2/15/2015
A Philosophy to Live By—Part 2
Anger—How to Control it and Overcome it!
Anger Can Endanger Your Soul
Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
We Are Made in God’s Image
Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground”. …So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
God Exhibits Anger
Deuteronomy 9:8 …you aroused the Lord’s wrath so that He was angry enough to destroy you.
Joshua 23:16 If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God…and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you…
Psalms 7:11 God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses His wrath (against evil) every day…
Exodus 4:14 …the Lord’s anger burned against Moses…
However….God Controls His Anger
Exodus 34:6 …He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounds in love and faithfulness
Psalms 30:4-5 Sing to the Lord, you saints of His; praise His holy name, for His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalms 78:38 …He was merciful; He forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time He restrained His anger and did not stir up His full wrath…
God Holds His Anger in Check Until Judgment Day
Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…
Romans 2:4-5 …you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance…so because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.
True Believers Are Delivered From Wrath
Romans 5:8-9 God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!
1 Thessalonians 5:9 …God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
Anger is NOT SIN
Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, do not give the devil a foothold.
Psalms 4:4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
BUT….Anger Can Lead to Sin!
James 1:19-20 …be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
Psalms 37:7-8 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil.
You Can Be Free From Anger
Galatians 5:13-21
You were called to be free. Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
The Filling of the Holy Spirit Calms Anger
Galatians 5:13-21
Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
Anger is a Product of Our Sin Nature
Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Self Control is How God Deals With Anger
Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.