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Anger Management

By Paul M. Sadler, President

Scripture Reading:
"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil."
-- Ephesians 4:26,27

Around the turn of the century, the Church was graced with an array of great preachers, but none were more tenacious and outspoken than Billy Sunday.  He seemed to have a way of driving home a point.  It is said that a woman once approached him after one of his meetings who was well known for her bad temper.  She sought to defend her actions by saying: "But Mr. Sunday, although I blow up over the least little thing, it's all over in a minute."  The evangelist looked her straight in the eye and said, "So is a shotgun blast!!  It's over in seconds, too, but look at the terrible damage it can do."

God created us with a wide range of emotions, each of which serves a purpose.  Yes, even anger can be good.  Contrary to popular opinion, anger itself is not sinful.  Notice how the apostle words his above statement, "Be ye angry, and sin not."  In essence, Paul is saying that we are well within our rights to be angry over an injustice or unrighteous circumstances.

The recent debate over "partial birth abortion" is a good example.  We should be incensed by "abortion" in general and horrified by "partial birth abortions" in particular.  Any procedure (usually performed at 7 or 8 months gestation) that allows the infant's head to remain in the birth canal while the abortionist forces a surgical instrument into the base of the skull to suction out the little one's brains is nothing short of first degree murder.  Here a righteous anger is perfectly justified.  In fact, there are scores of times in the Old Testament where the anger of the Lord is said to be kindled against His enemies (Num. 25:1-9; Jer. 12:13).

Surely our Lord is a prime example that anger itself is not
necessarily sinful, for He knew no sin.  Thus the Lord was well within the boundaries of godly behavior when He exhibited a righteous anger toward those who had made His Father's house a den of thieves (John 2:13-17).  In the future Tribulation Period those who reject God's anointed and worship the beast and his image, "the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone" (Rev. 14:10).

Carefully note, Paul adds to the phrase "be ye angry" a warning, "and sin not."  Unbridled anger can easily turn into a fit of uncontrollable rage which normally leaves a path of destruction in its wake.  Unchecked, anger that overflows into resentment almost always results in some form of retaliation.  This may take the form of verbal attacks, threats, or even physical abuse.

In a worst case scenario, it is much like a volcano that builds
pressure over a period of time and finally erupts.  Whenever you watch a news report of a lone gunman who enters his former place of employment with a semi-automatic weapon and kills his supervisor and three other fellow workers, you are witnessing the eruption of pent-up anger.  Another example is the believer who allowed his anger to get the better of him and shot an abortion doctor outside a clinic down south.  With one pull of the trigger, this young man disgraced the name of Christ, labeled all Christians as radicals in the eyes of the world, destroyed his personal testimony, and ended up with life in prison.  These are both cases where anger spun out of control with tragic results.

How to Deal with Anger

We are living in a day when philosophy says, "express yourself openly," "tell it like it is," "open up," "let it all hang out."  However, the Scriptures counsel us to exercise restraint.  

The fruit of the spirit is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22,23).  As we walk by grace through faith, temperance will enable us to keep our anger under control.  But how does this work out in a practical sense?  Those who fly off in a fit of rage permit their anger to take control of them.  Consequently, the energy emitted from this emotion is usually misdirected at someone or something.  Sinful anger tears down.  Thus, in the heat of the moment things are often said and done which cause irreparable damage to relationships.

Paul adds here in Ephesians, "let not the sun go down upon your wrath."  We should never allow our anger to simmer overnight.  This will only cause it to become more deeply seated.  "Neither give place to the devil" (Eph. 4:27).  You see, if you fail to handle things in the proper manner, you may well be giving Satan an opportunity to drive a deeper wedge in your relationships with others.  Surely, we are not ignorant of his devices.  Always remember, Satan is an opportunist.

<:)))><

It's interesting how that verse nevertheless still says to be angry -  "Be ye angry...".


It's also interesting how it uses a conjunction "and", "Be ye angry and sin not..."

I've always wondered about that.  It's actually a curious contradiction, or oxymoron.

If you are angry, it's usually a hairsbreath from sin.  Anger connotes sin, tho not automatically since, obviously, God Himself becomes very angry.  And Jesus, in the Temple.

But the wording obviously implies then, there are times when to be angry.

But do not sin with it.

I think the distinction, in anger, is self-control.  When anger is no longer controlled, it's sin.

For humans, meteing out anger has to be measured, or controlled.

We all get in many situations where this is sorely tested.  

"let not the sun go down upon your wrath:"

Does it also mean ones anger should be dealt with before the day is over?
Get rid of it do not let it fester or bother you any longer than the same day in which anger came. It should not be malicious.
Don't sleep with it.  
Is one giving place to the devil if one seethes in ones anger and doesn't rid oneself of it before sundown?
" Neither give place to the devil."

Perhaps the rest of the chapter answers th question about anger and if a Christian should be angered,

Ephesians 4:28.  "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
 29.  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
 30.  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
 31.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
 32.  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Being angry is not sin but what it can bring forth is, therefore
if one gets angry overcome it and forgive what or who caused the anger. Do it before the sun sets.

Thanks Symphony and Ollie :)


<:)))><

so true thanks for shareing this scrip in regaurds to anger.

Have you ever been Angry and did not know why?    :-\

Anger is an emotion God gave us!



His Word Says about Anger below;


Ephesians
CHAPTER 4:26-32

26   Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

   27   Neither give place to the devil.

   28   Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29   Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

   30   And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

   31   Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

   32   And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Holy Bible -- King James Version





Here's some more helpful information;

We all have heard the term;

"Sticks and Stone may Break my bones, but Names will Never hurt me!"   <~  This is untrue, Calling People NAMES DOES HURT PEOPLE!!!

Another term;

Put an "D" in front of anger = Danger!!!!

Please Think before we act out on anyone.  Remember Jesus Loves You!!!

Blessings,  \o/

KristiAnn
MsGuidedAngel



 

"TWO"Thumbs UP Sister



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