Enemies of the Mind – Part 8

Ecc 5:15-20

(15) As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.

(16) This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?

(17) Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

(18) Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.

(19) Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God.

(20) For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

These words coming from a man to whom God gave much wisdom, along with wealth and power, instruct how careful we need to be as we live our lives on this earth. Peace, joy, and contentment proceed from the spiritual man:

Rom 8:5-8

(5) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

(6) To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

(7) For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

(8) Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Because we have to protect ourselves from the vexations that an ungodly mind can produce, we must study how Satan uses our minds and emotions to get us to live in bitterness, envy, strife and evil deeds. All these are the result of a sick mind. The healthy mind is one that is at peace and that can rejoice in each day God has made.

IX – Anger (also known as wrath, rage and madness) – When your spirit is out of control

Let us first get rid of some misconceptions about anger.

Mar 3:1-5

(1) Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand.

(2) And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.

(3) And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here."

(4) And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.

(5) And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Jesus got angry. Was it a sin?

1Pe 2:21-23

(21) For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

(22) He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

(23) When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

A man who is in control of his spirit will not sin even though he is angered.

Eph 4:26-27

(26) Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

(27) and give no opportunity to the devil.

The anger which is in control is allowed to dissipate and be forgotten before the day is over, not be rallied up again the next day or ever! It is a passing emotion, not a character trait!

Was Jesus known as an angry man or as a gentle man? What about those of you who suffer from this enemy of the mind? Is anger a trait in your person or something that happens to you once in a blue moon?

There are different words for various sorts of anger in the Greek language:

Thumos: suggests an outburst of anger which comes on suddenly but subsides rather quickly

Orge: less spontaneous but abides longer.

How is it OK to be angry at times and yet not sin in our anger?

The answer is found in the Proverbs.

Remember that anger, like any emotion, is provoked by stimuli from your environment. If you are an angry person without any provocation then it is a result of a warped, unhealthy mind that has been set in the path to continuous sin. You need renewal in your life! You are trapped by your own evil desires and selfishness! You need to know Jesus and let Him bring you peace!

Pro 16:32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Pro 22:24-25

(24) Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

(25) lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Pro 19:19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

Pro 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

These Proverbs are talking about a man who is given to anger, in other words, a person who has no self-control over this emotion. They bite back and are always cursing everything and everyone, upset at the world and everything that happens. They are like a city without walls, out of control! This last proverb listed here concerns anyone who doesn’t have any self control over their desires or emotions.

Emotions like anger need to be kept in check. It is not wrong to feel angry or let something anger you, especially if it is a justified cause; but you must also remember this:

Jam 1:19-20

(19) Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

(20) for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.

Your anger will never bring about the righteousness that God requires. No emotion does. Living rightly is about obeying the commands of God and loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and showing that in how you love your neighbors, who include, above all, your immediate family and then brothers and sisters in the church (Mat 12:30). Loving in this holy way means to put aside anger (1Tim 2:8; Col 3:8; Eph 4:31; 6:4; Gal 5:20; 2Co 12:20):

1Ti 2:8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

Col 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

From these verses it is clear we must not be people who give in to this emotion or allow others to provoke us to respond in uncontrolled anger!

Anger is an enemy of the mind that can entangle us in a snare and bring us to ruin! It is a way the devil chooses to manipulate you and make you do his bidding to hurt and provoke others.