The Futility Of Anger
In simplest terms,
‘futile’ means WORTHLESS. No matter how angry I got, I never really
accomplished anything – in fact, I made matters worse. Anger is a dangerous
emotion and instead of being angry with the world all the time, I decided to
start to manifest the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation with
dynamic results.
Cease from
anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. – Psalm 37:
8
Notice how the verse is
arranged. God wants us to forsake wrath. Wrath is anger with a desire for
revenge. Where does this emotion originate? It originates from anger. Then God
tells us not to do evil in any way. Anger = wrath = revenge = evil.
Now before we go on, I
must tell you that God always has some flexibility in almost all of His
principles. Are there times when you can get angry and it’s justified? Yes,
there are some exceptions. Let’s take a look at the following verse but first
remember that Jesus Christ did get angry, but very seldom. When the Temple,
which was supposed to be a house of prayer, was being made into a den of
thieves with deceptive marketing methods and the overall atmosphere, Jesus
Christ overturned the tables of the moneychangers and reproved them sharply.
But he never physically hurt anyone. However, he was angry.
Be ye angry,
and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: – Ephesians 4: 26
I need to share with
you a note about this verse that I have written in my Bible. What should you be
angry or aware of? You should have a continuous awareness of the old man. If
you want to get angry, get angry about that – it will keep you sharp
spiritually. Those old man ways that try to creep into your life need serious
attention. Sometimes when you become angry, your awareness level increases.
Apparently, you can
become angry and not sin. Now look at the advice God gives us in the latter
part of the verse. This means never to go to bed angry! It’s the worst thing.
Work out your problem with whatever or whoever you need to before ending your
day. Aren’t there some of us married people that can identify with that?!
Now if I
were to pick a percentage, I would say that 95% of anger is worthless. Think about it. If there is one
thing that rattles the adversary’s cage, it is a calm peaceful attitude at all
times. You see, he tries to aggravate you and make you angry and when he
succeeds, he is happy and you can bet he’ll be back again. Oftentimes you need
to ignore Satan and that takes self-control. Where do we get self-control? It
is one of the fruit of the spirit obtained as a result of the operation of the
nine manifestations of Holy Spirit.
But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. – Galatians 5: 22,
23
Do you see the quality
that we need in that list? It’s the very last one – temperance. Self-control
will defeat the adversary pertaining to this trick of anger. Temperance has an
interesting definition in the Lexicon also:
Temperance – mastery or dominion over;
self-command, self-control, the grace by which the flesh is controlled.
I like the latter part.
You need to control fleshly lusts, emotions, and desires. Only the Word of God
will give you this strength. Now let me show you a key that took me most of my
life to learn.
We need to more clearly
define our solution to anger. We need a weapon that wards off this desire to
become angry. It counters the temptation and drives the adversary insane. I
Corinthians Chapter 13 contains the key to defeating anger in your life. The
chapter is all about the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. If
there is one thing that Satan cannot stand, it is the love of God. You should
never forget that. And remember to love the person, but hate the devil spirit
that is inspiring a person to act in an inappropriate manner. If you have to
deal with someone who has a devil spirit influence, then manifest the love of
God towards them and you will see the enemy run. Also, remember, that everyone
is searching for the genuine love of God. There is worldly love (fileo) and
there is the love of God (agape). Why must we walk with the love of God? Let’s
see what God has to say.
Though I
speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [the love of God in the renewed
mind in manifestation], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol.
And though I have the gift of [omit
"the gift of"] prophecy, and understand
all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith [pistis
– believing], so that I could remove mountains, and
[but] have not charity, I am nothing. –
I Corinthians 13: 1, 2
What are we without the
love of God? NOTHING. This is a very slick trick that the enemy will pull on
you. He will get you so bitter that you practically forget to keep manifesting
the love of God. Then you wonder why nothing is working right. I’ve got to give
you a real-life example – something that most people can identify with.
Has anyone ever been
stopped by the police for a traffic violation? Recently I made a U-turn where I
should not have. Who distracted me to do that where and when I did it? Well, it
sure wasn’t the true God. Anyway, here comes those multi-colored flashing
lights behind me. Now there were two ways I could have acted regarding this
situation. I could have gotten angry and gave the police officer an attitude.
That’s my old man. I could have thought all kinds of nasty things about the
police and began to complain to the police officer. OR I could have done the
following.
As I pulled over, I
immediately pushed my old man ways aside and manifested the love of God as best
that I could. This was really a major deal for me to act this way in this type
of situation. The officer questioned me about seeing the no U-turn sign and I
did my best to avoid the question. To break the uneasiness, I told him outright
that I was wrong and that I had no excuse. I gave the man some respect – he WAS
just doing his job. God THEN was able to work. He asked me if I saw the TWO
signs and I was able to truthfully say NO. Then I quickly said in a feeble
attempt to defend my actions, that I often saw people making U-turns at that
intersection. I told the truth. I really felt humble by admitting my mistake
and the officer saw this. He took my information and went back to his car and
sat there for what seemed like forever. I knew what that meant. Lo and behold,
he finally came back to my car with a written WARNING!!
The fine was $110.00 plus 3 points on my license. I was simply overjoyed
and thanked him from my heart. The fact that it was Thanksgiving Day did help
matters, I believe.
You must see the point
here. Whatever love of God I was able to manifest changed the outcome of the
situation. It was a great personal triumph for me. I used to get picked up more
than I care to say. I can drive like there is no tomorrow and I never get into
an accident – not for almost 40 years. But I must be careful, anyway.
Let’s go over some of
the characteristics and qualities of the love of God that pertains to my
particular situation just described.
Charity [the love of God] suffereth long, and
is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not
puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil; – I Corinthians 13: 4, 5
That’s quite a bit in
just two verses, isn’t it? Notice the part about ‘vaunteth not itself’ and ‘is
not puffed up’. Did I act cocky in my situation? No way. I would have done
myself in in an instant. God also says that the love of God doesn’t behave
itself unseemly. I did not act rowdy or rude and start to complain. Except for
a few words carefully spoken, I kept my mouth shut. The last part of the verse
may be one of the most difficult parts of the renewed mind principles you may
ever master and that is ‘thinketh no evil’. During my traffic violation
incident, I did not think evil of the police officer. I had enough temperance
(self-control) to control my thinking in this area. People can sense what you
are thinking. Don’t make that mistake. Anyway, I drove home full of joy and
overjoyed that I had finally learned, FROM GOD’S WORD, how to handle a
situation like that one that defeated me time and time again throughout my
life. I did not get ANGRY or I would have paid the price. It would have been
SENSELESS. I took the alternate route – God’s way, and I came out more than a
conqueror just as the Word says I should. This type of learning has become a
way of life for me now. Wisdom is a precious thing. It’s price is far above
rubies.
Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him that [who]
loved us. – Romans 8: 37
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that
may be desired are not to be compared to it. – Proverbs 8: 11
How important is it,
from God’s perspective to be able to control one’s anger? The following is a
Scripture that always had a major impact on my renewed mind.
He that
is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that
ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. – Proverbs 16: 32
Isn’t that just
tremendous? A person that is slow to anger and is the master of him or herself is
greater than someone who is able to conquer a city! There is no doubt, from
God’s Word, of the importance of not getting angry. He or she who has
temperance in this area is better than the mighty.
It would not seem appropriate
to exclude some principles from the Book of James in this teaching. Let’s go
there now and work towards our conclusion studying these principles. Again, God
mentions being ‘slow to wrath’.
Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to
wrath: -- James 1: 19
Advice you may have
heard many times often originates from God’s Word. My earthly father often
taught me to keep my eyes and ears open and my mouth shut. At times, it was
very good advice.
But notice the last
phrase "slow to wrath". This is very similar to Proverbs 16: 32 with
the phrase ‘slow to anger", isn’t it? Unless you have to get angry and it
is justified, be very slow to do so. Wrath is a very terrible thing that tempts
all of us at one time or another. Again, it is anger with a desire to seek
revenge. Let’s study a literal translation of the next group of verses. First
the verse the way it is written in the King James version.
For the
wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. – James 1: 20
Literal translation
according to usage:
Because this
wrath of man DOES NOT ACHIEVE the righteousness of God, the doing or being what
is just or right, the wrath of man and his desire for revenge always
contradicts the righteousness of God. – James 1: 20
So then the wrath of
man is a trick, a trap, a temptation appealing to the lust of the old man,
which results in sin, which when finished, results in death. NEVER SEEK
REVENGE! It contradicts the righteousness of God! It is off the Word. Be
swift to hear and slow to speak and slow to wrath. Never let your personal
adversary provoke you to wrath and entice you with the temptation to do so.
ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS
BEGIN WITH ANGER. In conclusion, I must go to James Chapter three (3) and cover
verses 5 through 11 regarding the tongue – what we say.
Even so the
tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a
matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a
world of iniquity:
so is the
tongue among our members, that it defileth
the whole body, and setteth
on fire the
course of nature; and it
is set on
fire of hell. – James 3: 5, 6
Literal translation
according to usage:
Even so the
tongue is a little member of the body, and talks big -- boasting great things.
Take notice, a little fire, how large a forest it kindles -- how large a forest
it lights on fire. The tongue is set in flames, it is a fire, a regular
disposition and arrangement of doing contrary to right -- doing wrong and
injustice and injurious to others -- "a world of iniquity". So is the
tongue among our members that it defiles, marks or stains the whole body and
sets on fire the course (i.e. anything made round for rolling or running like a
circuit) of nature. Nature is defined as "the natural life which is set in
motion at birth and rolls on; the course of life." And the source of this
world of iniquity setting in flames the course of life is hell -- the god of
this world. He is the originator of all that steals, kills or destroys -- the
source of all iniquity. – James 3: 5, 6
You must control what
and how you speak. It's not hard to do if you make a conscious effort and stay clear
and concerned about your goal.
For every
kind of beasts,
and of birds, and of
serpents, and
of things in
the sea,
is tamed, and hath been tamed of
mankind: But the tongue can
no man tame; it is an unruly
evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God,
even the Father; and therewith curse we
men, which are made after
the similitude
of God.
Out of the
same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things
ought not so
to be.
Doth a fountain send forth at
the same place
sweet water and bitter? – James 3: 7 - 11
Literal translation
according to usage:
For every
species both of wild beasts and birds and of creeping animals or reptiles and
of things in the sea is overpowered or tamed and subdued by mankind. But the
tongue can no man conquer or tame. It is an unrestrainable evil and cannot be
constrained or coerced even by force. It is full of deadly poison. With it we
praise God and with the same tongue we also pray against or wish evil upon men,
who are made after the likening of God. Out of the same mouth goes forth
blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things should not be. Does the spring
or fountain send forth, out of the same opening, sweet water and bitter water?! – James 3: 7 -
11
Overall, WATCH YOUR
CONFESSIONS.
Put away
from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. – Proverbs 4:
24
God is exhorting us to
watch what we say. A froward mouth means one which is stubbornly contrary and
disobedient.
If you combine this
previous principle pertaining to what you say with the manifestation of the
love of God, you can overcome any weakness you may have pertaining to the
emotion of anger. Stay with it and remember that quitters never win and winners
never quit. But no one can teach you like God’s Almighty Word.
I can do all
things through Christ which [who] strengtheneth me. –
Philippians 4: 13
Literal translation
according to usage:
I am ready
for everything and equal to anything through him [Jesus Christ] who infuses inner strength into me. -- Philippians 4: 13
You Can
Do It – QUIT BEING ANGRY!
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