I shared my testimony in Part 4 to give you an idea of how a life can be opened up to anger and how a stronghold of anger can get its roots planted deep into the heart. When we get angry we need to ask why. I have spoken with many believers who would say that anger is their "Achilles Heel" when it comes to walking a Spirit-filled Christian life. Few things can ruin a Christian testimony as quickly as anger can. If we are to deal with and overcome the anger in our hearts we need to first come to grips as to why it is in there. In many believers the anger is not the root issue but a symptom of the root issue. In other words, they know that they need to deal with their anger, but there are buttons or trigger points that don't change that keep the anger on the stove with the heat on. It is just waiting to boil over again. In my testimony, my anger towards my dad was a symptom of the root problem of unforgiveness. Because I didn't want to forgive him, I couldn't deal with the anger in my heart. For the first 8 years as a believer I tried to work on the anger towards my dad. I cried, prayed, read every Scripture in the Bible concerning anger, I fasted, and got spiritual counsel but the anger would just hide deep in the heart until my dad did something new that caused the anger to raise to the surface again. It was after 8 years that I realized that anger was not the real issue, but was a manifestation of a deeper issue. The real issue was that I had not forgiven him and in truth did not want to. Now realize, I was a Pastor, ministering to people every week about the love of God and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am ministering about forgiveness in how we need to receive it from the Father and give it to people, yet I was not doing what I preached. The question is then WHY? Why would I not, as a Christian believer and Pastor want to deal with the root issue of unforgiveness, yet would seek the Father almost daily concerning my anger towards my dad? This will be answered in the next study. Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (31) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (32) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Colossians 3:8-10 ESV But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (9) Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (10) and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 1 Timothy 2:8 ESV I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; James 1:19-22 ESV Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; (20) for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (21) Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (22) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
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AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
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