Download Encounter Radio Outline #9839

Pastor’s Plus Outline #1210
Date: 3/11/12
The Law of Anger
Proverbs 19:9-12
by Dr. Stephen F. Olford
Introduction: “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish. Luxury is not fitting for
a fool, much less for a servant to rule over princes. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory
is to overlook a transgression. The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.”
Wrath, anger and indignation are an integral part of biblical proclamation. We cannot present the God of love
without also declaring the God of wrath. While His love is spontaneous to His own being, His wrath is called forth
by the wickedness of His creatures. Wrath is the effect of human sin, while mercy is not the effect of human
goodness, but is inherent in the very character of God. It is not so much an emotion or an angry frame of mind as it
is a settled opposition of holiness to evil. Therefore, it follows that if we are partakers of the divine nature we also
must be angry against sin. How this anger is manifested or mastered is what concerns us.
I. There is a Time to Express Anger (Eph. 4:26) “Be angry and sin not.”
While a discreet man is slow to anger, that same man can be equally discreet to show anger. There are two reasons
for this.
1) It is a Divine Reaction to Express Anger
Paul reflects the reaction of God against evil. The anger of God is affirmed over 300 times in Scripture. Truly, it is a
divine reaction to express anger, and as followers of Jesus, we likewise must be angry and sin not.
2) It is a Divine Instruction to Express Anger
It is God who says, "Be angry, and do not sin." This divine instruction must never go unheeded when the Christian
is confronted with evil. Paul was exasperated with the idolatry evident in his time. He had holy anger. It is equally
true that
II. There is a Time to Repress Anger (v. 11)
There is a time when anger must be repressed. It is quite obvious that there is a human quality of anger which never
produces or achieves the righteousness of God and because of this, must be condemned and controlled.
1) Unrighteous Anger must be Condemned (James 1:20) “for the wrath of man does not produce the
righteousness of God.”
Anger is sinful: when it is excited without a sufficient cause (James 1:19), when it transcends the cause -- if any cause
really exists (Matt. 5:22), when it is against a person, rather than an offense. We sin when are anger is personally
orientated, rather than morally vindicated. Anger is sinful when it is attended with a desire for revenge (Rom. 12:19),
when it is cherished and heightened by reflection (Eph. 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.” It is sinful when anger accompanied by an unforgiving spirit (Eph.
4:31-32). “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
2) Unrighteous Anger must be Controlled (James 1:19)
The words “slow to anger or slow to wrath” imply control. The victorious Christian alone knows how to master the
chain reaction that leads to uncontrolled anger. There are clues to this chain reaction. The secret of control starts
with thought. Be swift to hear. Then there is the tongue, be slow to speak and then there is the temper, be slow to
anger. It all starts with a thought. The Bible speaks of bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of
Christ. When He has our thoughts, He also has our tongue and our temper. We must hand over the reins of our
lives to the Lord Jesus. He will bring our lives under control.
III. There is a Time to Redress (compensate for) Anger (v. 11) “The discretion of a man makes him slow to
anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.”
In overlooking a transgression we imitate the God of mercy and grace. “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity
and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because
He delights in mercy.” Micah 7: 18. Our God is the God of redress, meaning that He compensates, makes amends,
and provides a remedy. It is His glory to overlook a transgression. As His children we must do the same. “Let all
bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
We have two clear instructions.
1) We must Expurgate Our Anger “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from
you, with all malice.” Eph. 4:31-32.
To expurgate is to cleanse or purge. We cannot do this, but God can. This is why Paul precedes these two
instructions with the words, “Grieve not the Holy Spirit.” Eph. 4:30. Only the Holy Spirit can purify the God-given
capacities and abilities to be angry. We must understand that righteous anger is one of our most creative emotions.
When properly used it can drive us to accomplish immense labors and exploits for God. When the Spirit is Lord
and Leader our lives are purified and our anger is expurgated. Is the Holy Spirit Lord and leader of your life?
2) We must Sublimate Our Anger “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as
God in Christ forgave you.”
To sublimate means "to express socially unacceptable impulses in a constructive and creative manner." And this is
precisely what the Holy Spirit enables us to do with rightly directed anger. We become tenderhearted. Getting angry
for the right reasons can stimulate tremendous powers for good.
Conclusion: Anger can be redressed for redemptive and creative uses. It can be an effective tool for God. My we
take to heart what we mean by the law of anger. Sometime we must express our anger and other times we must
repress it, but at all times we must redress it for the glory of God and the good of men. “Be angry and sin not.”