Good Anger
I See Jesus series:
Good Anger
February 17, 2008
Pastor Dan Haffey & Pastor R. Greene
Text: (See below.)
Midweek Moment
· Anger is a normal human emotion.
· God given means of protecting ourselves, for setting boundaries.
· Jesus had an emotional life (He cleared out the temple).
· Anger is a misunderstood emotion. We don’t do anger well in the church. Most of us have not seen anger done well and have come to associate anger with destruction.
Two Questions
1. What do we get angry about?
“CHRISTIANS DON’T GET ANGRY”
· We don’t get our way
· We are frustrated
· We have been hurt
· We are angry at someone else
2. What do we do with our anger?
“over the top” (raging)
“under the table” (passive-aggressive)
What does the Bible teach about anger?
Eph 4:26 In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (avoid festering anger and bitterness)
Ps 4:4 In your anger, do not sin. When you are on your beds, search your heart and be silent. (think about what you are angry about, ask God to show you what it is about)
Prov. 29:11 “A fool gives full vent to his anger but a wise man keeps himself under control”
James 1: 19 - 20 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slooooooooow to speak and slooooooooow to become angry, (20) because OUR anger does not produce the “righteousness that God desires”.
The Message: “Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger.”
So, what IS the “righteousness that God desires? “
To have God’s righteousness we must have God’s mind, that is, to love what HE loves, to hate what HE hates, and to be angry about what HE is angry about.
Proverbs 6
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up dissension in the community.
· Anger w/o action, anger without focus is useless. It must be used as energy for change.
· Anger toward sin can be channeled into compassion for the needy and lost.
· Let’s be angry like Jesus…..not like us!
· The Pharisees were religious but w/o love or compassion.
· The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus but asking if it were “lawful” to heal on the Sabbath.
· Jesus had the man stand and acknowledge his need for healing.
· Our healing STARTS when we acknowledge our NEED for His healing
· Jesus looked into their hearts and saw stubborn coldness and was distressed and angry about their lack of compassion.
· The Pharisees valued their rules over the needs of people (stone cold).
Question: Are you ready to acknowledge your need for healing?
From anger? From an abusive past? From bondages?