ANGER
Lakewood | Speaker: Pastor Jonathan | 4-30-2017
Matthew 5:21-22
Introduction:
¥ Jesus continues with His discipleship trying by talking with the disciples about anger. Jesus knew that as Christians we would face injustice. He encourages us to handle it correctly.
¥ More than anything I want to please God. Anger can be used by the enemy to make us disappoint God. I never want to be guilty of that.
¥ This is one of those messages that really worked on me! - WE DO LIFE TOGETHER
I. What Anger is Not…
¥ We have a built in system to recognize and react to injustice. That intolerance was placed there by God!
A. A Sin
Ephesians 4:26-27 - AMP
26 When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.
27 Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].
B. Something to feel guilty about
C. The Answer
II. What Anger is…
A. An Emotion
1. Always remember that emotions come and go
2. Sometimes people just have a bad day (Everybody deserves a break today)
B. An Invitation to effect change
1. Anger can either lead to construction or destruction. We Chose!
C. Anger manifests itself when there is a sense of injustice
1. Being angry is not wrong… How we react at times is
III. 5 Biblical Principles to help us handle anger correctly
1. CONTROL YOUR TEMPER
A. When we sense injustice and feel that we can do nothing about it we can get angry.
Proverbs 19:11 - AMP Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.
James 1:19-20 - NIV
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
2. DON’T LET ANGER CONTROL YOU… allowing yourself to become bitter.
A. You WILL become bitter. Don’t get bitter… Get better. (Let it Go!)
Psalms 4:4 - KJV Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Psalms 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Special Insight: Psalms 37:3-9
37:3 - TRUST;
37:4 - DELIGHT;
37:5 - COMMIT;
37:7 - REST;
37:8 - CEASE FROM ANGER;
37:9 - INHERIT
3. PRAY
A. People can’t change people but God can change them!
Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
4. FORGIVE
A. Holding unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die!
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).
32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
B. Forgiveness is not pardon. - If I forgive you and then establish boundaries so you can’t hurt me or those I love again… it doesn’t mean I’m unforgiving or unloving, It means I’m responsible!
1. Abusers are abusers and God doesn’t expect you to allow yourself to continue being abused. - GOD WANTS US TO LIVE A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE!
5. LOVE
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
IV. The Christians Code of Conduct - Anger
Matthew 5:21-26
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (Empty headed…), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Closing:
