“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31,32 (KJV)

Peter confronted bitterness in Simon, the sorcerer, and he said he could see that Simon was in the gall of bitterness and in bondage to sin. (Acts 8:20-23).

“Then answered, Simon and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things that ye have spoken come upon me.” (Acts 8:24 KJV).

Romans chapter three describes the evil wicked sinner - the lost man far from God. Look how it is worded. “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” (KJV)

Do you see how anger, cursing and bitterness all are tangled together to destroy the person? Who wants mankind destroyed? Satan. It is he that whispers in the believer’s ear such lies as: “You are being treated unfairly! You don’t have to put up with things like this! Jesus drove the wrongdoers out with whips; be like Him and stand up for your rights!”

Those kind of thoughts come straight from the pit of hell! We all must be on guard at all times, because we are all subject to this weakness. On days when we are sick or overly tired we are especially vulnerable.

“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:14-16 KJV).

We see from this passage of Scripture that bitter envying and strife comes from the devil. Satan’s demons are at work here. He delights in bringing contention between Christians. He loves to split churches. He loves to see Christians fall into his trap of anger. Some Christians say it is okay to be angry. Some even justify being angry with God! God says it is not okay to be angry with any one! Most of our problems are the result of disobedience to God, but in spite of that fact, it is human nature to blame God when things go wrong!

If we listen to Satan and become angry, we will soon find that anger building into wrath and rage! We become bitter and that bitterness can spiral out of control. Then we find ourselves angry with God and everyone around us! Our Christian testimony is now destroyed, and we are soon destroyed as well!

God in His faithfulness loves us too much to leave us in such a condition and will do whatever is necessary to get our attention. When we become aware of the fact that we have sinned and ask God to forgive and cleanse us, He will draw us into His loving arms and forgive us totally. Our fellowship with God is now renewed, but we have to forgive those who hurt us, before this can happen.

Certain sins such as drugs, hypnosis, palm reading, alcohol, tarot cards, etc., allow the demon of temper, anger, and violence inside our hearts and minds. Anyone who has been set free from demonic possession has to be very careful not to ever go back to their old ways. Now more than ever, one must heed the warning of James 4:7, “Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee” (James 4:7 KJV)

The self-centered person is an irritable person who is easily angered. Look at what the Living Bible says about the selfish man.

“The selfish man quarrels against every sound principle of conduct by demanding his own way” (Proverbs 18:1 TLB)

Cain, the very first man ever born, was selfish and violent and killed his own brother, Able. Why did Cain do such a horrible thing? The Apostle John gives three reasons for this dreadful action:

1. He was evil.
2. He was jealous.
3. He was dominated by Satan. See (I John 3:12).