As stated in Ephesians 4:26, if you get angry you must not. So here are some prerequisites to judge yourself by.
1 Cor 11:31
"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged."
Matt 5:22
"But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: . . ."
Not Soon Angry
Prov 14:17
"He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated."
We should notice that, "soon" is our key word. To avoid foolish action a Christian should refrain from becoming "soon" angry. How often have we gotten angry quickly and have regretted our actions.
Titus 1:7
"For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry . . ."
Though slow to anger is surely one of the important requirements of a bishop, this should be sought for in all Christians. God commands us to not be soon angry and He likens someone who is soon angry to a fool:
Eccl 7:9 "
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."
Prov 14:29
"He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."
Neither are we to make friends with such a person. One reason why is it starts to rub off on us and we may become short tempered. Another reason is the Lord says it could become a snare to our soul:
Prov 22:24-25
"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."
Our dear sisters are not excluded from this sin:
Prov 21:19
"It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman"
The Bible says in Philippians 2:3 that we are to,
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." This charge against strife is given often in the New Testament; yet we find that it is an angry man who stirs up strife. (Prov 15:18)
"A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife." (Prov 29:22)
"An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression." So the attitude of,
"it is OK to be angry, just as long as you make things right." will end up breeding more contention in the body of Christ than unity. Also, a furious man abounds in transgression and remember that
" . . . sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4) Furthermore, notice that being
"soon angry" was described as negative, while
"slow to anger" is described as being positive. As
Christians who are told to add to our faith temperance, we should be slow to anger.
Slow To Anger
Psalms 103:8
"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
Proverbs 16:32
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."
The Lord complements those that are slow to anger and rule their spirit. This is an attribute of God and should be sought for in every Christian who desires to hold a good testimony in this present evil world. Are you hasty in your spirit to be angry? Do you get mad at the drop of a hat? Do you have to constantly yell and get upset to make your children obey you? Dear brother or sister in Christ, you need to earnestly pray and work at getting control of yourself. Learn to rule your own spirit or you will ruin your testimony and family no matter how much Bible or witnessing you do. When others see you blow up you throw your good testimony right out the window. Not only do you punish others with your anger but you punish yourself. No wonder anger and wrath is considered cruel and outrageous.
Proverbs 19:19
"A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again."
Proverbs 27:4
"Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?"
Another typical argument for an alibi to sin is,
"God is angry every day." Yes, but first it is with the wicked. Second He is slow to anger. Thirdly He is righteous. Notice the difference between God's anger in Psalm seven in comparison to man's anger found in the book of James:
Psalms 7:11
"God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day."
James 1:19-20
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
Your anger and lack of control of your spirit will not work the righteousness of God. If you get mad at sin, be careful you do not break the commandments of God in your wrath. This is what Moses did twice. The second time he lost his temper it resulted in him not entering into the promise land:
Exodus 32:19
"And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount."
Numbers 20:10-11
"And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. "
A New Man
Colossians 3:8
'But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."
Psalms 37:8
"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil."
Ephesians 4:31
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"
As Saints we became a new creature and so should there be a new character. If it is
"OK" to be angry why does the Bible command us to PUT IT OFF? You will not have peace ruling in your heart or home until you do. Cast off your anger and:
Colossians 3:12-15
"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."
Ephesians 4:32
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Too often parents have told their child to go to his room until he cooled down or gave him some type of punish for being angry. Yet they themselves will blow up. Children learn to be angry from their parents.
Colossians 3:21
"Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Conclusion:
How many times can you honestly say that you have gotten angry and have not sinned? Brethren, if you get angry, yes, by all means make things right before the sun goes down upon your wrath. But how much better it will be if you learn to control yourself. Remember you are SAVED. As it has been said,
"all this and Heaven too?" Work at it, ask some of the brethren to help remind you when you become angry. Sometimes it becomes such a habit you don't even realize when you are angry. Pray for the Lord Jesus Christ to help you. Jesus could have gotten angry when He was hanging on the cross for your sins (including anger) but He didn't, He said,
" . . Father, forgive them…" (Luke 23:34) and we need to follow His example. If you realize you are becoming angered use some discretion, walk away and start to pray. It is hard to hate or get mad at someone you are praying for.
Proverbs 19:11
"The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression."
Proverbs 14:17
"He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
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©2000, Duplication is encouraged in it's entirety. (Due to the copyrights and corruption by modern man in new bibles, 2 Cor. 2:17) all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Authorized 1611 King James Bible. Any deviations therefrom are not intentional.
