In the middle of this week on forgiveness, we're taking time today to look at what it means to live a lifestyle of continual forgiveness.

Over time, as we open our hearts and allow God to do a continued work in us, we're equipped to develop a new normal, a new way of living.

So today, we're looking at how we can live with a constant openness toward forgiveness,

equipped to both receive it and offer it, that unforgiveness would no longer have space in our hearts.

May God encourage and equip you today in our time together.

Welcome to the First 15 podcast. Our scripture for today is Ephesians 4, verses 26 through 27.

Scripture says, be angry and do not sin.

Do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil.

Ephesians 4 offers revelation on an important and often unknown spiritual principle.

Scripture says, be angry and do not sin.

Do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil.

When we allow anger to fester within us for days, weeks, months, and sometimes years,

we allow the enemy to gain a foothold in our lives

that robs us of the abundant life provided in Christ.

In Ephesians, Paul is clear that anger in itself is not a sin.

It's when we allow anger to remain instead of choosing grace and forgiveness that we break

God's command.

When people wrong us, the natural response is to be angry, and that's all right.

Jesus himself was often angry.

Matthew 2112 tells us, and Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in

the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

Jesus was consistently angry with those who claimed to know God and took advantage of others.

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