Title: About Anger

Definition: Anger
A strong feeling of displeasure, hostility or antagonism towards someone or something, usually combined with an urge to harm.

Key Verse: James 1:19-20
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Message:
Anger is one of the emotions of a human being. It can be used productively but it is also one of the most destructive and dangerous emotions, if left unchecked.
The essence of the gospel is to transform us from a state of lack of control to a state of absolute self-control.
Hence, we must learn to control our anger.

The first record of Anger in the bible was in Genesis 4, the story of Cain and Abel. Anger crept into Cain's heart and produced the first death known to man.
There are some interesting questions we should ask;

-Was Cain killing his brother over their sacrifice worth it?
-Did it solve his problem or make his problem worse?
-Was there a better way of channeling his anger?
-Was he not wrong and Abel right in the sacrifice they offered?

The moment Cain let anger control him, he no longer had control over his action because Anger is a doorway to sin as God said to him.
Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

It is easy for us to quickly criticise Cain, it's even easy to assume we're better than him after all we've not killed someone.
But the truth is, how many times have we uttered words out of anger that we wished we could take back?
How many times have we left others broken and shattered because of our mean words?
How many times have we let issues provoke us to the point of even fighting publicly?
Sometimes we don't even exhibit our anger publicly. Some of us are passive-aggressive in the way we exhibit our anger. That type of anger that is secretly malicious.

It is impossible not to get angry, after all it is our God-given emotion. However, the scriptures teaches us to be slow to anger. To put anger to subjection. We should be the ones controlling our anger, not our anger controlling us.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

This verse says it all. Sometimes the devil just provokes us because he knows we're volatile. He just sends someone to say something or he causes something to happen that he knows will spoil our good day or make us use our own hand and mouth to obstruct the blessing we have been praying for.
Anger can make one become a joke when people can easily provoke you or trigger you to misbehave and lose our peace. I know some people who delight in provoking others once they find out what easily provokes them, just for fun.
Don't be that person who can easily be provoked. Also don't be that person who delights in provoking others to anger.

I'm sure we have all seen relationships crumble over issues that could easily have been resolved peacefully, simply because either or both partners never overcame anger.
I have also seen men and women of God who would have gone far in ministry but their anger has reduced them and cheated them of the Grace they have been anointed with.

Patience helps overcome anger. Be more patient and tolerant with yourself and others. You will come to realise that virtually nothing is even worth your anger. Just overlook the issue and focus on God, focus on something productive, focus on peace.
Focus on things of Virtue.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-8

Closing Verse: Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

How To Overcome Anger

Previously, we deliberated and meditated on Anger.
Anger being a doorway to sin.
Being a God-given emotion.
Being an emotion that can be productive and also very destructive.
Being an emotion we must pray and learn to have absolute control over.
Being a tool the enemy uses to make a fool of us.
Being an emotion that can turn a person into a joke.
Being an emotion that destroys relationships.
Being an emotion that can cheat one of his Grace and purpose.
Being an emotion that can lead to regrets and even murder.

It is clearly one emotion we must learn to have absolute control over. But how?
By the Grace of God.
By learning to tame our tongues. Just keep your mouth shut when you're angry.
By not trying to be right all the time.
By learning to walk away from issues (drama)
By learning to be peaceful, patient and tolerant. Focus on the Fruit of the Spirit.Galatians 5:22-23
By learning to grow in forgiveness.
By focusing on something productive. (Even listening to good music or worshipping in your heart calms the spirit)
By learning to abase yourself by self-deprecation.
By having relevant scriptures in your heart.
By knowing and remembering who you are in Christ.

The most important of all these is to remember who you are in Christ. Now this is only effective to level at which you fear God and you hold His presence in high esteem.

What expensive anger management classes cannot do, Jesus Christ does for free.

God bless us all.