Using Anger As A Tool

USING ANGER AS A TOOL

INTRODUCTION: Anger is often given a bad name in our minds. Yet, God has given anger, just as every other emotion, to us. The issue is not to be or not to be angry, but how we can be angry biblically. So for the next few weeks, we are going to look at the issue of anger, with the goal of learning to act rather than react with anger.

So, lets first look at what anger actually is:

ü Anger by definition is a strong emotion of displeasure

o Anger occurs when a need is not met

o Anger occurs when an expectation is not met

o In the Bible anger is described as being hot-tempered, or quick-tempered

Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

ü The Old Testament word for this is “aph”

o It means literally “nose or nostrils”

o Came to mean a flaring of the nostrils – kind of like the fire breathing dragon

o Two idioms developed with the Hebrews

Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

ü The term “slow to anger” is “long of face/nose”

Proverbs 22:24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,

ü The term “easily angered” is “short of face/nose”

ü In the New Testament the term is “orge”

o Originally, this meant, “any natural impulse or desire”

o Later, it came to signify anger as the strongest of all passions.

o The word is also translated as wrath

ü Anger is like heat – it has degrees

o Anger can range from mild and controlled to explosive and uncontrolled.

o Anger is a general term that describes several levels

ü Level 1 -- Indignation

Luke 13:13-14 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. 14Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."

o Means to be fell pain, be grieved, internal indignation

o This level of anger comes from something appearing unjust or unworthy

o Typically, the person having this kind of anger thinks they are JUSTIFIED in being angry!

o Indignation is the lowest level of anger and could be compared to a pot spaghetti sauce simmering

ü Level 2 -- Wrath

Romans 1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

o This level of anger is a desire to avenge

o This is the level that move anger from internal simmering to external expression

o This level can be defined as: Anger, temper, wrath, and indignation. It is not an uncontrolled, unthinking, violent reaction. It is deep, permanent, settled, thoughtful, controlled anger and temper.

o When used of God, it is always an anger that is righteous and just and good. It is an anger that stands against the sin and evil, violence and slaughter, immorality and injustices of men. It is an anger that abhors and hates sin and evil and that dishes out a just revenge and equal justice. However, it is an anger that is deeply felt;

o This is the second level of anger and could be compared to that same pot of sauce, but now instead of simmering, it is boiling.

ü Level 3 – Furious

Acts 5:30-33 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.

· Meaning is to be cut to the heart or to have the heart cut in two

· This level of anger comes with the removal of common sense

· This level of anger is intense enough to control our actions

· This is the level that results in some sort of harm or destruction

o See it again in Acts 7

Acts 7:54-57 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."