Easter 2024
Godly Anger Draws a Line
By Louie Marsh, 3-17-2024
1) From broken-hearted to Godly ANGER.
"12And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. (Matthew 21:12, ESV)
· Jesus DRAWS a line between good & evil.
. 13He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers."" (Matthew 21:13, ESV)
2) Jesus' anger is CONTROLLED & serves God's will.
"15And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." 17His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."" (John 2:15–17, ESV)
· He prepared Himself to act DECISIVELY.
· He struck animals & tables, not PEOPLE.
3) All anger is not SINFUL.
"25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and give no opportunity to the devil." (Ephesians 4:25–27, ESV)
Anger management teacher story – true.
· But all anger is DANGEROUS.
"19And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain." (Exodus 32:19, ESV)
"8"Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle." 9And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?" 11And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock." (Numbers 20:8–11, ESV)
· Godly anger stems from a heart broken by SIN.
"45And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46saying to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers." (Luke 19:45, ESV)
· Godly anger must be dealt with QUICKLY.
"31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31–32, ESV)
· The devil loves to EXPLOIT my anger, so beware!
"4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes." (Proverbs 26:4–5, ESV)
