I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      The Bible is filled with warnings about anger.

                                                             1.      Consider a few of these warnings in the writings of the apostle Paul.

a.       He warned the Christians at Corinth lest he should find "angry tempers” among them (2Cor. 12:20).

b.       He listed "outbursts of anger” as a work of the flesh in Galatians 5:20.

c.        He told the Christians in Ephesus and Colossae to put away "wrath and anger” (Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8).

d.       He admonished prayer without "wrath and dissension” in 1Timothy 2:8.

                                                             2.      This body of Scriptural evidence is enough to demonstrate that anger can be a dangerous condition.

B.      If we view these passages outside of their biblical contexts, then we may conclude that anger is always inappropriate for Christians.  However, the Bible’s commandments regarding anger do not prohibit all anger.

                                                             1.      In truth, the Scriptures instruct us to practice self-control over anger and to direct our anger toward appropriate objects, purposes, and even persons.

                                                             2.      The prohibitions against anger pertain to uncontrolled anger that leads to sin (violence, sinful words, etc.) and worldly anger that does not serve God’s purposes.

II.      BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN

A.      Paul gave instructions concerning anger to the Christians in Ephesus when he wrote, "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Eph. 4:26-27).

B.      Notice that this message is given in the same context in which Paul also wrote that wrath and anger should be put away (v. 31).  It may appear that these two messages contradict one another, but they do not.  Instead, they complement each other.

                                                             1.      The first message (vv. 26-27) permits a Christian to be angry but places limitations upon that anger.  One of those limitations is, "Do not sin.”

                                                             2.      This limitation is further addressed in the second message (v. 31), which teaches that the types of anger and wrath that should be put away are those associated with the other sinful traits of verse 31 – bitterness, clamor, slander, and malice.  Anger of this nature has no place in the life of a Christian, and it should be eliminated.

C.      Thus, we see that anger should be prevented from evolving into sin, and to that end it should also be quickly dispelled as indicated by the instruction, "Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

                                                             1.      Even if the reason for anger cannot be resolved quickly, the anger itself can be resolved within the day through a calming prayer to the Father ("casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you” – 1Pet. 5:7) and by other godly means.

                                                             2.      Anger that is not quickly resolved can fester and create an opportunity for the devil in that unresolved anger leads to temptation and the potential for sin.

III.   BE SLOW TO ANGER

A.      Not only should anger be quickly resolved, but it should also be slowly acquired.

                                                             1.      Notice James 1:19-20 – "But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

                                                             2.      Those who have uncontrolled, impatient, quick, hot tempers are notorious for making foolish mistakes, saying sinful words, and committing evil deeds.

B.      Notice the instructions concerning hot-tempers in the Proverbs.

                                                             1.      "A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor.” (Prov. 12:16)

                                                             2.      "A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.” (Prov. 14:17)

                                                             3.      "He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.” (Prov. 14:29

                                                             4.      "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute.” (Prov. 15:18)

                                                             5.      "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” (Prov. 16:32)

                                                             6.      "A man of great anger will bear the penalty, for if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.” (Prov. 19:19)

                                                             7.      "Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.” (Prov. 22:24-25)

                                                             8.      "An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.” (Prov. 29:22)

C.      Such behavior does not achieve the righteousness of God, but rather it fulfills the ambition of Satan who takes advantage of the opportunity afforded to him by a short temper.  Instead, a Christian’s temper should be measured, cool, and not easily aroused.

IV.    RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION

A.      With the limitations upon our anger understood, let us also understand that the anger condoned by the Bible is righteous indignation.

                                                             1.      Righteous indignation is anger that is aroused by unrighteousness, wickedness, injustice, and irreverence against God.  It is anger resulting from violations of that which is right and true.

                                                             2.      Righteous indignation can be directed at persons, objects, purposes, and even oneself.

B.      Consider some examples of righteous indignation.

                                                             1.      Moses’ anger burned against Israel when he saw them dancing around the golden calf (Ex. 32:19-29).  He burned the calf, sprinkled its ashes in the water, and made the people drink it.

                                                             2.      Phinehas was indignant due to the immorality of an Israelite (Num. 25:1-15).  He killed the Israelite and his Midianite woman with a spear.

                                                             3.      Jesus was angry due to moneychangers in the temple (John 2:14-17), and He overturned their tables and drove them out of the temple.  He was also angry because of the hard hearts of the Jews (Mark 3:5).

                                                             4.      The Corinthian Christians were indignant with themselves to their own sin (2Cor. 7:11).

                                                             5.      The most obvious example of righteous indignation is God the Father, whose fierce wrath is stated and demonstrated countless times throughout the Scriptures.

C.      In every biblical example of righteous indignation, action was taken because of anger, but no sin was committed.  They were all angry, yet they did not sin.

V.      CONCLUSION

A.      Therefore, heed the words of the Scripture – "Be angry, and yet do not sin.”

                                                             1.      Your Christian character should prevent you from being provoked to anger by personal insults, but there are some things in this world that should provoke you to anger just as they provoke God to anger.

                                                             2.      When this occurs, you must not allow righteous indignation to become unbridled rage that leads to sin.  Instead, you should calm your temper through prayer and godly restraint, and then you should channel your righteous indignation into useful action.

B.      Convert your anger into motivation to protect yourself and your family from unrighteousness, teach and practice truth and justice, and pray for all who are affected by the source of your anger.  In this way you can be angry and yet not sin.