In Your Anger do not Sin - July 25, 2021

by Pastor Chuck Ryan

“In Your Anger do not Sin”

Text: Ephesians: 4:17-27; (vs26-27)

Thesis: God created us with certain emotions and instructs us on how to manage our emotions.

1. The Apostle Paul recognizes that anger is a normal human emotion. (vs26)
2. He states, “In your Anger…do not Sin.”
3. God gave us the ability to feel anger when there is injustice.
4. God the Father expressed anger in the Old Testament when His people were unfaithful.

• “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 11:16-17)

1. The Hebrew word for “wrath” literally means “Flared nostril”
2. Jesus experienced anger when the religious leaders had “turn the house of prayer into a den of thieves” (Mathew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, John 2: 12-17)
3. However, Jesus in his anger did not sin.

• “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

2. The opposite of anger is apathy, which is lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
3. The Apostle Paul also acknowledges that anger, if not controlled, can turn to sin. (vs26b)
4. Anger is a powerful emotion capable of doing great harm.
5. The first murder recorded in scripture was due to uncontrolled anger.

• “but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Genesis 4: 5-8)

1. Cain’s uncontrolled anger turned into blind rage.
2. God warned Cain that “sin was crouching at your door; it desires to have you,”

• “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:13-17)

3. God instructed Cain, “but you must master it”.
4. Be aware, uncontrolled anger will “give the devil a foothold” in your life. (Vs 27)
5. The method of controlling your anger or being able to NOT yield to any sinful temptation is relying on the power of Holy Spirit.
6. Ask God to teach you what or who makes you angry.
7. Ask God if your anger is valid.
8. Ask God for the ability to control your anger.
9. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.