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. [james 1:19-20]
anger is not a sin. the anger of man (anger in our flesh apart from the Spirit’s control) is sin.
God get’s angry – against sin.
the Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. [nahum 1:3]
anger is a response, an emotion. in the Spirit – anger against sin can lead to church’s planted, orphans adopted, the vulnerable protected, and more (the righteousness of God). in the flesh – anger can lead to everything but the righteousness of God – murder, gossip, lies, wars, broken relationships, and more.
the Spirit’s call to us –
listen more,
speak less,
submit to the Spirit.
satan is always pushing us to live in our flesh, to gratify the desires of our flesh – which are all the fleshly fruits of man’s anger. to let anger be under the Spirit – which will lead to righteousness – requires, submission to the Spirit.
submit yourselves therefore to God. resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [james 4:7]
anger of the flesh that defines you is a complex issue. and the Spirit in you and the word transforming you is the only place to begin to see true change. (if you missed the sermon wednesday on anger – go watch. click here to watch.)
today – let the Spirit control you.
today – let his word reign supreme in you.
begin – by submitting to the Spirit and asking him to do these three things in you all day.
listen more,
speak less,
submit to the Spirit.
in Jesus name,
amen!
~ john