The Seven Deadly Sins: Anger--(wrath, mad, boiling, hot headed, cruel, rage, violent) Jesus said, that the law says not to murder, but anyone who has wrath, violence, anger--has the spirit of murder living in them. We live in an angry society, don’t cross them or you will get it.
The bad thing about this sin: everyone has let anger cause them to say or do things they later regret. Tonight, let’s explore what anger is, what it does, and what is the Biblical descriptions of this deadly sin.
Let’s look at these words: anger,angry, wrath, violence and rage.
Anger--Proverbs 15:1--grievous words stir up anger. You must realize that people will try to prick you with words to stir up your anger. If you are an angry person, it is generally sparked by what someone said to you. Angry people are easily set off, and easily offended.
Proverbs 15:18-he that is slow to anger appeases strife. If you are someone who isn’t easily angered, you will stay out of a lot of trouble.
Proverbs 27:4- wrath is cruel and anger is outrageous. This means it is explosive. When you give into anger, it generally explodes. You say and do things you will later regret.
Ecclesiastes 7:9- anger rests in the bosom of fools. Solomon made the observation that when you are angered easily, you are operating foolishly. If you can’t control your anger, anger will control your life.
Col. 3:8- put off all of these, anger, wrath--don’t just live with it. Don’t excuse it by saying you come from a family of hot heads. Get it out of your life before it destroys something or someone. The longer you live with it, the stronger it will become in you.
Angry: Proverbs 22:24--make no friendship with an angry man. The simple reason is that their anger will one day explode on you. Or they will try to get you to join in their rage.
Matthew 5:22- anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause is in danger of the judgment. Carrying around anger is a sin. You cannot excuse it or justify it, it is sin. Jesus warns that if you carry this spirit in you, you will be in danger of being judged for it.
Violence- Psalms 11:5-he that loves violence the Lord hates. God hates the abuse in this world. He hates the rage and wrath of man.
Wrath--Proverbs 14:29--he that is slow to wrath is great
15:1- a soft answer turns away wrath
Ephesians 4:26--let not the sun go down on your wrath. Don’t take anger to bed with you, when you get up the next morning it will even be worse. Settling a matter quickly is better than letting it burn out of control.
James 1:19--be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. Here is a guiding principle of life. The last part says, don’t get mad easily. Don’t always be looking for a fight. Don’t stumble over small offenses.
close: years ago I was at a church basketball game where a minister thought the referee made the wrong call. This minister lost it, he ranted and raved until he was ejected from the game. In just a moments time, he damaged his witness before many people.
Proverbs 16:32--better is he that controls his spirit,(emotions) than he that conquers a city.
