21/04/2024

DELIVERANCE AND DOMINION OVER ANGER IN LIFE AND MINISTRY

Numbers 20:10-12; Proverbs 16:32; 25:28
Moses’ anger and his contrary action to the word of the Lord cost him entrance into the
land of Canaan. If we do not have control over our temper, our might would be
unimportant. Scripture exhorts, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and
he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city”. Moses knew the people from the
time he led them out of Egypt; they had been murmuring and complaining. Therefore, he
should not have allowed the character, rebellion and chiding of the people to push him to
do or say anything. When something happens that you feel bad about, do not say anything.
Defer the anger and think of the consequence if you allow it. The Lord wants usto rule over
our spirit, mind and the thoughts that proceed from the heart.
Members of the church are not at the same levels. Therefore, not all of them will act
the same way. Leaders and workers are to help nurture them until they are developed and
established. In the family, living together for few months enables us to know the character
and weaknesses of our spouses, parents, children and in-laws. So, getting angry at the
slightest provocation is unnecessary. In the workplace and neighbourhood, we must study
the tendencies of people and ensure we overcome whatever they do that will infuriate and
make usact or talk contraryto the Scriptures.
1. THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE OF THE MANIFESTED ANGER OF MOSES
The anger Moses manifested had serious consequence upon his life, calling, desire and
vision.
(I). THE CAUSE AND THE COST OF MOSES’ ANGER
Psalm 106:32,33; Deuteronomy 4:21,22; 1:37
“They angered him also…[and] provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with
his lips”. The spirit is inside us. If an individual outside your entity can get in and provoke
your spirit by the way they look, act, talk and react, you are not watchful or in control. Our
spirit is so important that we must keep it under control. Those who open the door and let
Satan, society and people to control their spirit are not wise.Besides,anyone who can
predict our action and reaction, can determine our achievement in life. Whereas, the
younger generation of Israelites who provoked Moses possessed the Promised Land, he
himself missed out on getting there. We must not allow people with different deficiencies in
their mental, moral and spiritual life to hinder us from thespiritual progress we ought to
make.
(II). THE COARSENESS AND THE CURSE IN MINISTERIAL ANGER
2 Samuel 12:5-7; Numbers 22:27-33; 2 Chronicles 25:7-13
“David's anger was greatly kindled” after he listened to Prophet Nathan’s illustration and
he declared judgment that “the man that hath done this thing shall surely die” without
being conscious of what he had done. “And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man”.
When we hear the word of God – parable or proclamation – we should slow down a bit,
think through and apply it to ourselves first before applying it to other people.
 When we put ourselves in the position of others and understand the reason for their
actions, it would calm us down. God was merciful to David; He did not pay him according
to his judgment. As beneficiaries of God’s mercy, we should be merciful to others as
well.Any time we get angry at anyone, we are not acting in mercy and love. Our
misinterpretation of what people do, like Balaam misinterpreted the actions of his ass, will
set us on edge and bring anger because we lack revelation.However, when the Lord reveals
to us the reason behind happenings, it brings calmness.
(III). THE CONSEQUENCE AND THE CONDEMNATION OF MESSENGERS’ ANGER
Deuteronomy 3:23-26; Ecclesiastes 7:9; 8:9
Anger may be momentary but it might carry a longstanding repercussion. Moses pleaded
with the Lord to let him “go over, and see the good land”. Before now, He had pled with
God not to disinherit the children of Israel or make a new nation out of him and He
answered; but on this particular matter, the Lord “would not hear [him]”.Messengers of
God must be careful not to incur His condemnation because of anger and suffer untold
consequence in life and eternity. Furthermore, weshould not forget that we are going to
heaven and that we must follow peace with all men. Anyone’s noncompliance with the way
we want them to respond should not make us to be angry.
2. THE SOLEMN CONSIDERATION OF MEANINGLESS ANGER IN MINISTRY
Ministers ought to consider the meaninglessness of anger in ministry solemnly and avoid it.
A minister is a messenger sent by God to deliver the gospel to His people. Just as a
dispatch rider has no personal dealing with either the mail or the receiver, ministers should
deliver God’s message without minding the response or reaction of the people.
(I). THE INCONSIDERATE ANGER OF THANKLESS MINISTERS
Jonah 4:1-4,9; John 7:23,24; Luke 15:26-28
Ministers who express inconsiderate anger in ministry are thankless. “It displeased Jonah
exceedingly, and he was very angry” because God spared the Ninevites whom He
intended to destroy, after they all turned to Him in repentance. Jonah is an example of a
thankless minister. He forgot that when he went astray, he prayed in the belly of the fish to
God who had mercy on Him. If we could remember how God forgave our sinsand
transformed our lives, we would not be angry with new converts or restored backsliders
under our leadership. We must be thoughtful and resist the temptation to be like Jonah
and the elder brother of the prodigal son. As God has shown mercy to us, we must show
same to others.
(II). THE IMPETUOUS ANGER OF THOUGHTLESS MINISTERS
Daniel 2:11-13; Proverbs 27:3,4; Matthew 5:22-24
Nebuchadnezzar “commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon” because he was
thoughtlessly angry. They even “sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain”. If they had
killed Daniel, the king would not have had his dreaminterpreted. Anger makes us to forget
that we need some important people for our lives, calling, ministry, support and progress.
When provoked to be angry, we should consider the consequence of our action because
anger puts one “in danger of the judgment: and… in danger of hell fire”.

(III). THE INTERMINABLE ANGUISH OF TAMELESS MOCKERS

Romans 2:5,6,8,9; Colossians 3:5,8; Revelation 14:10,11
People who mock the word of God will suffer interminable anguish in hell. Getting angry
and speaking in anger is evil. Therefore, there is eternal punishment for those who remain
in “anger, wrath, and malice”, and have the nature and attitude of Satan. “The same
shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into
the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb”.
3. THE STEADFAST CONQUERORS OF MORTIFIED ANGER IN MASTERY
2 Timothy 2:5-7
Steadfast conquerors mortify anger in theirlives. By so doing, theybecome totally free from
the anger that gets other people into trouble. But we can pray and allow the power of the
Lord to crush that anger. “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned,
except he strive lawfully.” As believers, we must have control over what we say and do.
(I). TIMELESS DEMAND OF FREEDOM FROM MAN’S ANGER
Psalm 37:8,9; Ephesians 4:30-32; James 1:19,20
God wants us to be free from the anger that manifest in our lives and that of others. “ Cease
from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” We must always
learn to think of the repercussion of our actions before we act in anger. “Wherefore, my
beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”.
(II). THOROUGH DELIVERANCE AND FREEDOM FROM MALICIOUS ANGER
Romans 6:6,18,22; 8:2; Galatians 5:19-23
God has made us free from malicious anger, which resides in “our old man [and it] is
crucified [and] destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”. It is the depravity
in man that brings anger. It made Cain to kill his brother Abel and made Esau to consider
killing his brother Jacob. Many years after Esau’s death, the anger was transferred to his
descendants. Saved, we must bear “fruit unto holiness”, which is devoid of angry
disposition, feeling or reaction against anyone.
(III). TOTAL DOMINION THROUGH THE FULLNESS OF THE MESSIAH’S ATONEMENT
Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:3-5; 2 Peter 1:3,4
The fullness of Christ’s atonement has granted us total dominion and cleansing from all
unrighteousness. Hence, we are expected to live the crucified life. “I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.” If we have the mind of Christ, we will not give expression to anger.As partakers of
“the divine nature,” we have total dominion over the depravity responsible for the
boisterous nature.

Congregational Songs
GHS: 83, 219 & 246