Anger James 1:19-20, Ecc 7:9, Ephe 4:26-27 & Ps 4:4-6

Anger is an outburst of temper; it can also be a form of emotional bullying, where it attempts to achieve by manipulation what we refuse to negotiate. Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it stands than to anything on which it is poured on. Because what we are fuming about outside is eating us away inside. Anger comes from the desire of our hearts James 4:1. Anger leads to a bitter spirit, a desire for revenge, getting our own back.

Anger can show itself in children as temper or tantrums while in adult as rage, power play, need to control, resentment etc. Note this: anger on its own is not a sin, it is part of life, but what we do with the emotion of anger can be a sin or not. Because anger is part of life, what we do with it is very vital. It is good to be angry but in your anger do not sin according to Ps 4:4

If anger rules over us then it becomes a sin. Anger that boils to sin disqualifies us from spiritual work as it puts us out of relationship with self, with others and with God. Anger is one of the four blockages that causes spiritual heart attack alongside guilt, greed and jealousy.

Types of anger:

There are different types of anger and acts of anger in the bible; for example:

1) Righteous anger Rom 1:8 this is anger against sin, evil or unrighteousness. Jesus had this anger; it comes as a result of holiness see Mark3:5. Psalms 7:11. Nevertheless, all anger should be short lived because if it is not short lived, the devil will use it to make us sin. It is said ‘… do not give opportunity to the devil in your anger…’ (Eph 4:26). Since anger is an emotion which has no morality, if allowed for a long time it might rule over you. In order to fight this anger, we ought to acquire self-control which is a fruit of the Spirit.

2) There is the active aggression; this is the dramatic & intense physical and verbal manifestation of anger.

3) Distance: this type allows us to dissolve relationships or damage them in order to self-protect. (Matt 5:23-26). Where safety is not an issue, distance is a neglect of our duty to strive for unity in our relationships.

4) Control; this type of anger is not easy to spot, as it often strategically covers itself with supposed good intentions and respectable motives.

5) Passive aggression; In this type, the angry person seeks to punish others through covert means.

In Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus is not talking about righteous anger; He was talking about the specific anger that boils-up ie the nurtured anger like in the story of Cain and Abel (Gen 4). A nurtured anger is that which grows, we cultivate it in our hearts and we are in no hurry to release, we allow it to grow like fuel waiting for a light of a match to cause fire of ourselves then we turn the fire to others.

This type of anger comes when we are hurt by someone or something, when we are threatened in some way, or not been in control. Ambrose Pierce said ‘speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will regret’. This is so true, James talks of something similar using the tongue in saying ‘the tongue is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body…, it sets the whole course of one’s life on fire…’ (James 3:6).

According to James 1:19-20, we ought to display joy and shun anger ie be quick to hear but be slow to speak because when we hear something especially that which we don’t like to hear, there is the tendency to speak… this is how the flesh operates. If we are angry, we say the wrong things. Nevertheless, maintaining joy of the heart is key to fulfilling God’s purpose for living. Isaiah tells us that ‘with joy we shall draw water out of the well of salvation’ (Isa 12:3)

Our faith prevails in an atmosphere of joy, meaning joy that comes from our inner man. Brothers and sisters, when we are angry we become like a roaring lion only heading to destroy self, others, or things. But holding back anger is so refreshing (Hosea 14:5).

How to get rid of anger:

Peter says, ‘get rid of all works of the flesh’ for which anger is one (1 Pet2:1). To get rid of anger, we must take on humility and love because these will cure the spirit of anger within a person (Eph 5:3). Pride in man exalts itself and God’s pattern for man’s walk is that of humility and love as shown in Phi 2:9.

We should cast all our anxiety onto Christ because He cares for us (1 Pet 5:7). Peter is simply saying that we should cast anything that will cause a divide in our hearts, anything that will pull us out of God and cause friction amongst us and others. Anger is one of such things. The best place for our anger is in the hands of the Lord.

We should involve other people in our anger ie people who will not stoke the fire of our anger. If we sit with wrong people in our anger, we will become angrier but if we sit with a really wise person that could be a trusted friend or counsellor; we can learn how to manage our anger.

We should pray about our anger; when we are done praying the first time, we should pray and pray again because if we fail to pray it will get messier. Prayers soften our hearts, mind and spirit.

We should reach out in courage to the person who got us angry… Courage because is not easy to have a conversation with someone who has hurt you. If one cannot meet face to face then one might write a letter (send a text message or email), but be mindful of your words. Let the words be kind and humble…

In our anger let us learn to open the doors of our hearts, minds & thoughts to God by saying ‘God help us’. Therefore we ought to make these words of Psalms 139:23-24 as our confession. ‘Search me oh God & know my heart… if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting’. God wants all of us, not part or half, but the whole of us, because anger has a way of dividing us.

Here is how anger can cost us

Ecc 7:9 says, ‘anger is a friend of fools’. When Moses came back from Mount Sinai and found the people worshipping an idol, he was so angry that he smashed to pieces the tablets of the law which God had written Ex 32:19. As his punishment, he had to engrave a tablet by himself Num 20:11. Moses’ anger got in the way of his walk with God and his ministry (Num 12:3).

Anger is a quick destroyer. We should not try to ‘tame it’, but avoid it. We ought to give ourselves to God in prayer and heed under the word of God, ie meditate on the word, because anger will cause us not to fulfil our calling. Anger can cost us our destiny like that of Moses, who because of anger never entered the Promised Land.

We ought to refuse to allow anger rule over us (Ps 37:8) because anger attracts demons into our lives. Reject any evil thoughts that might come into your mind out of anger. If the thoughts persist, speak to it using God’s words and rebuke it in Jesus name.

To conclude, we must guard our hearts as in Provb 4:23 because anger is part of life. Jesus understood anger as a human and the role it can play in our lives so He speaks about it in Matthew 5:21-22. Jesus here is implying we should not be angry as to sin because in Him we can overcome the evil spirit of anger. Christ’s righteousness will help us deal with our anger but only if we can hand it over to Him.

Friends, forgiveness removes the heart blockage of anger. Remember Paul said we must get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… Eph 4:31-32. This means we should separate ourselves from the emotion that causes anger.

Anger is not a sin but if we allow it to control us or if we commit any evil when angry, then it has become a sin. Anger gives a foothold to the devil (Eph 4:26-27), that is why we should not let it last within us.

Angry people always have a story as to why they think they should be angry. They hold on this story so as to let people sympathize with their need to be angry. One’s story explains one’s behaviour but the story doesn’t excuse the behaviour.

Let us give our story to God so that He can use the story to redeem us, so that out of the story comes a testimony. This means we should get to the point where our story no longer explains our behaviour but it stands in contrast to our behaviour.

May the Lord give us the wisdom to control our temper and anger; Let the joy of the Lord rule in our heart, mind & spirit in Jesus name

God bless you Amen