Anger

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Reference

Ephesians 4:26, 30-32

Discipleship Goal:
- The Word of God and the Apostle Paul commands Christians to put off unrighteous anger.
- Self-Evaluation: On a scale of 1-10 how quick are you to lose your temper and become angry?
- What does the Bible say about anger?
  - Proverbs 14: 29
  - Proverbs 19:11
  - Ecclesiastes 7:9
  - Matthew 5:22
  - James 1:19
  - From our passage we need to consider three words that will help keep a cool head. Three words to help us overcome an angry, volatile spirit.
- Educate
  - Something to think about: NOT ALL ANGER IS SINFUL
    - Ephesian 4:26
  - Something to think about: WE SHOULD NO ALLOW OUR ANGER TO BE MIXED WITH SIN
    - The Bible even ascribes anger to God. I Kings 11:9 God is angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from God.
      - Psalm 7:11 God is angry with the wicked every day. Jesus was angry in Mark 3:5.
      - Quote - ''This type of anger hates what God hates. Injustice, immorality, ungodliness, and every kind of sin. When such anger is unselfish and based on love for God and others it is not only permissible, but commended.'' John. McArthur.
      - However, for most of us this is not the kind of anger that we deal with!
      - Sinful anger is all about me. It is self-defensive and self-serving. Sinful anger is resentful of what is done against oneself.
      - EVEN RIGHTEOUS ANGER CAN TURN SOUR - ''Don't let the sun go down on your wrath or anger.'' Even righteous anger can turn to bitterness, so we should set it aside at the end of the day.'' Don't let bitterness have an opportunity to take root in your heart. Now if righteous anger is dangerous for us to hold on to too long, imagine how much more dangerous unrighteous anger can be!
      - Application: We play the scene over and over in our mind. We think of the injustice that has been done to us or someone else. We build our case, we present the evidence, we pass judgment, and hand down a sentence, all in our mind. The longer we think about it, the madder we get.
      - ANGER CAN LEAD TO OTHER SINS - ''Neither give place to the devil.'' A place can be translated a foothold or an opportunity. Literally the word means to make room for someone. Unchecked anger makes room for the devil to work in our life. The devil will quickly seize the opportunity of changing even righteous anger into a grievance, a grudge or an unwillingness to forgive. ILLUS: Men who murdered abortion clinic doctors. They let the devil take their righteous indignation over the murder of unborn babies and turn it into rage and murder.
      - UNRIGHTEOUS ANGER GRIEVES THE HOLY SPIRIT - vs. 30 He is saddened, what is more the ministry of the Holy Spirit is hampered when I harbor anger in my heart. When the Holy Spirit is grieved there is no revival in my life. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, there is no power, and no joy. Anger in a congregation will kill it. God will not move when unrighteous anger is present.
      - Something to think about: God’s Spirit will enable us to discern the difference between righteous and unrighteous anger!