Bitterness Is An Extremely Powerful Emotion

"Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil." Ephesians 4:26-27 How does one "give place to the devil"? Anger is an open door for the devil. He loves to create circumstances leading us into anger, because through the anger of man he can bring about all kinds of evil. Anger opens us up for bitterness to take over our hearts and once bitterness takes hold, the soul is spoiled. Bitterness is an extremely powerful emotion and does not leave us willingly. ONLY through Christ can we be delivered out of it. The words of a bitter person change the atmosphere in the room, indeed they defile not only the speaker's heart, but they defile the hearts of the hearers. Scripture says that many are defiled by the soul of the bitter person. Anyone in the presence of a person who is spouting out filthy anger is defiled just by hearing it. "...lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this MANY BECOME DEFILED;" Hebrews 12:15 Bitterness cannot produce good for it is evil in itself. When we are hurt, when we are angry at someone, the natural response is to hurl angry and bitter words back. But those angry responses cannot bring any hoped-for results, they will only further the turmoil. They will not bring the hearer into understanding your point, they can only make the person more angry. Always remember this: "The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God." James 1:20 Satan constantly tries to create scenes of bitterness. Oh how he loves to get people embroiled against each other. In fact, he actively goes around looking for people he can work through to bring about all sorts of hatred and anger and bitterness: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR." 1st Peter 5:8 The Scripture continues and shows us what our response to Satan must be: vs 9: "RESIST him, steadfast in the faith..." Resist him. Refuse to participate in angry exchanges. Be aware that Satan brought about the bitter argument, it is not the person, it is Satan causing this. If you truly understand this, that understanding will enable you to refuse to continue in it. RESIST him. "I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, LEST SATAN should take advantage of us; FOR WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES." 2nd Corinthians 2:10-11 Jesus said of Satan: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." John 10:10 Stop him in his tracks. Refuse to be a part of it. Instead, be merciful, be kind, be aware that the bitter person is a victim of the workings of Satan and is ensnared in it as surely as an animal is secured in a trap. You who understand this, do not engage in that bitterness lest you too become defiled with it. Father, we pray: Satan, our unseen enemy, causes circumstances designed to lead us into anger because he knows that out of man's anger he can bring about all manner of evil. Help us O God, to recognize these plots for what they are, and to say to them "NO." Let us not grieve your Holy Spirit with the defilement that wrath works in us, but rather grant us grace to overcome, to defeat the wiles of the devil, and to have a right heart before you. "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30