WEBVTT 00:00:00.340 --> 00:00:06.919 What one word would you use to describe the current climate in this country? 00:00:08.540 --> 00:00:09.660 Just think about it a moment. 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:20.039 One word that you think accurately describes the overall climate in this country. 00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:23.900 How about the word angry? 00:00:23.899 --> 00:00:35.159 I think the word angry or anger describes the current climate of our country at this moment in time. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:43.060 According to some headlines of major newspapers, other people think the same thing. 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:52.719 For an example, from the Wall Street Journal at the 1st of June, anger and unrest sweep across the U.S. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:01:01.759 From the Washington Post near the end of June, Americans are living in a big anger incubator. 00:01:02.899 --> 00:01:12.140 That article describes how anger is a common response to three major problems that Americans have been forced to deal with this year. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:14.420 Note this quote. 00:01:14.420 --> 00:01:24.000 According to psychiatrist Joshua Morgenstein, the country is now dealing with three disasters superimposed on top of one another. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:28.640 The pandemic, the economic fallout, and civil unrest. 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:36.659 Certainly one way of responding and a common way of responding is anger, said Morgenstein. 00:01:36.659 --> 00:01:43.060 Now, anger is not only a common way of responding to major disasters in our country. 00:01:43.859 --> 00:01:51.920 It's also a common way of responding to minor disappointments in our personal lives. 00:01:53.060 --> 00:02:01.060 For example, do you ever go to Walmart and you notice there are eight checkout lanes closed? 00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:08.240 Two open and a long line in each one of those. 00:02:09.860 --> 00:02:11.740 Does that ever make you angry? 00:02:13.640 --> 00:02:15.439 Think about this past week. 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:23.840 Did your spouse, your child, your parent, your friend, your co-worker, 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:30.340 that they say or do something that just didn't set well with you? 00:02:31.640 --> 00:02:34.599 And you unleashed your anger on them? 00:02:36.420 --> 00:02:43.500 Anger is a common response to many of life's major and minor injustices, 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:48.319 irritations, and disappointments. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:53.139 Jerry Bridges points out that it's a common response, 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:58.280 too common a response maybe, in our lives as Christians. 00:02:58.699 --> 00:02:59.519 Look at what he says. 00:03:00.239 --> 00:03:01.719 Anger is a universal problem. 00:03:02.519 --> 00:03:05.979 No one is isolated from its presence or immune from its poison. 00:03:06.599 --> 00:03:10.859 It permeates each person and spoils our most intimate relationships. 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:15.259 Anger is a given part of our fallen human fabric. 00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:19.060 Sadly, it is true even in our Christian homes and churches. 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:23.259 Anger is often directed toward those we should love most, 00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:28.919 our spouse, children, parents, or siblings in our human families, 00:03:29.179 --> 00:03:33.259 and those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ in our church families. 00:03:35.019 --> 00:03:35.979 Now you think about it. 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:38.439 Sinful anger. 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:48.800 Sinfully expressed anger causes all kinds of divisions and destruction in our country, 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:54.800 in our homes, and in our personal relationships. 00:03:56.360 --> 00:04:00.520 Therefore, I think it will be helpful for us this morning to think biblically 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:09.480 about the problem of anger and how God will help us to deal with it 00:04:09.480 --> 00:04:13.640 and control it if we want to. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:16.319 See, that's the key. 00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:19.180 He's not going to make us. 00:04:19.960 --> 00:04:22.780 We've got to see it as the problem it is. 00:04:23.780 --> 00:04:28.300 Look to Him for help and then use His help. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:29.060 Take it. 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:32.740 Now, before we begin, I want to make it real clear. 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:35.800 Anger is a complex issue. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:41.459 There's no way that it could be dealt with adequately in a single sermon 00:04:41.459 --> 00:04:42.920 or even a series of sermons. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:45.840 Let me say this. 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.740 A person with frequent and intense anger 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:55.379 that often leads to physically or emotionally abusive behavior 00:04:55.379 --> 00:05:00.560 needs the help of a real Christian counselor 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:05.079 or maybe even, and maybe even a medical doctor. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:07.459 So hear that clearly. 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:14.899 If you have a real problem with frequent and intense anger 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:20.879 that results in physically or emotionally abusive behavior, 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:24.159 do something about it. 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:25.120 Seek help. 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:32.459 And I would encourage you to seek a good Christian counselor first. 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:35.620 Now, the focus of this message 00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:39.419 is to deal with some of the more common aspects of anger 00:05:39.419 --> 00:05:43.299 that we as Christians struggle with. 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:46.259 Some of us struggle more than others. 00:05:47.139 --> 00:05:47.899 Let's think about it. 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:48.799 Two questions. 00:05:48.919 --> 00:05:51.639 Number one, why do we struggle with anger at times? 00:05:51.639 --> 00:06:02.639 Why do we as Christians struggle with sinful anger and angry outbursts? 00:06:03.979 --> 00:06:07.639 Well, if you do a study of anger using Christian or secular sources, 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:12.500 you're going to find that many people describe a list 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:15.680 of what they call causes of anger. 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:17.819 Some of them are very helpful. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:21.120 Jerry Bridges summarizes the cause of anger. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:24.240 It's a simple approach, what he's trying to do. 00:06:24.280 --> 00:06:26.280 He's not trying to be a Christian counselor. 00:06:26.819 --> 00:06:29.480 But he summarizes the causes of anger under three categories. 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:30.819 Pride. 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:33.160 Personal pride. 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:35.699 Selfishness. 00:06:36.899 --> 00:06:39.959 And a desire to control. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:45.120 A desire to control the people and the situations 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:46.420 that we find ourselves in. 00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:49.780 Now, that can be a helpful list. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:53.939 It may be that you can look at that 00:06:53.939 --> 00:07:00.040 and you can identify a source or sources 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:03.920 of your sinful anger just by that little list. 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:05.639 And if so, good. 00:07:05.819 --> 00:07:08.639 That's the first step to properly deal with it. 00:07:09.899 --> 00:07:13.100 But I want us to look at something James White does 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:14.740 in helping us to identify anger. 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:18.240 He takes another approach by helping us identify 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:24.620 the sources of our anger in terms of things we believe 00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:25.560 that are wrong. 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:29.060 In his book, Long Night's Journey Into Day, 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:31.680 White says that most of our anger arises 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:36.000 because of three myths or false assumptions, 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:38.660 or you can't use the word illusions, 00:07:38.660 --> 00:07:43.660 or even lies, three myths we believe about life. 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:46.460 That's how I want us to begin looking at anger. 00:07:46.580 --> 00:07:50.060 Number one, we get angry because we believe the myth 00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:52.180 that the world and everyone in it 00:07:52.180 --> 00:07:56.000 should be dedicated to doing what is in my best interest. 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:57.760 Now, look at that statement. 00:07:59.140 --> 00:08:00.600 Here's the myth in that. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.360 We think life is all about me. 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:09.160 We think the world should revolve around me. 00:08:09.280 --> 00:08:10.860 Now, we would never say it that way. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:13.580 We would never admit it. 00:08:14.820 --> 00:08:20.879 But how often do we act like everyone around us, 00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:25.120 everything around us should be focused on me, 00:08:26.340 --> 00:08:28.020 should be centered on me? 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:33.919 I'll be honest. 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:38.079 Sometimes I get behind somebody going slow in the fast lane, 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:41.019 or I'm just down a two-lane road, 00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:43.480 like going to Anderson on 178, 00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:45.079 somebody's going 35 miles an hour. 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:49.659 I truly believe that person ought to pull over and stop 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:52.299 and let me get around. 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:55.460 I'll be honest with you. 00:08:55.460 --> 00:08:59.900 Sometimes I get angry when they don't. 00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:03.460 Now, don't anybody look at me like that's never happened to you. 00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:07.019 Lying is a sin we can look at next week if necessary. 00:09:08.680 --> 00:09:11.879 Now, just the Walmart situation. 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:15.160 When you go in there and it's crowded, 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:16.780 long line to check out, 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:19.240 you see all these empty lanes, 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:22.580 all these unstaffed cash registers, 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:24.500 you think to yourself, 00:09:25.040 --> 00:09:29.100 they should open another checkout lane for me. 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:32.879 And when things like that do not happen, 00:09:33.540 --> 00:09:35.820 we get angry. 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:37.860 The myth, 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:40.639 the world should revolve around me. 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:44.000 Everyone should sit up and take notice of me. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:45.460 The truth is, 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:47.600 things don't always go our way. 00:09:48.940 --> 00:09:49.500 In fact, 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:52.720 life rarely works the way we want it to. 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:57.139 Most people don't make us the center of their world. 00:09:59.100 --> 00:09:59.360 You know, 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:02.700 some people struggle with paranoia. 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:05.779 I hope you don't, 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:08.720 because most people don't think about you. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:10.419 They don't talk about you. 00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:12.519 They don't care about you. 00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:13.879 Don't be paranoid. 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:16.419 If you're sitting in that pew, 00:10:16.479 --> 00:10:17.659 and you see somebody sitting over here, 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:18.639 and you stay there whispering, 00:10:19.079 --> 00:10:20.539 some people think they're whispering about me. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:20.779 No, 00:10:20.819 --> 00:10:21.719 they're not thinking about you. 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:22.959 They're thinking about where they're going to eat, 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:23.799 and the service is over. 00:10:25.259 --> 00:10:26.419 They're not thinking about you. 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:31.299 Life does not revolve around you or me. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:34.179 There are very few people 00:10:34.179 --> 00:10:36.259 who will ever even have the thought 00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:40.639 of making life better for you 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:42.460 or making you the center of their world. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:44.819 Jesus helps us to understand 00:10:44.819 --> 00:10:47.259 that we live in a fallen, sinful world 00:10:47.939 --> 00:10:51.319 that is not for us, 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:53.799 especially as Christians, 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:54.600 or as Christians, 00:10:54.659 --> 00:10:55.419 is what He's talking about. 00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:57.000 Look in John 16, 33. 00:10:57.419 --> 00:10:58.319 Jesus said this, 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:00.080 talking to His disciples, 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:02.539 preparing them for the persecution 00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:06.719 that was to come in the near future, 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:09.620 but also as they took the gospel 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:10.539 to the ends of the world, 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:11.480 He's preparing them. 00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:12.139 He says, 00:11:12.219 --> 00:11:13.419 I have said these things to you 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:15.059 that in me you may have peace. 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:17.620 In the world you will have tribulation, 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:18.919 but take heart. 00:11:19.579 --> 00:11:22.039 I have overcome the world. 00:11:23.079 --> 00:11:24.379 What we need to understand as Christians 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.959 is the world's not our friend. 00:11:28.719 --> 00:11:31.959 The world rejects our king. 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:33.579 The Lord Jesus. 00:11:34.459 --> 00:11:38.219 The world rejects our source of truth. 00:11:39.079 --> 00:11:39.939 The Bible. 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.339 If you desire to live a faithful Christian life 00:11:44.339 --> 00:11:44.959 in this world, 00:11:46.339 --> 00:11:49.620 I mean to really follow Christ, 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:52.579 seek God's will, 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:54.699 do things His way, 00:11:55.699 --> 00:11:57.939 that's not going to make your life easy. 00:11:59.459 --> 00:12:01.860 When Jesus said what we saw on the board there, 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:05.240 we should expect opposition. 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:08.759 We should expect opposition to the world. 00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:12.100 We should expect even real persecution, 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:16.919 even as Christians living in this country today. 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:20.039 Now, on a more general level, 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:21.960 we need to accept the fact 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:24.340 that life in this world is not fair. 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:30.660 Surely, if you are in your 40s, 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:35.180 absolutely if you're in your 50s or older, 00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:38.040 you have learned that life's not fair. 00:12:38.800 --> 00:12:41.860 If you haven't, where have you been? 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:47.360 If you haven't, how have you missed it? 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:50.139 A lot of people, 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:53.440 children, teenagers, young adults, 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:57.560 sometimes have this idealistic view of life 00:12:57.560 --> 00:13:00.899 and for some reason think life is fair. 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:03.080 Life is fair for me. 00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:04.580 It's not. 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:07.000 As I said a few weeks ago, 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.940 fair is where you go to ride rides 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:09.820 and eat cotton candy. 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:13.659 Fair is not what you're going to experience 00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:14.459 in this world. 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:18.740 So, we need to reject the myth 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:21.579 that life is all about me. 00:13:22.839 --> 00:13:23.480 Myth number two, 00:13:23.719 --> 00:13:25.579 we get angry because we believe the myth 00:13:25.579 --> 00:13:28.819 that our anger is caused by external circumstances. 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:30.079 Here's the myth. 00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:32.559 We think that other people 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:35.339 or our circumstances 00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:38.039 make us angry. 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:41.539 Haven't you said things like, 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:44.439 he makes me so mad. 00:13:45.199 --> 00:13:47.379 She infuriates me. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:50.719 That makes me livid. 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:53.480 We say things like that. 00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:54.919 We believe things like that. 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:55.819 But that's a myth. 00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:57.579 The truth is, 00:13:57.719 --> 00:13:58.939 no one makes us angry. 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:02.860 Our anger comes from within. 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.779 Within us, 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:05.299 our heart, 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:06.000 our mind. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:10.080 Anger is an internal reaction 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:13.000 to some kind of external event. 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:15.379 You know, 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:17.000 we have looked over the last several weeks 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.740 at several things Jesus talked about 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:20.879 that helps us understand 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:22.360 that what comes out of us, 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.399 what comes out of our mouth, 00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:24.759 our, 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.700 these kind of things like anger, 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:30.779 it originates from what's within us. 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:31.940 Here's a good example. 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:33.720 Jesus said, 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.560 the good person 00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:36.220 out of the good treasure 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:37.240 of his heart 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.639 produces good. 00:14:38.920 --> 00:14:39.940 And the evil person 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:41.740 out of his evil treasure 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:43.060 produces evil. 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.779 For out of the abundance 00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:46.000 of the heart 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.759 his mouth 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.779 speaks. 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:52.100 What comes out 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:54.519 is an indication 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.080 of what is inside us. 00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:58.480 Anger is an emotion. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.399 It originates from within us. 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:01.779 Now, 00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:03.840 here's something 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.519 that I know some people 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:04.879 have been, 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:05.159 you know, 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:05.840 you're thinking to yourself, 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:07.039 you're arguing with me. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.180 Here's where we're going 00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:10.180 to agree on this. 00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:12.180 Some people know 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:14.200 how to push our anger buttons. 00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:16.620 Don't they? 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:19.879 Some people know 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:21.639 what to say, 00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.779 what to do. 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:24.899 is going to spark 00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:26.240 that angry 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:28.459 feeling, 00:15:29.319 --> 00:15:29.899 emotion, 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.659 and probably outburst. 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:34.939 Some people know 00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:35.980 how to push 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:37.759 your anger button 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.279 to make you lose control, 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:43.620 to put them 00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.939 in control, 00:15:45.939 --> 00:15:47.259 to give them 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:48.019 more power. 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:49.659 Some children 00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:50.579 know how to push 00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:51.960 the anger button 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:52.980 of their parents. 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.980 They get mad, 00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:56.240 they blow up, 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.019 they lose control. 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:02.240 That is a fact. 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:03.519 Some people know 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:03.919 how to push 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:05.079 our anger buttons, 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:05.860 but 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:09.519 we control 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.039 how we respond. 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:13.720 We really can't 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:15.000 blame other people 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:17.500 or other things 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:19.120 when we erupt 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.259 in anger. 00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:22.039 They may have made 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:23.460 the situation 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:24.200 more difficult 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.059 for us. 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.340 Bottom line, 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:27.600 though, 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:29.080 we're responsible 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.100 for how we respond. 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:31.940 We're responsible 00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:32.519 for the words 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:32.820 that come out 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:33.419 of our mouths. 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:34.919 We're responsible 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:35.720 for the way 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.820 we express 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:38.200 our emotions, 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:39.779 including our anger. 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:40.659 So, 00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:42.139 reject the myth 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.860 that your anger 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.440 is caused 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:45.600 by external 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.399 circumstances. 00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:47.379 Myth number three, 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.500 we get angry 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.240 because we believe 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.659 the myth 00:16:49.659 --> 00:16:50.179 that anger 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:51.340 is a force 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:53.139 beyond our control. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.120 Here's the myth. 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.320 We think 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:57.440 we can't help it 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.759 when we lose 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.139 our temper. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.840 We make excuses 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:03.759 for why we lose 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.140 our temper, 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.259 for why we 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.339 get angry 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.920 and say 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.700 and do things. 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.660 I was tired. 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:12.400 It had been 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.079 a long day. 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:15.359 I'm under 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:16.259 a lot of stress. 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.439 You just 00:17:17.439 --> 00:17:18.419 would not believe 00:17:18.419 --> 00:17:19.379 the stress 00:17:19.379 --> 00:17:21.059 that I experience 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.000 at my job. 00:17:22.199 --> 00:17:22.659 Or, 00:17:23.659 --> 00:17:24.419 I'm just 00:17:24.419 --> 00:17:25.139 a hot-tempered 00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:25.679 person. 00:17:25.939 --> 00:17:26.379 That's just 00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:27.079 how I was 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:27.819 made. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.639 As if God 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:31.299 is at fault 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:33.059 for your anger. 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.679 The truth is, 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.679 we can control 00:17:37.679 --> 00:17:38.659 our angry 00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:39.779 reactions. 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:41.559 The Bible 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:42.359 teaches us 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.139 repeatedly 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.539 that we are 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.119 responsible 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.139 for our actions, 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.079 including 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:48.000 controlling our 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.420 anger. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.319 And I want you 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:49.740 to note 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.559 what James 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.139 says, 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.000 and he's 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.799 writing a letter 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.740 to Christians 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.279 and telling 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.019 them what to 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.599 control. 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.240 Look at this. 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.480 Know this, 00:17:58.879 --> 00:17:59.379 my beloved 00:17:59.379 --> 00:17:59.980 brothers, 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.259 let every person 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.139 be quick to 00:18:02.139 --> 00:18:02.460 hear, 00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.000 slow to speak, 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:06.059 slow to anger, 00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.659 for the anger 00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:08.480 of man does 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.259 not produce 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.119 the righteousness 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:11.460 of God. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:12.899 Now, 00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:13.359 for James 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:13.940 to write that 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:14.500 to Christians 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:17.119 means we 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:17.960 can control 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:19.079 our anger. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:22.379 It also 00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:22.779 means, 00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:23.460 let me back up 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:23.720 a moment, 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.319 anger can be 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:25.659 a problem 00:18:25.659 --> 00:18:26.279 for Christians. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:27.940 James is 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.419 writing in the 00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:29.059 first century. 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.599 Every New 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:31.480 Testament letter 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:33.039 deals with 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:34.339 problems in the 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:34.819 life of the 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:35.359 church. 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:36.299 and the 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:36.639 life of 00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:37.139 individual 00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:37.619 Christians. 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.639 So, 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:40.960 when you 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.759 read that, 00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:43.220 James was 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:45.220 aware that 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:45.679 some people 00:18:45.679 --> 00:18:45.919 in the 00:18:45.919 --> 00:18:46.359 church, 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:47.720 they're 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.519 quick-tempered. 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:50.899 And so, 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:51.240 he tells them 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.679 to be slow 00:18:51.679 --> 00:18:52.139 to anger. 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:52.679 And he 00:18:52.679 --> 00:18:53.079 tries to 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.279 give them 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:53.679 a reason, 00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.079 for the 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.559 anger of 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:54.919 man does 00:18:54.919 --> 00:18:55.359 not produce 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:55.819 the righteousness 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:56.460 of God. 00:18:57.679 --> 00:18:58.299 The reason 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:58.799 he can tell 00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.220 us that as 00:18:59.220 --> 00:18:59.720 Christians is 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:00.440 because we 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.179 are indwelled 00:19:01.179 --> 00:19:01.440 with the 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:01.879 Spirit of 00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:02.240 God. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.940 We can 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:05.879 successfully 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:07.360 control our 00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:08.800 emotions like 00:19:08.800 --> 00:19:11.500 anger and 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:13.440 prevent emotions 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.420 like anger from 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.940 controlling us. 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.100 Reject the 00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:21.380 myth that 00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.240 anger is a 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:24.220 force beyond 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:24.900 your control. 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:27.960 Now, if you 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:29.400 often deal with 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.400 sinful anger, 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:32.940 anger, and 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.620 the sinful 00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.860 expressions of 00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:36.820 that anger, I 00:19:36.820 --> 00:19:37.040 want to 00:19:37.040 --> 00:19:37.800 encourage you to 00:19:37.800 --> 00:19:38.580 be open and 00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:39.240 honest with God 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.900 about that. 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.100 And first of 00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:42.960 all here, ask 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.480 God to help 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.759 you to identify 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:46.780 the source of 00:19:46.780 --> 00:19:47.200 your anger. 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:49.420 Think about 00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:49.640 it. 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.800 Spend some time 00:19:50.800 --> 00:19:51.120 today. 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.259 Pray about it. 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.820 In light of what 00:19:53.820 --> 00:19:55.820 we've said, is it 00:19:55.820 --> 00:19:57.519 your pride, your 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:59.700 selfishness, your 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.319 desire to 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:00.960 control everyone 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.259 and everything in 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:02.940 your life? 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:03.879 Is that what 00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:06.139 causes the anger 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:06.680 that you have to 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:07.180 deal with so 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:07.559 much? 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.460 Or is the 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:09.940 source of your 00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:10.700 anger coming from 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.359 the fact that you 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.319 believe you have 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.559 false assumptions 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:15.839 about how life 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.460 works that we 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.019 just looked at? 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.160 Once we start 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.879 identifying the 00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:20.480 source of our 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.339 anger and accept 00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:23.559 our responsibility 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:25.039 for dealing with 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.819 it, expressing 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:28.779 that emotion 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:31.079 appropriately, then 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:32.279 we'll be ready to 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:32.960 start working on 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.759 controlling it. 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.159 And that's the 00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:35.700 next question. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.099 How do we 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:36.619 control our 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:36.819 anger? 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:37.700 Well, I'm going 00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.139 to say this to 00:20:38.139 --> 00:20:38.579 begin with. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.519 Just as the 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.500 causes of anger 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:42.259 are complex, so 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.019 is the solution. 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.000 There is no easy 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.460 solution. 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.940 There is no one 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:48.460 prayer that you 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:50.359 can pray and all 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:50.859 of a sudden your 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.500 anger is gone. 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.279 I would have 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:53.859 prayed that a long 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.399 time ago. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.980 if that was 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.240 true. 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.159 There is no 00:20:58.159 --> 00:21:00.399 secret formula, 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.039 no biblical 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:04.240 formula that you 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.139 do this, this, 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.700 this, and it will 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.559 eliminate all your 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.700 sinful expressions of 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:08.960 anger. 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.659 That does not 00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:11.099 exist. 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:13.200 But with God's 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:15.099 help, there are 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:16.579 things we can do 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:18.639 to help us better 00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:20.039 control our 00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:22.480 anger and control 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.460 how we express 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:23.659 it. 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:25.040 So let's look. 00:21:25.600 --> 00:21:27.140 First, accept the 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:27.920 fact that most of 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:29.120 our anger is sinful 00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:29.519 anger. 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:31.279 How do we control 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:31.620 our anger? 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.640 First of all, accept 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:35.240 most of our anger is 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.660 sinful anger. 00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:37.620 Now I say that 00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:40.220 because some anger is 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.540 good, healthy, 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.259 appropriate. 00:21:43.060 --> 00:21:43.980 All anger is not 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.400 sinful. 00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:45.560 I want you to look at 00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:47.160 this verse, verses 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:48.600 from Ephesians 4. 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:51.559 Be angry and do 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.199 not sin. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:54.539 Do not let the sun 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.240 go down on your 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:57.159 anger and give no 00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:58.980 opportunity to the 00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.240 devil. 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.419 It's right to be 00:22:03.419 --> 00:22:04.359 angry sometimes. 00:22:06.219 --> 00:22:07.599 It's right to be 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:09.619 angry because sometimes 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:10.439 God's angry. 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:13.240 Jesus did some 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:15.299 things and showed 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.440 his anger like when 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:17.080 he cleansed the 00:22:17.080 --> 00:22:18.000 temple, like when he 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.480 dealt with some of 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.039 the hypocritical 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.880 Pharisees. 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:22.860 Jesus was angry and 00:22:22.860 --> 00:22:23.680 it was good that he 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.160 was angry. 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:25.980 There's some things in 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.480 life that should move 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:30.680 us to the right kind 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.220 of anger. 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:32.940 Things that violate 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:34.720 God's moral will. 00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:35.380 When I say that, 00:22:35.820 --> 00:22:36.460 that's what the Bible 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:39.460 reveals in terms of 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:41.180 how God wants us to 00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:41.440 live. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.559 That's God's moral 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:42.880 will. 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.180 He wants us to be 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:44.980 people who speak the 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.279 truth. 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.400 He wants us to love 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:46.720 one another. 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.620 He wants us to forgive 00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.160 one another. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:49.840 He wants us to have 00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:50.500 the right kind of 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.340 relationships in our 00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:52.279 home between husbands 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.299 and wives and parents 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:53.840 and children. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.380 But we've got to be 00:22:57.380 --> 00:23:00.000 very careful that when 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:02.039 we express our 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:05.200 righteous anger, we 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:05.759 do it in an 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.579 inappropriate way. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.980 We are never 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.519 justified to express 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:13.519 righteous anger in an 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.660 unrighteous way. 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:18.680 James Robbins in a 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.779 USA Today article 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:21.259 points out how the 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:23.839 justified anger that 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:25.140 peaceful protesters 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.440 express following 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.539 George Floyd's 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.960 killing has been 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:30.200 overshadowed by the 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.799 unjustified angry 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:33.879 response of violence 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.579 and destruction. 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.579 I want you to note 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.179 what he says. 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.539 Peaceful protests 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:40.359 over George Floyd's 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:41.699 killing have been 00:23:41.699 --> 00:23:43.399 overshadowed by images 00:23:43.399 --> 00:23:45.799 of rage-fueled violence 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.539 and destruction. 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:49.000 Resorting to rioting is 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.339 strange because there is 00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:52.259 little disagreement that 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.799 Floyd's death in custody 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:55.579 was senseless and 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.480 criminal. 00:23:58.399 --> 00:24:00.259 Few defend the police who 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.019 were responsible. 00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:02.900 They were quickly fired. 00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:04.779 One has been charged with 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.160 murder. 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.940 And the Justice Department 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:08.200 has opened an investigation 00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.160 into the tragedy. 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:11.119 Everyone is on the same 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:12.539 side of this issue. 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:16.099 Yet, rioting sparked and 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:16.599 spread. 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.779 There is no rational purpose 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:20.180 behind people burning 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.940 buildings, torching cars, 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.619 breaking windows, spray 00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:25.259 painting obscenities, and the 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.839 other actions that have left 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:28.599 city blocks looking like war 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:29.059 zones. 00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.879 Some say these are 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:32.500 expressions of anger and 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:34.419 frustration and maybe so. 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:36.599 But they are also unjustified, 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:39.599 foolish, and counterproductive. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:44.199 Now, I want you to think of 00:24:44.199 --> 00:24:46.539 your anger issues. 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:50.619 Think personally. 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:54.879 There may be occasions when 00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:57.740 you are justifiably angry. 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:03.779 But if we're honest, that's 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.460 rarely true. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.940 It's possible. 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.299 And sometimes we may be 00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:11.339 justifiably angry. 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.659 But if I'm honest, most of my 00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:15.879 anger is not justifiable. 00:25:15.880 --> 00:25:19.500 More often than not, our 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:22.000 expressions of anger are 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:25.020 unjustified, foolish. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:26.640 That is, they're irrational. 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:29.220 And they are counterproductive. 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:33.000 Similar to the anger of 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:34.920 rioters and looters. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:37.560 But our anger is more on a 00:25:37.560 --> 00:25:38.240 personal level. 00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:42.520 Or on a family level. 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:46.859 On a much, much smaller scale 00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:47.339 level. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:50.059 But it's just as sinful. 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.559 Just as wrong. 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.299 Therefore, the first thing we 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:56.819 need to do is to get control 00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.940 of, the first thing we need to 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:59.119 do in order to get control of 00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:01.980 our anger is to stop justifying 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.259 it. 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:06.900 Just admit, most of our anger is 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:08.339 sinful anger. 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:11.859 So instead of trying to justify 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:15.459 it, confess it as the sin that it 00:26:15.459 --> 00:26:16.859 is against God. 00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:22.000 And after you do that, confess it as 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:24.240 the sin that it is against the 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:27.720 person you exploded on. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:32.120 A lot of times that's a whole lot 00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:32.700 more difficult. 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.900 But that's necessary. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:38.400 Yes, we confess our sin to God 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.860 because ultimately all sin is 00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.460 against God. 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.940 But we need to also learn to 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:43.660 confess our sin to those we 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:48.600 wrong and be humble about it and 00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:50.259 seek their forgiveness. 00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:54.440 We not only need to confess it, agree 00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.839 with God, we need to repent of it. 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:58.599 We need to change our mind about 00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.459 the way we're acting. 00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:04.399 About unleashing our anger just 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:07.459 because we want to. 00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:11.379 It helps us to get it out or 00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:11.759 whatever. 00:27:13.199 --> 00:27:14.779 We need to change our mind and 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:19.519 turn from our sinful pride or 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:21.879 selfishness or controlling 00:27:21.879 --> 00:27:25.379 desires in order to overcome 00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:25.820 anger. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.220 We've got to stop believing lies 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:29.180 that everything's supposed to go 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:29.780 our way. 00:27:31.060 --> 00:27:32.620 That someone else is responsible 00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:33.360 for my anger. 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:37.460 Or that I can't help it when I 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:40.000 explode in rage. 00:27:42.280 --> 00:27:43.920 Then we need to draw near to God. 00:27:45.300 --> 00:27:47.620 We need to ask Him to fill us 00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:49.000 afresh with His Spirit. 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:55.380 I'm talking about if we want to 00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:56.400 overcome our anger. 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.680 Everybody doesn't. 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:01.619 But if you as a Christian want to 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.920 be right with God, right with other 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:04.519 people when it comes to how you deal 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:07.339 with these kind of emotions, if you 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.900 want to overcome your anger issues, 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:13.259 learn to live each day in dependence 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.940 upon God. 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.700 Trusting Him. 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.240 Let's look at three things. 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:19.180 Number one, trust that God's in 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:22.960 control of this world and your life. 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:26.180 Sometimes I've said it like this, 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.779 trust that God is sovereign. 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:31.519 Stop blaming other people and 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:33.160 circumstances for your anger. 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:36.380 You know, God does not cause other 00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:38.039 people to sin against you, but He 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:39.019 certainly allows it. 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:43.779 God does not intervene and keep 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:46.599 everyone from doing things that 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.400 push your button. 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:50.519 God does not intervene in every life 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:52.680 situation and prevent people from 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:55.839 driving slow in the fast lane so that 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.639 you won't get angry. 00:28:58.019 --> 00:29:02.279 The life of Joseph is in Genesis 35 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:04.039 through 50, those chapters. 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:07.960 It illustrates this, the best, probably 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:09.180 the best in the Bible. 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:15.440 Joseph was truly a man of God, but he 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:18.139 was betrayed by his brothers and sold 00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.740 into slavery. 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:21.240 He was taken to a foreign land. 00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:24.000 He became a slave in the household of an 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.799 Egyptian leader. 00:29:25.379 --> 00:29:27.639 He was mistreated there, thrown in prison, 00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:31.259 forgotten there even. 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:34.319 Life was hard for Joseph from between 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:36.980 the ages of 16, 17 and 30. 00:29:38.119 --> 00:29:39.819 Everything but fair. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:44.000 Many people would have just been an 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:47.359 angry, bitter human being if what 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:49.920 happened to Joseph happened to them. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:52.240 But Joseph didn't respond that way. 00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:54.879 If you read the story in every one of 00:29:54.879 --> 00:29:57.500 these situations, he remained faithful 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.000 to the Lord. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:02.200 And at the end, God placed him in a place 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:05.200 of power and authority over all of 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.799 Egypt, just under Pharaoh. 00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:10.059 And in that position of power and 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:12.539 authority, he got an opportunity to deal 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.380 with his brothers. 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:16.619 But I want you to look how he responded. 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:19.660 Classic statement, Genesis 50, 20. 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:23.359 As for you, he told those brothers, you 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.859 meant evil against me. 00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:28.839 But God meant it for good to bring it 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:30.599 about that many people should be kept 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:33.679 alive as they are today. 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:37.099 God didn't make those brothers do what 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:39.319 they did or anyone else in the story. 00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:42.679 But God worked through their sinful 00:30:42.679 --> 00:30:44.559 actions, their jealousy. 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:53.279 And even though Joseph suffered, God so 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:56.299 worked to put him in a position to save 00:30:56.299 --> 00:31:00.899 his family, literally, which meant to 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:02.980 preserve what was going to become the 00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:05.059 nation of Israel. 00:31:06.940 --> 00:31:08.740 This is the way God works in all of his 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.720 people's lives. 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:12.759 Romans 8, 28, a verse that many of you 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:14.859 claim very often. 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:16.740 And we know that in all things, God 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:19.240 works for the good of those who love him, 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.879 who've been called according to his 00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:21.259 purpose. 00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:25.140 If we want to learn to deal with anger the 00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:28.480 right way, we need to learn God's in 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:28.799 control. 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.859 We can trust him. 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.720 He is in control. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:33.920 Number two, ask God to help you to grow 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:35.799 in your love for other people. 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:38.019 Love really is the key to developing 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:41.299 healthy relationships which will help us 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:45.779 to guard against unleashing our anger. 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:49.180 It won't prevent it, but it will help us 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:52.200 to be more cautious, on guard. 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:55.740 I want you to look at something Peter said 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:58.259 that a lot of us need to take to heart. 00:31:58.940 --> 00:32:01.559 Above all, love each other deeply because 00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:05.039 love covers over a multitude of sins. 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:10.059 A lot of us are too easily offended. 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:14.639 A lot of us too easily get our feelings 00:32:14.639 --> 00:32:15.059 hurt. 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:17.099 Part of that probably where I'm on our 00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:17.379 sleeve. 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:22.399 We're easily offended, easily hurt. 00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:28.420 And so a lot of times we take things too 00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:28.879 seriously. 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:30.899 We take things as they were not intended 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:32.460 and we get angry. 00:32:33.040 --> 00:32:33.740 We get bitter. 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:37.120 We say and do things that just shouldn't 00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:38.080 be said and done. 00:32:39.540 --> 00:32:43.240 If we love people, we'll just learn to 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.280 let a lot of things go. 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:47.280 Give people the benefit of the doubt. 00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:50.540 That is what love does. 00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:52.000 It covers over a multitude of sins. 00:32:52.100 --> 00:32:52.700 But look at this. 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:54.440 You know this in 1 Corinthians 13. 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:56.200 Love is patient. 00:32:56.580 --> 00:32:57.420 Love is kind. 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.740 It is not rude. 00:32:58.740 --> 00:33:00.319 It is not self-seeking. 00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:02.740 It is not easily angered. 00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:08.299 The love that God will give us for one 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:11.220 another will motivate us to be more 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.740 self-controlled. 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:16.279 Including controlling our anger. 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.160 Number three. 00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.980 Learn to be more sensitive to the 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:21.220 indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:24.740 Learn to be more sensitive to His presence 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:27.539 and obedient to His leading. 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:30.559 In Galatians 5, Paul gives us some 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:34.000 very helpful statements about how the 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.279 Holy Spirit works in our lives. 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:36.139 I want you to look at one. 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:39.180 So I say, live by the Spirit. 00:33:41.659 --> 00:33:42.940 Be obedient to the Spirit. 00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:44.240 Be sensitive to His presence. 00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:45.099 Be obedient to His leadership. 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:47.200 Live by the Spirit and you will not 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:49.599 gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.519 And then he says a little bit later in 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:53.539 that chapter, he points out some of the 00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:56.759 acts of the sinful nature. 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.259 And look at this one. 00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:00.359 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious. 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:02.579 Fits of rage. 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:05.680 When we get angry, we lose it. 00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:06.680 We explode. 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.899 Fits of rage. 00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:14.219 That is all of the sinful nature having its way in us. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.980 It's us living like an unbeliever. 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:19.179 But when we live under the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:19.740 look at this. 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:21.579 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.840 is patience, is kindness, 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:27.079 gentleness, and self-control. 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.920 Self-control. 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:34.440 Let's wind it up now. 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:38.639 The worst thing that any of us can do this morning 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:46.960 is to ignore, deny, or try to justify our sinful anger. 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:50.659 The very worst thing is just ignore it. 00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:52.940 Pretend this hour never existed. 00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:54.680 Or deny it. 00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:59.200 Or justify it. 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:01.960 If you have a problem with anger, 00:35:02.359 --> 00:35:03.000 admit it. 00:35:03.879 --> 00:35:06.319 And ask God to help you to start dealing with it 00:35:06.319 --> 00:35:08.799 the right way by trusting Him, 00:35:09.759 --> 00:35:10.839 loving people, 00:35:11.859 --> 00:35:14.699 and living in dependence on 00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:18.039 the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within you. 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:23.259 Anger does not, should not, control a Christian. 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:28.319 By the grace and power of God that we have as Christians, 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:31.339 we can control our anger. 00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:34.059 Let's seek God's help and do it. 00:35:34.379 --> 00:35:35.159 Would you pray with me? 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:38.719 Father, show us now 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:40.919 how each one of us as individuals 00:35:40.919 --> 00:35:43.219 need to respond to you, 00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:44.980 to this message. 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:47.500 How each one of us needs to deal with our anger. 00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:50.899 Father, help people here who are struggling 00:35:50.899 --> 00:35:53.099 to identify the source. 00:35:53.099 --> 00:35:59.019 Help them, Father, to confess the sin, 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:00.599 to repent, 00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:02.480 to seek your forgiveness, 00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:04.920 to reconcile with those 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:08.480 that they're not close to now because of anger. 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:13.819 Help us all, dear God, 00:36:14.380 --> 00:36:17.039 to learn to truly trust you. 00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:23.360 Help us to seek your help to grow in our love for other people. 00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:26.980 And Father, 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:29.880 help us to desire to live 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:32.980 a Spirit-filled, Spirit-controlled life. 00:36:34.300 --> 00:36:36.940 Help us to seek to consciously be aware 00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:38.699 of the Holy Spirit's presence in our life 00:36:38.699 --> 00:36:41.860 and obedient to His leadership. 00:36:41.860 --> 00:36:45.780 Let's just, in an attitude of prayer, 00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:46.900 respond to the Lord 00:36:46.900 --> 00:36:49.099 as He wants you to. 00:36:52.099 --> 00:36:53.880 Let's use these next few minutes to do that.