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Author
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Topic: An Answer To Anger
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Michael Harrison
Advanced Member
Member # 6801
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posted
quote:
Anger is often the result of bad decisions. Esau was so angry at Jacob that he failed to see his own wrong in giving away his birthright in the first place. Jealous anger keeps us from seeing the benefits we have and makes us dwell on what we don’t have.
Anger is the result of not letting Him have dominion: So is jealousy; envy; so is every transgression because we invariably displace Jesus in it by our action, or reaction. Anger is the result of some variable which escapes our 'controlling' influence on our environment, and of others, in our self-deified right of dominion which we suppose ourselves to have as subjecting others to our will, as opposed to His will.
It is the opposite of the humility that comes with His grace!
![[Cross]](graemlins/cross.gif) I give you Jesus!
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
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posted
The Handbook of Bible Application
ANGER (Fury, Hostility, Rage)
UNCONTROLLED ANGER
When does anger become sin?
BIBLE READING: Genesis 4:1-16
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?” (Genesis 4:6, NIV)
Uncontrolled anger will lead to sin. The Bible does not say why God rejected Cain’s offering. Perhaps Cain’s attitude was improper, or perhaps his offering was not up to God’s standards. God evaluates both our motives and the quality of what we offer him. When we give to God and others, we should have a joyful heart because of what we are able to give.
How do you react when someone suggests you have done something wrong? Do you move to correct the mistake or deny that you need to correct it? After Cain’s offering was rejected, God gave him the chance to right his wrong and try again. God even encouraged him to do this! But Cain refused, and the rest of his life is a startling example of what happens to those who refuse to admit their mistakes. The next time someone suggests you are wrong, take an honest look at yourself and choose God’s way instead of Cain’s.
BIBLE READING: Genesis 27:1-41
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” (Genesis 27:41, NIV)
Anger is often the result of bad decisions. Esau was so angry at Jacob that he failed to see his own wrong in giving away his birthright in the first place. Jealous anger keeps us from seeing the benefits we have and makes us dwell on what we don’t have.
When Esau lost the valuable family blessing, his future suddenly changed. Reacting in anger, he decided to kill Jacob. When you lose something of great value, or if others conspire against you and succeed, anger is the first and most natural reaction. But you can control your feelings by (1) recognizing your reaction for what it is; (2) praying for strength; and (3) asking God for help to see the opportunities that even your bad situation may provide.
BIBLE READING: James 3:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:6, NIV)
Anger’s choice tool is the tongue. James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire—the tongue’s wickedness has its source in hell itself. The uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage. Satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them against one another . Idle words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken. We dare not be careless with our words, thinking we can apologize later, for even if we do, the scars remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before you speak, remember that words are like fire—you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.
CONTROLLED ANGER
How can we be angry without sinning?
BIBLE READING: Mark 3:5
KEY BIBLE VERSE: [Jesus] looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. (Mark 3:5, NIV)
Anger can be a holy response to sin. Jesus was angry about the Pharisees’ uncaring attitudes. Anger itself is not wrong. It depends on what makes us angry and what we do with our anger. Too often we express our anger in selfish and harmful ways. By contrast, Jesus expressed his anger by correcting a problem—healing the man’s hand. Use your anger to find constructive solutions rather than tear people down.
BIBLE READING: Mark 11:15-19
KEY BIBLE VERSE: As [Jesus] taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’” (Mark 11:17, NIV)
Anger does not have to lead to sin. Jesus became angry, but he did not sin. There is a place for righteous indignation. Christians are right to be upset about sin and injustice and should take a stand against them. Unfortunately, believers are often passive about these important issues and instead get angry over personal insults and petty irritations. Make sure your anger is directed toward the right issues.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 5:21-26
KEY BIBLE VERSE: But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, “Raca,” is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:22, NIV)
Anger is a danger signal. When Jesus said, “But I tell you,” he was not doing away with the law or adding to it his own beliefs. Rather, he was giving a fuller understanding of why God made that law in the first place. For example, when Moses said, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13), Jesus taught, “Don’t even become angry enough to murder, for then you have already committed murder in your heart.” The Pharisees read this law and, not having murdered, felt righteous. Yet they were angry enough with Jesus that they would soon plot his murder, though they would not do the dirty work themselves. We miss the intent of God’s Word when we read his rules for living without trying to understand why he made them. When do you keep God’s rules but close your eyes to his intent?
Killing is a terrible sin, but anger is a great sin too because it also violates God’s command to love. Anger in this case refers to a seething, brooding bitterness against someone. It is a dangerous emotion that always threatens to leap out of control, leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress, and spiritual damage. Anger keeps us from developing a spirit pleasing to God. Have you ever been proud that you didn’t strike out and say what was really on your mind? Self-control is good, but Christ wants us to practice thought-control as well. Jesus said we will be held accountable even for our attitudes.
How does God express his anger?
BIBLE READING: Romans 1:18-32
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. (Romans 1:18, NIV)
God’s anger is directed at sin. Why is God angry at sinful people? Because they have substituted the truth about him with a fantasy of their own imagination (Romans 1:25). They have stifled the truth God naturally reveals to all people in order to believe anything that supports their own self-centered life-styles . God cannot tolerate sin because his nature is morally perfect. He cannot ignore or condone such willful rebellion. He wants to remove the sin and restore the sinner —if the sinner does not distort or reject the truth. But his anger erupts against those who persist in sinning.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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