Basic definitions:
Growth is a stage or condition to increase develop or mature. Whereas anger is a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility as a result of real or imagined threat, insult, frustration or injustice towards oneself or someone important to one.
If anger is a feeling, then we can say it is part of the natural body system. For instance, Jesus showed anger to express displeasure at some of the things the Pharisee did.
In John 2: 13-17, Jesus cleansed the temple, sent the money changer away, turned the table and said, “do not make my father’s house a house of merchandise”. Again, in Mark. 3:4-5 He asked the Pharisees if it is lawful to heal on sabbath or not. They kept mute and He looked at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts
Difference between Jesus & human’s anger:
Jesus’ anger was focused on the holiness and purity for the things of God. The anger of God is a response of His holiness to an outbreak of sin. Look at Jesus, the motive isn’t for self gratification. Rom. 1:18 says for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness
Human’s anger is mostly about “I, me & myself”. It is always self centered
As a human being, you will have a million reasons to be angry but as a Christian, you always must restrain your response to anger and yield it to God’s Spirit. The measure of a person is the size of the things that make him angry
Causes of Human anger:
Pride within
This is a feeling of self importance with potential sense of arrogance.
2Chr.26: 16-23 gave an example of King Uzziah whose heart was lifted to his destruction. He entered the temple of God to burn incense and Azariah the priest corrected him, but he became angry. While he was angry with the priest, God struck him with leprosy for the rest of his life. Est. 3:5 gave an account of Haman who got angry because Mordecai did not bow to him. Anger is knocking at the door of every heart who feels “how can he talk to me that way”?, “he doesn’t even know me?” etc. The truth is you will always find reasons to be angry until you learn to find peace in the place that God has placed you.
People around
Luk. 17:1 Jesus said to His disciples’ offence must surely come.
People are the greatest asset you have; they are also the greatest trouble you will have. People will continue to disappoint you. They will continue to deceive, to hurt and frustrate you so you only need to stay focus.
Num. 12:3 – The meekest man ever on heart – Moses, was not able to manage his anger with the stubborn Israelites when he broke the tablet of the law Exo. 32:19. If that anger in you isn’t well managed and controlled, it can be a destiny stopper.
Problems of life
There are times when life does not cooperate with a person. This is when a man gets far less than he’s putting into life. Such person feels unfairly treated, frustrated and disappointed. Example in case was Job’s wife. In Job 2:9 Job’s wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”. The fact that you are a Christian does not insulate you completely from the troubles of life. The only assurance we have is that He will be with us all the way. So, watch what you say and how you feel during the down side of life.
Consequences of Anger:
Sets one against one’s self
Emotionally, an angry person loses sleep while the person who got him/her angry is snoring and having a sound sleep unaware. Health wise, science has proven that constant anger causes high blood pressure with potential to lead to untimely death. Again, King Uzziah’s previous example readily comes to mind in 2 Chr.26: 16-23. Haman also set himself against his entire family by allowing anger to motivate him to plot again Mordecai in Est. 7:6-10. Same way, many people have driven out from a meeting or argument in anger and ended up crashing to death with out getting to their destination
Sets one against others
In Gen. 4:5-8, we have the example of Cain and Abel. Cain was very angry at his brother and his countenance fell. God asked him why he was angry? God warned him that sin lies at the door and its desire was for Cain. Eventually, his anger culminated into murder in verse 8.
Anger makes a man to trivialise the consequences of its action. Despite God’s warning, Cain went ahead to express his anger through murder. Similarly, many homes have been broken because of anger. Prov. 21:19 warns that it is better to dwell [a]in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman. Precious relationships have been broken due to anger. Anger is contagious according to Prov. 22:24 -25 which says “make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul”. A wise counsel for the unmarried is not to marry anyone who cannot control his/her anger. It is a red flag!
Sets one against God
Anger has consequences against your spiritual growth and walk with God. This is because, every expression of anger is a direct opposition to the word of God.
In Jam. 1:20, the bible says that the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God; According to Eph.4:27-31, anger gives place to the devil; leads to free use of corrupt words; promotes bitterness, wrath and malice (s expressed in some of the works of the flesh (contentions, outburst of wrath, etc and ultimately despises the warnings of God – Gen. 4:5-8.
Cure for Anger
Love more
From 1 Cor. 13:4-17, we read that love is patient, not easily provoked, bears all things, hopes in all things (it does not easily give up on someone’s unpleasant behaviour. The more you grow in your capacity to love, the less you get angry at people because love endures all thing. The reason a person will choose to be finding fault everywhere he goes is because he does not love enough
Forgive more
Forgiveness leverages on your capacity to love. When you love genuinely, you will forgive generously. You must realise you have first enjoyed undeserved forgiveness from God. Jesus had every reason to lay a charge to those people who crucified Him, the people whom He came to save; but instead He asked God to forgive them without them asking -Luk 23:34. 2 Cor.5:19 says that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself; not [a]imputing their sins to them and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. You are the ambassador Christ. How can you be angry with same people you ought to be preaching to?
Eph. 4: 31-32 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, [a]clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you”
Obey More (The word of God)
The measure of your growth is determined by whom you obey. When you respond to the people who get you angry with more anger; you have chosen to obey them, but when you decide to forgive and show love, you have obeyed God. For you to put your anger continuously in check, you must put the responsibility to manage your emotions on yourself not on people’s behaviour. People will always provoke, frustrate or irritate you, but you must make a choice to OBEY GOD’S word never to sin through PROLONGED anger. Pro. 19:11 says that the wisdom of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. You don’t have to respond to everything people do to you. Do not base your obedience on the obedience of others, base it on the word of God.
If you are blessed through this message, please leave us a comment.
I am really blessed by this sermon! Thank you.
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