Understanding Anger

• Ephesians 4:31 (ESV)

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All anger is not bad
Good anger is controlled, purposeful, justifiable (by Godly standards), anger over unjust treatment of others.

UNGODLY ANGER:
• You want something bad or harmful to happen to another person or institution
• Directed toward someone
• anger that's held too tightly, defended - an unforgiving spirit
• Anger without a justifiable cause

REASONS FOR ANGER
• Not getting their way: anger is self centered
• Fear of loss
• Feeling threatened
• Past hurts never resolved

HOW DO PEOPLE USUALLY HANDLE THEIR ANGER?
• They REPRESS it - "stuff it"
• They SUPPRESS it - "I know it's there but I don't want to deal with it"
- Like a keg, crockpot, brewing for a long time till it comes out.
• They EXPRESS it.
- Make excuses,
- Exhibit a controlled response
• Blame other and God
• Blow up
• Bury it
• Bear it
• Belittle it
• Bitterness
• Benefit from it

CONSEQUENCES OF BAD ANGER
1. Physical affects
2.

HOW DO WE GAIN VICTORY OVER ANGER?
1. Identify the source of it
2. Confess it / Admit it. Acknowledge your anger and why I am angry.
3. Clarify your feelings. Ask why I am angry, b/c of hurt? Need not met? Past incident not resolved? Insecurity? Jealousy?
4. Purpose to deal with it quickly.
5. Take an emotional "time out"
6. Put it away (Ephesians 4:31) Put on Christ.
7. Replace it.
8. Determine to benefit from it.
9. Purpose to prevent it from happening.

You can't ignore anger in yourself or someone else

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