August 14, 2005

 

Anger, what to do with it…….continued..

 

4) Possess your anger, don’t let it possess you-Eph. 4:26-

in a context of putting off the old man and putting on the new (vs.22-23),

we are told by Paul to “Be angry and sin not”- likely from Psa. 4:4 and then “do not let the sun go down on your wrath”.  From this, two things are evident:

> There is a manner to be angry but without sin (appropriate anger)

> Whatever anger is---it is to not continue from day to day. (even appropriate anger)

   Verse 27 says “nor give place to the devil”—this suggests the possibility

of Satan taking advantage of our anger to use it as a basis of attack or manipulation.

1.  Whatever is producing anger should be dealt with as soon as possible so as to not prolong the state of anger.

2.  Any prolonged state of anger can have negative impact on our bodies, as well as our relationships.

3.  When dealing with justifiable anger, be careful that it does not produce

unjustifiable action.  This would be a case of right motive, but wrong action.

Whereas, divine anger may be both corrective and retributive, human anger

that is appropriate may only be corrective.  See Romans 12:17-21, James 1:20.

4.  It may be wise to ask oneself, “What is this anger (appropriate) motivating me to do and how may I do it wisely?”

5.  Keeping short accounts on anger is beneficial to all parties.  It will require humility to admit that our anger was not justified or that our justifiable anger was acted out poorly.- Prov. 6:1-5 and I Peter 5:5.

6.  The emotional turmoil of anger may prevent needed sleep or rest, so as much as possible, settle differences before nightfall.  The pursuit of peace and reconciliation is right and rewarded - I Peter 3:10-12 and 4:8.

 

                       Some thoughts on God’s anger—

1)  Divine displeasure is expressed through the use of anthropopathism; that is,

language where we attribute a human emotion (anger) to God.  It is much like scripture that says, “God repented..”   [It is similar to anthropomorphism, which is to attribute human body parts to God.]

2.  Divine anger flows out of God’s perfect righteousness as a negative expression toward sinful and disobedient behavior.  Numbers 11:1, 10;

I Kings 16:2; Psa. 7:11, 78:58.  Therefore, anger by God is appropriate and justified in all cases as He is perfect- Deut.32:4; II Sam.22:31.

3) Divine anger is preceded by divine patience and rebuke—Neh. 9:17;

Psa. 78:38, 103:8, 145:8; Jonah 3:9, 4:2—but the anger eventually will bring destruction and misery upon the rebellious- Deut. 4:24-27; Jeremiah 7:16-20;

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Ezk. 5:13.

   The period of the Great Tribulation will climax with a day of God’s wrath- see Rev. 6:16-17, 14:10, 19, 15:1, 19:15.

4.  The only way to avoid God’s wrath is through the One who suffered the wrath of God on the cross as our substitute- Romans 3:25-26, 5:8-11; Gal.3:13;