Calling Controlled Anger

 

Calling

Controlled Anger

 This sign was made for Anger.

God gives us clear instructions

on how to handle

ANGER

in our look into Ephesians

and our calling found

in chapter 4.

 

Smokey says... Care will prevent 9 out of 10 wildfires.

I am going to step out on a limb

and say anger is not a “bad” word.

Anger produces a fuel inside us

that is very volatile.

As you and I know, volatile fuels

need to be maintained properly or

you can have some big problems.

My brother could tell you

how volatile and out of control

gasoline can be.

When he was young,

he was playing with caps

(the kind that came in a roll

and you put them in a toy gun)

only my brother was putting

them on the garage floor and

hitting them with a hammer.

The gas can for the lawn mower caught on fire.

I was across the street

and all I could see in the

garage was flames. 

Thank God we got the fire out

with no damage done to

my brother or the garage.

A little fuel and a little spark

nearly took our house. 

You put that same fuel in the lawn mower

and a small spark confined

in the mowers piston cylinder

and you can make a yard growing

out of control look very nice.

When anger starts to produce volatile fuel in us,

we need to properly handle it.

It first needs to be contained;

then needs to be properly stored.

Once we have these two things accomplished,

we need to use it that day.

Containing it means, we don’t spill

 our anger like spilling gasoline;

it will spread very fast and far,

and reach things you care about.

Most heated arguments touch subjects

that have nothing to due

with the problem at hand.

Therefore, containing your anger

means you and I

need to define the problem.

Then we can store it properly by

bringing every thought into captivity

unto the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

When I worked in a factory,

all flammables had to be stored

in proper containers with labels

and in a controlled cabinet;

then those areas were regularly

inspected for safety.

We need to allow God to inspect

our hearts and minds,

where we store anger;

and we need to make sure

we are not hiding

any anger from Him.

Once all the safety measures are taken,

we need to act.

It is a dangerous thing

to keep flammables stored.

If the issue that made you angry

isn’t worth dealing with,

don’t carry it around.  

If the issue needs to be dealt with

make sure your anger is controlled

and then take care of the problem.

If the problem can not be resolved that day,

set up a time with those involved

to deal with it later,

but make sure you communicate

the reason you are rescheduling

is that you care about those involved.

Walking worthy of our calling

means we control our anger.

And we don’t carry anger into tomorrow!

Scripture Reading

Ephesians 4:26-27 The Message

26 Go ahead and be angry.

You do well to be angry

— but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge.

And don't stay angry.

 Don't go to bed angry.

27 Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.

Ephesians 4:25-5:1 NIV

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood

and speak truthfully to his neighbor,

for we are all members of one body.

 26 "In your anger do not sin":

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer,

but must work, doing something useful with his own hands,

that he may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,

but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,

that it may benefit those who listen.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,

with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,

brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 NIV

10:1 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you

— I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away!

2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect

to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

5 We demolish arguments and every pretension

that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience,

once your obedience is complete.