Anger 2…

If we are honest, most of us would admit to being angry at one time or another. If we are even more honest, most of us would admit to having a problem with anger.

There are some things about anger we need to know.

First, anger is a choice. We choose to get angry. It is not the result of DNA makeup, or heredity, or upbringing; anger is a choice – we choose to get angry. No one “makes us angry.”

Second, anger is a struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. Galatians 5:17: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” There is within the Christian, a constant war for dominance between the flesh and the Spirit. Our old nature was sufficiently dealt with upon receiving Jesus as Saviour, “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” (Romans 6:6). The old nature is our old selves, as we were in and from Adam. He represents the lusts, desires, and ambitions; that part of us that sought to satisfy only self, our sin nature. For the believer the old nature was crucified with Christ. The things that once attracted us, we now find no interest in at all. Instead of seeking to satisfy our sinful desires, we now have the desire to seek the things of the Spirit. The things of the old nature are no longer our motivation; now the desire of our hearts is to know and to please God. The body of sin has been done away with, gr., karatageo, to reduce to inactivity, to render useless, to put out of business. God has dealt with sin at it’s source, Matthew 15:18-19: “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Knowing this helps us understand that we are no longer to be slaves to our old nature, “For sin shall not have dominion over you…” (Romans 6:14). Just as we were in Adam when he sinned, so the believer is in Christ and we now identify with Him. When he died, we died with Him. When He arose, we arose with Him. He is seated in the heavenlies, so we are seated with Him in the heavenlies (Ephesians 3:1). Because of our living union with Christ we now have totally new relationship to sin – no longer under sins dominion, Romans 6:17-18: “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

Now it is important not to confuse our old nature with the flesh. While our old nature has been put out of business, we still have to deal with our flesh and it’s desires. The flesh is a very powerful force – just go on a diet and see how powerful the desires of the flesh are! The flesh is enmity with God, Romans 8:7: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” The believer is to deny and to crucify the flesh and it’s desires, Luke 9:23: “…If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me;” and Galatians 5:24: “And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

How is this accomplished? No amount of effort on our part can put to death the deeds of the flesh. Jesus said, “…without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). Anger is a product of our giving in to the desires of the flesh. No amount of willpower, desire, or effort on our part can overcome the desires of the flesh, including anger. I believe that Paul suffered from anger issues as well. In the book of Acts, Luke writes of a disagreement between Paul and Barnabus over whether John Mark should travel with them. Luke records: “Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.” (Acts 15:39-40). The disagreement was so sharp that they divided and separated, each going their own way.

Paul wrote of his struggle with the flesh in Romans 7:15: “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” I appreciate Paul’s honesty as it encourages me in my struggle with anger. If Paul could struggle, each and everyone of us could (and do) struggle as well. However, Paul went on to write of the key to victory over the struggle of the flesh (and anger): “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.“ (Romans 8:13). It is the Holy Spirit that gives us victory over the flesh, and in turn, over our struggle with anger.

If you are like me, you have come a long way. Most of the time now, when I get angry, I get quiet. However, sometimes, I still have outbursts. I am not proud of this, but I am being honest. I still have areas to give over to the Spirit. I have the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). And I have the ongoing work of the Spirit in my life, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6).

Victory over the things of the flesh (and anger) is the work of the Spirit in our lives, Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Victory is mine, not as I struggle in the flesh, but rather, as I submit to the work of the Spirit in my life.

The work of the Spirit in conforming us into the image of Jesus began the moment we believed. Having begun that good work, He will continue that work until we die or until Jesus comes again, Philippians 3:12-14: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Holy Spirit, continue you work in our lives. Make us more and more like Jesus as you transform us into His image. May we cease wholly from our own efforts and willingly submit to Your work in our lives, bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit, which is love. In Jesus Name…