Three deadly things about anger

Genesis 4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD." (NKJV)

Please read the whole of Genesis chapter four before reading this any further.

Cain was the offspring of Adam and Eve. Some people think he was the product of the devil. Satan never has and never will create a human being. Cain was a child acquired from the LORD. Genesis 4:1 takes the trouble to record this fact that would normally be assumed.

The bible wants us to understand that Cain was a normal person like you and me who simply fell to anger. In fact Cain's problem started with anger.

Cain and Abel both brought offerings to the Lord. Cain's offering was rejected for reasons known to God and Cain. I think Genesis 4:7 makes this fact quite plain.

Genesis 4:7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire [is] for you, but you should rule over it." (NKJV)

God would have not told Cain about 'doing well' if Cain had no ideal of what was right in the first place. Cain knew how to offer a sacrifice to God in the proper way. Maybe he just could not be bothered to do it.

Anger

Cain got angry as a result of his rejected offering. Anger in itself is not a sin. Holding onto anger is where the danger comes. When you understand what anger can do, you would be a fool to entertain it.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 "Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools." (NKJV)

Apart from the three deadly things about anger mentioned below, anger can also attracts demonic attention and influence to you. We shall look at these another time when we consider the renewal of the mind.

1. Anger gives room to the devil in our life.

Ephesians 4:26-27 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil." (NKJV)

Anger becomes sin when we embrace it for too long enough. When is too long I hear you ask? I answer that question with another one. How long would you want to have a headache before getting rid of it? I think the answer should be obvious.

As long as you entertain anger satan (or more precisely, his demonic forces) will have a doorway into your life. If you give satan a place to stay he is sure to leave a mess. Ask brother Cain about it.

2. Anger grieves the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 4:30-31 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice." (NKJV)

Anger is mentioned above as one of the things that grieve the Holy Spirit. Maybe you have never seen it in that way before. As you let these words touch your heart you will discover the roots of anger in your life being cut away. As you read these words I pray that they may bring you light.

Grieving the Holy Spirit means a lack of anointing in our life. It is one of the reasons why there is a lack of the gifts of the Holy Spirit among many Christians today.

3. Anger affects our physical body - adversely.

>Genesis 4:6 "And the Lord said to Cain, why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?" (The Amplified Bible)

Cain was sad. His physical body was depressed. His health was affected by his anger. Today even medical science acknowledges that anger can cause high blood pressure, headaches, irrational judgements and much more.

If anger is a problem you have why not treat it as a problem immediately. Just like you would a headache. Ask the Lord for help. Remember -