Sunday, August 20, 2023 AM
RETURN TO HOLINESS: Sin of Anger
Mike Teel, Pastor
Focal Passage:
(KJV) 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. —Ephesians 4:26-27
(NIV) 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. —Ephesians 4:26-27
WHAT IS
?
Ephesians 4:26 says “Be ye angry,” or “In your anger”
–The assumption here is that we are going to at some point in our lives be angry.
–The dictionary defines anger simply as: Strong feeling of displeasure, and usually antagonism often accompanied by sinful emotions, words, and actions hurtful to those who are the objects of our anger.
OF ANGER
1.
ANGER
–Some people justify their anger as righteous anger.
–That is, they feel they have the right to be angry, given certain situations.
–How can I know if my anger is righteous anger?
A. MUST POSSESS AN
PERCEPTION OF TRUE EVIL
B. MUST BE
–Most of our anger does not fall under the heading of “righteous”.
2.
ANGER
–The main focus of the Bible’s teachings on anger deals with our sinful anger, our sinful reactions to other people’s actions or words.
–We are likely more concerned with the negative impact of the sinful actions on us that we are that it is a violation of God’s law to justify our own sinful angry response.
–So here today we will deal with what I choose to call “ordinary” anger that we sort of accept as a part of our lives but that is actually sinful in the sight of God.
WITH OUR ANGER
(KJV) 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. —Ephesians 4:26-27
(NIV) 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. —Ephesians 4:26-27
1.
OUR ANGER
–The first thing we must consider in dealing with or facing our anger is to realize that no one else causes us to be angry!
2.
FOR ANGER
–There are a multitude of motivations we might list that make us angry.
–The reality is there are normally a few basic motives that anger us.
3. PAUL’S
FOR HANDLING ANGER
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. —Ephesians 4:25-32
A. YOU WILL GET
–When looking at verse 26, “In your anger do not sin”: it is in the imperative language – meaning this is a command.
–Listen to what God is saying through Paul: You are to get angry but do not allow your anger to carry you into an expression of sin.
B.
ANGER
–Next the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us to not allow anger to linger in our lives.
–When anger lingers, it will eventually turn to bitterness. Bitterness then pollutes our entire being.
C. FORGIVENESS MUST
–If we are going to not be controlled by our anger, then we must decide we are going to forgive.
–Forgiveness is a choice we make and can be administered in any issue of anger.
D. FORGIVENESS
THE DEVIL
27 and do not give the devil a foothold. —Ephesians 4:27
–The model prayer:
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ —Matthew 6:12-13
–Both of these verses suggest that if we allow anger to remain in our lives, we will become subject to the whims of the devil.
–When we allow anger to remain in our hearts that is directed toward another person, then we are willingly giving access to legal territory that belongs to Jesus.
LIVE IT OUT
Who do you need to release from the grips of anger in your life?
How destructive has anger been in your life, family?
The first step to forgiveness is to truly trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Have you done this?