Dealing With Anger Series

INTRODUCTION

• I have always said and believed that when I get the opportunity to preach, I do not preach at people; I preach from how the Word works on my heart and life.

• In other words, when I am working on each message, the Word is working on my heart also.

• None are probably more accurate than the subject we will explore in our Book of Proverbs- The Ways of the Wise series.

• Anger is probably one of the most destructive and deceptive emotions we deal with in life.

• Anger is deceptive in that we can fool ourselves into believing we have the righteous anger that Jesus displayed when He turned over the tables of the corrupt money changers in the Temple.

• Since, at its core, anger is not a sin but can lead to sin, it is easy to excuse or rationalize our constant state of anger.

Ephesians 4:26 (CSB)

26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,

Psalm 4:4 (CSB)

4 Be angry and do not sin; reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent.

• If we are not careful, we can try to say our anger is righteous, keeping us from dealing with the issue.

• Anger is also destructive. Here is an extreme case.

On Mother's Day of 1987, Percy Washington killed the wrong woman. Washington and his wife, Corene, had been married for 29 years before separating the previous year.

The 61-year-old retiree became angry with his estranged wife and accused her of taking advantage of him.

He bought a shotgun the day before and went to her church with the intent of murder.

When the morning worship service ended, Washington waited for his wife to get in her car.

He then leveled his shotgun and fired through the windshield.

But since Washington wasn't wearing his glasses, he shot a woman who he mistook for his wife.

Fannie Watson was driving a similar car so he just assumed she was his wife.

After being arrested, Washington said, "I'm sorry about the other woman.

I meant to kill my wife, but I forgot my glasses."

Anger leaves us blinded to reality regardless of whether or not we wear corrective lenses, and it will ultimately hurt innocent people. McHenry’s Stories for the Soul, 2001, p.13

• I used to struggle a lot with the issue of anger.

• It did not take much to set me off, particularly if I lost at something, ANYTHING!

• There are moments when I still have some struggles with anger; however, God has been gracious to me, and those moments are few and far between.

• So when you hear the message today, this is one of which I can speak from personal experience.

• I hope that if you struggle with anger today, you will pay particular attention today.

• If you are blessed enough not to have this struggle, I hope you find some tips to help you help others who have the battle.

• Let's turn to Proverbs 14:29 to begin this morning.

Proverbs 14:29 (CSB)

29 A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

SERMON

Dealing with anger requires you to:

I. Control your emotions.

• I like how the passage is translated in the NASB, and the NET, among others.

Proverbs 14:29 (NET) — 29 The one who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.

• The phrase, patient person in the CSB can be confusing, although it reflects the text's meaning, just not quite as clearly as the NET.

• In its literal sense, the Word PATIENT means, "SLOW AT BEING ANGRY."

• The Word in Hebrew is APH.

• APH is rooted in the concept of someone so angry that their nostrils are flaring.

• Some things make us angry, and denying that would be futile.

• But it is vital to approach anger slowly and not let it run wild, like a bull in a china shop.

• This is why the proverb states that whoever is slow to anger has great understanding.

• When we can see our problems in light of the larger plan of God's working in history, we can move more slowly.

• Not everyone can see how God can take something bad and turn it around for their good (Romans 8:28).

• But someone who understands how God operates in this world will be slower to get angry because they will be on the lookout for God at work.

• When we face people and situations, we have to learn to control our emotions.

• I cannot tell you how many times I have struggled with this, and the result was I looked foolish.