Sunday, September 10, 2023 AM
RETURN TO HOLINESS: Sin of Anger (pt 4)
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. —Ephesians 4:26-32
What are some of the noxious weeds that spring up from unresolved anger?
OF UNRESOLVED ANGER
1.
2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. —Job 5:2
–Resentment is anger held on to.
–Most often it is internalized.
–Resentment may be more difficult to deal with than outwardly expressed anger because the person often continues to nurse his wounds and dwell on his ill-treatment
2.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice; —Ephesians 4:31
–Bitterness is resentment that has grown into feeling of ongoing animosity.
–Whereas resentment may dissipate over time, bitterness continues to grow and fester, developing an even higher degree of ill will.
–It is usually the long-term reaction to real or perceived wrong when the initial anger is not dealt with.
10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! —Romans 5:10
–This is why Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:23-24
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. —Matthew 5:23-24
–If we are not truly reconciled having forgiven others it will affect our attempts to worship.
3.
AND HOSTILITY
20 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die 21 or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet. —Numbers 35:20-21
–These are essentially synonymous and denote a higher level of ill will or animosity than does bitterness.
–Whereas bitterness may to some degree be marked by polite behavior, enmity and hostility is usually expressed openly.
4.
(As holding a grudge.)
41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” —Genesis 27:41
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” —Genesis 50:15
–The word “hate” is often used especially in the ESV instead of “grudge.”
–In all five of the above listed verses, the word is associated with taking revenge on the object of the grudge.
5.
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. —Romans 1:29-31
–This describes open conflict or turmoil between parties, usually between opposing groups as distinct from individuals.
HOW TO
WITH ANGER
–How, then, can we deal with our anger so that it does not begin to sprout these noxious weeds?
–How can we nip it in the bud so that the sun does not go down on it?
–Allow me to give us a few basic directions.
1. LOOK TO THE
OF GOD
–God doesn’t cause people to sin against us, but He does allow it, and it is always allowed for a purpose—most often our own growth in Christlikeness.
–We may not always understand the Sovereignty of God and it may not be apparent to us on our timetable for God’s timing is not our timing.
–I normally ask, “God what is it that you are attempting to teach me in this situation?”
2. ASK GOD TO
US TO GROW IN LOVE
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. —I Peter 4:8
–Peter’s words mean that love enables us to overlook a lot of sinful actions of other people.
–Remember we have a choice. It may not seem like it because of the path most traveled. If we have allowed ourselves to get angry and this has happened multiple times, then you will find yourself angry without even thinking about it. (Path of least resistance.)
3. LEARN TO
AS GOD HAS FORGIVEN YOU
–Learning to forgive as God has forgiven us is pivotal if we are ever going to be successful in overcoming anger in our lives.
–The Scripture that helps me most to practice forgiveness is the parable of the unforgiving servant.
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” —Matthew 18:21-35
—Remember forgiveness is the releasing of a debt! A debt (an offense) we believe someone owes us.
–Remember no one can make you angry – it is a choice! And no one can make you forgive – it too is a choice. But no one can prevent you from forgiving because it is our choice.
LIVE IT OUT
–What grievous violation do you need to release to the Lord today?
–Will you begin now the process of forgiveness?
–Remember God first forgave you with no boundaries attached to it.