Sermon Outline

Letting Go of Anger

Part 2: Consequences of Anger

Charles F. Stanley

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26-27

I. Summary: Many people don’t realize the cost of holding on to bitterness. They may imagine that if their grudge is justified, they have a right to nurture it. Harboring anger is an understandable reaction to life’s hurts and offenses, but resentment takes a horrible toll on our relationships, health, and fellowship with God. No wonder the Bible instructs us to deal quickly with this potentially destructive emotion.

II. Anger Defined: A strong feeling of intense displeasure, hostility, or indignation as a result of a real or imagined threat, insult, frustration, or injustice toward yourself or others important to you. There are three types of anger: 1) rage is usually an explosive expression of anger; 2) resentment is repressed or suppressed anger; and 3) indignation is righteous anger over an unjust situation or a wrong someone else has suffered.

III. A Threefold Warning in Ephesians 4:26-27

A. First, we are to “be angry, and sin not.” In other words, don’t give in to rage and resentment towards another person.

B. Second, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” God does not want us to go to sleep at night without dealing with the hostility we felt that day.

C. Third, “Do not give the devil an opportunity.” Tragically, you and I sometimes become upset unnecessarily because we misunderstood another person’s comment.

IV. The Consequences of Anger

A. To ourselves:

1. Anger breaks our fellowship with God. We can’t be at peace with the Lord while we are angry with another individual (Matt. 5:23-24).

2. Your relationships with other people will suffer. For example, a marriage will not thrive if one or both spouses become angry and refuse to address the problem.

3. You will develop a critical spirit. Bitter people often become judgmental in an effort to justify their negative feelings.

4. You will lack peace. Hostility makes you restless and robs you of joy.

5. Anger leads to emotional isolation. When people are wounded, they often try to protect themselves from further hurt by pushing others away.

6. Anger results in frustration and anxiety. You may expect betrayal or constantly question the motives of those who are kind to you.

7. It leaves you feeling empty. When we cut ourselves off from friendships in order to prevent further hurt, God allows us to feel lonely.

8. It can also cause you to become narrow in mind and heart. You begin to criticize and belittle others—perhaps through joking––but the barbs are real.

9. Anger sometimes manifests itself through chronic tardiness. By being late, people seek to demonstrate that no one can tell them what to do.

10. Hostility can make you disagreeable. If you have unresolved anger, it can make you argumentative with everyone, not just the person who offended you.

11. Anger can make you sloppy on the job. You may begin to justify failing to look your best, do your best, and be your best at work.

12. Anger can cause you to lose your enthusiasm. You may withdraw from social activities or lose your excitement for hobbies and passions.

13. Hostility, if left unchecked, results in procrastination. It diminishes your ability to concentrate, so you are less likely to complete tasks.

14. Anger can contribute to obesity, because people try to comfort themselves through food.

15. It also prevents genuine sexual intimacy in marriage.

B. To our health:

1. Unresolved, unrighteous anger increases your adrenalin level, heart rate, and blood pressure. Your mouth becomes dry and your hands get moist. Your stomach tenses and interrupts digestion, and blood rushes to supply your muscles with extra energy.

2. Chronic rage or resentment, over the long term, contributes to ulcers, hypertension, heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke. It results in crippling arthritis and severe depression. In short, every system of your body is affected. Initially, you may not feel these devastating effects of anger, but over time, they can ruin your health.

C. To other people:

1. Anger hurts those around us. Resentment separates close friendships and other relationships. It’s often a factor in divorce.

2. Rage can cause damage to the belongings of others. Sometimes it even results in physical harm or loss of innocent life.

D. To God:

1. Anger grieves the Lord. Hostility does not fit who we are as children of God.

2. It hinders His work. Those who harbor resentment are often not willing to obey His voice.

3. The Father will not pour out His full blessing on an angry person.

V. Conclusion: I encourage you to think about how anger will affect you, your relationships with others, and your fellowship with God. If you are willing to forgive instead, you will experience healing. Forgiveness might save your job, your marriage, or other relationships. One thing is certain: Letting go of anger will keep you from self-destruction. Why not give it a try today?