As He Sees Fit

"ANGER is our emotions used incorrectly."

GOD GAVE us emotions. We are to have JOY and PEACE in believing His Promises (Romans 15:13). The Spirit grows LOVE, JOY, PEACE and MEEKNESS in us (Galatians 5:22-23). And before He died, Jesus prayed we would have His joy fulfilled in us (John 17:13). But just like we can do with many other things, our emotions used incorrectly take us out of who God has created us to be. A toilet can be used as a flowerpot, but that is not what I want to see in my front yard.

God’s desire is for us to have enjoyable days. ANGER is our emotions used incorrectly. It is not a positive thing. Ever. It is, instead, a sign we should see blaring up at us that we need to seek God. Adam and Eve had no reason to be angry in the Garden. This should be our first observation. Then, we must know that Jesus was only ever angry at sin and the devil’s works on the earth. He died for WHOSOEVER (John 3:16), even the Pharisees who put Him on the cross. Hear His prayer: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).” He escorted the thief, justifiably condemned, into Paradise with him. We see, too, the apostle Paul’s radical change. He chased Christians all over the land, sending them to their deaths. But with Jesus in his heart, he became a new man, who loved everyone.

Some think we need ANGER to make our political and righteous point. But we don’t. We need to WALK IN THE SPIRIT and FLOW IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT. We need Him to teach us and guide us. Only in God’s wisdom will we accomplish what God has for us to do. Too often, we think we know and so we do as we see fit, but Jesus, while on this earth, never did anything except the Father’s works (John 14:10). He felt emotions. He acted in holiness.

“But when the Spirit of Christ empowers your life, you are not dominated by the flesh but by the Spirit.” (Romans 8:9 TPT)

It is a meek and humble person who sets down their anger and frustration in favor of peace. Here is God’s command to us: “Let him turn aside from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11 MKJV).” And that’s with all men, including and especially those who hate us. We are not fighting flesh-and-blood (Ephesians 6:12). In reading God’s Word, it seems He has done pretty good at taking evil leaders of nations, evil armies, and other violent people out of the way. We can either choose to trust Him and stay at peace and stand in victory, or we choose to be like those who do violent acts and suffer the same consequences. Are you like Jesus or devils? The disciple Peter pulled a sword on those who came to arrest Jesus, and Jesus rebuked him (John 18:11). That was not God’s way.

Here is where we DO NOT get into prophecy about wars and rumors of wars. We turn instead to the words of Paul in Ephesians 4. Ephesians 4:20, says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down on your wrath.” Unlike what many have joked, this DOES NOT give us leeway to be angry. It is instead, saying, “IF YOU BECOME ANGRY, don’t let it cause you to sin.” What is the sin of anger? Backing up to verse 22, it says to “put off” or stop how you used to communicate before you knew God. Galatians 5:19-21 gives a comprehensive list of “works” or behaviors of anger. But what we must see from Ephesians 4 is Paul was not done with the subject of anger. Reading forward to verse 31, he says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice: and …”

AND. It continues. We must include verse 32. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

That puts the nail in any idea of productive anger. There isn’t any such thing.

We must know in our heart that God is love. This Truth must be real to us. It is knowing the size and quality of God’s love, knowing it is His nature, it is how He sees things, that makes us like Him. To be like Him is to show mercy and compassion. To be like Him is to walk at peace. Because God is not angry. He has placed His wrath beneath the blood of Christ. Jesus’ death and Resurrection was to cleanse us of sin so that from now until infinity we can be with a joyful, happy, peaceful Father. Jesus is joyful. The Holy Spirit is joyful. Heaven is a place of complete joy and peace.

“For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace.” (Romans 8:6 TPT)

Photo by Corina Rainer on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com