Pastor, I’m Angry

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:17-27

How do you handle your anger? Do you act out and retaliate? Do you revert to your old ways? Before we were Christians most of us handled our anger in different way’s. I believed, conflict demanded retaliatory conflict only stronger. I had a hard time handling my anger. How we handle our anger is an important. Anger can destroy communication and tear apart relationships. It ruins both our joy and health. People tend to justify their anger instead of accepting responsibility for it. Everyone struggles with anger. As with everything, scripture has principles regarding how to handle anger in a godly manner. How to overcome sinful anger. Tonight we look into what God has to say about anger.

Is Anger Sinful?:

No, anger is not always sin. There is a type of anger Scripture approves, “righteous indignation”. It is not anger and not emotion. It is a clear understanding of a bad situation because you have a divine viewpoint. So, there is no reaction that leads to anger and sin.

God is angry: Psalm 7:11 God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.

Mark 3:5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

Believers are commanded to be angry: Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Two Greek words are used for “anger” (orge and thumos), one means “passion, energy” and the other means “agitated, boiling”. Biblically, anger is God-given energy intended to help us solve problems.

Examples of biblical anger are Paul’s confronting Peter because of his wrong example in Galatians 2:11-14, David’s being upset over hearing Nathan sharing an injustice (2 Samuel 12), and Jesus’ anger at God’s temple in Jerusalem John 2:13-18. Look closely, none of these examples involved self-defense, but a defense of others or of a principle.

When Is Anger Sinful?:

1.) When it is selfishly motivated, James 1:20 2.) When God’s goal is distorted, 1 Corinthians 10:31 3.) When anger is allowed to linger, Ephesians 4:26-27. Why? Because the energy generated by anger is not attacking the problem, it is the person who is attacked.

Ephesians 4:15-19 says we are to speak the truth in love and use our words to build others up, not allow rotten or destructive words to pour from our lips. That is a common characteristic of fallen man Romans 3:13-14. Anger becomes sin when it is allowed to boil over without restraint. Anger also becomes sin when the angry one refuses to be pacified, holds a grudge, or keeps it all inside Ephesians 4:26-27. This can cause depression and irritability over little things, often things unrelated to the underlying problem.

How Can We Handle Our Anger?:

1.) Biblically, by recognizing and admitting our selfish anger and/or our wrong handling of anger as sin Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9. This confession should be both to God and to those who have been hurt by our anger. Do not minimize the sin by excusing it or blame-shifting.

2.) By seeing God in the situation,eEspecially when people have done something to offend us. James 1:2-4, Romans 8:28-29, and Genesis 50:20. All point to the fact that God is sovereign and in complete control over every circumstance and person that enters our path. Nothing happens to us that He does not cause or allow. God is a good God who allows all things in our lives for our good and the good of others. Reflecting on this truth until it moves from our heads to our hearts will alter how we react to those who hurt us.

3.) By allowing for God’s wrath. This is very important in cases of injustice, when “evil” men abuse “innocent” people. Genesis 50:19 and Romans 12:19 tell us to not play God. God is righteous and just, and we can trust Him who knows all and sees all to act justly Genesis 18:25

4.) By not returning evil for good Genesis 50:21; Romans 12:21. This is key to converting our anger into love. As our actions flow from our hearts, our hearts can be altered by our actions Matthew 5:43-48. We can change our feelings toward another by changing how we choose to act toward that person.

5.) Communicate to solve the problem. Four basic rules of communication are found in Ephesians 4:15, 25-32:

a.) Be honest and speak, people cannot read our minds. We must speak the truth in love.

b.) Stay current (Ephesians 4:26-27). We must not allow what is bothering us to build up until we lose control. Dealing with and sharing what is bothering us before it gets to that point is important.

c.) Attack the problem, not the person (Ephesians 4:29, 31). We must remember the importance of keeping the volume of our voices low (Proverbs 15:1).

d.) Act, not react (Ephesians 4:31-32). Because of our fallen nature, our first impulse is often a sinful one (v. 31). Take a moment, “count to ten”, reflect upon the godly way to respond (v. 32) and to remind ourselves how anger is to be used to solve problems and not create bigger ones.

We must act to solve our part of the problem (Romans 12:18). We cannot control how others act or respond, but we can make the changes that need to be made on our part. Overcoming a temper is not accomplished overnight. But through prayer, Bible study, and reliance upon God’s Holy Spirit, ungodly anger can be overcome. Just as we may have allowed anger to become part of our lives, we must practice responding correctly until it becomes a habit itself.