Spiritual Maturity #13
A. Thomas Jeffersons Rules for Living. When
angry count to ten. Very angry count to 100. Mark Twain
wrote, When angry count to four. When very angry swear.
That one is not recommended.
Most have tried everything from Jefferson to Twain and everything
in between. But they still cannot control temper. No laughing
matter. Wrestling with a foul temper can be one of lifes
worst problems. And its a frustrating problem. Temper will
make you look foolish, Rob you of your Christian influence, injures
home and reputation. It will destroy relationships. Its
a killer.
a. TV News. Man killed infant daughter in a fit of uncontrolled
rage. Anger is not funny, not humorous, not a laughing matter.
Emotional reaction of hostility directed toward others comes in
various phases.
(A) Begins with mild Irritation. If fed becomes wrath, fury. Most
dangerous is rage. Involves
a loss of emotional control and almost always involves violence.
Gods Word has a lot to
say about anger. What it says may surprise you.
(1) Eph. 4:26-27, "Be angry, and do not sin": do not
let the sun go down on
your wrath, nor give place to the devil. The New English
Bible: If you are angry, do not let anger lead you into
sin, do not let sunset find you still nursing your anger, leave
no opportunity for the devil.
Its not always wrong to get angry. Anger is a God given
emotion. If you never get angry, you are not human.
If you never show compassion, you have no heart. Never show love
have something terribly wrong with you. God says , Be angry
and sin not. Not every expression of anger is wrong.
(1) There are times when anger is not a sin. It is right, good
and acceptable, and necessary. That tells you there is a right
kind of anger and a wrong kind of anger. A right time to be angry,
(1) Same is true of love. Jno. 13:34-35. We are commanded to love.
But we are also told in Jno. 23:15, Do not love the world
or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love
of the Father is not in him.
(2) There is right kind of love and a wrong kind of love. Anger,
like love must be controlled, directed, restricted in its
use and application. Misdirected, uncontrolled love can become
sin. Be angry, but dont carry it to the point that it becomes
sin. Thats why self control is so important.
(2) Jesus expressed anger. Even spoke angerly when He spoke to
people who did wrong.
(2) Expressed Gods anger towards religious hypocrisy. Matt.
23:27-33. Listen to the righteous anger and indignation of God
in Matt. 15:3-9. Anger is often appropriate and justified and
must be expressed to expose sin and injustice.
(1) But anger must have safeguards. Safeguard #1 is found in Eph.
4:26, "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun
go down on your wrath. Dont let your anger go into
the night. Get rid of it before you go to bed. Come to a scratching
halt.
(2) Make sure yo dont carry your anger into tomorrow. Solve
the problem before tomorrow. You clear the air. Forgiveness and
love before you go to sleep.
(3) Safeguard #2 = Eph. 4:27, Do not leave an opportunity
for the devil.
(1) Its Important that we understand whats being said
here.
(1) Dont let your anger cause you to become like Satan.
Satan is the destroyer. Unbridled anger is one of his most effective
tools. Loose your temper and vent your anger will make you an
effective tool of the Devil.
(2) Jno. 8:44, Jesus spoke to false teachers. A murderer is a
destroyer. You dont have to kill a body to murder. Character
assination. In uncontrolled anger you become like Satan. Opposite
of a child of God.
(2) 1 Jno. 3:8-12.
(1) What was the sin that led Cain to slay his brother? Uncontrolled
anger. Mad.
(2) Col. 3:1-10. Whats the constant companion of anger?
Filthy language.
(C) We are to become like Jesus. That means we are controlled
by Jesus in our temperament. You cannot glorify God in uncontrolled
anger. Satan, not Jesus is in control of your life. Two powers
in the world that control events and people. God and Satan.
Get rid of sinful anger. Satan is in control. Demonic involvement.
God is love, become like God.
(3) Acts 20:32.
Spur - 12/15/02 am
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