BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN. DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN UPON YOUR WRATH, NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL. (Ephesians 4:26-27) LESSON ● ANGER is an emotional state, experienced by everyone, but difficult to define. ● It occurs in varying forms and degrees of intensity - from mild annoyance or feelings of aggravation to violent rage. ● ANGER may be hidden and held inside or expressed openly and freely. It can be of short duration coming and going quickly, or it may persist for decades in the form of bitterness, resentment, or hatred. (THIS IS SINFUL) ● ANGER often is destructive, especially when it persists in the form of aggression or revenge, but it also can be constructive if it motivates us to correct injustice or to think creatively. ■ ANGER is aroused when we feel threatened, demeaned, or blocked in our progress toward some desired goal. Usually, we know when we are ANGRY, and others know as well. → But sometimes ANGER is hidden behind a calm and smiling faced, or buried in the recesses of our brains. ● ANGER, openly displayed, deliberately hidden from others, or unconsciously expressed, is at the root of many psychological, interpersonal, physical and spiritual problems. ● ANGER is a leading cause of depression, accidents, road rage, sickness, inefficiency, anxiety, grief, marital conflict, and other interpersonal tension. It can lead to wars, terrorist attacks, CHURCH SPLITS, and disruption in the workplaces. CONCLUSION 1. HUMAN ANGER IS NORMAL AND NOT NECESSARILY SINFUL. ● Human beings were created in the image of God and given emotions, including ANGER. ● This ANGER is a necessary and useful emotion. It was seen in Jesus (John 2:14ff) and is not sinful in and of itself. 2. HUMAN ANGER CAN RESULT FROM FAULTY PERCEPTION. ● God is perfect, omniscient (All-knowing), and always completely accurate in the way He sees things. Because of this, divine ANGER always is a reaction of righteous indignation against some form of unrighteousness. ● Human beings, in contrast, imperfect, and we see each situation from our own perspectives. ● We are not always able to judge accurately between real injustice (as perceived accurately by an omniscient God) and apparent injustice. ● As a result, we sometimes become ANGRY over issues that we think are wrong but which, in fact, would not be considered wrong if we had all the facts. ● Sinful self-interest often causes our perceptions to be distorted. Because we feel vulnerable, threatened, or inclined to be critical, we can misinterpret the actions of others and jump to ANGRY, perhaps unjustified conclusions. 3. HUMAN ANGER OFTEN LEAD TO SIN. ● Like other emotions, ANGER can be constructive or destructive. It can be Christ-honouring, or it can be sinful. ● Because it so easily leads to sinful, harmful behaviour, ANGER often is warned in the Bible, and we are urged to turn away from anger and rage. Refrain from ANGER and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil. (Psalm 37:9) People with understanding control their ANGER; a hot temper shows great foolishness. (Proverbs 14:29) Do not befriend ANGRY people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endangered your soul. (Proverbs 22:24-25) ● For these reasons we should stop our ANGER, rage and envy because these lead to HARM. ● Although it isnt wrong in itself, ANGER clearly can get out of control and cause a variety of problems, including vengeance, verbal and physical abuse, and passive aggression. SOURCE CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING By Gary R. Collins
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 06:50:22 +0000