INTRODUCTION: Well, I can second this emotion. When I was growing up there used to be a song that we would sing that said, "if you are happy and you know it clap your hands, stomp your feet, and say Amen!" "If you are happy and you know it then your face will truly show it." I believe this was to teach us that our expressions are visible as well as viable. This song teaches us that our internal wellness shows up in our external demeanor. In other words, what’s going on - on the INSIDE - has a way of showing up on the OUTSIDE.
Just like that old R&B hit, "It’s written all over your face, you don’t have to say a word". Some things you are going through - you don’t have to say it, nor shout it - we see it. Oh yes, it’s written all over your face. You don’t have to say a word. Honey, we are reading chapter and verse of what’s going on in your life. One of the emotions that is easy to read is this emotion called ANGER.
One preacher once said that we live in a world that has gone mad. I believe this statement. We are now hearing new terms to describe uncontrollable anger.
Road rage is a term used to describe our reactions to those who we feel are unfit to drive on the highways.
Air Rage is a term used to describe disgruntled passengers who are growing increasingly upset with the airline industry. Thus, they take their frustrations out on airline personnel.
Oh yes, I am convinced that the battle of the ages still rages. We must learn how to deal with our anger! Because, we need to understand that ANGER is one letter short of DANGER.
Dangerous anger made Cain kill Abel.
Dangerous anger made Saul lose his throne.
Dangerous anger made Moses smite the rock.
Have I got a witness?
When anger is not met with a biblical solution you can end up killing yourself. Anger is a killer. If it does not kill you - physically - it gets you - emotionally - but the ultimate end is to kill you - spiritually.
Now, this message is not an attempt to massage those of you who have been a bit upset. I am trying to find some transparent children of God who can identify that there have been times in your life that you have been "down right mad".
Has life ever made you MAD? It seems that when things go BAD in our life we tend to get MAD. Has life gone BAD on you? Thus, it has made you MAD.
Does life have a way of playing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the affairs of your life?
Look at the atmosphere in the text that leads to anger. There was bad understanding (v.18) lying (v.25), backbiting (v.31) -- all of this
can make you mad.
TRANSITION: In our text, this Philippians writer gives us some positive principles for problematic parishioners and preachers who pilgrimage on this planet. Apostle Paul gives us some ANSWERS, ANGLES, and ANTIDOTES on how to adequately deal with ANGER.
FIRST TYPE OF ANGER IS -- HIDEOUS ANGER
In Ephesians 4:31, Paul uses the word thumos. This word is translated "rage". It literally describes a blazing fire or wildfire.
HIDEOUS ANGER (RAGE) is a harmful kind of anger that spreads like wildfire consuming everything in its path.
Did you hear what I said? HIDEOUS ANGER (RAGE) is called a WILDFIRE.
Let me hear the church say: WILDFIRE!
I did a little research in National Geographic and I discovered that WILDFIRES begin in DRY PLACES. Rage erupts in the midst of dry places and people.
You show me a place or a person that is only getting a SPRINKLE OF GOD’S LOVE and DRIZZLE OF HIS FORGIVENESS and I will show you a place or a person that can be a potential WILDFIRE.
Let me hear the church say: WILDFIRE!
WILDFIRES start in DRY PLACES! And I don’t know about you but I want a:
DOWNPOUR OF GOD’S DISCIPLESHIP
SHOWER OF HIS SALVATION
RAIN OF REDEMPTION
PRECIPITATION FROM HIS PRECIOUS PROMISES
Wildfire! I am convinced that when there is no SPIRITUAL RAIN in your life, God does not REIGN over your life. Wildfire! Ephesians 4:31
admonishes us to "get rid of that kind of anger."
Why? Because, when you lose your temper you are losing so much more than just your temper. What can I lose, preacher? I am so glad you asked.
LOSE YOUR JOB -- Watch me now: NOBODY wants to work alongside SOMEBODY who can’t get along with ANYBODY.
LOSE YOUR FRIENDS -- Watch me now: NOBODY wants to be a friend with SOMEBODY who can’t get along with ANYBODY.
LOSE YOUR JOY -- Watch me now: God will not give ANYBODY his joy so you can act like a NOBODY in front of EVERYBODY.
LOSE YOUR HEALTH -- Watch me now: Your BODY can’t endure the actions of a BUSYBODY. Don’t you know that anger hurts your BODY more than it does ANYBODY else.
HATE HURTS THE HATER MORE THAN THE HATED.
Here is the important question, "What does it take to make you blow your stack?" Some people lose their temper about such seemingly insignificant things. In Ecclesiastes chapter 3 it compiles a list of things. In other words, "What’s your thing?" (Isley Brothers)
WHAT’S YOUR BOILING POINT? An old proverb says, "The emptier the pot, the quicker it boils." The less water in the pot, the quicker you reach a boiling point. You are aware that WATER in the Bible is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In other words, the less the Holy Spirit has of you, the quicker you act like you don’t have the Holy Spirit.
What I want to suggest to us is that most of us have a boiling point, and the first step in dealing with anger is recognizing our personal boiling point. Science teaches us that the water boils, the boiling point of water at sea level, is 100 degrees. However, the higher your altitude the longer it takes your water to boil. In short, the higher you are the longer it takes. I think I hit a homerun with that statement!!
A SECOND TYPE OF ANGER IS -- HIDDEN ANGER
In Ephesians 4:26 the Bible says, "Do not let the sun go down when you are still angry." Paul uses another word for anger - PERORGISMO -
Hidden Anger!
One is like an erupting volcano
The other is like a volcano still smoldering
Perorgismo can become Thumos. Oh yes, Hidden anger can become Hideous anger by simply agitating it! Did you hear what I said? Agitation can cause Hidden Anger to become Hideous Anger. Agitation can take RAGE out of its CAGE!!
ILLUSTRATION: Washing machines have a device called an agitator. In spite of all the bleach, detergent, fabric softener, rinse cycle, and water, the one thing that ensures clean clothes is the agitator. The agitator makes sure that dirty clothes become clean.
I have discovered that is the reason why some of us having problems with the church and with God. God is a Holy Agitator! When you have God in your life, you can not GO where you want to GO, DO what your flesh wants to DO, and SAY what you used to SAY. Why? Because, God specializes in dirty souls being made clean. Preach Pastor Edwards.
Oh yes, God is better than:
Tide - Because He is the original Stain Detective!
Clorox - Because He is the original Whitening Formula!
Oh yes, He is FAB - because He is FABULOUS
He is ALL - because He is my ALL & ALL.
He is WISK - because he is quicker than "hurry up".
He is DYNAMO - because the God I serve is DYNAMITE.
Hidden Anger! When anger is repressed for a long time, will erupt and make you end up saying some things that you REALLY MEANT to say.
James 3:9-10 says, GUARD YOUR TONGUE! Let me break it down like this, we live in a world of words. Whoever said sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me must have never met
some of the people that I have met in life.
I believe I need to remind you that God is a source of life not death.
God is a source of joy not sorrow. God is source of light not darkness.
Words hurt! But, I have discovered that The Word of God heals. In other words, let me use the illustration of Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes of Dallas, Texas. The only way to get the WORLD out of your WORDS is to take the L out. The only way you can begin to do better. The only way the WORD can replace the WORLD that is within you is that someone must begin to preach the "L" out of you.
THE THIRD TYPE OF ANGER -- HOLY ANGER
All anger is not sinful. In Ephesians 4:26, Paul says, "ANGER ALONE IS NOT WRONG!"
Only when you mix anger with something else does it become wrong!
Cigarettes are strong but mixed with formaldehyde it become stronger.
Alcohol is strong but mixed with drugs the effect becomes stronger.
Anger is strong but mix it with jealousy, envy, and rage it becomes stronger.
All anger is not sinful. In Ephesians 4:26, Paul says, "In your anger do not sin." This is called holy anger or righteous indignation.
Righteous indignation means that I have, as a Christian, a RIGHT to be angry about the things that make God angry.
Well, let me wrap up with this story. As a boy, I used to love Jelly sandwiches. I remember one day my mother did not bring us home - Sunbeam bread, Hygrade bread, Store name bread - she brought home - Wonder Bread. I always wanted to eat my jelly sandwich on some Wonder Bread.
I remember making my sandwich and seeing something green on my bread. I told my mother that something is wrong with this bread and she simply "pinched it off" and told me to eat it. Well, I wanted another jelly sandwich a few hours later. But, this time my mother told me that I can’t have another jelly sandwich. Because further down in the loaf was too much mole on the bread for my consumption.
Good evening saints and may the Lord bless you real good!
Let me close by telling you that you better check yourself before you wreck yourself!
Too much anger is bad for your spiritual consumption!
I am so glad that my Heavenly Father is doing a holy inspection in my life and He let’s me know that "further down in the loaf" is hazardous to my health.
WHAT A WONDERFUL CHANGE IN MY LIFE HAS BEEN WROUGHT SINCE JESUS CAME INTO MY HEART. FLOODS OF JOY NOW FILL MY SOUL LIKE A SEA BILLOWS ROLL - SINCE JESUS CAME INTO MY HEART. ANYBODY GLAD ABOUT IT?
