A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger? Proverb 15:1

1. Anger and temper separate people in different directions. Many conflicts arise not because the issues separating the parties are so significant, but because of the temperaments, people bring to a confrontation. ^[1]
2. Anger breaks and hurts the people, but love and compassion build
   1. Anger is an emotion and becomes sinful when causeless, or excessive or protracted, so we must deal with it. Psalms 37:8 ^[2]
   2. Anger is similar to Murder => Jesus Mt. 5:22.
   3. Anger, along with bitterness, wrath, malice, and slander, as attitudes which Christians must rid themselves of once and for all. (Ephesians 4:31 and Colossians 3:8)
   4. A Christian leader should not be prone to anger, that is, easily provoked (Ti 1:7). ^[3]
   5. God showed righteous anger (Dt. 29:25, 26; Ex 32:19, Ex 4:14, Jgs 2:14). Though God’s anger is out of love and He will not sin (Jas 1:13) “Be angry but do not sin” (Eph. 4:26a)
      1. Causes of God’s anger
         1. Disobedience Isa 5:24-25 See also Nu 22:22; Jos 7:1; 2Ki 22:13; Ps 78:21-22; Mic 5:15; Zec 7:12; Mk 3:5; Ro 2:5; Eph 5:5-6; Heb 3:7-12
         2. Sinfulness Isa 57:17 See also 1Ki 8:46; 11:9; 2Ch 19:2; 32:25; Eph 2:1-3; Col 3:5-6
         3. Apostasy and idolatry Nu 25:3 See also Dt 4:25; 9:8; Jos 22:18; 23:16; Jdg 2:19-20; 10:6-7; 1Ki 14:15; 2Ki 22:17; Ezr 9:14; Jer 7:17-18
      2. The characteristics of God that provoke His anger
         1. He is a holy God Ps 7:11 See also Jos 24:19-20; Jer 10:10
         2. He is a jealous God Dt 6:15 See also 1Ki 14:22; Ps 79:5; Eze 16:38; Na 1:2
         3. He is the universal judge Ps 79:6 See also Ezr 8:22; Isa 34:2; Zep 3:8
         4. He is also compassionate and slow to anger Ps 103:8 See also Ex 34:6; Ne 9:17; Ps 78:38; 86:15; Jnh 4:2; Na 1:3 ^[4]
      3. Dealing with anger
         1. Practice soft and gentle answer 1Co 13:5 See also Ecc 7:9; Tit 1:7; Jas 1:19
         2. Runaway if you can’t control your emotion and no revenge Rom 12:19
         3. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in prayer.
         4. Renouncing anger Eph 4:31 See also Ps 37:8; Col 3:8; 1Ti 2:8
         5. Deal with it as soon as possible. (Eph 4:26b, 27a; Jas 1:9) The longer a person allows permissible anger to continue, the greater the danger that it will develop sinful qualities, giving Satan a foothold for the attack. James cautions, “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (Jas 1:19). ^[5]
         6. If you are under God’s anger,
            1. God’s anger may be temporary Ps 30:5 See also Ps 103:9; Isa 54:8; 57:16; 60:10
            2. God’s anger cannot be averted by human means Zep 1:18 See also Pr 11:4
            3. Humility and repentance are required Zep 2:3 See also Ge 18:30-32; Dt 9:18-19; 2Ch 12:7,12; 30:8; Isa 64:9; Joel 2:13
            4. God’s anger is averted on account of his love for believers La 3:22 See also Hos 11:9
            5. God’s anger is averted on account of the work of Jesus Christ Ro 5:9 See also Jn 3:36; 1Th 1:10; 5:9 ^[6]
3. Why we anger => Jealousy, Pride, circumstances, past experiences
4. Stirs up = like a fire.