TOPIC: DEALING WITH ANGER
TEXT: EPHESIANS 4:26-27
"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil."
Dealing with the emotion of anger is a complex and challenging issue that confronts us every day. Anger is short of just one letter from danger. Therefore if anger is not managed properly, it can be very dangerous and destructive. It impacts negatively on our physical, relational and spiritual lives. We are all living witnesses to the devastating effects of anger on marriages, relationships, businesses and even nations.
Anger cripples proper reasoning and decisions made in anger are dangerous and usually regrettable.
Anger is expressed in different degrees of behavioural patterns. Let's look at three of them: spontaneous rage, wrath and resentment.
RAGE:
Rage is a spontaneous reaction to what you heard or actions from others. It is sudden anger which could be very harmful if not properly managed or controlled. It can lead to violence and destruction of properties.
Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
This kind of anger should not be mentioned among true believers. It belongs to the old nature of the unregenerate sinner. Therefore, no blood-washed believer should exhibit rage no matter the provocation.
WRATH:
Wrath is anger that wants revenge, that wants to retaliate, and that wants to return the hurt that the offender has caused him.
Wrathful anger gives birth to the unforgiving spirit.
The Bible cautions us not to accommodate this kind of anger." Be angry and sin not, let not the sun go down upon your wrath." Never you harbour any offence in the heart. Settle them immediately. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us how to settle offences:
Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
RESENTMENT:
This is anger that a person suppresses over a long period, As it develops inside the person, it produces self-pity that eventually turns
to bitterness.
This kind of anger damages the human personality and destroys the relationship with others.
We can settle every matter instead of bottling it up in our hearts. The principle in Matthew 18 verses 15 to 17 can also be applied.
HOW TO DEAL WITH ANGER.
Having seen the danger of anger, let's now explore the word of God to find solutions to this human challenge.
*JESUS IS THE ANSWER
As earlier indicated, anger is the work of the flesh being manifested by the unregenerate sinner. The only one that can save such sinner from sin is Jesus.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Jesus came into the world to save us from sins including the sin of anger. You must acknowledge your sin and ask for forgiveness and be truly born again. Allow your heart to be purged by the blood of Jesus and have freedom from anger.
*REGULATE YOUR THOUGHTS
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
The passage above commands us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ before it becomes a stronghold of resentment in our mind. Any hurting thought should be discarded and let go. It does not worth your time and attention. Don't dwell on it, ignore it!.
*HAVE A MINDSET OF FORGIVENESS
Forgive your offenders whether they acknowledge their offences or not. Don't wait till they come for forgiveness before you can forgive them. Have a mindset of forgiveness even before the offence was committed. That was the lesson our Lord Jesus Christ passed across to the disciples when He said they should forgive seventy times seven times a day.
Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
*REGULAR HEART EXAMINATION
Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Lay aside your pride and anger and be at peace. Humble yourself before God and allow Him to regularly purge you of any growing resentment. Don't assume you are alright, present yourself before the Eternal Judge to examine you.
AVOID HOT TEMPERED PEOPLE
Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man, thou shalt not go: 22:25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Anger is contagious. Stay away from people with the virus of anger to avoid being infected.
*THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK OR ACT
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
*SEEK FOR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Thirst for God and deeper spiritual experiences. Create a conducive environment in your soul where the Spirit can bear fruit and flourish.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law.
LET'S PRAY
🙏Thank the Lord for the revelation of His word.
🙏Ask God for forgiveness for any act of uncontrolled anger that has affected you.
🙏Pray that God will sanctify your heart and uproot the root of anger from you.
🙏Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
🙏Pray that God will give you strength and courage for your daily obedience.
God bless you.
