 |
 |
|
Walk in purity - get anger right Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ephesians 4:26-27 September 27th, 2009
INTRODUCTION Paul Tripp’s comparison of Tom and Jim: Eph 4:26-27 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, (27) and give no opportunity to the devil. 1. ANGER COMMANDED “Be angry…” Anger is something that is frequently attributed to God. Even in this book – Ephesians 5:6. This is not one of God’s dark sides – there is no dark side in God. Because we live in a sinful and broken down world it is good news that God is an angry God. If He was not angry, He would not be good. Jesus was angry in the temple when he saw them making a mockery of the house of God that was intended to be a place of prayer for the nations. This anger is worshipful anger. This is anger that has the heart of God. This is anger that is against sin, evil and injustice for the sake of the glory and kingdom of God. This is not self-centered but God centered emotion. 2. ANGER CAUTIONED A. Don’t Sin – “Be angry and do not sin…” Although anger is not always sin, it usually is sin. Anger is usually idolatrous – self-focused. Illustration – Car cuts me off; my wife is grumpy; my kids disobey or destroy A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. (Pro 15:18) Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Pro 16:32) Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. (Pro 19:11) A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. (Pro 19:19) Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, (Pro 22:24) lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. (Pro 22:25) A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. (Pro 25:28) Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath. (Pro 29:8) A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression. (Pro 29:22) Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (Jas 1:19-20) Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (Gal 5:19-20) B. Don’t Prolong – “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” He cautions us to not sit on anger. Don’t let it stew. He says we are to take care of it right away and do not prolong it. We are to settle offenses. If we do not take care of it right away, the deceitfulness of sin can even turn righteous anger into selfish, self-righteous anger. C. Don’t Be Naïve – “an give no opportunity to the devil.” Here Paul cautions us by tell us that the devil has schemes to used anger to trap and ensnare us when we sin in anger and when we let anger stew and not take care of the problem. Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. The enemy used anger in the life of Cain in Genesis4:5-8 CONCLUSION How do we fight anger: Looking to where Angers converged—the Cross! Angry combated by faith in a superior satisfaction and just God who will make things right: Psa 4:1-8 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (2) O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah (3) But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him. (4) Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah (5) Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD. (6) There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!" (7) You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. (8) In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. |
