Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”
Now that we’ve determined what the background for the passage this, let’s see if we can identify the principles that God wants us to learn from in this passage. Pastor Herk list s some unconventional wisdom about anger. (1) This passage primarily is dealing with anger that is to be expressed within the body of Christ. This anger is defined as: A violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury; usually accompanied with a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party. This passion however varies in degrees of violence, and in ingenuous minds, may be attended only with a desire to reprove or chide the offender.
(2) We are to be angry at that which robs God of His glory. What we are to be righteously angry at is to be angry to the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way. James 1:19-20 says, “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.” Have a long wick on that stick of dynamite called anger. In Ecclesiastes 7:9 King Solomon declares, “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools”. Yet, King David writes in Psalm 4:2-4 “How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him. Be
angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.”
What Is the Apostle Paul referring to when he writes: ‘Be Angry?” To those who turn God’s glory into shame. By loving worthlessness (temporal godless materialism, naturalism, humanism and hedonism) and seeking falsehood (living the lie), they are proclaiming “Glory be to man” and have robbed God of His glory. Romans 1:24-25 the Apostle Paul explains, “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:10-11 “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is through the corporate Christian church and the unified Body of born-again Believers that God is revealed His manifold wisdom through the Gospel of Jesus Christ on earth (in time, space and matter) and in the realm of Heaven (outside time, space and matter). Ephesians 3:21 “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
But, when there is continuous open, rebellious sin that is allowed to remain undealt with by the Body of Christ, it prevent the Body of Believers from revealing the wisdom that God is working to bring forth and ordain; ultimately robbing God of the glory He deserves.
Let's conclude PAstor Herk's message on unconventional wisdom about anger in the in post.
In Christ, Brian
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