevent the piling up of problem issues which eventually will explode, and it will also help you to avoid being consumed with these issues throughout the day. It's not very productive or conducive to any relationships if the whole day is consumed with issues or problems. It is important for us to set aside this time and train ourselves to assess and evaluate our issues in the light of the Scriptures. Then we pray for His ability and obey the directives contained in the Word. Knee-jerk reactions are very seldom productive for any relationships and usually result in explosive situations.

Matthew 18:15 states “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again." The Bible states that we should go privately to the person for the purpose of promoting reconciliation and unity, not for criticizing or condemning. If you don't know, or can't find the Lord's way to resolve issues go to your Pastor, leadership, or someone who does know the Word...but get the answer at all costs! here's why!

1st Timothy 2:23 "...avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ...a servant of the Lord must not quarrel (remain involved in anger issues)... but be...patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, so that they may...come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." Why should I learn to deal with my anger issues? Because the Bible says that if you are involved in unresolved relational conflict (issues that cause anger), then you have been taken captive as a prisoner of war and the devil can do whatever he wants to in your life?

If this is what you really want then stay angry! Don' take the time to hear what the Spirit has to say to you about resolving issues. I don't care if I'm not even at fault. if I'm drawn into conflict, even if I'm not the perpetrator, I will go and make the situation right. I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHTEOUS THAN RIGHT!

There are many other Scriptural applications concerning the harmful consequences of anger and how to deal with anger! Dive into the Word and get yourself free!