Scirpture Passage: James 1:18-21

 

ANGER- A GOD GIVEN EMOTION

"Anger is an intense emotional state. It involves a strong uncomfortable and hostile response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat."
 •TO BE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD IS TO HAVE THE EMOTION OF ANGER

•IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SEEN IN THE TRIUNE NATURE- THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (EX 34:7)
•IT IS A VECTOR, HAVING DIRECTION AND MAGNITUDE 
•TO NOT GET ANGRY AT ALL AND TO BILLOW IN ANGER DO NOT EXPRESS THE IMAGE OF GOD

GOD’s ANGER

•What provokes God’s anger?
•What is it directed against?
•Sin in what form? (Prov 6:16-19)
•The magnitude of his anger towards these is seen in death, disease, annihilation and complete destruction (e.g Ps 78:49)

 

BIBLICAL WISDOM ON ANGER

•As an emotion anger is in danger of being sinful (e.g. Gen 4; Gen 50 )
•Anger that is sinful is constantly rebuked (Js 1:20 ; Eph 4:26; Prov 29:11; Prov 19:11; Prov 15:18; Eccl 7:9; Prov 16:32; Prov 22:24; Matt 5:22)
•It is a reality to be dealt with in the believer and the church (1 Pe 4:8; 1 Cor 13:6)
•It is asked to be got rid off as it does not produce the righteousness that God desires (Js 1:20 b)…But Why?

 

JESUS’ ANGER AND US

•Jesus got angry towards the hardness in man’s heart (Mk 4)
•Towards ‘Pride’ (Mk 10)
•Towards ‘Hypocrisy’ (Mk 11)
•What is it that makes us angry? Are there idols that we love- wealth or self that enrage us when under threat? What had/does my anger achieve?...myself or the Kingdom
•Our anger emotion is maturing to be Christlike, we are asked to master it with self-control….a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5)
TAKE AWAY: LET YOUR ANGER BE AN EMOTION THAT SERVES IN THE BODY OF CHRIST