"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." — Ecclesiastes 7:9
This Sunday message comes from Pastor R.T. Owoseni, District Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church Salvation Centre, Ilorin, Nigeria. His text was Ecclesiastes 7:9, with Proverbs 14:17 and 14:29 and 1 Samuel 9:18.
Anger is an emotion, and God placed it in man for a reason. It was given to show displeasure toward the things of the devil. Anger is not in itself a sin. The trouble begins when it is aimed at the wrong target or left to run.
Anger has to be dealt with, because anger itself is a destructive spirit. Left alone, it grows. Solomon is blunt about where it settles: "anger resteth in the bosom of fools" (Ecclesiastes 7:9). He also says, "He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly" (Proverbs 14:17), and "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly" (Proverbs 14:29).
Anger has the power to destroy a person's relationship with God. What starts as a flash of temper can put distance between us and the Lord.
As children of God, we are not expected to act while we are angry. Feeling the emotion is one thing. Acting on it is another. Pastor Owoseni's point is that we are called to pause before we say or do anything.
When anger takes control, it is impossible to act godly. That is why it has to be dealt with, and not excused.
Listen to the full message on Spotify: Dealing with Anger, by Pastor R.T. Owoseni. The message and its notes are also on the CAC Salvation Centre Ilorin site: read it there. More of his messages are on his Spotify show.
