4 Major Pitfalls for Men Pt 3 Anger

4 Major Pitfalls for Men Pt 3 Anger

The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God(James 1:20 NKJV).  The issue of anger, its causes and effects, has been researched and discussed by many psychologists and therapists over the years, but the church has scantily touched this issue,even though the Bible is abundantly clear that anger unchecked can lead to demonic footholds; “When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wreath, your exasperation, your fury or indignation last until the sun goes down.  Leave no such room or foothold for the devil, give no opportunities to him”. (Eph 4:25-27 AMP).
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It’s obvious by passages such as these that anger can be an entrance point in our lives for the demonic, so it’s incumbent on us to understand what anger is, isn’t and how to bring it captive “to the obedience of Christ”.

There are two Primary Greek words for anger – orge – which in Ephesians 4:31 means –“desire  (as a reaching forth of the mind) i.e. violent passion (ire or justifiable abhorrence) by implication punishment, anger, indignation, wrath.  The other word is wrath, in Greek – Themos – passion, as of breathing hard, fierceness, indignation or wrath.
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Both these words describe violent passion or torrent of emotion invoking indignation and vengeance.  These are obviously carnal and fleshly response to situations and things, rather than in love and kindness and with mercy.
 
Many Christians attempt to compare their anger or wrath to the wrath or anger of God, such as Jesus’ anger at the Pharisees for their hard hearted unbelief (Mk 3:5) or his response to the money-changers in His Fathers House, the temple (Mk 11:15-16).  However, God’s anger and fury is wholly justified because of His Holiness and perfection.  Most of the anger man manifests originates not out of his holiness, but his pride and lack of love.  Matt 5:22 talks of this kind of anger – “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgment.  And whoever says to his brother “RACA!” shall be in danger of the council.  But whoever says, “You fool” shall be in danger of hell fire.  Raca is a term of utter contempt and vilification meaning “empty one”.  “Fool” means blockhead or moron. So it is not OK to lash out this way to others.

Here are some insights into anger:

1)   Man’s anger doesn’t bring righteousness, but stumbling (James 1:20).
2)   Anger is described as a work of the flesh (Gal 5:20).
3)   Before receiving salvation in Jesus Christ, we were by nature children of wrath (Eph 2:3).
4)   The Bible commands us to put off or put away our anger, not express it or vent it on people (Eph 4:31, Col 3:8).
5)   The Lord Jesus holds us responsible for our anger towards one another (Matt 5:22).
6)   Anger does not come upon us or from outside of us, but like other carnal, fleshly responses, it comes from within the heart and proceeds out of us (Mk 7:14-23).
7)   Anger is a manifestation of human pride and selfish ambition (Rom 2:8).
8)   Anger comes when rights we feel we have are violated (Bill Gothard) or expectations we place upon others are not fulfilled.  The law brings about anger (Rom 4:15). Why? NO ONE likes to be told what to do.     
9)   Anger resides in the bosom of the fools (Eccl 7:9).
10)   An angry person will stir up strife, contention, and war and abounds in transgression (Pr 29:22).
11)  We’re told not to be friends with an angry man (Pr 22:24).
12)    Anger will occur, but we’re not to hang on to it for more than a day (Eph 4:26) and to be slow to anger (James 1:19).
13)   God did not destine us for wrath, but salvation (1Thes 5:9).
14)    With anger come backbiting and an angry countenance (Pr 25:23).
15)    Anger is described like a torrential rain and flood (Pr 25:23).

So how do I turn away from anger?

• A soft answer turns it away (Pr 15:1)
• A harsh word stirs it up (Pr 15:1)
• Being slow to anger causes confrontation to ease (Proverbs 15:18)  is better than the mighty and is an evidence of a person who rules his own spirit 
• (Pr 16:32)Being slow to anger is a sign of discretion and glory.
• A gift in secret pacifies it (Pr 21:14).
  

Let go of it. Humble yourself,let it go and receive grace from God.