Anger

Ephesians 4:26

Anger is an extreme motivator. It can bring about good change within our lives (anger at being unhealthy becomes positive healthy change; anger at sin can bring us closer to God), or it can bring about terrible situations and evil deeds (anger at God for losing a loved one; anger and frustration at fellow Christians can lead to falling from the faith). What we can learn from God is that anger is simply an emotion – one that must be closely controlled.

Anger is an Emotion.

Is anger good or bad?

“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.” - Ben Franklin

Anger is separate from our reasoning. It exists outside of that.

When we become angry, there is usually some cause or stimulus of it.

Many times the world will tell us that anger is bad. (Yoda - “fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate...” - not necessarily!)

The truth is, anger is neither good nor bad, but it is an EMOTION, a factor that can drive us toward certain actions.

Anger should not control us!

“Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.”-Aristotle

Ephesians 4:25–27 NKJV

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

Does anger cause sin? It can, but it does not automatically follow that it ALWAYS does.

Anger can be a strong motivator toward good OR bad.

God has anger!

God's anger is provoked...

by irresponsibility (The burning bush): Exodus 4:14

Exodus 4:14 NKJV

So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

by murmuring and complaining (Complaints of the Israelites): Numbers 11:1 ...and His anger was kindled.

Numbers 11:1 NKJV

Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.

by idolatry - Deuteronomy 32:21-22

Deuteronomy 32:21–22 NKJV

They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled in My anger, And shall burn to the lowest hell; It shall consume the earth with her increase, And set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

Not just an Old Testament thing!

The deceit of Ananias and Sapphira provoked God's wrath in their destruction – Acts 5:1-11

Acts 5:1–11 NKJV

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

Jesus looked upon the Scribes and Pharisees “with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart” Mark 3:5

Mark 3:5 NKJV

And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Certainly since the LORD exhibits anger, it can't be wrong in this context.

God never allows His anger to control Him.

It is an outcropping of what is already there, an emotion that guides His actions, yet never overwhelms Him. Romans 1:18

Romans 1:18 NKJV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Whenever God strikes out in His anger, especially in the OT, there is a legitimate cause and reason. God does not abandon reason and logic when he is angry.

However, anger CAN bring us to bad places if we allow it to control us. We are not God!

Anger can be a cause for Sin.

Genesis 4:1-8 - Cain's wrath leads to the murder of Abel and Cain's exile

We know through Hebrews that something about Cain's offering was unacceptable and that he could have done right.

God deals fairly with him (v.6,7) – if he cleans up his act, God will bless him.

v.7 - “and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door: and unto thee shall be its desire, but do thou rule over it.”

We learn that we are to RULE OVER our sin, and that applies very much to ruling over our anger!

Numbers 20:8-12 - Moses' anger at striking the rock leads to not being able to lead the people into Canaan.

Anger is not specifically mentioned, and pride is the ultimate problem here, but we know that Moses was frustrated with the people that God had him to lead.

Frustration is just as big of a problem, and can bring us to this prideful state.

Anger is to be CONTROLLED!

1 Sam 25 - Nabal greatly offended David and his mighty men.Abigail, the wife of Nabal, helped David relent from killing Nabal. More blood would have been upon David’s hands, yet Abigail helped stop him.

Anger can lead us to do things that will damage us over people that are frankly not worth the effort.

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice:

Colossians 3:8 but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:

Eph 4:31; Col 3:8

These words are connected for a reason. Malice is the hatred we have when our anger has consumed us. Railing is the rage that we speak or act out against the objects of our anger.

When anger consumes us like this, we are not thinking logically or rationally. We become pawns in the adversary's game.

Anger can be a cause for Righteousness.

1 Samuel 17:26-29 – Compare the anger of David's brother Eliab and David's own anger. Who put their anger to the best use?

Eliab is busy criticizing his little brother, while David asks, “is there not a cause?”

I'm afraid there are too many Eliabs in the Church today, and not enough Davids. We want to get angry about trivial things (My football team lost, my favorite show was canceled, my boss is a jerk), while greater matters (Work of the local church, attendance, false doctrine, sharing the Gospel) seem of little or no importance.

We need to be angry with what the LORD is angry with!

Jesus' scourging of the Temple (Two times) were acts of anger put to the benefit of ZEAL (Matthew 21, Mark 11, John 2:3-17).

No doubt that this was righteous anger! The Son knew and understood that His Father's house was being misused.

Sometimes to start solving a problem, we must get ANGRY about it!

There is power in Righteous Anger! Rom 12:9; 2 Cor 7:11

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

If we don't abhor (or HATE) evil enough, our love for God and Man will never be what it needs to be.

2 Corinthians 7:11 - Our anger needs to be directed at the sin in our lives, and the adversary who tempts us into it – NOT at God, His Word, or anyone showing us the truth!

Get angry about things that God is angry with! Hate what He hates! Eph 5:11; 1 Jn 2:15-17

It takes anger to reprove others. Ephesians 5:11

It takes anger to resist the charm of the world. 1 John 2:15-17

Salvation is only through the blood of Christ. Are you angry enough at your sin that you want to be cleansed of it?