The godless are easily recognisable by their character and conduct. One of their most visible traits is wrath or fury. Fury brings condemnation to the godless and those who reject God’s grace. This destructive emotion can wreak havoc in families, communities, workplaces and even churches. It leads to disunity, violence, strife, contention and debate. “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” The display of wrath does not reveal a person’s relationship with God or the presence of His righteousness in him. Instead, it exposes his unpreparedness for glory and heaven.

Those who harbour and die with wrath, animosity and hatred in their hearts will not inherit the kingdom of heaven, regardless of their religious activities and claims. Their wrathful dispositions betray their so-called Christian profession. While in the congregation with other brethren, they often make the loudest noise to seek attention. But genuine believers, on the other hand, are characterised by meekness, humility and reverence for God.

There are people whose wrath has become permanent even if they have been in the church for a long time. Anger makes a person unable to control himself. And the scripture is explicit that those who cannot govern their own spirits are like “a city that is broken down, and without walls.” As believers, we must put away “all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking… with all malice.” Instead, we should be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. By doing so, we open doors that anger has closed, and experience the transformative power of gentleness, meekness, humility, grace and faith.

God, however, would not live anyone keen on changing his ways in the ignoble state of anger and fury. He has prepared the fullness of gifts for those who consistently consecrate their lives to him. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights….” The heavenly Father has an abundance of good and perfect gifts to bestow on us. These gifts are designed to transform us into righteous, holy, and perfect individuals.

After salvation, God gives us the “unspeakable gift” of heaven. Being compassionate and a covenant-keeping Father, He grants us “all things that pertain unto life (healing, deliverance, success, provision) and godliness (purity of heart and sanctification), through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” He imparts His divine nature to us as a gift and gives us the power of the Holy Ghost. Filled with the Spirit of God, we receive gifts such as the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. He gives us ministers with diverse gifts “for the perfecting of the saints…”

If we do not accept these ministers and their teachings, we will not grow to “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” However, we cannot receive these gifts if we still harbour wrath, anger and animosity in our hearts. We must repent and be free from these sinful and destructive emotions before we can ask for gifts of grace, purity and every other good and perfect gift. “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

• Further reading (King James Version): James 1:17-27,2,16,19; 2:1,5,14; 3:1,10,12; 4:11; 5:7,9,10,12,19. James 1:17,18; Isaiah 63:8,16; Jeremiah 3:4,19; Deuteronomy 32:6,29; Malachi 1:6; John 8:41-44; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Matthew 13:40-43; Galatians 1:4; 4:6; 1 John 3:1-10. James 1:19-22; Esther 3:5,6; 7:9,10; Job 5:2; Psalm 37:8; 2 Chronicles 25:6-10,13; Proverbs 19:19; 25:28; 29:22; Ephesians 4:30-32. James 1:17,25; Romans 6:23; 5:15-19; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 9:15; Romans 8:32; 2 Peter 1:3,4; Acts 2:38,39; 1 Corinthians 2:9,10; 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:7-14; Matthew 7:7-11.