Be Angry And Do Not Sin Ephesians 4

Be Angry, And Do Not Sin Ephesians 4: 26 -27

What Is Anger? • “A strong feeling of displeasure; syn. wrath, ire, rage, fury, indignation” (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary). • “A strong passion or emotion of displeasure or antagonism, excited by a real or supposed injury or insult to one’s self or others, or by the intent to do such injury” (Webster’s Dictionary) • Anger is a feeling, an emotion, related to one’s displeasure with someone or something.

Anger—Different Kinds and Stages Angry Indignation Wrath 2 Cor. 7: 11 Gal. 5: 19 -21

Anger—Both Right and Wrong • • • Eph. 4: 26 -27 – Be angry without sin. Eph. 4: 31 – Put anger away from you! How do we reconcile the two? – Eph. 4: 26 -27 accepts anger as an normal emotion and gives instructions to control it – Mk. 3: 5; Jn. 2: 13 -17 – Yet, Christians must not be characterized by anger – Eph. 4: 31 – We are people of forgiveness and peace – Eph. 4: 32

When Is Anger Sin? • When it is not controlled • When it is for the wrong reason • When it is inappropriate for the situation

Sinful Anger • When motivated by jealousy – Luke 15: 25 -32 • When fueled by pride – Daniel 3: 12, 19; 1 Pet. 2: 21, 23 • When not based on the facts – Eccl. 7: 8 -9; Ja. 1: 19 -20; 4: 11 • When it flares up in wrath – Gal. 5: 19 -21

When Is Anger Justified? • When God’s will is knowingly disobeyed by God’s people – Ex. 32: 17 -20; Jn. 2: 13 -16 • When the world usurps God authority over right and wrong – Isa. 5: 20 -25; Titus 3: 1 -3 • When children are unjustly treated by their parents – Eph. 6: 1 -4; Col. 3: 21

How Do We Deal With Anger? • Do not let the “sun go down on your wrath” – Eph. 4: 26 – Anger may linger, but wrath must be dispelled. – Prolonged anger produces wrath, which produces vengeance – Rom. 12: 19 • Do not “give place to the devil” – Eph. 2: 27 – Quarreling needs to be worked and forgiven. – The Devil can use prolonged anger for greater sin.

Practical Responses To Anger • Refrain from petty differences– Prov. 19: 11; 17: 14 • Refrain from close association with angry people – Prov. 22: 24 -25 • Keep a close check on your tongue – Prov. 15: 1; 21: 23 • Cultivate honesty in your communication – Prov. 27: 4 -6; Eph. 4: 25; Mt. 18: 15