ANGER ; SINFUL OR NOT
Date: May 18th 2005
Text: Ephesians 4:26-32
I. ANGER IS NOT SINFUL IN AND BY ITSELF
A. It’s ok to get angry; God does.
1. God gets angry
a. (Psalm 85:4) Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
b. (Psalm 7:11) God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
2. Jesus got angry
a. When they thought evil of him for healing on the Sabbath day. (Mark 3:5) And when He had looked around about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts…
b. When they misused the house of the Lord. (Matt. 21:12) He cast them out.
B. In all of God’s anger never did He sin one time, How did He not sin?
C. (Eph. 4:26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.
II. WHAT IS ANGER?
A. Definition: anger is a strong feeling of displeasure or hostility caused by a real or perceived offence, injury, or unmet desire to one’s self or other, usually accompanied by a desire to retaliate or seek revenge.
B. The New Testament has three words for anger:
1. Thumos----meaning explosive anger (Eph. 4:31 “wrath”)
2. Orge-----an settled attitude of indignation that frequently seeks revenge. (Eph.4:31 “anger”)
3. Parorgismos---anger mingled with irritability, and /or embitterment. (Eph.4:26 “anger”; Eph.6:4 “provoke…to anger”
C. Therefore, anger is not a thing; it is not just something inside of you. All parts of our nature are involved (emotional, physiological, mental, spiritual, behavioral, etc.)
D. Anger has an object , a target human or nonhuman.
E. Anger is often a means of coercing, manipulating, and intimidating--A weapon used to get what we want or used to punish someone when we don’t get what we want.
III. WHEN IS OUR ANGER SINFUL ?
A. When it grows out of pride, hurt feelings etc.
B. When it grows from things done to ourselves and not someone else.
C. When it is bottled up
D. When it explodes uncontrollably
E. When it is expressed in sinful ways
IV. TWO SINFUL EXPRESSIONS OF ANGER ARE:
A. Ventilation (blowing up)
1. (Proverbs 19:11) Tells us that we are to “deferreth” our anger and “pass over transgression.”
2. (Proverbs 25:28) Tells us that “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. No walls meaning no protection from the enemy!
3. When anger is ventilated the energy from it is wasted and used to tear up others or things.
B. Internalization (claiming up)
1. (Lev. 19:17-18) tells us that when we hold anger in it turns into hatred, grudge and wants to avenge.
2. Eph. 4:26 Tell us to “Be angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” (parorgismos)
3. Eccl. 7:9 “Be not hasty in the spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
4. When anger is internalized the energy is wasted and used to tear up self.
V. HOW CAN WE HANDEL OUR SINFUL ANGER ?
A. Recognize that most of your anger is sinful.
B. Identify idolatrous thinking and desires. (idols of the heart)
1. Not getting your way or what you want (James 4:1-3)
2. Wanting things too much so that they become idols of the heart. (Rom.1:25)
3. Sinful thoughts and desires ( immoral or evil thoughts, pride, envy, selfishness, etc.)
4. Questions to ask yourself :
a. Do I get angry about the right things---sin? (consider James 4:1-3)
b. Do I express my anger the right way, in a way that is pleasing to God? (1 Cor.13:4-7)
c. How long does my anger last? A I a “slow burn” or a “volcano?”
d. What motivates my anger? I.e. “I want my way. Because I can’t have it, I am angry”
e. What is the effect of my anger? Is it an effective testimony for Christ?
C. Identify sinful ways we express anger.
1. Blowing up (Eph, 4:31; Col. 3:8; Rev. 15:1)
2. Claming up (not keeping current; quick tempered---“orge” (Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; James 1:19-20)
3. Becoming irritable, or bitter in your anger (“parorgismos” Eph. 4:26; 6:4)
4. Attacking a substitute (i.e. Kick the dog, or hit the wall)
5. Denying the anger
D. Confess your sins to God and others. (Matt. 5:23-24)
1. “confess” means to say the same thing that God would says…. It is not simply saying I’m sorry
2. Limit confession to those who were sinned against. (don’t tell every one else, they cannot forgive)
E. Determine, with God’s help to repent of your sin.
1. “repent” means to have a change of mind that leads to a change of actions. (2 Cor. 7:10)
` 2. We can never have lasting, Godly change with out the Word of God.
3. Develop a plan to replace sinful anger with godly motives, thoughts, actions, etc. (Eph.4:22-24)
VI. CONCLUSION
A. Look for God in our frustrating situations. You’d think that Joseph had a right to be angry with his brothers for their evil, but instead he saw that God turned it into something good. (Gen. 50:20)
B. Don’t play God (Rom. 12:19) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Lev. 19:18 ; Deut. 32:35)
C. Return good for evil (Rom. 12:21) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
What did Joseph do when given the opportunity for pay back, he meet all their needs. (Gen 50:21)
D. Use the energy generated by anger to due good. “ Solve the problem” (Eph 4:15, 25-32)
E. We should do our part to solve the problem. ( be God’s kind of person Rom.12:18) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Contributors : Part of the information on this outline was gathered during a NANC conference in Greensboro, NC
