Chapter 56—Anger
Anger Opens the Heart to Satan—Those who at any supposed
provocation feel at liberty to indulge anger or resentment are opening
the heart to Satan. Bitterness and animosity must be banished from the
soul if we would be in harmony with heaven.—
The Desire of Ages,
310
(1898).
Servants of Sin—“His servants ye are to whom ye obey” (
Romans
6:16
). If we indulge anger, lust, covetousness, hatred, selfishness, or
any other sin, we become servants of sin. “No man can serve two
masters” (
Matthew 6:24
). If we serve sin, we cannot serve Christ. The
Christian will feel the promptings of sin, for the flesh lusteth against the
Spirit; but the Spirit striveth against the flesh, keeping up a constant
warfare. Here is where Christ’s help is needed. Human weakness
becomes united to divine strength, and faith exclaims, “Thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (
1
Corinthians 15:57
)!—RH, May 3, 1881. (
The Sanctified Life, 92, 93
.)
Anger Born of Sensitive Morals—It is true there is an indigna-
tion that is justifiable, even in the followers of Christ. When they see
that God is dishonored and His service brought into disrepute, when
they see the innocent oppressed, a righteous indignation stirs the soul.
[517]
Such anger, born of sensitive morals, is not a sin.—
The Desire of
Ages, 310
(1898).
The Anger of Moses—The breaking of the tables of stone was but
a representation of the fact that Israel had broken the covenant which
they had so recently made with God. It is a righteous indignation
against sin, which springs from zeal for the glory of God, not that
anger prompted by self-love or wounded ambition, which is referred
to in the scripture “Be ye angry, and sin not.” Such was the anger of
Moses.—
The Review and Herald, February 18, 1890
. (
Testimonies to
Ministers and Gospel Workers, 101
.)
Christ’s Holy Wrath—Christ’s indignation was directed against
the hypocrisy, the gross sins, by which men were destroying their own
souls, deceiving the people and dishonoring God. In the specious
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