"DOEST THOU WELL TO BE ANGRY?" Jonah 4:4 I. Introduction. A. One of strongest emotions: anger. B. Possessed by God and man: 1. God was angry with Solomon: I Kings 11:9. 2. Very angry with Aaron: Deut. 9:20. 3. Jonah: 4:4. 4. Jacob: Genesis 30:2. II. Body. A. Anger can be harmful. 1. When controls person: Leads to unseemliness. 2. When kept in heart: Eccl. 7:9. 3. Rejection of others: Luke 15:28. 4. Causes strife, contention: Proverbs 29:22. 5. Can lead to: Colossians 3:21. 6. Deeper resentment: Matthew 5:22. 7. Led to unkind words: I Samuel 20:30. 8. Led to disobedience: Exodus 32:19. 9. Led to irrational act: Numbers 22:27. 10. Led to murder: Gen. 49:6(Simeon & Levi). B. Anger can be beneficial. 1. When properly controlled and directed. 2. Note: Ephesians 4:26. 3. Can cause realization of situations/conditions: Mark 3:5. 4. Can move a person: a. To correct abuses(Jesus & moneychangers). b. To improve self. c. To try to improve others(Jesus & hardened hearts). C. Anger is a controllable emotion. 1. The Lord is "slow to anger." Nehemiah 9:17. 2. Not to be "soon angry." Proverbs 14:17. 3. To control promptly to be effective: Ephesians 4:26. 4. Even in qualification of elders: Titus 1:7. 5. God does not expect humans to do what cannot be done: Colossians 3:21. 6. Warning: Proverbs 22:24. 7. Interesting comment: Proverbs 21:14. D. What provokes men to be angry? 1. What provoked Christ? Mark 3:5. 2. There are times when it is right to be angry. a. When "grievous" words are spoken: Proverbs 15:1. b. When "backbiting tongue" is active: Proverbs 25:23. c. When properly controlled: Proverbs 16:32. d. When results in good. 3. There are times when anger is unacceptable. a. When out of control. b. When angry because told/demonstrated the truth: John 7:23. c. When kept within one: Eccl. 7:9. d. When overwhelms one: Proverbs 27:4. e. When actions cause others to be angry through wrong approaches: Ephesians 6:4. III. Conclusion. A. All human emotions are to be used and controlled properly.