Anger: How it Works

Anger: How It Works

Susie’s Father at RU Homes

Susie came to RU homes struggling in life. Her father was an angry man.  He would come each day from a frustrating day at work and take out that frustration on his family.  Her family lived in fear.  He would shout, and scream at her.  When Susie would try to run to another part of the house or to a neighbor’s home, her father would chase her, hit her, and pull her hair.  Several times his anger became violent and Susie and her siblings fled to the nearest police station for safety. 

In addition to her father having an anger problem, her mother dealt with her husband’s anger by being depressed and despondent.  Susie’s mom would spend days in her bedroom sick and sleeping just to get away from her husband.  One day Susie found her mother after she had attempted suicide.  

Susie grew up dealing with the anger and violence out of the one person in life who God has established as His representative in the home, her father.  Is it any wonder that Susie became rebellious towards God and His authority in her life? 

What was going on in her Father’s Brain? 

We will call him Frank.  Frank’s anger was running wild through his cerebral cortex sending signals even deeper into his brain call the hypothalamus. 

Anger activates the hypothalamus which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system.  This restricts the arteries which carry blood to every vital organ in the body.  While this is going on the brain sends a hormonal signal to the adrenal glands to release large quantities of adrenalin, and Corte sol (natural steroid) into the blood system.  As Frank expressed his anger with his family, his muscles tightened, his blood pressure rose, and his heart rate increased.  Frank’s body was prepared to go into action, but no action was normally taken.  

 

Frank’s body was converting the fat to energy that was not used so instead it is turned into cholesterol.  Cholesterol accumulates as deadly plaque on artery walls leading to stroke, heart attack, and even kidney failure. 

Anger and stress are considered a major cause of life threatening illnesses. 

God made man in His own image.

Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV) ²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.  

                God made man as a trichotomy. Body, Soul, and Spirit.

Genesis 2:7 (KJV) ⁷ And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Dust of the Ground:        Physical (Body)

Breath of Life:                   Spirit

Living Soul:                        Soul (Mind, Will, Emotions) 

God has made the outer person and the inner person to work together in harmony. 

Ill:           Brain

Brain = This is the organic piece of tissue that is part of our material body.

Mind = This is the immaterial aspect of our being (the soul: the mind, will, and emotions). 

Brain is like the physical aspect of a computer. 

Mind is like the software. 

The Brain is the Central Nervous System: 

·         12 cranial nerves make up the Central Nervous System:  

·         Branching off of the CNS is the peripheral nervous system that has two distinct divisions…

1^st Division:  Somatic Nervous System

Regulates all muscular function. The SNS takes instruction from our will, which is part of our soul.  Remember, we don’t do anything without first thinking it! 

It may be so rapid, you are not aware that a thought occurred.  We have control over these actions.

2^nd Division: Autonomic Nervous System

·         Autonomic:  means to occur involuntarily and spontaneously.

·         The ANS deals with the regulation of our internal body which would include heart rate, digestion, bladder control etc.

·         The ANS works together with our emotions.

·         We do not have control over the ANS just like we don’t have control over our emotions.

·         We cannot will ourselves to like people we have emotional hatred for.

·         We cannot simply tell ourselves to not be angry, because we can’t directly manage our emotions that way.

·         Telling someone not to feel the way they feel only produces guilt or defensiveness.

·         We can manage what we do when we are experiencing negative emotions.

The Soul is in Control

·         That which is causing the ANS to respond a certain way is not the brain.

·         It is not the brain that causes us to feel a certain emotion or as in this study, anger.

·         It is the mind and the way it has been programmed

·         It is NOT the circumstances surrounding us or the people surrounding us that makes us angry.

·         It is our perception of those circumstances and people and how we interpret them that will determine whether we will be angry or not.

Ill:           Two Doctors being Sued.

·         Our bodies respond to stressful situations.

·         Pressure causes our body to produce adrenalin and Corte sol into our blood.

·         If the stress persists too long and the stress becomes distress our system breaks down and we become sick.

1:  Doctor one is an unbeliever.  He and his partner are being sued.  He views it as devastating for business and their referral business. Without referrals his practice is doomed to failure. His dreams are dashed and he responds angrily towards anyone who tries to console him.

2: Doctor two is a believer. He believes that success is an individual following God’s will for their lives.  He believes God is in control and will meet every need. The lawsuit has little impact on his life for he believes God is in this and will work this out for his good and God’s glory.  He is disappointed, but he has little stress and no anger.

What is the difference between the two doctors?             It is their belief system.

Can belief in Jesus Christ make that type of difference in how we look at things and how we act towards our circumstances?                                                 A RESOUNDING YES!!

The difference is not their physical make-up, but their soulical outlook!

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) ⁷ For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Our Behavior is determined by our Beliefs

·         Like all emotions, anger is a product of our thought life.

Ill:           Someone knocks you down at the Post Office.

Someone knocks you down and lands on you without you seeing it coming.  Will your heart rate go up? Will your body release adrenalin and Corte sol into your blood stream?  Will the emotion of anger flare up? 

                Your body will respond in the “fight or flight” mode.

If you believe it was an accident, your mind will tell you it was innocent and your body will return to normal.  We will make a decision how to respond based on the data gathered by our 5 senses and filtered through our minds. (Can you see how what you believe will dictate your action)

·         If what we believe does not conform to the truth, then what we feel does not conform to reality.

Ill:           Marital Spat over Money

·         Husband and wife have discussed the fact that financially things are tight.

·         Husband hears at work from his co-worker that his wife spent a lot of money shopping.

·         Husband is angry. 

·         He confronts his wife only to find it isn’t true.  She didn’t spend any money.

·         The husband was angry because he BELIEVED it to be true, but his emotion was not based on reality.

Conclusion:

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

                1.  We are made in the image of God.  A trichotomy.  A spirit, soul, and body.

                2.  The brain is the hardware, the mind is the software.  God made man for the soul and body to work in harmony.

                3.  The soul is in control.

                4.  Our behavior is determined by our beliefs.

 

 

 

Anger, A Misunderstood Emotion (Introduction)

Anger

A Misunderstood Emotion

Introduction

Statistics: 

·         25,000 people are killed by another person each year in America. A thousand of these murders take place at work

·         1 million or so workers injured each year in violent attacks by coworkers.

·         12-16% of marriages have physical fights

·         25% of women have been battered at one time in their lives.

·         23% of all crimes are considered violent crimes.

·         49% experience anger at work, with 1 of 6 wanting to hit someone.

·         1 million cases of child abuse confirmed in the US per year.

Personality Change in America:

§  Children born in 1958 89% were “never” or “sometimes irritable” and “Mild mannered

§  Now, Road Rage, Shopper Rage, Rage at Sporting Events, etc.

The Question:

                Do we have a right to be angry? 

·         With our government and its decisions? 

·         With moral decisions made by individuals?

·         With moral issues being legislatively legalized?

·         With injustices?  Such as the NJ teacher fired for giving a student his Bible.

·         With being mistreated? Such as victims of violent crimes.

·         When being endangered while driving?

·         When someone takes our parking spot?

Jonah: Doest thou well to be angry?

Jonah was a prophet of God.  He was commanded by God to go to the city of Nineveh and preach.  He, as many of his Jewish counterparts, hated the Ninevites because of the way they lived.

The Assyrians worshipped the vicious god Ashur and a multitude of other gods and goddesses. Assyrian brutality and cruelty were legendary. The Assyrians were known to impale their enemies on stakes in front of their towns and hang their heads from trees in the king’s gardens. They also tortured their captives—men, women, or children—by hacking off noses, ears, or fingers, gouging out their eyes, or tearing off their lips and hands. They reportedly covered the city wall with the skins of their victims. Rebellious subjects would be massacred by the hundreds, sometimes burned at the stake. Then their skulls would be placed in great piles by the roadside as a warning to others. Jonah decided that he would rather quit the prophetic ministry than preach to such people.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Jonah was the only prophet who fled God.

Jonah 1:1-3 (KJV) ¹ Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
² Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. ³ But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

Jonah repents and calls out to God.

Jonah finds his need to obey God in the belly of the whale.  How often do we turn to God when our plans fail?  How often do we turn to God when we are in trouble? (Jonah 2)

Jonah preaches God’s message in Nineveh.

Jonah 3:1-4 (KJV) ¹ And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, ² Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. ³ So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. ⁴ And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

The people of Nineveh believe and repent.

Jonah 3:5 (KJV) ⁵ So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Jonah 3:9-10 (KJV) ⁹ Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? ¹⁰ And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

 

Jonah responds in anger.

Jonah 4:1-3 (KJV) ¹ But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. ² And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. ³ Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

God’s ?...doest thou well to be angry?

Jonah 4:4 (KJV) ⁴ Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?

·         Does Jonah have a right to be angry?

·         Is Jonah’s anger beneficial?

·         Is it good, is it best for Jonah?

Jonah’s mood was determined by his circumstances.

                When the circumstances pleased Jonah, he was happy.

Jonah 4:6 (KJV) ⁶ And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.

                When the circumstances did not please Jonah, he was upset.

Jonah 4:7-8 (KJV) ⁷ But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. ⁸ And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

Jonah thinks anger is beneficial. 

Jonah falsely believes his anger is justified. 

Jonah 4:9 (KJV) ⁹ And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.

God reminds Jonah of what is important.

Jonah 4:10-11 (KJV) ¹⁰ Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: ¹¹ And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Lessons to be learned from Jonah.

1.          We respond in anger when God doesn’t do what we want Him to do.

             2.          We want the mercy and grace of God in our own lives, but the justice of God in the lives of others.

             3.          Anger is a heart problem.

Mark 7:14-15 (KJV) ¹⁴ And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: ¹⁵ There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Mark 7:20-23 (KJV) ²⁰ And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: ²³ All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

God’s ?...doest thou well to be angry?

Jonah 4:4 (KJV) ⁴ Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?

• Do we have a right to be angry?
• Is our anger beneficial?
• Is it good, is it best for us?

Some verses to consider…

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Romans 12:21 (KJV) ²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 15:13 (KJV) ¹³ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

James 1:20 (KJV) ²⁰ For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

John 14:27 (KJV) ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) ⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

Ending Appeal. Recovery without Relapse

Ending Appeal

Recovery without Relapse

The Truth Makes Free:

To walk in freedom, your personal belief system MUST be based on THE TRUTH!

John 8:32 (KJV) ³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

               In RU, you will learn to live the Spirit filled life.

·        Filled with His Power.

·        Sensitive to internal and external triggers that stimulate our addiction.

               In RU, you will learn to allow God to heal the underlying conditions that have created  and maintained your dependency on substances or destructive behavior.

·        Addiction and destructive behaviors are a search for relief and answers.

·        The answer is: JESUS IN YOU AND YOU IN JESUS!

Testimony of Victory:

Read the appendix in the book.  In it is a great story of victory about a man who once lived a defeated live, bound with a crippling addiction.  He found freedom using the tools of Reformers Unanimous utilizing these important truths:

               1.  Meet with God consistently every morning and throughout the day.  As you do, your                Spiritual armor that you put on will become increasingly thicker and stronger day by day  as                you consistently cast down lustful thoughts Satan will throw at you.

               2.  Surrender triggers to God.  Stop holding on to them.

               3.  Continue, daily, Christ-empowered love to encourage fellow believers to be generous and        kind and reach out to others with compassion and Godly love.

Hebrews 3:13 (KJV) ¹³ But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

               4.  Willingly seek to endure whatever adversity or trials necessary to be taken to a place                where you can be transformed the most.  Cling to the Lord during these times.

Enter not into Temptation:

1.  Wound:  There is a pattern of a vicious cycle that starts with a wound.  The word wound means damage, a grievance, a harm, an injury.  These are difficulties, injustices, and hurts.  It is saying, I’ve been wronged, I’ve been hurt or I’ve been abused.

2.  Offense:  The word offend means to push toward a transgression; to make to stumble.  This is what happens in our lives.  We have wounds and problems that we have not dealt with properly and appropriately.  We are walking along, and, all of a sudden, we get wounded; we get hurt.

3.  Permission in our Mind:  After the wound and offense, we give ourselves permission to do wrong.  We use the wound and offense as an excuse, as a reason. 

4.  Fleshly Appetite:  Now the flesh has taken over.  It is in control. It is hard to stop.

5.  Opportunity:  We create our own or use one presented to us.  We satisfy the flesh and make the wrong choice.  We sin.

6.  Justify our Wrong:  We excuse ourselves from the wrong.  We rationalize and justify what we did.  We blame it on others.

7.  Cover it Up:  We try to cover it up.  We tell no one, at least no one who can help.   We try to act as if there is nothing wrong.

8.  Conscience Rebukes; the Holy Spirit Convicts:  Shame or guilt.  Our conscience makes us ashamed.  We feel bad about ourselves.  The Holy Spirit convicts us.  He reveals our sin.

9.  Start Over:  We begin again.  We may detox.  We may start attending meetings again. We promise and pledge to never do it again.

Breaking this Cycle:

1.  One Step:  Jesus Christ!

There is really only one step, and that step is Jesus Christ.  He alone has the power to redeem and the power to cleanse and the power to heal and the power to free.

2.  Forgive!

When wounded and offended you must learn to forgive.  You must learn to let it go.  Forgiveness says , I’m going to release you, I’m not going to bring it up to you, I’m not going to bring it up to others, I’m not going to meditate on it, I’m releasing you.

               a.  Remember we have been forgiven.

 John 1:8-9 (KJV) ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

               b.  Remember we need to forgive others.

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) ³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Matthew 18:21-35 (KJV) ²¹ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? ²² Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. ²³ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. ²⁴ And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. ²⁷ Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. ²⁹ And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. ³⁰ And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. ³¹ So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. ³² Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: ³³ Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? ³⁴ And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. ³⁵ So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

3.  Walk with God.

See the summary of the man who found victory.  It is Jesus Christ who heals your hurts and frees you from bondage.

Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) ⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

The Joy of Ministering

I.  The JOY of Ministering (5)

2 Corinthians 4:5 (KJV)
⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

                A.           Jesus First: (a)

He should be the focus of the ministry.

                B.           Others Second: (b)

…ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

                C.            Yourself Last

II.   The MOON of Ministering (6)

How does the moon give forth light? IT REFLECTS THE LIGHT of THE SUN

2 Corinthians 4:6 (KJV) ⁶ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

                A.           First, We Must RECEIVE the Light (a)

Salvation.  The light is the truth.  Darkness is unbelief.

                B.           Second, We Must REFLECT the Light (b)

Jesus Christ is the FACE of God’s light.  This in reference to the incarnation.

III.  The TREASURE of Ministering (7)

2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV) ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

                A.           The Treasure is Jesus Christ

It is our salvation.  It is the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

                B.           We are the Vessel; Our Content makes us Valuable.

Paul compares us to earthen vessels. Earthen vessels or clay jars were the disposable containers of Bible days, so that their life spans were generally a few years at the most because they were so fragile and broke so easily. These clay jars were a part of everyday living as they were used for cooking, eating, drinking, and storing leftover food. They were used to store and transport water, olive oil, wine, grain, garbage, and even family treasures.

These pots were called ostraca, which is from the Greek word for "pottery." These vessels were made of shells which are very brittle or clay that was fired in a kiln. No one took note of clay jars any more than we would of a plastic container. They were simply there for convenience. They were, in a way, "servants" to the ones who used them. It was no great tragedy when such vessels were broken. These jars were cheap and easy to replace.

Paul compares us to these simple clay pots that were many times chipped and cracked. When they were used, the focus was not on the clay pots, it was upon the splendor of what was within them, especially if the contents of the earthen vessels were treasures or delicious foods.

The content of the vessel gives it its value.  The content of our vessel gives value.  Feel unimportant, unworthy, unsuccessful, without purpose…Jesus Christ fills our vessel giving it great value!  I may be a crack pot, but my contents value is unlimited!

2 Timothy 2:21—If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

1 Thessalonians 4:4—That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;.

You responsibility is to find out from Him what He wants you to do with your life. Notice what the Lord stated to Ananias in Acts 9.

Acts 9:15—But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

No Christian should ever complain to God because of his lack of abilities, because of his limitations or handicaps. The creation of your life was in the hands of the Lord. God wants you to accept yourself and be yourself.

Psalm 139:13-16—... For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. [14] I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. [15] My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. [16] Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

What does God want you to do?

                1.            Surrender…Do His Will!

                2.            Shine…Poke Holes in the Darkness!

                3.            Sow…Tell Others of Jesus!