Be Angry and Do Not Sin

This is a testimony for God's work to be known.  Who will know unless someone says something.  This is not to bring attention to myself.  I want people to know God is real and he speaks to us in supernatural ways.

A clear audible voice I hadn’t heard from for some time spoke this morning as I was in bed.  I say audible because sometimes God just speaks where we hear him as if his words were our own thoughts and sometimes he speaks to us where we hear a voice.  The tender voice said, “Be angry, and do not sin.” 

The thing was… I wasn’t angry in the angry "sense" of the word even though I have been stilling feeling off and on God’s hurt and disappointment for the church's in America. 

I began to wander if this word was some warning for later.  I thought, “Should I expect some situation where I might become angry later? No… I can’t do that for that would just build up some kind of anxiety and expectation for something that may not even happen."

"Maybe that word wasn’t for me at all but for someone else," I thought.  

So I went to my bible to find this verse, “Be angry, and do not sin.”

Psalm 4:4 “Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.”

"Well.... obviously I wasn’t being very still now if I was letting my thoughts run but at least I was now meditating on it, I thought.

Ephesians “4:26 “Be angry and do not sin: Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”

Well I wasn’t angry or bitter and I wasn’t letting my mind go down some dark path of judgment for others so where does this piece of the puzzle go?  Be still remember… be still.

Anger can be a bad thing….  where anger turns to malice.  “But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander and dirty language,” Colossians 3:8

And anger can be a good thing….  Where you are not glad about injustice, immorals, evil, sin, vices, wickedness, wrong.  This type of anger furthers our conviction to not compromise and to do what is right.  “It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.” 1 Corinthians 13:6

I examined both passages to see what stood out.  What was the Lord speaking to my heart?

These were the lines that stuck out:

“How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame?  How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah. But know that the LORD has set apart Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call Him.  Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.   Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.   There are many who say, ‘Who will show us any good?’   LORD, life up the light of Your countenance upon us.  You have put gladness in my heart, More then in the season that their grain and wine increased.  I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:2-8

“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.  Be angry and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.   Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for the necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.   And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32

I am to speak the truth and what is necessary without malice, I am to say, “O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame?  How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?   God will only hear those who are godly, those who offer, exercise and live in sacrifices of righteousness and put their trust in the LORD.   God’s light will be upon and in them and they will have a heart of gladness.  God will make them sleep in peace and make them feel secure.  I am to say what is necessary to edify the church and impart grace to the hearers to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, even as God in Christ forgave me.

You and I are to hate the sin but love the person.  We are to speak the truth to people in love remembering what God has done for us.