WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.339 If you've been with us the last couple weeks, you may remember that we are in a sermon series called The Seven Deadly Sins. 00:00:09.480 --> 00:00:11.380 And today we'll be discussing Raph. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:14.859 I was in the car with my family on the way here. 00:00:16.140 --> 00:00:19.559 And one of my sons asked me, Dad, are you preaching today? 00:00:20.140 --> 00:00:20.640 I said, yeah. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:23.160 He said, what are you preaching on? 00:00:23.699 --> 00:00:25.100 And I said, anger. 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:27.879 And he said, oh, that'll be easy. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:41.380 Let me divert your attention a little bit from me to the bulletin. 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:50.159 If you look at the cover there, it's an odd choice for cover art for a church worship bulletin. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:53.420 It's called Prometheus Bound. 00:00:54.100 --> 00:00:57.920 You can see it here on your bulletin and also on this screen here. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:05.400 The painting depicts the punishment inflicted on Prometheus by the god Zeus. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:09.299 Prometheus had stolen fire from the gods and gave it to humanity. 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:11.719 That made Zeus angry. 00:01:11.859 --> 00:01:18.140 So in his wrath, he punishes Prometheus to eternal torment by having him chained to this rock there. 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:32.920 And every day, an eagle would feed on his liver with it growing back every night to be fed on again the next day, day after day into eternity. 00:01:35.060 --> 00:01:38.040 I don't know if you can see Prometheus' left eye there. 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:40.180 It's locked on the eagle. 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:43.200 Prometheus is fully aware of what is going on. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:46.700 Look at his fist, his writhing legs, his tousled hair. 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:55.299 It shows the anger, the agony he's experiencing, being an object of anger. 00:01:56.280 --> 00:01:58.700 Now, the liver is a curious choice, isn't it? 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:03.620 Like, I might have chosen, if I was Zeus, like intestines, right? 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:06.400 That was a good ending in Braveheart. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:12.520 Or even better, like the still beating heart of Prometheus, like in Indiana Jones in the Temple of Doom, right? 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:17.819 But Zeus chooses the liver. 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:27.300 And I think the Greeks provide us here with some really good insight into wrath. 00:02:27.980 --> 00:02:33.219 The Greeks believed the liver to be the seat of a person's emotions. 00:02:33.219 --> 00:02:42.599 And when we experience the anger of another person, being the object of that anger, 00:02:43.079 --> 00:02:47.159 can really mangle our emotions, right? 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:53.879 We know that when we experience someone else's anger, it fires up our limbic system. 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:57.960 And we experience all those emotions associated with fight or flight. 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:02.040 We experience fear, anger, distress, anxiety. 00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:07.560 For those of us who have experienced extreme prolonged anger from someone, 00:03:07.659 --> 00:03:12.760 the emotional damage may feel permanent, as if we've been chained to a rock. 00:03:13.060 --> 00:03:14.980 And we're powerless to escape. 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:19.540 And we feel emotionally eviscerated. 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:30.519 Anger deployed to those around us, it disrupts and destroys relationships, communities, families, nations. 00:03:30.699 --> 00:03:34.599 It feels like today we're just a nation of people walking around with our intestines and entrails, 00:03:34.699 --> 00:03:37.019 hanging out, being angry at one another, right? 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:41.359 And this is why, because it's such a disruption to community, 00:03:41.859 --> 00:03:47.500 this is why anger was included in the list of deadly sins. 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:49.659 Now, the list was originally eight. 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:54.740 There was eight thoughts, and they were compiled by a man named Evagrius. 00:03:55.080 --> 00:04:00.800 Evagrius was a monk that lived in the last half of the fourth century. 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:08.879 And he identified eight thoughts which he felt had the power, 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:17.300 if they were left unchecked, can disrupt the life of a monastic community. 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:25.160 A couple centuries later, this list would be reduced from eight to seven by Pope Gregory the Great. 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:29.220 And over time, the list would become known as the seven deadly sins. 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:34.100 And today we're on our third of these vices, having already looked at pride and gluttony. 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:40.160 Tommy mentioned last week that the seven deadly sins are also known as capital vices. 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:44.880 And that's probably a better description than deadly sins. 00:04:45.380 --> 00:04:46.880 Because capital means head. 00:04:47.840 --> 00:04:54.640 These sins are seen as like head, headwaters, from which flow all kinds of other sins. 00:04:56.379 --> 00:05:00.879 The list was intended to be a diagnostic tool, to be used in a monastic community. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:04.280 And so this morning we're going to use it as such. 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:08.759 This is a little different than what we normally do, but I'm going to ask you to close your eyes. 00:05:10.359 --> 00:05:12.099 We're going to use this as a diagnostic tool. 00:05:12.159 --> 00:05:16.459 I'd like you to try and remember the last time you were really angry. 00:05:20.239 --> 00:05:22.339 And I'd like you to be clinical about it. 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:24.399 In other words, don't judge yourself. 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:28.079 Be objective about it. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:32.959 Now, what were you feeling at the time? 00:05:34.159 --> 00:05:35.060 You were angry. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:36.240 Not just the anger. 00:05:36.359 --> 00:05:37.719 Was there anything else going on? 00:05:42.779 --> 00:05:44.560 How did you react? 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:47.839 Was it an outburst? 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:49.539 Did you hold it in? 00:05:53.099 --> 00:05:54.079 Were you afraid? 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:10.860 Father, we ask that you would use this sermon, this word from Jonah, 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:18.919 that you would use our previous experiences to heal us. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:26.519 Lord, we ask you would help us to shed our anger. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:31.319 We ask that you'd help us to see it clearly and to be able to name it. 00:06:34.659 --> 00:06:38.639 We ask this not just for our own good, but for the good of our church, 00:06:38.719 --> 00:06:41.680 for the good of our families, for the good of our city. 00:06:44.379 --> 00:06:45.620 Most of all, for your glory. 00:06:46.299 --> 00:06:49.939 We would desire that people would see your love in us. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:57.259 We would desire that our families, our housemates, our neighbors can see your love. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:05.839 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:07:06.159 --> 00:07:06.359 Amen. 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:10.720 All right, this morning we're going to look at three things. 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:19.020 We're going to look at anger as antecedent, anger as anatomy, and anger as antidote. 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:23.199 I say antecedent, obviously, because it begins with the letter A. 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:24.600 We're going to look at anger as source. 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:29.139 Anger as source, anger as anatomy, and anger as antidote. 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:33.759 But before we do that, it helps us to acknowledge the complexity of this issue. 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:38.939 Anger is an emotion that is common to every person. 00:07:39.719 --> 00:07:45.339 And because it's a complex emotion, and because people have very different temperaments, 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.379 anger looks very different from person to person. 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:52.639 It's not always slamming doors and shouting. 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:55.439 It can be withdrawing from people. 00:07:56.100 --> 00:08:01.600 Or it can be stewing in critical thoughts towards someone or something. 00:08:02.459 --> 00:08:06.000 It could be shutting people out and giving them the silent treatment. 00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:11.480 It could be an over-the-top, forced politeness. 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:15.580 Did I use a southern accent there? 00:08:15.700 --> 00:08:16.319 I'm so sorry. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:25.520 It can be the cool, sarcastic, cutting remark. 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:32.019 It can be the slow-building resentment as one piles up grievances in one's mind. 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:37.200 Sometimes someone is angry but doesn't even realize it. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:45.120 And there's other emotions that are going on, like tension, depression, melancholy, anxiety, defensiveness. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:51.000 And from our scripture passages today, we learn how complex this issue is, right? 00:08:51.400 --> 00:08:55.800 Did you hear in Ephesians 4, Paul writes, rid yourselves of anger. 00:08:55.920 --> 00:08:59.360 But five verses before that, he says, be angry. 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.040 So don't be angry and be angry. 00:09:02.180 --> 00:09:04.520 So I would say that qualifies as a complexity. 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:08.840 We know that God is love. 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:10.539 That's very clear. 00:09:10.939 --> 00:09:12.299 The Bible is so explicit. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:13.860 God is love. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:18.199 And yet we see God to have anger or wrath. 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:26.220 We know that Jesus, who is the perfect representation of the love of God, 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:29.079 and he got angry too, didn't he? 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:34.620 I mean, you may remember him at one time having gone into the temple, a place of worship, 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:36.700 and there's money changers there. 00:09:37.040 --> 00:09:44.440 He flips the tables, drives them out, accuses them of having turned the temple of God into a den of robbers. 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:51.700 And even today, you know, we were supposed to read Psalm 37. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:56.140 And I guess I put a one in front of the 37. 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:58.980 So Psalm 137 is what we read today. 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:03.200 And we just read, blessed is he who dashes your infants against the rocks. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:05.800 The anger is all over the Bible. 00:10:05.920 --> 00:10:09.360 The Psalms are full of anger. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:15.680 And so it's definitely complex and something to discuss and sort through. 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:25.340 You know, in the book of John, we see a kind of anger that we rarely experience. 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:30.259 One translation, this is in the book of John, chapter 11, verse 38. 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:33.620 It reads that Jesus was deeply moved. 00:10:34.560 --> 00:10:38.620 Another translation says that anger welled up within Jesus. 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:40.299 You know the best translation? 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:41.379 Maybe you've heard this. 00:10:41.539 --> 00:10:41.919 I don't know. 00:10:42.560 --> 00:10:44.200 It says Jesus snorted like a horse. 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:45.919 That's how angry. 00:10:46.060 --> 00:10:48.220 Have you ever snorted like a horse? 00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:49.220 Like you were so angry? 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:55.139 So even Jesus experienced extreme indignation. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:58.519 All right. 00:10:58.580 --> 00:11:01.299 So there seems to be a bad anger and a good anger. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:02.960 We can agree on that. 00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:06.480 Or righteous anger and sinful anger. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:09.740 So let's reduce anger to its simplest definition. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:11.779 Cornelius Plantinga wrote, 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:18.200 Anger is a strong feeling of displeasure combined with a posture of antagonism. 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:22.080 Plantinga then elaborates, 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:26.440 The angry person emotionally opposes someone or something. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:29.460 Anger rarely floats free. 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:32.600 It flares against this person or that. 00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:35.040 Against these states of affairs or those. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.500 Or if anger settles into chronic irritability, 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:42.320 It sets up against anything and everything. 00:11:43.400 --> 00:11:49.040 Whether it burns hot or just simmers and stinks, 00:11:49.800 --> 00:11:55.780 Anger always sets itself against what causes its displeasure. 00:11:55.779 --> 00:11:59.699 Anger is passionate against this. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:01.139 That's great, isn't it? 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:05.679 Anger is passionate against this. 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:07.579 So it begs the question, 00:12:08.079 --> 00:12:13.360 Why do we become passionately against something or someone? 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:17.899 And it's because we are loving creatures. 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:20.879 We are desiring creatures. 00:12:21.419 --> 00:12:24.659 We love lots of things and stuff. 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:26.779 Pastor Tim Keller said, 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:29.159 Anger is the result of love. 00:12:29.959 --> 00:12:31.939 See, it's the source of anger. 00:12:32.539 --> 00:12:33.179 It's love. 00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.939 The antecedent is love. 00:12:35.459 --> 00:12:38.879 It is energy for defense of something you love when it is threatened. 00:12:39.059 --> 00:12:41.500 So if you love something, sort of, 00:12:41.719 --> 00:12:44.000 Then you sort of get angry when that thing is threatened. 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:47.539 Now if you love something not at all, 00:12:48.179 --> 00:12:49.860 Then you don't mind it being threatened. 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.839 You don't get angry. 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.800 All right? 00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:55.420 This is why, like, in marriage counseling, 00:12:55.680 --> 00:12:59.980 Counselors get alarmed when couples don't fight at all. 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:02.639 Because it communicates to the counselor, 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:04.399 There's not a love there. 00:13:04.920 --> 00:13:06.320 There's not a passion. 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:08.000 They're not, like, deeply invested. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.899 On the other hand, if you love something a lot, 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:14.700 You will get very angry, right? 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:15.940 When that thing is threatened. 00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:22.620 And if you place all your love and identity and self-worth 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:26.080 In a thing or a person, 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:27.539 And that is threatened, 00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:29.679 Then you flip the lid. 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:32.039 You get very, very angry. 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:35.779 Well, we call that idolatry. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:39.699 So now let's think back to that thing I asked you to think about, right? 00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:42.579 When you got angry, perhaps you need to close your eyes again. 00:13:44.599 --> 00:13:46.120 Now, when you got angry, 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:49.799 What was being threatened at that moment? 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.620 What was being threatened 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:57.439 That caused your passionate againstness? 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:02.860 And you know if it's a wrong anger. 00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:06.380 It most likely was. 00:14:08.280 --> 00:14:11.420 What were you trying to protect that you love? 00:14:11.520 --> 00:14:13.540 That you perhaps put too much love into? 00:14:13.760 --> 00:14:15.260 This is idolatry, right? 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:18.140 And that's the kind of anger we're trying to identify this morning. 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:21.040 So let's dissect anger's anatomy. 00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:22.480 We've looked at its source, 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:24.780 Which is, ironically, love. 00:14:25.400 --> 00:14:26.720 Now let's look at the anatomy. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:28.440 Of anger. 00:14:28.760 --> 00:14:30.360 We're going to see four features of anger 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:33.540 By looking at the two principal actors in this book of Jonah. 00:14:34.060 --> 00:14:35.100 God and Jonah. 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.300 Both of whom are angry. 00:14:36.540 --> 00:14:37.280 They're both angry. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:42.680 And the four features we're going to see of anger 00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:47.960 Are pace, pleasure, perspective, and pride. 00:14:49.280 --> 00:14:49.540 Okay? 00:14:50.260 --> 00:14:52.380 So the first feature we'll look at is pace. 00:14:53.020 --> 00:14:55.460 Good anger, I will suggest, 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:57.020 Moves slowly. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.320 Almost glacially. 00:14:59.060 --> 00:14:59.980 Godly anger 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:04.480 Attempts to change the conditions that give rise 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.940 To anger. 00:15:06.160 --> 00:15:08.940 Now anger towards the Assyrian Empire 00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:10.920 Would certainly be justified. 00:15:11.400 --> 00:15:12.320 Both by God 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:13.440 And by Jonah. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:14.720 The Assyrians 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:16.220 Wrote the first chapter 00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:17.880 On the world history of cruelty. 00:15:17.880 --> 00:15:19.540 They are the worst. 00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:22.240 A hundred years before Jonah 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:27.779 Assyria had a king named Asher Nazarpal II. 00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:29.919 And he boasted, this has been recorded, 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:32.879 Their men, young and old, I took prisoners. 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:35.719 Of some I cut off their feet and hands. 00:15:36.099 --> 00:15:39.399 Of others I cut off the ears, noses, and lips. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.839 Of the young men's ears I made a heap. 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:44.299 Of the old men's heads I made a minaret. 00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:48.019 I exposed their heads as a trophy in front of their city. 00:15:48.219 --> 00:15:51.839 The male children and the female children I burned in flames. 00:15:52.339 --> 00:15:55.959 The city I destroyed and consumed with fire. 00:15:55.960 --> 00:16:00.860 Worthy of anger. 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:03.600 And yet God relents. 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:08.400 God relents because he has moved slowly. 00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:12.700 And he has slowly changed the conditions of his anger. 00:16:13.160 --> 00:16:16.860 Bringing about the repentance of a whole city. 00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:23.360 We see this kind of anger modeled in the life of Martin Luther King Jr. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:28.759 Now it's been debated since the very beginning of this list of seven or eight deadly sins. 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:32.740 Is anger something we should rid ourselves completely of? 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:36.320 Or is it possible to have a righteous indignation? 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:40.259 Thank God Martin Luther King Jr. got angry. 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:45.180 It's surprising though, like the angriest he's ever been. 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.279 Like his testimony. 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:51.200 When he was 14, he won a speech competition in Dublin, Georgia. 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:55.960 After the event, he and his teacher boarded a late night bus back to Atlanta. 00:16:57.240 --> 00:17:02.560 And during a brief stop in a small town, a handful of white passengers boarded the bus. 00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:07.340 And the white bus driver shot a look at King and Mrs. Bradley, his teacher, 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:09.220 and told them to get up out of their seats. 00:17:09.340 --> 00:17:10.460 And King didn't want to do it. 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:12.059 And Mrs. Bradley had to persuade him. 00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:17.519 But because they hesitated, the driver spewed profanities at them, 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:19.339 calling them black sons of bitches. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:24.819 And made it clear that he was in no mood for insubordinate Negrims. 00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:33.159 Mr. King, Dr. King, the young Dr. King, did not want at all to get out of his seat. 00:17:33.379 --> 00:17:34.099 But he did. 00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:38.959 And they had to stand for the 90-minute drive back to Atlanta. 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:46.699 Now, during his life, Dr. King would experience death threats, bomb blasts, a stabbing, incarceration. 00:17:47.179 --> 00:17:52.659 But it's this moment that he says it was the angriest he had ever been in his life. 00:17:56.139 --> 00:18:00.740 Columbia Business School professor Hitenjo Wadhwa wrote about Dr. King's leadership. 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:04.740 Great leaders often have a strong capacity to experience anger. 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.559 It wakes them up. 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:11.319 It makes them pay attention to what is wrong in their environment or in themselves. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:16.440 Without anger, they would not have the awareness or the drive to fix what is wrong. 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.359 Now, so it can exist. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.359 We've seen it exist. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.079 It's rare. 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:24.579 I don't know how often I've really experienced it in its purest form. 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:30.019 But there is a slow, godly anger that Dr. King modeled. 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:32.299 And that God demonstrates in the book of Jonah. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:34.700 But Jonah's anger was completely different. 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.819 He lashed out and he vented. 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:46.019 In chapter 2, he praised God for being merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in love. 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:50.220 But here in chapter 4, he vents at God and criticizes him for those very things. 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:53.319 And accuses them of those things of being a weakness of God's. 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:56.200 He throws those things back in his face. 00:18:56.200 --> 00:19:03.759 That's the pace of godly and ungodly anger. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:07.940 Slow versus venting. 00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:11.019 So let's look at Jonah's inability to relent. 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:16.299 He has a hard time relenting because his anger, it brings him pleasure. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.600 That's what I would suggest. 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:22.059 His anger brings him pleasure. 00:19:22.919 --> 00:19:28.000 I don't know if that's an emotion that came to mind when you're looking back at this last experience of anger. 00:19:28.719 --> 00:19:32.419 And I've never really thought of it too much in my own life. 00:19:32.699 --> 00:19:34.980 Until it was pointed out to me, rather painfully. 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:42.279 There was a moment when one of my sons was not listening and I was trying to communicate with them and my wife. 00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:44.339 And it was very frustrating. 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:47.759 I just lashed out at him twice and then sent him to his room. 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.900 You know, I felt justified, of course. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:56.640 So I went down and he was hiding under his blanket. 00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:01.839 And I convinced him to come out from under his blanket. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.819 And we talked about it. 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:09.119 And this particular son of mine gets very articulate when he's hurt and angry. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.059 And he said, 00:20:11.939 --> 00:20:15.779 Dad, it's as if you were enjoying it when you yelled at me. 00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:20.399 No, son, I did not enjoy that. 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.779 It hurts me to be angry. 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:24.460 It hurts me to lash out at you to make you feel like this. 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:27.579 And we talked through it and I apologized. 00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:29.819 I made no excuses for my anger. 00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:34.059 But I did think about it for the next 24 and 48 hours. 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.399 And I had to admit, 00:20:36.439 --> 00:20:40.799 even with the persons that I love most in this world, 00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:45.159 it gives me pleasure to get angry at them. 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:48.319 And unless we're aware, 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.179 this is true of all of us, 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:52.559 unless we're aware that pleasure can be addictive, 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:55.539 to release that anger feels good, right? 00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:57.399 To make that sarcastic comment, 00:20:57.859 --> 00:21:01.359 to see it cut like a knife feels great. 00:21:01.679 --> 00:21:04.019 Anger becomes a thrill-seeking activity. 00:21:05.159 --> 00:21:07.139 Dopamine reward receptors in the brain. 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:11.800 And we feel, you know, pleasure from the dopamine. 00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:15.160 And we seek those same experiences as we would, 00:21:15.540 --> 00:21:16.800 like gambling, right? 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.980 Or extreme sports, 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.500 or even drugs like cocaine, 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.200 methamphetamines. 00:21:22.780 --> 00:21:25.960 So we get addicted and can't let go of our anger. 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:27.120 And nor could Jonah. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.620 It pleased him so much to be angry 00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:31.240 that he would not relent. 00:21:31.360 --> 00:21:32.840 And so he went outside the city, 00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.040 sat up on a hill, 00:21:34.320 --> 00:21:34.820 and just waited. 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:39.419 He waited for the off chance 00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:40.919 that God would change his mind again 00:21:40.919 --> 00:21:42.899 and blast the city. 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.559 All 120,000 people of him. 00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:50.740 The next feature to notice about anger 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:54.240 is a warped perspective. 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:58.960 Jonah, while he's up there, 00:21:59.139 --> 00:22:00.399 he's hot. 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:03.359 He has a bald head. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:06.279 And so God causes a plant to grow 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:08.659 to shade his head. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.500 And he feels great. 00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:11.000 He's pretty happy about it. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.219 And the next day, 00:22:12.719 --> 00:22:14.119 God summons a worm, 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:16.000 attacks the root of the plant, 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.959 and the plant dies. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.539 And he's angry again. 00:22:20.219 --> 00:22:21.619 He feels so passionately 00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:23.559 for this thing that he loved, 00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:24.199 a plant, 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:26.619 and yet wished the destruction 00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:28.059 of 120,000 people. 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:32.480 And God points this out 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.519 in the very last verse. 00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.079 Can we have it up here? 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.539 He said, 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.119 yeah, right before that. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.019 Oh, that's in Matthew. 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:42.960 That's all right. 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:43.819 That's all right. 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:44.559 He says, 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.440 should I not have mercy 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.859 on these 120,000 people 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.960 and the cattle? 00:22:48.379 --> 00:22:48.599 Right? 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.740 I feel like God's being sarcastic 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.879 to make a comment. 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:54.259 Like, I've even spared the cattle, 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:55.000 and yet you're like, 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:57.279 you know, sad for this plant. 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:03.500 Godly anger is to be directed 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:05.980 at sin and injustice. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.019 And we're called to love our neighbor, 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:10.599 which means our anger is to be directed 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:12.579 at something abstract. 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.880 It's kind of hard. 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.940 Sin, injustice, 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.400 but not people. 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.880 Jesus makes it very clear 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:20.099 in the passage that we read 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:22.420 that when we direct our sin at somebody, 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:23.940 it's the equivalent of murder, 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:25.480 murdering them in our hearts. 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.640 And that's breaking 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:28.039 one of the Ten Commandments. 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.580 For God has made man 00:23:29.580 --> 00:23:30.740 in his own image. 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:33.279 To hate a person 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.160 is to hate God himself 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:37.580 and to transgress against the image 00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:38.500 that God has set up. 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:42.160 Jonah's anger is targeted 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.160 at a people 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:45.539 because he didn't love God 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:48.039 and honor his character 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:50.380 and his person most of all. 00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:54.140 One last feature of anger 00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:54.980 to look at 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:56.860 is pride. 00:23:58.080 --> 00:23:59.540 Ultimately, Jonah wanted to be right. 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:03.260 And Evagrius, 00:24:03.300 --> 00:24:04.220 when he set up this list 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:08.080 of eight deadly thoughts, 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:11.140 he noted how these thoughts 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:11.960 can come in pairs. 00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:13.080 They kind of team up 00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:14.060 to take us down. 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:16.060 And I think pride and anger 00:24:16.060 --> 00:24:18.860 happen all the time together. 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.299 Right? 00:24:19.979 --> 00:24:21.319 Because we don't want to admit 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.979 we're angry. 00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:27.799 We want to use other words 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:29.459 to describe that we're angry. 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:29.740 Right? 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.639 Like, I'm not angry. 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:32.379 I am just being, 00:24:32.479 --> 00:24:33.419 I'm feeling a little defensive. 00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:34.359 Okay? 00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.500 Or I'm not angry. 00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:37.500 I'm just a little irritated. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.319 No, I'm just frustrated. 00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:41.699 I'm just annoyed. 00:24:41.939 --> 00:24:42.599 But I'm not angry. 00:24:42.719 --> 00:24:44.299 No, all of those things 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.419 are anger. 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.660 All of those things 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:48.340 are to be rooted out. 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:49.480 All of those things are sin. 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:53.120 And we sometimes try 00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:54.300 and cover up our anger 00:24:54.300 --> 00:24:56.100 with niceness. 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:56.640 Right? 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.820 It's really for our pride 00:24:58.820 --> 00:25:00.120 because we don't want to look like 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:00.800 we're angry. 00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:01.680 Right? 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:03.400 We just want to get the things done 00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.340 that anger gets done 00:25:04.340 --> 00:25:05.640 without looking angry. 00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:07.200 Now, I have 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:09.220 confessed this to you before. 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:11.059 One of my besetting sins 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:13.779 is anger towards referees. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:19.579 I felt like it was getting better 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:20.620 until I was asked 00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:21.860 to substitute coach 00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:24.019 one of my kids' soccer games. 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:27.600 And so I didn't realize 00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:28.680 what was going on 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:30.360 until afterwards. 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.680 But I don't know 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:33.000 if you've seen European soccer. 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.259 Most of the coaches 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:35.519 wear really nice suits 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:37.640 and scarves 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.799 and stuff like that. 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.039 And so I thought, 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.779 I'm going to get what I want 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.759 by dressing like 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.920 a European soccer coach. 00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:46.740 The ref is going to listen to me. 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:49.640 And so before the game starts, 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:50.579 I go out 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:52.380 to the center circle. 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:54.240 The two coaches come out. 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.839 And I introduce myself 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.880 very politely. 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.779 And she does too. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.460 My name is Angela. 00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:00.759 Like, 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:02.660 well, good to meet you, Angela. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:05.539 And so all during the game, 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.059 you know, 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.240 it's like a little league game. 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.400 So you don't hear much noise. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.360 But what you do here 00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:09.940 is this, like, 00:26:10.280 --> 00:26:11.140 coach on the other side 00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:11.860 of the field saying, 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.700 Angela! 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.540 Angela, 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:16.100 that was not the right call! 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.019 You know, like, 00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:18.780 I've been angry before, 00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:19.920 but I've cleaned up my acts. 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:20.940 But really, 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.960 I'm just being angry. 00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:22.880 I'm just covering it up 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:24.060 with this obscene 00:26:24.060 --> 00:26:25.980 niceness, 00:26:26.560 --> 00:26:28.340 which is obvious. 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:32.179 And I have to admit, 00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:32.419 like, 00:26:32.459 --> 00:26:33.339 I do it because, 00:26:33.439 --> 00:26:33.579 like, 00:26:33.639 --> 00:26:34.159 some people 00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:35.399 have learned 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.220 that I'm a pastor. 00:26:37.459 --> 00:26:37.819 So, 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:41.099 so I don't want them 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.299 to think the pastor's angry, 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.779 but that pastor's being so kind 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.579 he's referring to the referee 00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.500 by your first name. 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.619 How polite. 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:48.939 Another kid 00:26:48.939 --> 00:26:50.399 had a game right after that. 00:26:51.879 --> 00:26:53.079 And I just couldn't take it anymore. 00:26:53.459 --> 00:26:53.740 Angela! 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:55.639 Right? 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.000 And that's when the anger comes out. 00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:57.720 And I, you know, 00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:59.020 I learned her name 00:26:59.020 --> 00:27:00.100 in order to get her attention. 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:02.080 Refs don't turn their heads 00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:02.680 at the sound of, 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:02.980 Ref! 00:27:03.300 --> 00:27:03.580 Ref! 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:03.960 Hey, Blue! 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.900 They turned it at their names. 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:07.340 And that's why I learned her name. 00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:09.340 It was all to cover my anger. 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:10.680 It was all because 00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.620 I was ashamed 00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:13.080 of my anger. 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:13.640 Right? 00:27:18.020 --> 00:27:19.560 So because of my pride, 00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:21.380 I justify my anger 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:22.259 with other terms. 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.860 I covered up niceness. 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:24.900 Yeah. 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:25.960 By the way, 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.759 I've learned the hard way 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.820 to take off my collar 00:27:27.820 --> 00:27:28.900 on the way home 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:30.060 from church. 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.440 Learned the hard way. 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.759 Let's talk about... 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:37.600 So we've looked at 00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:38.460 the anatomy, 00:27:39.320 --> 00:27:41.100 the source of anger, 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:41.860 which is love. 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.380 Right? 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.640 We've... 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.060 By the way, 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:45.240 what was I defending there 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.960 as coach? 00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:46.640 What do you think? 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.600 What was I defending? 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:50.140 I wanted to win. 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:52.900 I wanted my sons to win 00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:54.660 because I idolatry... 00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:56.620 I idolatry... 00:27:56.620 --> 00:27:57.880 I make idols out of my children. 00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.600 Right? 00:27:58.820 --> 00:28:00.100 I want their success 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:01.540 to be my success. 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.520 And so that's what I'm defending. 00:28:04.560 --> 00:28:06.000 It's the love of... 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.980 The misplaced love 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.680 of the wrong thing. 00:28:07.780 --> 00:28:07.960 Right? 00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:08.560 Anyway, 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.360 so we've looked at 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:11.620 the source of anger. 00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.360 We've looked at 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.320 the anatomy of anger. 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.040 We've looked at 00:28:14.040 --> 00:28:15.080 pleasure, 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.420 pride, 00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:17.560 pace, 00:28:18.060 --> 00:28:18.560 perspective. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.759 And the last thing 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.579 I want to talk about 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.599 is the antidote. 00:28:21.899 --> 00:28:23.039 The antidote to anger. 00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:23.799 Now, 00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:27.299 if you do get angry, 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.619 you should know 00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.960 that your brain 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:31.000 gets hotter 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:32.579 than it normally gets. 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.599 And for that reason, 00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:36.240 my counselor told me, 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.419 you know, 00:28:37.419 --> 00:28:38.639 put like something cold 00:28:38.639 --> 00:28:39.099 on your head 00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.759 when you get angry. 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.539 This is a very simple 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.059 suggestion. 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:41.539 All right? 00:28:41.679 --> 00:28:42.599 It's not super deep, 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:44.139 but it might, 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:44.679 you know, 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.859 save some like grief 00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:46.759 in your home. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.259 Right? 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.200 My kids will walk 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.700 through the kitchen 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.500 and there's like ice 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.920 sitting on my head. 00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:52.319 They just keep walking. 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:56.299 They know what's going on. 00:28:57.580 --> 00:28:58.500 But it works. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.500 It cools down your head 00:28:59.500 --> 00:28:59.880 and you can get 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.680 a fresh perspective. 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:04.180 The second antidote 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.460 is to name it, 00:29:05.840 --> 00:29:06.580 to admit it, 00:29:06.600 --> 00:29:07.299 to confess. 00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:09.380 Confess this to be anger. 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.160 Whatever it is, 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:10.660 annoyance, 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.480 frustration, 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.740 name it. 00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.519 Your anger 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.519 doesn't have to have 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.700 the last word. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.799 God wants 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:19.039 the last word. 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.299 Don't view 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:21.319 anger 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.400 as a chance 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:23.639 for self-improvement. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.180 View it as a chance 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:26.619 to need him. 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:29.299 God is 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.059 interested 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.859 in decreasing 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.839 your temperature, 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.639 but he's more 00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:33.200 interested 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:34.319 in increasing 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:34.960 your dependence. 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.940 His ultimate goal 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.559 for his people 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.579 is to have them 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.160 fully 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.379 and utterly 00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:41.460 dependent 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.299 on him. 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.980 So name it 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.759 and confess it 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.220 to him 00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.740 and ask him 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.139 for help. 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.779 A third thing 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:48.460 I'd recommend 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.319 as an antidote 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:49.799 for anger 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:51.000 is keeping a journal. 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.460 I did this 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:53.299 a few years ago 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.859 when I was 00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.339 in the throes 00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.299 of culture shock. 00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.659 I was probably 00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.279 the angriest 00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:58.940 I've ever been. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.319 My counselor said, 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:00.960 actually no, 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.379 it was a friend, 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:01.740 said, 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:02.279 why don't you 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.159 keep an anger journal? 00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.539 So I would write down 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.579 the times I got angry 00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.379 and I would write down 00:30:06.379 --> 00:30:07.299 all the circumstances 00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:07.980 around that. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.859 What was going on 00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.159 before? 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.940 What was going on 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.319 after? 00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.700 How did I deal with it? 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:13.059 Did I get a lot of sleep 00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:13.779 the night before? 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:15.120 We can often undermine 00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:18.340 our efforts to stay 00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:18.880 not angry 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:20.140 by just not taking 00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:20.940 care of ourselves. 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.759 What was I trying 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.279 to defend? 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.840 What was really hurting? 00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:25.720 Was I afraid 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.180 of something? 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:27.180 Anyway, 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:28.660 if you chart that 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.460 over time, 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.420 you put it away, 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.220 you come back to it 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.799 a week later 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:33.700 and you break it out 00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.559 again and you look at it 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.340 and what's more helpful 00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:36.220 is to do that 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.080 with somebody else 00:30:37.080 --> 00:30:37.920 and for this reason 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:39.539 I would highly recommend 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:41.100 being in a triad. 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.519 Our triads are designed 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.459 to be places 00:30:43.459 --> 00:30:44.359 where we can hear 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.419 God speak to us. 00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:46.439 What is God 00:30:46.439 --> 00:30:47.639 really trying to tell us? 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:49.319 So if you're in a triad 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.879 and you're dealing 00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:50.279 with anger, 00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:50.959 keep a journal, 00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:52.259 bring it to the triad 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:54.259 and see what they say. 00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:55.299 See what they say. 00:30:55.679 --> 00:30:56.539 Maybe the Holy Spirit 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.139 is going to speak 00:30:57.139 --> 00:30:57.699 through the journal 00:30:57.699 --> 00:30:58.259 and your friends 00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:58.959 and your triad 00:30:58.959 --> 00:31:00.740 to speak truth to you, 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:01.779 to bring healing. 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:03.480 So, 00:31:04.159 --> 00:31:05.959 an anger journal. 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.039 There's a fourth thing 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.539 I'd recommend. 00:31:07.679 --> 00:31:08.079 There's a book 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.279 called the Anger Workbook. 00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.399 It's a really thorough way 00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:11.240 to work through 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:12.660 problems of anger 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.460 that you may be having. 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:16.160 You can find that online. 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:17.160 The Anger Workbook. 00:31:17.899 --> 00:31:18.740 And the last thing 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.579 I would recommend 00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:22.240 is worship. 00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:23.899 Worship. 00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:26.099 Worship is 00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:27.500 the antonym, 00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:29.000 the antithesis 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:30.279 of 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:32.399 sinful anger. 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:33.259 Right? 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:35.779 Loving God 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:37.700 is the opposite 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:39.099 of loving something else 00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.799 disorderly. 00:31:40.599 --> 00:31:42.079 If anger is a defense 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:42.940 of that which we love 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.440 and if we wish 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.460 to be rid of our anger, 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:45.819 then our task becomes 00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:46.720 to have our loves 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.799 reordered. 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.559 Our loves are reordered 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:50.640 when we are regularly, 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:52.660 regularly coming to him 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:54.480 in a posture of worship 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.660 and prayer. 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.279 Regularly keeping God's love 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:59.660 in Jesus Christ 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:01.180 at the center 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:01.940 of our vision. 00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:04.180 So this requires 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:04.740 a rhythm 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:06.299 of prayer and worship. 00:32:06.820 --> 00:32:07.120 Morning. 00:32:07.600 --> 00:32:08.080 Evening. 00:32:10.060 --> 00:32:10.660 Weekly 00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:12.039 coming together 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:12.840 with God's people. 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.380 God's anger 00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:17.200 is motivated 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.900 by his love 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:20.400 for you. 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.420 God's love, 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.580 God's anger 00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:23.240 is motivated 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.279 by his love 00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.580 for you. 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.440 So keep his love 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.180 and his anger 00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:27.039 in view. 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:28.940 And so he pours out 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:29.480 his anger 00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.799 not on us. 00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:32.420 You keep it 00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:32.940 in your vision 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:33.680 that he pours out 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.059 his anger 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:36.120 on his two biggest enemies. 00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:38.220 Your two biggest enemies. 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.180 The first, 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:39.860 he hates 00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:41.059 our sin. 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:42.700 It's damaged us. 00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:43.440 It's damaged 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.180 our relationship 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:44.720 with him. 00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:45.779 It's damaged 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.759 our relationships 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.380 with another. 00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.400 Sin has damaged 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:50.160 the earth. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:50.380 it. 00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:50.820 It's damaged 00:32:50.820 --> 00:32:51.000 it. 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.500 And so God 00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.180 took care 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.640 of it 00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:59.560 by his son 00:32:59.560 --> 00:32:59.940 Jesus 00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:00.779 taking on 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.600 our sin 00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.240 and the punishment 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.480 it deserved 00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.500 when he died 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.100 on the cross. 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:06.259 If you belong 00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:07.519 to God, 00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:08.580 there's no 00:33:08.580 --> 00:33:09.240 wrath 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:10.019 left 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.860 for you. 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.019 None. 00:33:12.360 --> 00:33:13.480 It was all 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.420 taken care of. 00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:15.800 When I do 00:33:15.800 --> 00:33:16.200 membership 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:16.900 interviews, 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:17.880 I ask people, 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.420 what does God 00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:19.080 think of you? 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.500 How does he feel 00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:21.039 about you? 00:33:21.340 --> 00:33:21.480 Like, 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.160 if you can imagine 00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:23.080 his face right now 00:33:23.080 --> 00:33:23.840 as he's looking at you, 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.940 what would he be 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.480 expressing? 00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:27.620 And I would say 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.740 more than 50% 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.360 of the time, 00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:30.340 people tell me, 00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:31.420 God's disappointed 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.860 in me. 00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:33.600 God's let down. 00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:36.080 He wishes 00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:37.200 I was trying harder. 00:33:40.100 --> 00:33:41.019 Those are all 00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:41.539 different ways 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.440 of expressing anger. 00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:43.340 We talked about this, 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:43.620 right? 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.620 Annoyance, 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.160 frustration, 00:33:45.360 --> 00:33:45.800 disappointment, 00:33:46.080 --> 00:33:46.320 anger. 00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:47.400 God has no anger 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:47.920 for you. 00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:49.560 It was all 00:33:49.560 --> 00:33:50.300 taken care of 00:33:50.300 --> 00:33:51.039 on the cross. 00:33:52.300 --> 00:33:52.740 Right? 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.660 1 Corinthians 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:55.580 chapter 5, 00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:57.039 verse 21. 00:33:57.340 --> 00:33:58.180 God made him 00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:59.000 who had no sin 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:00.160 to be sin for us. 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:02.100 God made him 00:34:02.100 --> 00:34:03.880 who had no sin 00:34:03.880 --> 00:34:06.560 to be sin for us 00:34:06.560 --> 00:34:08.740 that we might become 00:34:08.740 --> 00:34:09.380 the righteousness 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.680 of God. 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.840 So he looks on you 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:13.519 and he, 00:34:13.680 --> 00:34:14.639 every time he looks 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:14.960 on you, 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:16.039 he sees the son 00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.500 and daughter 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.739 that he completely 00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:18.619 delights in. 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:20.960 Nothing but a big 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:22.219 smile is on his face 00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:23.260 when he looks at you. 00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.219 All right? 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:25.280 All that anger 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:26.039 was taken care of 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.659 on the cross. 00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.719 He hates the sin. 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.760 It was poured out 00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.380 on the cross. 00:34:29.639 --> 00:34:30.159 That's how much 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:30.739 God loves you. 00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:33.300 And because he loves us, 00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:34.199 he pours out his anger 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:35.659 on our other enemy, 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:36.719 and that's death. 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.219 Remember Jesus 00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:40.119 snorting like a horse? 00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:41.219 It's because his friend 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:42.260 Lazarus had died. 00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.860 And even though he knew 00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:44.980 he would bring Lazarus 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.660 back from the dead, 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.400 Lazarus was just 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.200 going to die again. 00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:50.160 He hated death. 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.460 And he hates it still. 00:34:53.080 --> 00:34:54.340 He knows us 00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:54.960 who have lost 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.600 our fathers, 00:34:56.640 --> 00:34:57.080 who have lost 00:34:57.080 --> 00:34:57.680 our mothers, 00:34:58.720 --> 00:34:59.400 who have lost 00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.060 our siblings, 00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.420 who have lost 00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:02.160 our friends, 00:35:03.080 --> 00:35:04.080 who have lost 00:35:04.080 --> 00:35:04.680 our children 00:35:04.680 --> 00:35:05.300 to death. 00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:06.320 He knows 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:07.840 how we grieve. 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.120 He sees 00:35:09.120 --> 00:35:10.760 our tears. 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:12.620 that makes him furious. 00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:16.580 So God took care of it. 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:19.120 He took care of it. 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:19.960 In dying, 00:35:20.080 --> 00:35:20.620 Jesus breaks 00:35:20.620 --> 00:35:21.600 the power of sin. 00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:23.200 In rising again, 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:25.300 he conquers death. 00:35:26.060 --> 00:35:27.740 That we might have life. 00:35:29.080 --> 00:35:30.000 And that we, 00:35:30.200 --> 00:35:30.980 along with all 00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:31.740 of our loved ones 00:35:31.740 --> 00:35:32.440 who are in Christ, 00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.560 might rise again 00:35:33.560 --> 00:35:34.840 and live with him 00:35:34.840 --> 00:35:35.920 in perfect, 00:35:36.080 --> 00:35:36.920 harmonious fellowship, 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.440 mutual love, 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:39.900 free of anger, 00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:41.180 for the rest 00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:41.840 of our days. 00:35:44.660 --> 00:35:45.599 Let's have that be 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.360 what we're thinking of 00:35:46.360 --> 00:35:47.340 when we come forward 00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:48.480 to the table. 00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:51.559 No wrath left. 00:35:52.240 --> 00:35:52.920 God's taking care 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.639 of our enemies. 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.940 He fights for us. 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.400 Both sin and death. 00:35:57.160 --> 00:35:57.840 In the name of the Father 00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:58.420 and of the Son 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.280 and of the Holy Spirit. 00:35:59.740 --> 00:35:59.960 Amen. 00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.079 Amen. 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:00.119 Amen. 00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:00.160 Amen. 00:36:00.160 --> 00:36:00.180 Amen. 00:36:00.180 --> 00:36:00.220 Amen. 00:36:00.220 --> 00:36:00.240 Amen. 00:36:00.240 --> 00:36:02.160 Amen. 00:36:02.160 --> 00:36:02.200 Amen. 00:36:02.200 --> 00:36:02.220 Amen. 00:36:02.220 --> 00:36:02.240 Amen. 00:36:02.240 --> 00:36:04.200 Amen. 00:36:04.200 --> 00:36:04.220 Amen. 00:36:04.220 --> 00:36:04.240 Amen. 00:36:04.240 --> 00:36:04.260 Amen. 00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:04.280 Amen.