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ANGER MANAGEMENT James 1:19-20 (November 11, 2015 – WED p.m.) The Scriptures talks about how to manage Anger. In our text, James says we need to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. He explains that the wrath of man is not a manifestation of the righteousness of God. Here are some ways how to deal with Anger: I- WHEN ANGER IS RIGHT A. Be like the Lord Jesus Christ Notice the angry face of the Lord in Mark 3:5 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. The Scriptures illustrates how the Lord releases His anger when He cleaned out the Temple twice: First time- John 2:13-16 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. Second time- Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, B. Be angry but do not sin Paul told us we can be angry by not sinning. Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: C. Be angry against false doctrine Titus 1:9-13 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; D. Be angry with those who hinder the Gospel There are religious group who prevent and oppose the preaching of the gospel of Christ. Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. E. Be angry at evil doers Paul writes that he wants to face squarely with those people who sinned. 2 Corinthians 13:2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: II- WHEN ANGER IS SLOW A. It reminds you of the image of God The Bible shows us that God is slow to Anger. Aren’t you glad to know that! Nehemiah 9:17 17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. B. It gives you understanding Being slow to wrath helps you understand of the situation and weigh the matter first. Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. C. It gives you relief Slow to anger avoid strife and create more chaos of the matter. Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.- When someone learn speak in a soft answer it will calm the wrath of another. Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. D. It makes you a better and bigger Person than high ranking people. You become a greater person than those prominent people you encounter. It shows how well educated you are than those prominent personalities. Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. III- WHEN ANGER IS UNREASONABLE Why allows strife to arise where someone done you no harm. When strife arises, it is generally because two people are both too conceited and proud to admit that they might be wrong. Proverbs 3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. IV- WHEN ANGER CEASES A. How long you should be angry Twelve hours is probably long enough to be Angry and overcome it. Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: B. When anger makes you a bitter person. Don’t stay there long enough to become bitter. Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; C. Don’t make Revenge Vengeance is God’s. It’s His role not yours. It you put the matters in your own hand it will complicate but if you put it His holy, purposeful and powerful hand it will be in order and settled. Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. V- WHAT TO DO TO MAKES YOU NOT SIN A. Don’t give place to the Devil If you keep nursing your anger then the Devil will have place to take advantage of you. Ephesians 4:27Neither give place to the devil. B. Always forgive others The Corinthians seems find hard to forgive their member who offended the church that Paul explains that through Satan devices of unforgiving spirit the devil can make an advantage of them. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. C. Take the wrong done to you Paul explains it is better to just take the wrong done to you. You can possibly settle the personal not legal conflicts in the church through the church by not bringing it to the unsaved judge. 1Corinthians 6:1-8 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. D. Have the Righteousness of God You are forgiven by God because Christ’s suffered and died for your sins, so think many times what has someone done to you that are greater and worse than what you have done to the Lord Jesus? James said in James 1:20 that we must have the righteousness of God and not the wrath of man. Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. E. Let it Go We need to learn how to forbear or letting it go. Forgive and Forget. Colossians 3:12-13 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. |