Peter continued our series on the Kingdom of God, looking at anger.
Matthew 5:21-26
Anger is not bad, it is an emotion.
Anger can be constructive as well as destructive.
Bobby Schuller. Anger is neither positive or negative. It's an emotion. What we do with it can be very positive or negative.
The object of our anger is not always the source of our anger. If you're angry at a microwave there's something else going on inside.
How would you feel if someone saw you getting angry with the microwave, banging on it because it does not work?
Why?
There are other ways of cooking?
Are they mad?
Why am I angry?
Fear
Powerlessness
Frustration
Pain from the past
Bad habit
Tiredness
Jealousy
Seeking approval
Hurt
Manipulation
Health
http://www.life-with-confidence.com/so-angry.html
You are angry because.....
Other anger
Wrong values. Ie
I paid for this, it's mine, it should work. So who's is it? Who allowed you to have the wealth to buy it?
It’s just out warranty, how could you do that to me God? Microwaves are not eternal. We won't need them in heaven! God didn't break it.
Jesus was angry when he saw the temple like a market. He overturned the tables. He had a righteous response to his anger. The money changers would have been angry with Jesus due to the loss of income.
I believe Jesus would be angry with child porn. He wouldn't necessarily take a sledgehammer to the perpetrators computers, although he might.
I believe he is angry about so many single mothers being abandoned by the fathers of their children.
I believe he would be angry about abortion, but he wouldn't have burst into a Colorado clinic and shot 3 people.
Fear is not right.
Perfect love drives out fear.
Get back to God focus on him.
Understand our Sonship and we would be less fearful.
Lack power.
Realise our place with God.
Perspective.
Reason, I should be able to fix this, sort this out, and I cannot. This leads to frustration.
Chimp paradox. Steve Peters.
Nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiasties.
Romans 7:15, 17-20, 22-25
James 4:1-2
Ephesians 4:26-31
It's ok to have anger, it's just an emotion. But we need to control it.
We need to apologise, or deal with the root of our anger quickly.
James 1:19-20
We need to be slow to respond, listening well, and we will get less angry. Then we will display the righteousness of God better.
Proverbs 29:11
Proverbs 14:29
Proverbs 15:1
Proverbs 15:18
Proverbs 16:32
Proverbs 19:11
Colossians 3:8
If we understand who we are, and what position we have with God, as sons of the most holy God, that perspective will put all these other things that make us angry into perspective.
If we more display the fruit of the Spirit, then we will have the peace, patience, gentleness and self control that will enable us to present the anger in a more constructive manner. Your anger can then be used for good.
Conclusion
Do you have a brother or sister you are angry with, with whom you need to make amends? Coffee
Shame re anger, Prayer
Issue re anger, accountability
Questions for groups
What makes you angry, and how does that present itself?
How do you struggle to control anger, and what would be a biblical response to it?
Have a great discussion. May Jesus grant you freedom.
