Freedom – Set Free From Anger Series

FREEDOM – Set Free From Anger

• Ephesians. 4:26-5:2 (NIV)

[26] "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold. [28] He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

[29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

[5:1] Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children [2] and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

INTRODUCTION:

The Incredible Hulk “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry” – David Banner. This character believed the perception that anger is a monster within us that does terrible things.

Would you like to be set free from anger? We all have times when we become angry. How are we to handle our anger?

 Architect’s Design

1. Anger is a normal God-given emotion!

a) Some of you will take an important step toward freedom from anger just by learning that simple lesson. GOD CREATED YOU WITH THE CAPACITY OF ANGER.

b) The emotional response of anger is NOT a sin because even God gets angry. God is not void of emotion. The difference between God and man is not that God does not feel anger and we do; rather the difference is found in how God and man respond to the emotion of anger.

• Psalm 30:5 (NIV)

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime.

• Psalm 85:3 (NIV)

You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.

• Psalm 86:15 (NIV)

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

c) Even Jesus became angry, YET HE DID NOT SIN! We most often think of Jesus being angry when He cleansed the temple, but that is not the only time Jesus was ever angry.

o In Mark 3 Jesus is at the temple on the Sabbath; the Pharisees and religious leaders were watching to see if Jesus would perform a miracle on the Sabbath. A man with a shriveled hand was there. Jesus asked them, “What is legal on the Sabbath, to do good or evil, to save life or kill?” They refused to answer him. “He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.” (Mark 3:5 NIV)

d) Freedom from anger is found when we learn to control our anger expressing it in healthy and constructive ways like Jesus.

2. Anger is a POWERFUL emotion that motivates us to action.

a) Dr. David Seamands said “Anger is a divinely implanted emotion. Closely allied to our instinct for right, it is designed to be used for constructive spiritual purposes. The person who cannot feel anger at evil is a person who lacks enthusiasm for good. If you cannot hate wrong, it is very questionable whether you really love righteousness. To not express anger is to not be human."

b) Basically there are two typical ways we show our anger. Anger can be EXPRESSED, or anger can be REPRESSED. Sometimes repressed anger may be expressed like an EXPLOSION.

c) While we have been created in the image of God with the capacity to use our anger to right wrongs and overcome evil, sin has distorted that image within us. Sin keeps us from having a healthy response to our anger. Our anger becomes misdirected and misused because all too often our anger only leads to sin.

d) Psychologists label anger in four ways.

o Maniac, this is the person who just let’s their anger explode. Anger is expressed with no thought of the consequences; you just blow up and can pick up the pieces later.

o Mute this person represses their anger deeply. Instead of exploding they implode holing anger inside. Instead of expressing healthy anger, the mute bottles anger inside and pretends as if nothing is wrong. This person is determined never to “get angry.”

o Martyr, this is the person who is always throwing a pity party. They are like Eore from Winnie the Pooh. Eore expects to be disappointed and is okay with that. The martyr represses their anger until it is finally expressed as, you guessed it, depression.