Displays of Excessive Anger is a Weakness of Character
God hates violence and has the power to soften hardened hearts into gentle giants
The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. (Psalm 11:5)
not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. (1 Timothy 3:3)
Domestic violence is a problem in many homes. It is something that many couples secretly experience behind closed doors so as to avoid embarrassment from peers and hide behind fake smiles in public posing for picture-perfect Instagram photos that actually conceal the hurts in their hearts. Many outsider onlookers idolize those picture-perfect posed photos and envy relationship goals they really know nothing about or the work the couple put into maintaining such a relationship whether it is perceivably as romantic as it seems in their photos.
Another example of excessive anger outside of the home also goes without saying that people who really don’t have a relationship with Jesus let displays of anger get out of hand as violent crimes escalate in homes and onto the streets. Time and time again I’ve read of people who suffer from mental illness including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and paranoia succumb to the voices in their heads that entice them to live out violent episodes. I wrote an article that says, Craziness is a spirit of Witchcraft and should be a topic you should look into if you or someone dear you know suffers from mental episodes that set them into unpredictable mood swings of anger.
Jesus can give us peace in our minds (Isaiah 9:6) and change our characters to react with gentleness instead of harsh replies (Proverbs 15:1) that inevitably leave scars that can cut deep into the hearts of our loved ones if we are not careful with how we treat our neighbors.
I’ve learned about the fear of God in my heart over the years by witnessing certain domestic events that have convinced me that there is peace in the presence of God (Isaiah 9:6) and to lay down anger and violence at the feet of Jesus (Ephesians 4:31).
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
Jesus did it with Paul who was one of the worst violent criminals in the Bible and He can still do it today. In this article, I’ll tell you why and how that is.
Anger is a natural emotion (Ephesians 4:26).
Everyone gets angry once in a while but it is important to manage your temper in order to not offend God and mankind.
Spending time with God is the best way to get rid of your anger as the word says,
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Colossians 3:8
In fact, God hates violence. He equates that to wickedness
The Lord tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
Psalm 11:5
David the Psalmist, who was recognized as a man after God’s own heart declares in prayer to God:
O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.
Psalm 139:19
Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3
Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
Proverbs 3:29
Going back to domestic violence and I’m just talking to defend those in abusive marriages. The Bible says that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) but reading the above scriptures… God hates violence more.
It’s important to realize that as Christians we are in spiritual warfare and our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:10-19). In daily disagreements with our spouse, it is important not to take out our frustration on them personally but to realize there are spiritual forces at work in the air influencing each of us every day in our minds. That’s why the Bible says it is important for us to wear our full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-12).
It’s important to settle your disputes before you go to bed to keep peace in the marriage and the home.
“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, Ephesians 4:26
In your evening prayers before bed lay down your cares and concerns before God asking for forgiveness of any angry outbursts and He will forgive you
be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Forgive one another
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15
Notice how it is a commandment to forgive others their sins when they sin against us. If we do not forgive other people who have sinned against us then God will not hear our prayers and forgive us of our sins.
When Peter asked Jesus how many times should we forgive someone who has offended us, he asked because he knew there was a law that let people wait before he or she could retaliate against their offending neighbor but Jesus insinuated with so many words to forgive always.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18: 21-22 21
So who are we to hold a grudge against someone that Jesus already died for and forgave? If we believe that God forgave us then it is the turn of our neighbor to forgive us and let go what has already passed.
Jesus is our advocate to defend us when we let Him down and others.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
So as a commandment from God we should walk in obedience and forgive one another because we didn’t deserve His forgiveness through Jesus in the first place.
God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)
He loved us first
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 1 John 3:16
He is quick to forgive us
If you confess your sins to God he is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and cleans you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)
Jesus is our Advocate before the Father
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2
If we stumble and fall He picks us up again
For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. Proverbs 24:16
Just don’t go and willingly practice sin
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [a]says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
If you really have a sin struggle apart from anger or really any vice that bothers you and you know you should give up just pray to God in Jesus and ask Him to help you quit if it is really a problem and a sin you like to do because as hard as it is to admit in the open sometimes we are addicted to our vices and like to do the very things we know are wrong (1 John 1:9, Romans 12:2)
Even the apostle Paul admitted to struggling with his own sinful nature
If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. Romans 7:16-17
And do not be conformed to to this world but be transformed by the reneweing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect wil of God Romans 12:1-2
We renew our mind by spending time in the Word with God and reading the Bible (Ephesians 5:26)
Spending time with Jesus and laying down our sins and burdens before Him at the cross is the best way to let go of those sin struggles that weigh us down.
God doesn’t call us to come to Jesus to be perfect but instead asks that you give Him the filthy, broken and sinful heart that you already have in exchange for the peace, forgiveness, and eternal life that He offers us through believing in Jesus Christ.
When we come to God by believing in the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us at the Cross to receive His salvation1 we let go over our will to perfect ourselves before Him because He calls us to Him as we are.
As we believe that Jesus overcame death on the third day when He rose again we accept that He is a live sitting at the right-hand side of the Father interceding for us (Romans 8:34).
Therefore, He just calls us to walk in a relationship with Him knowing that we are imperfect sinners with a sinful nature but that His work in us perfects us and qualifies us to carry out the life and purpose He called us to in Jesus Christ. You can see more about what I mean by reading the article I wrote, Stop Doing the Work Christ Already Did For You. It’s truly liberating.
As we come to accept the work that Christ has done for us and live our lives with Him we wait for Him expectantly and His return to pick up the Church with Him in the air. We know this to be called the rapture.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [b]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
Be like Jesus and keep His commandments (Luke 10:27)
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:10-13)
Feel free to get acquainted with the three different types of love that Jesus talks about in my article here.
Conclusion
As anyone gets to know Jesus and spends time with Him they will inevitably change in character and shed lots of traits that God didn’t like about our attitudes before. In the same way that Jesus changed Saul of Tarsus a.ka. the Apostle Paul from a violent man who persecuted the church into a gentle giant who wrote letters like 1 Corinthians 13 Love is patient love is kind… we can see the tenderness that God in Jesus can make out of any hardened vicious heart. It really is sweet to spend time in the presence of God.
God is slow to anger angry and shows mercy- he is not angry with us forever Psalm 103:8-10
Confession of Faith For Salvation
If you enjoyed reading this article and would like to know the Lord or have known the Lord at some point in the past and would like to receive Him in your heart again now is a good time to pray this prayer in the quiet comfort of your home.
Scripture says,
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
Dear Jesus,
I come to you and confess with my mouth that you are the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that God has raised You from the dead on the third day. Please come into my heart today to be saved.
Thank you,
Amen.