WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.520 Well, as I'm sure many of you saw on the news or maybe saw in person this week, 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:10.460 there was a significant fire in downtown Kenosha or uptown Kenosha, I should say, 00:00:10.900 --> 00:00:17.420 where multiple businesses and apartments were damaged at 22nd Avenue and 63rd Street. 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:23.280 According to the Kenosha News, there were nine fire departments that had to respond. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:25.539 It was a spectacle. 00:00:26.420 --> 00:00:28.219 And apparently the fire started. 00:00:28.219 --> 00:00:33.320 It's not confirmed yet, but apparently the fire started because someone was burning incense 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:39.600 in one of the businesses in the early morning hours, and it turned into something disastrous. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:50.579 So what started out as something legitimate and healthy and enjoyable turned into a raging, destructive force. 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:54.320 You know, anger and fire have a lot in common. 00:00:54.320 --> 00:01:04.439 If someone gets angry, they can be described as heated or fuming or fiery or inflamed or a hothead. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:06.920 And there's a good reason for this. 00:01:08.099 --> 00:01:16.719 Both fire and anger are completely appropriate and constructive if experienced in the proper way. 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:24.219 The fire on the stove that you use to cook a meal that your family gathers around and laughs and talks around is very useful. 00:01:26.019 --> 00:01:31.420 Anger, if rightly felt and rightly expressed, is useful. 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:40.000 It goads us into action to expose injustice or to address ungodliness in ourselves or in others. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:52.000 But the problem is both these two phenomena, anger and fire, are easily let go and have free reign, and the results are disastrous. 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:58.000 Burning incense can turn into a blaze that destroys lives and livelihoods. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:08.460 And the emotion of anger, if it's allowed, can also be just as damaging to individuals, to families, and to communities. 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:14.400 The past five months have had lots of fuel for anger. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:23.199 We see or we feel outrage, whether on social media or in the news, from all corners. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.280 Everybody seems mad about something these days. 00:02:27.079 --> 00:02:35.939 And if it's not on social media or in the news, we see it in our families, differences of opinion within our families or within our church body. 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:47.719 Wherever there is a difference of viewpoint or there's perceived slights or injustices, wherever there's overreaction, reaction, anger is not too far away. 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:54.400 And if there is anger, there's usually hurt and grievance and some form of relational damage. 00:02:55.460 --> 00:03:04.199 Church, we really need God's wisdom to help us understand and address our anger. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:08.840 If you've been around the past several months, you know we've been in the book of Proverbs for a while. 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:16.740 It's this treasure chest full of wisdom to help us learn the skill of living well in God's world. 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:22.259 And we all need that, particularly in this area. 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:25.099 And today, we're kind of shifting our series a little bit. 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:29.539 We're kicking off our series on the second half of the book of Proverbs. 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:31.520 We're going to call it Proverbs a la carte, 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:36.760 where we get to look at different topics through the lens of God's wisdom in the book of Proverbs, 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:41.320 particularly in the second half of the book of Proverbs, chapters 10 to 31. 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:47.260 So what does the second half of the book of Proverbs have to tell us about anger? 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:53.260 Before we kind of dive into an assortment of wise sayings we see in Proverbs about anger, 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:57.080 we need to kind of just be on the same page of what anger is. 00:03:57.080 --> 00:04:00.960 So let me just give Billy's definition of anger. 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:07.060 Anger is a passionate emotion triggered by a perceived wrongdoing. 00:04:07.760 --> 00:04:13.360 Anger is a passionate emotion triggered by a perceived wrongdoing. 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:19.740 Whenever we as humans perceive something wrong being done against us or others, 00:04:20.180 --> 00:04:21.420 anger tends to rise. 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:26.120 Someone I read this week called anger the moral emotion. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:27.560 It's pretty helpful. 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:31.000 Anger has a lot to do with our sense of right and wrong, doesn't it? 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:33.139 It has a lot to do with our morality. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:39.539 Whenever someone does something to us or to others that registers to us as wrong or offensive, 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:42.279 an angry emotional reaction follows. 00:04:42.899 --> 00:04:49.079 Sometimes that's good, but most of the time in our experience in the Bible we see it's not. 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:54.620 So with that working definition, let's dive into Proverbs and see, okay, 00:04:54.859 --> 00:05:00.620 how can we handle this passionate emotion that is triggered by a perceived wrongdoing? 00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:07.500 First, I want to move into five principles that we see come out of the book of Proverbs, 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:13.099 five principles that kind of the book, the bosom of Proverbs raises for us. 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:14.020 First, first, is this. 00:05:14.780 --> 00:05:16.240 Everybody experiences anger. 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:19.379 Everybody experiences anger. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:23.700 Now that first principle is not necessarily like right on the surface of Proverbs, 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:29.879 but we can use what we see in Proverbs to springboard into what Scripture tends to say about anger as a whole. 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:30.820 I'm going to listen. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:32.719 I'm going to read three Proverbs for us. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:42.500 And as I listen, kids, adults, everyone, listen for a phrase that these three Proverbs have in common. 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:45.399 First, Proverbs 14, 29. 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:48.360 Proverbs 14, 29. 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:52.680 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, 00:05:53.399 --> 00:05:57.319 but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:01.480 Now, Proverbs 15, 18. 00:06:02.019 --> 00:06:03.199 Just flip a page or so. 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:04.740 Proverbs 15, 18. 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:08.639 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, 00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:13.319 but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:15.420 Okay? 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:16.959 Last one. 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:19.819 Proverbs 19, verse 11. 00:06:20.459 --> 00:06:22.699 Proverbs 19, verse 11. 00:06:22.699 --> 00:06:27.439 Good sense makes one slow to anger, 00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:32.019 and it is his glory to overlook an offense. 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:33.879 So shout it out. 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:35.319 What was the phrase they had in common? 00:06:36.659 --> 00:06:37.519 Slow to anger. 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:38.079 Well done. 00:06:38.579 --> 00:06:39.620 Yes, that's a good phrase. 00:06:39.860 --> 00:06:40.699 Slow to anger. 00:06:40.779 --> 00:06:42.120 But it's even more fun in Hebrew. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:49.139 In Hebrew, what is translated into English slow to anger is actually long of nose. 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:51.339 It's pretty good. 00:06:51.459 --> 00:06:52.259 Isn't that great? 00:06:52.259 --> 00:06:53.500 Now, why long of nose? 00:06:53.539 --> 00:06:54.399 Is that talking about Pinocchio? 00:06:54.980 --> 00:06:56.139 Well, I don't think it's Pinocchio. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:58.819 It's talking about, well, when someone gets angry, 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:01.120 their nostrils flare, 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:04.139 or their nose snorts in anger. 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:06.740 You've probably seen this in others. 00:07:07.060 --> 00:07:09.579 We probably don't have a mirror raised in front of us when we do it in ourselves, 00:07:09.659 --> 00:07:10.620 but believe me, you do it too. 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:13.800 When someone gets angry, you see it in their nose. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:15.620 Their nostrils flare. 00:07:15.899 --> 00:07:18.620 Their nose contorts. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:26.259 Someone who is long of nose means it takes a long time for their nostrils to flare. 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:33.360 It takes a long time for them to get to the point where they're snorting in rage or their nose is contorting. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:37.860 So the next time you see someone start to get angry, just say, hey, hey, slow down. 00:07:38.520 --> 00:07:39.420 Get a long nose. 00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:42.540 Be slow to anger. 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:48.340 Well, the very fact that these proverbs are in the Bible, we're going to talk about the slow to anger piece here in a little bit, 00:07:48.339 --> 00:07:55.219 but the very fact that these problems are in our Bible, be slow to anger versus being a hothead, 00:07:55.560 --> 00:08:00.060 it implies that we as humans all experience anger. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:05.139 Most of that anger, according to the testimony of Scripture, is sinful. 00:08:05.919 --> 00:08:09.719 Most of the time when people get angry and we see in the Bible bad things happen. 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:11.539 Some of it can be righteous. 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:12.819 Let me give you an example of both. 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:21.560 The very first sin that is committed outside the Garden of Eden is Cain's murder of Abel in Genesis chapter 4. 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:25.439 What prompts Cain's murder of Abel? 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:30.800 Well, Abel's sacrifice is approved of by God because he does a good job. 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:36.259 He rightfully honors God with his giving of his sacrifice. 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:37.220 Cain's is not. 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:40.960 And Cain recognizes that Abel did a good job. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:41.939 He didn't. 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:49.520 And for that reason, he is jealously angry at his brother and implied perhaps at God. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:54.780 And Cain, the Bible says, got very angry and his face fell. 00:08:55.040 --> 00:08:58.120 And God stepped in and engaged him and warned him. 00:08:58.160 --> 00:09:00.000 He said, don't do anything in your anger. 00:09:00.760 --> 00:09:02.200 Sin is crouching at the door. 00:09:02.300 --> 00:09:03.440 It's ready to pounce on you. 00:09:03.680 --> 00:09:04.760 Don't do anything with that. 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:06.520 And Cain ignores it and he does. 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:13.399 Sinful anger is, from the very beginning of the Bible, very present. 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:14.960 And we see it happen often. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:19.080 But there's a few instances of people using their anger rightly. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:24.720 Moses, for example, coming down in Exodus 32 from Mount Sinai. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:30.120 And he sees what the children of Israel are doing, worshiping a golden calf instead of God, 00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:32.540 who's displaying his glory right there on the mountain for them. 00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:43.360 And he takes the Ten Commandments in his hands and in righteous indignation smashes the commandments of God that he's just received written by God's own hand. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:49.079 Because he's jealously angry that the people have blasphemed God's glory in this terrible way. 00:09:49.699 --> 00:09:52.120 So that was an appropriate expression of anger. 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:55.100 It symbolized what Israel had just done. 00:09:55.560 --> 00:09:57.179 They had smashed God's commands. 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:03.220 So anger, whether sinful or righteous, is common to humanity. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:11.179 This is because we are made to be relational creatures who relate to one another through our emotions. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.580 Imagine if we were all Spocks. 00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:18.820 If we were all like Commander Spock in Star Wars and we didn't feel much emotion, 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:22.560 we wouldn't be relating to each other in a very, at least, interesting way, would we? 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:28.280 But we are made as a relational and emotional creatures because we are made in God's image. 00:10:28.900 --> 00:10:31.640 And God himself is a relational being. 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:37.940 He experiences emotion as he relates to himself and as he relates to us. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:41.040 In the Bible, God experiences a wide range of emotions. 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:45.420 He sings for joy over his redeemed people in Zephaniah 3. 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:52.360 Or he is grieved and sorrowful in Genesis 6 when he sees what humanity is doing. 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:57.099 Or in Proverbs 6, it says these are the sins that God hates. 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:06.759 And all throughout the Bible, we see God experiencing holy anger over the sin and rebellion of his people. 00:11:06.959 --> 00:11:14.339 Anger is an emotion that's hardwired into us by our good creator because we are made in his image. 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:22.240 And I'm guessing at this, but it seems that the reason God might have put anger as a legitimate emotion within human beings, 00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:26.300 made in his image, is because he wants, in the same way that he wants, 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:32.399 that wrongdoing registers deeply with him, he wants wrongdoing to register deeply with us too. 00:11:32.680 --> 00:11:36.120 Because it is against his holy character. 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:39.960 I remember in college watching the movie Hotel Rwanda. 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:46.659 And I remember seeing, it's a true story of the Rwandan genocide back in the 90s. 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:53.120 And I remember being seething with anger at seeing this horrific thing happening. 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:59.379 And it was right that I felt that anger in the face of such injustice and wrongdoing. 00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:03.740 I was feeling the same anger that God was feeling, to a different degree, of course. 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:08.399 But it was right for me, for that wrongdoing to register for me. 00:12:08.439 --> 00:12:12.720 But the problem is, our hearts are corrupted by sin. 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:16.179 And therefore, we don't register. 00:12:17.259 --> 00:12:22.220 The things that register as wrongdoing to us are not the same that register as wrongdoing to God. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:27.960 Our sinful hearts value and treasure and worship self by default, not God. 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:32.879 And therefore, whenever self doesn't get what self wants, we perceive that wrong, 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:37.920 we perceive that as wrong, and anger kicks in and often leads to destructive consequences. 00:12:38.400 --> 00:12:40.980 We don't get angry over the things that God gets angry at. 00:12:41.160 --> 00:12:46.600 We tend to get angry at the things that are our own version of wrongdoing and right and wrong, 00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:49.500 with ourselves at the center, not with God at the center. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:55.780 That's why God wants us to hear his wisdom in the book of Proverbs, to be slow to anger. 00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:59.759 So on that note, let's move to the second principle, which is this. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:01.379 First, everyone experiences anger. 00:13:01.579 --> 00:13:04.079 Second, anger must be ruled. 00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:06.819 Anger must be ruled. 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:10.079 We're going to spend a little more time here, as this really is quite important, 00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:12.319 not just for Proverbs, but for our lives. 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:14.519 Take a look at Proverbs 16.32. 00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:17.319 Proverbs 16.32. 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:31.440 There's that phrase again, slow to anger, long of nose. 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:34.379 Well, how does one slow down one's temper? 00:13:35.260 --> 00:13:37.480 Or if you prefer, how does one lengthen one's nose? 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:42.560 Look at the last half of that proverb, he who rules his spirit. 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:43.860 There it is. 00:13:44.400 --> 00:13:45.940 Anger must be ruled. 00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:48.280 It must be governed. 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:50.600 It must be controlled and restrained. 00:13:51.160 --> 00:13:51.840 But by what? 00:13:52.900 --> 00:13:56.940 Well, this particular proverb compares the one who rules his spirit with a warrior 00:13:56.940 --> 00:14:00.500 or with a military general who captures a city with armed force. 00:14:00.640 --> 00:14:04.580 So, in other words, just as it takes discipline and training and energy 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:09.180 to conquer an enemy stronghold, it requires the same to govern your emotions. 00:14:09.640 --> 00:14:12.940 In fact, this proverb seems to imply that it takes more discipline, 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:17.820 more training, more energy to conquer self than it does to conquer another. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:22.180 Well, that sounds good, but it also sounds hard. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.640 How do we do that? 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:28.360 Does Proverbs help us out with some practical tips for how to govern our emotions, 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.620 especially our anger? 00:14:30.040 --> 00:14:30.540 Well, it does. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:33.220 Flip a few pages over to Proverbs 19.11. 00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:37.060 Proverbs 19.11. 00:14:37.060 --> 00:14:45.840 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:51.879 So, one of the ways we must rule our anger, according to Proverbs, is by overlooking offenses. 00:14:52.660 --> 00:14:53.720 That is not easy. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.460 Even in the most trivial of ways, it is not easy. 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:59.379 For example, I have this really bad habit. 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:02.740 I have this since I began driving. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:08.439 If I am driving my car, and I see someone speeding up behind me in my rearview mirror, 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:12.120 and I know that they are going to try to pass me, I do this terrible thing. 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:16.059 My instant reaction in my anger is to slow down. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:20.279 Apparently, I am not the only one who does this. 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:25.639 In my anger, I perceive an offensive action occurring behind me, 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:28.539 and I instantly assume the role of judge. 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:30.819 I don't want to overlook the offense. 00:15:30.939 --> 00:15:32.179 I want to punish the offense. 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:37.539 So, I have judged them for their wrongdoing, speeding, speeding behind me, really, 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.299 and I deal out the punishment. 00:15:39.459 --> 00:15:41.980 I make them slow down by slowing down myself. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.299 Isn't that terrible? 00:15:43.939 --> 00:15:45.000 That is ugly. 00:15:46.839 --> 00:15:48.819 But what wisdom does God's word give to me? 00:15:49.819 --> 00:15:51.620 Overlook the offense, Billy. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.459 Don't get hot and bothered. 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.620 God's the judge. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:58.899 He will deal with their wrongdoing as he sees fit, if it is indeed wrongdoing. 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:03.940 I need to overlook the offense, and by doing so, my nose lengthens. 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.820 My temper slows down. 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:08.899 I show that I have insight and good sense. 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:15.959 But this is much harder if the offense is personal, and it's from someone we love. 00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:21.980 And it's even harder still if the offense is repeated chronically by someone we love. 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:28.340 And yet, God's word compels us to seek to preserve peace with everyone who offends us, 00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:30.980 to keep a tight grip on our anger. 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:36.340 And a compelling reason for this can be found a few pages back in Proverbs 14, 29. 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:38.300 Proverbs 14, 29. 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:46.399 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:51.860 The person who is slow to anger, who rules their spirit, has great understanding. 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.659 That word understanding is not just talking about mental capacity. 00:16:54.659 --> 00:17:01.719 It has more to do with a kind of competence and skill that helps a person get far in life. 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:06.639 In other words, the people who rule their anger, who govern their intense emotions, 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:10.039 typically, they do better in life. 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:14.180 They get further in life because they don't make rash, regrettable decisions in the moment 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.379 because of their anger. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:20.319 So instead of exploding at the waitress for dropping the salad in their lap, 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:25.339 they respond graciously and their co-workers and their boss, who is at the dinner table, 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.039 they notice. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:30.039 The esteem with which this person is held goes up. 00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:32.460 Things go better for this person. 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:35.879 Instead of raging at their children for being childish, 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:43.179 the wise person who has slowed to anger builds a culture of mutual love and enjoyment in their home 00:17:43.179 --> 00:17:46.179 and trust is built for years to come with their children. 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:52.240 But if anger has free reign, relationships are harmed, opportunities are wasted, 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:57.200 and most importantly, God's righteousness is not accomplished. 00:17:58.060 --> 00:18:02.700 The little book of James in your New Testament is kind of like the New Testament counterpart to Proverbs. 00:18:02.820 --> 00:18:04.640 It's a wonderfully helpful book. 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:07.539 And listen to James 1, 19 and 20. 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:23.119 Did you hear that little word? 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:29.339 The reason we are to govern our emotions is because human anger doesn't lead to what's right in God's sight. 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:31.399 Well, why is that? 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:36.559 Well, as we've already seen, we tend to think that if our children disrespect us 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:41.399 or if our parents tell us what to do or if that person is taking too long in the checkout line, 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:43.879 then the great offense is being done against us. 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:45.379 So we get angry. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.019 It offends our sense of righteousness. 00:18:47.419 --> 00:18:53.119 So we get angry and we think or we say or we do things that are really actually wrong in God's sight. 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:57.119 Sometimes if my kids disobey me, I get angry. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:01.719 My children disobey me. 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:03.099 That is wrong in God's sight. 00:19:03.199 --> 00:19:05.799 They've disobeyed the fifth commandment, honor your father and mother. 00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:08.199 But I'm not angry because they disobeyed God's commandment. 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:10.179 I'm angry because they disrespected me. 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.759 God doesn't have anything to do with it. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:16.239 That's the difference between sinful anger and righteous indignation. 00:19:17.399 --> 00:19:20.479 Even if you think you're getting angry for the right reasons, 00:19:20.979 --> 00:19:23.599 you should be very suspicious of your anger. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:27.059 Our hearts are incredibly deceitful because of sin. 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:29.459 It has a stronger hold than you think it does. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:32.519 The love of self goes very, very deep. 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:35.359 So we must be slow to anger. 00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:38.879 We must rule it and govern it, overlook offenses, 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:41.379 and doing our utmost to preserve peace. 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:43.779 And if you do get angry, and you will, 00:19:44.439 --> 00:19:49.759 you need to be careful to cool down before speaking and acting to address the wrongdoing. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:54.920 Remember, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. 00:19:55.879 --> 00:20:01.420 The way to be wise with our anger is by taking God's commands very seriously to love our neighbor 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:04.700 and be more concerned about loving and honoring him 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:09.059 than exacting a kind of vigilante justice with our anger. 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:13.279 So, everybody experiences anger. 00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.920 Anger must be ruled. 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:21.019 And now, thirdly, unruly anger destroys peace and leads to strife. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:25.820 Unruly anger destroys peace and leads to strife. 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:29.600 Take a look at Proverbs 15, 18. 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:30.860 One more time. 00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:33.400 Proverbs 15, 18. 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:37.220 I'm getting some amens back there. 00:20:37.300 --> 00:20:38.080 Thank you, Mr. Rooster. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:46.119 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger, quiet contention. 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:51.939 Just in case you're unfamiliar with the word, that word strife is talking about fighting, conflict. 00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:54.939 And life is full of conflict, right? 00:20:55.159 --> 00:20:59.000 We are people that live in relationship with other people, 00:20:59.099 --> 00:21:01.379 and there's going to be stepping on each other's toes. 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.419 There's going to be conflict. 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:07.279 But notice that it says a hot-tempered man stirs up strife. 00:21:08.340 --> 00:21:13.400 So, where there's no conflict, a hot-tempered person is going to find some way to create it. 00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:17.740 And where there is conflict, as Proverbs 26, 21 says, 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:25.120 So, as charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, a quarrelsome man is for kindling strife. 00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:28.600 There's some people who can sniff out a fight a mile away, 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:30.759 and they rush to throw fuel on the fire. 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.680 And that can be in person. 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:34.160 Oh, man, we really see this on social media, don't we? 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.759 It's, oh, there's a conflict. 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.759 I'm going to jump in. 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.779 I'm going to throw fuel on it. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.779 Perhaps you know people like that. 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:41.319 Perhaps you are a person like that. 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:46.660 Listen to what Proverbs 17, 14, though, says about strife. 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:48.519 Proverbs 17, 14. 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:51.859 The beginning of strife is like letting out water. 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:55.339 So quit before the quarrel breaks out. 00:21:55.339 --> 00:22:01.199 A conflict might have humble beginnings, like a small hole in a big dam. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:07.720 But if quarrelsome people get into an argument, that dam, that little hole gets bigger fast, 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:10.279 and the dam may burst with devastating effects. 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:14.819 Conflict and strife can grow quickly if there's fuel for the fire, 00:22:15.399 --> 00:22:18.139 if anger jumps in and takes over. 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.720 Sides get taken. 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:24.059 And before you know it, the peace that used to exist in a community is now destroyed. 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:31.220 Like the fire needs fuel, strife needs anger to sustain the fight. 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:37.240 And the past five months have been filled with lots of opportunities for our anger to flare 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:42.960 and for strife to break out like a dam bursting, even perhaps in our church community. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:50.180 So let's just take stock for a minute of ourselves, particularly as a church body, with regard to this. 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:58.819 Have you found yourself getting angry once or more than once with someone in this church 00:22:58.819 --> 00:23:04.220 or a group of people here in this church because of something that they've said or done 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:09.180 or not said or not done, whether it was in person or it was online, 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:14.400 over the past five months of this epic year of 2020? 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:21.960 Whatever the issue, whether it's over COVID or masks or over racism or politics, 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:24.420 maybe it could be how they treated you in life group. 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:28.039 Have you found yourself getting angry at some point? 00:23:28.100 --> 00:23:32.740 Your temperature rising because of someone or a group of people in this church? 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:38.900 God hates division and strife in his family. 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:46.279 And he particularly hates it when that strife happens and it's getting continued and fanned into flame 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:50.680 because of a steady burning anger. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:55.380 So, brother and sister, let's take stock of ourselves here. 00:23:56.700 --> 00:24:02.559 If you have been or you are getting sinfully angry with another member of our church family, 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:07.120 then that means that the piece of Christ that binds us together is being threatened. 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:15.779 So, let's take stock of ourselves, particularly with regard to our anger and the way it relates to this church community. 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:18.079 Let's deal with that within ourselves. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:22.900 It might be that this person really did something wrong to you. 00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:25.640 It might be that it was just a misunderstanding. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:33.080 And an honest, humble conversation can lead to much restoration and peace. 00:24:33.560 --> 00:24:38.780 It can repair the tear in the social fabric of our fellowship. 00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:43.340 So, let's be particularly mindful of how our anger is affecting our church community 00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:45.540 in regard to this particular point. 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:50.360 Well, speaking of healing and repairing, let's move to the fourth principle, which is this. 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:55.379 Wise people learn the skill of diffusing anger in others. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:00.979 Wise people learn the skill of diffusing anger in others. 00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:04.399 Head over to Proverbs 16, 14. 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.879 Proverbs 16, 14. 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.119 It says this. 00:25:09.199 --> 00:25:15.219 A king's wrath is a messenger of death and a wise man will appease it. 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:22.420 Anybody who gets angry, that can lead to dangerous and destructive things. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:27.380 But if someone has great authority and responsibility and they get angry, 00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:30.360 really bad things can happen for a lot of people. 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:37.440 But if a wise person is nearby, he will do his best to diffuse the anger bomb 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:41.480 before it goes off and causes destruction for others. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:46.400 As God's people, we are called to pursue peace, not just between ourselves and others, 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:49.440 but the best we can for all people that we know of. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:54.220 And so, if we see temperatures rising in other people, 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:59.900 and we know that destructive things can happen when we see that temperature rise, 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:05.319 it's right for us to step in as best we can to try to diffuse that anger. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:08.399 And it takes some skill to do that. 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:10.079 What kind of skill are we looking at? 00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:12.059 Well, according to our second principle, 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:16.819 we can't let the anger of others produce anger in us. 00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:20.859 We must rule our own anger as we start to see other people get angry. 00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:24.319 I can tell if I'm in a conversation with someone, 00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:27.899 or if I'm online chatting with someone over Facebook or something, 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:30.500 I can tell when the heat starts to rise in them, 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:33.220 and especially if that heat's directed toward me, 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:36.380 that can cause the heat to rise in me pretty quickly as well. 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:40.779 So, we must learn to be long of nose, slow to anger, 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.920 govern our own emotions, 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:45.640 and according to Proverbs 15, 18, 00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:49.440 he who is slow to anger will quiet contention. 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:51.500 So, our patience and our slowness 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:57.180 will inevitably begin to throw some water on the heat of anger in others. 00:26:57.180 --> 00:27:01.340 And a particular way to do that is found in Proverbs 15, 1. 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:03.240 Proverbs 15, 1. 00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:05.299 You're probably pretty familiar with this one. 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:08.019 A soft answer turns away wrath, 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:10.440 but a harsh word stirs up anger. 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:13.120 So, how can we diffuse anger in others? 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:15.259 By answering gently. 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:18.720 When we're faced with an angry customer at work, 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:21.279 or a furious child in our household, 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:24.940 or whether or your spouse's passive-aggressive comment, 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.580 we have a choice to make. 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:30.379 We can stir up strife with a harsh word in retaliation, 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:34.399 or we can try to diffuse the situation with a soft word. 00:27:34.919 --> 00:27:40.220 Back in May, the county sheriff in Flint, Michigan, was a wise man. 00:27:40.919 --> 00:27:45.819 He diffused hostility between protesters and the police 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:47.339 with a very soft answer. 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:51.139 Instead of remaining in a defensive posture against the protesters, 00:27:51.699 --> 00:27:52.919 with his riot gear on, 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.639 he took his helmet off, 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:56.300 he took off his riot gear, 00:27:56.820 --> 00:27:57.759 and he talked with them. 00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:01.640 And it became a community event. 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:05.460 We must pursue a similar course 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:08.900 by not responding to an intense situation with harshness, 00:28:09.280 --> 00:28:11.759 but answering softly instead. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:14.559 By doing that, he promoted peace in his community, 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:16.900 and we can do the same in ours. 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:19.259 It's good for us to take off our riot gear, 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:21.160 to unfold our arms, 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.940 to relax our defensive posture. 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.660 We must become low. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:27.640 We have to absorb some of the heat from others 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:30.119 and squirt the water of gentle answers. 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.779 Because we fear God, 00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:33.059 we love our neighbors. 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:34.679 Lastly, 00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:39.259 the fifth principle Proverbs teaches us is this. 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:44.200 Our uncontrolled anger and its effects anger God. 00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:49.099 Our uncontrolled anger and its effects anger God. 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:52.099 Take a look at Proverbs 29, 22. 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:55.399 Proverbs 29, 22. 00:28:55.400 --> 00:29:00.040 A man of wrath stirs up strife, 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:04.759 and one given to anger causes much transgression. 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:10.780 Not only do angry people destroy peace and kindle strife, 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:14.060 but their anger brings about transgression. 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:17.340 Because our anger doesn't just stay in emotion, does it? 00:29:17.860 --> 00:29:20.519 It overflows into transgression. 00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:24.420 Transgression that destroys peace and relationships, 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:28.359 that fuels thoughts of revenge, 00:29:29.139 --> 00:29:32.299 that throw barbed words that are intended to hurt, 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:36.220 that can actually overflow into physical abuse. 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:40.480 Which one of us has not felt shame or guilt 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:42.960 following an angry outburst? 00:29:43.879 --> 00:29:45.700 Which one of us has not felt regret 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:47.940 at a hasty word or a choice we made 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:50.200 because our anger finally boiled over? 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:54.200 But our transgression that is fueled by anger 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:57.779 is not just destructive to those around us 00:29:57.779 --> 00:30:00.139 and to ourselves, it is offensive to God. 00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:04.339 When we allow our anger to have its way in our own hearts, 00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:07.379 it is personally offensive to God. 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:10.059 Proverbs 6 shows us God hates 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:12.619 the sowing of division among brothers. 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:14.579 He gets righteously angry 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:18.240 when we wrongfully get angry at others 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:20.539 and take that anger out on them in some way. 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.859 Ultimately, our sinful anger 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:24.599 is basically an arrogant way 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:27.559 that we try to take God's place 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.980 as lawgiver and judge. 00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:31.180 Do you remember the prophet Jonah? 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:33.640 After he had delivered his message 00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:34.720 to the Ninevites, 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:37.539 he's stewing in anger 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:39.279 overlooking the city of Nineveh 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:41.259 because God is not 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:43.900 blowing them up in his anger. 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:47.240 He sits over the people of Nineveh in judgment 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.960 and he's angry ultimately at God 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:51.040 for not doing what he thought God should do. 00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:53.000 And God asks him this great question, 00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:55.259 do you do well to be angry? 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:57.540 Are you angry for the right reason, Jonah? 00:30:58.360 --> 00:31:01.120 God is rightfully angry at our unrighteous anger 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:03.360 because of our twisted sense of justice 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:05.019 that does not align with 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:07.720 and does not accomplish his righteousness. 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:12.339 The Bible tells us that God is slow to anger. 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:15.039 He is abounding in steadfast love. 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:16.940 He does not delight in the death of the wicked. 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:19.579 He does not wish that anyone should perish. 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:21.600 But at the same time, 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:23.400 Scripture is also not very shy 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:26.539 at portraying about God as angry at our sin. 00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:30.400 Our sin offends God's holy justice. 00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:33.059 The reason the Bible is so clear about this 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:34.500 is because God wants us to understand 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:36.140 how serious our sin is. 00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:38.140 It's not just that he's disappointed, 00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:38.980 he is angry. 00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:42.780 And he does well to be angry at our sin. 00:31:43.520 --> 00:31:45.820 Our wrongdoing registers deeply with him 00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:49.759 because our wrongdoing offends his righteousness 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:52.080 and he must act to vindicate his righteousness. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.460 And if he didn't do that, 00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:54.660 he wouldn't be good. 00:31:55.860 --> 00:31:57.480 The Bible calls this God's wrath. 00:31:58.780 --> 00:32:01.420 God's wrath seeks to reestablish his righteousness 00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:04.160 where there was unrighteousness. 00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:07.180 Before we move on, 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.960 we need to ponder this. 00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:11.460 Our unrighteous anger, 00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:12.500 we need to let this settle. 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:15.000 Our temper flare-ups, 00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:16.060 our slow boils, 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:21.259 they are worthy of God's eternal anger. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:25.140 Our swift, unjust condemnation of others 00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:26.200 in the courts of our hearts 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:28.560 because of their wrongs against us, 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:30.259 it angers God. 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:32.400 Our lack of mercy toward others 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:33.519 angers God. 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.339 And scripture tells us 00:32:35.339 --> 00:32:36.480 it is a dreadful thing 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.220 to fall into the hands of the living God 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:40.019 because he is rightfully angry at us 00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:41.279 for our unrighteous anger. 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:42.879 It is a dreadful thing, 00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:44.680 a fearful thing. 00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:46.980 This is what Proverbs is talking about 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:48.299 when it talks about the fear of the Lord. 00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:51.759 We must use the other emotion in us, 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.299 fear, 00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:54.220 to help govern our anger 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.400 because God is real. 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:56.640 God is holy 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:58.980 and our sinful anger truly is offensive to him. 00:32:58.980 --> 00:33:00.640 We do not want to offend him. 00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.259 But at the same time, 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:05.380 there are these precious promises in scripture 00:33:05.380 --> 00:33:06.440 like in Psalm 103 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:08.960 where it says that God's anger is not forever, 00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:12.319 at least for those who turn to him. 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:13.700 In Psalm 103, 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:14.860 he tells his covenant people 00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:16.660 he will not keep his anger forever. 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:19.640 He does not deal with us according to our sins 00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:21.460 nor repay us according to our iniquities. 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:23.339 Now, that should make us scratch our heads. 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:27.319 It sounds like God's giving us a pass, 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:29.359 giving us a break. 00:33:29.419 --> 00:33:30.919 If God's a righteous God 00:33:30.919 --> 00:33:32.240 who feels anger rightly, 00:33:32.659 --> 00:33:35.460 this seems kind of out of step with his character. 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.200 But you see, 00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:38.519 God is not only righteously angry at sinners, 00:33:38.659 --> 00:33:40.159 he is also filled with compassion 00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:42.119 and mercy for sinners. 00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.539 And in his mercy, 00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:44.359 in his wisdom, 00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:45.720 he designed a way 00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:47.299 for his just anger 00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:48.579 and his mercy 00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:50.339 to meet in perfect harmony 00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:51.399 at the cross. 00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:53.400 When Jesus, 00:33:53.540 --> 00:33:54.540 the perfect son of God, 00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:55.360 hung on a cross 00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:56.580 as a substitute for sinners, 00:33:56.780 --> 00:33:58.820 he absorbed the righteous anger 00:33:58.820 --> 00:33:59.580 of God 00:33:59.580 --> 00:34:00.180 completely 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:01.759 for all of us 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.759 who would put our trust 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.600 in him. 00:34:04.360 --> 00:34:06.040 God's hot wrath 00:34:06.040 --> 00:34:06.860 was satisfied 00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:08.380 when Jesus offered himself 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.380 to the Father 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.119 as a sacrifice 00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:11.059 for our sin. 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.860 And God's patient mercy 00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.480 for sinners 00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:14.440 was put on 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.900 excellent display 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:17.160 when we see Jesus 00:34:17.160 --> 00:34:17.980 hanging on the tree 00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:18.680 and not us. 00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:20.639 So friends, 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:22.279 we deserve the eternal anger 00:34:22.279 --> 00:34:23.019 of God 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.440 for our unrighteous anger 00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:25.819 and for the rest of our sin. 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.199 But in God's mercy, 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:29.500 Jesus absorbed it for us. 00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:32.119 So if you're listening to God 00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:32.919 speak through his word 00:34:32.919 --> 00:34:33.919 this morning to you 00:34:33.919 --> 00:34:35.679 and you have never acknowledged 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:37.500 your sin before God, 00:34:37.899 --> 00:34:38.619 you need to know 00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.899 that he is angry 00:34:39.899 --> 00:34:40.759 at your sin. 00:34:41.379 --> 00:34:42.639 We don't like talking about this, 00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:44.619 but the Bible talks about it 00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:45.239 very clearly. 00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:47.419 He is angered by our sin 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:48.840 and we do face 00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.800 an eternity 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:51.800 of experiencing that anger 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:53.300 if we do not turn 00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:54.480 to Jesus 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.860 to see him 00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:56.300 as the one 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.840 who absorbed God's wrath 00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.940 for us. 00:34:59.740 --> 00:35:00.639 So do that. 00:35:01.220 --> 00:35:02.780 If you have not done that today, 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:05.260 know that God's anger 00:35:05.260 --> 00:35:06.180 is quenched 00:35:06.180 --> 00:35:07.960 if you turn to Christ 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:09.420 and ask forgiveness 00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.200 for your sin, 00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:11.820 particularly for your 00:35:11.820 --> 00:35:12.800 unrighteous anger. 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:13.820 And for all of us 00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:14.579 who have done that, 00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:16.119 we no longer know 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:17.400 the wrath of God, church. 00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:19.319 We now experience 00:35:19.319 --> 00:35:20.839 the Father's full forgiveness. 00:35:21.619 --> 00:35:22.420 He has not kept 00:35:22.420 --> 00:35:23.279 his anger forever. 00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:25.219 He was poured it out 00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:25.799 on Jesus. 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:28.039 So in light of this, 00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:29.559 in light of his goodness 00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:30.519 and his mercy to us, 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.119 what kind of people 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:31.719 should we be? 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.519 A patient 00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:34.619 and merciful people, 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.699 resembling the character 00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:37.960 of our good Father 00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:39.059 who is slow to anger. 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:39.139 anger. 00:35:41.279 --> 00:35:41.719 So, 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:43.159 as we seek to respond 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:43.639 to this, 00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:45.639 let me lead us 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:47.079 in five questions 00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:49.920 to help us respond 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:51.380 to our anger well. 00:35:52.759 --> 00:35:53.820 Try to get in mind 00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.400 as I go through 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:55.059 these questions 00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:56.340 the thing that most 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:57.380 makes you angry, 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.719 the most often 00:35:58.719 --> 00:36:00.219 makes you angry 00:36:00.219 --> 00:36:00.960 or frustrated. 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:01.980 First, 00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:02.759 ask this question, 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:03.559 what am I feeling? 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:05.799 It sounds a little bit obvious, 00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:07.180 but it's good 00:36:07.180 --> 00:36:08.019 to actually name 00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.620 your emotions. 00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:09.800 It's actually 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:10.660 pretty difficult. 00:36:11.740 --> 00:36:12.640 Naming your emotions 00:36:12.640 --> 00:36:13.440 kind of sits them 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:13.960 in a chair 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:15.080 and helps you talk 00:36:15.080 --> 00:36:15.920 about them objectively. 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:18.060 Sometimes we don't realize 00:36:18.060 --> 00:36:18.620 we're angry 00:36:18.620 --> 00:36:19.840 or sad 00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.600 or envious. 00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:21.860 We just feel. 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:23.900 But wise people 00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:24.660 are aware 00:36:24.660 --> 00:36:25.660 of what they're feeling 00:36:25.660 --> 00:36:26.780 and why they're feeling it. 00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:27.000 So, 00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:28.820 ask yourself, 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.820 what am I feeling? 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.320 Secondly, 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.840 if it's anger 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.519 that you're feeling, 00:36:32.680 --> 00:36:33.539 ask yourself this, 00:36:33.640 --> 00:36:34.640 why am I angry? 00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:37.000 Remember, 00:36:37.180 --> 00:36:38.760 anger is the moral emotion. 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.480 You're probably angry 00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:41.760 because you are perceiving 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:42.980 some kind of wrong 00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:43.640 being done. 00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:44.720 There's been 00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:45.800 some kind of offense. 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:48.300 James 4 is helpful here. 00:36:49.140 --> 00:36:51.019 James 4 helps us see 00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:52.019 that much of our anger 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:53.180 comes from our hearts 00:36:53.180 --> 00:36:54.160 wanting something 00:36:54.160 --> 00:36:55.539 and not getting it 00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:57.400 and seeing other people 00:36:57.400 --> 00:36:58.900 as wronging us 00:36:58.900 --> 00:36:59.780 by keeping us 00:36:59.780 --> 00:37:00.660 from getting what we want. 00:37:01.500 --> 00:37:02.380 If your heart 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.620 desires quiet comfort, 00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:04.800 you get angry 00:37:04.800 --> 00:37:05.840 at the loud children 00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.880 depriving you of that 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:07.780 or your loud neighbor 00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:08.320 or whatever. 00:37:09.180 --> 00:37:09.940 If your heart 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:10.880 desires control, 00:37:11.180 --> 00:37:11.900 you get angry 00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:14.100 when someone's choice 00:37:14.100 --> 00:37:15.060 throws off your plan. 00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:17.280 It's necessary 00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:18.019 to identify 00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:19.100 the source of your anger 00:37:19.100 --> 00:37:20.220 so you can see, 00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:21.740 am I doing well 00:37:21.740 --> 00:37:22.220 to be angry? 00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:23.280 Which is the third question. 00:37:23.660 --> 00:37:24.760 Do I do well 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:25.740 to be angry? 00:37:27.160 --> 00:37:28.200 It's God's question 00:37:28.200 --> 00:37:28.620 to Jonah. 00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:29.880 Do you do well 00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:30.620 to be angry? 00:37:30.720 --> 00:37:31.140 In other words, 00:37:31.180 --> 00:37:31.720 are you getting angry 00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:32.419 for the right reason? 00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.459 Would this same thing 00:37:34.459 --> 00:37:35.899 make God angry as well 00:37:35.899 --> 00:37:36.739 or am I just using 00:37:36.739 --> 00:37:37.639 my own version 00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:38.679 of good and evil, 00:37:38.779 --> 00:37:39.779 not God's righteousness, 00:37:40.199 --> 00:37:41.980 as an artificial standard 00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:43.019 to judge this person 00:37:43.019 --> 00:37:43.599 in my heart? 00:37:44.359 --> 00:37:45.000 Am I angry 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:46.159 because God's righteousness 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:47.039 is being violated 00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:48.219 or am I angry 00:37:48.219 --> 00:37:49.199 because my sense 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:49.679 of righteousness 00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:50.719 is being violated? 00:37:51.899 --> 00:37:52.879 Now, it's good for us 00:37:52.879 --> 00:37:53.439 to feel anger 00:37:53.439 --> 00:37:55.439 over real unrighteousness. 00:37:55.959 --> 00:37:57.519 We must be angry 00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:58.959 when we see real injustice. 00:37:58.960 --> 00:38:00.880 But that righteous anger 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:02.400 even can turn 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:03.119 and morph 00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:04.840 into self-righteous anger. 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:07.280 So we need to ask ourselves 00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:07.780 and be aware 00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:08.380 of our own hearts. 00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:09.280 Do I do well 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:09.940 to be angry? 00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:10.679 Fourth, 00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:12.519 how is my anger 00:38:12.519 --> 00:38:13.519 affecting others? 00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:15.300 How is my anger 00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:16.320 affecting others? 00:38:17.720 --> 00:38:18.380 Our anger 00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:19.460 affects others 00:38:19.460 --> 00:38:20.539 if they bear the brunt of it 00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:21.460 because we're angry with them 00:38:21.460 --> 00:38:23.599 or our anger 00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.240 can affect others 00:38:24.240 --> 00:38:26.039 because we infect others 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:27.119 with our same anger 00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:29.159 and win them to our side 00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:30.179 to help them see 00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:31.019 how right we are 00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:31.619 and how wrong 00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:32.339 those people are. 00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:34.299 So if your anger 00:38:34.299 --> 00:38:36.039 burns others 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.980 by, 00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:38.599 because of 00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:40.159 you being angry at them 00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:41.480 and you haven't 00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:42.779 dealt with that 00:38:42.779 --> 00:38:43.079 and you haven't 00:38:43.079 --> 00:38:44.119 confessed that to them, 00:38:44.839 --> 00:38:45.739 go and do that. 00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:47.380 Or if your anger 00:38:47.380 --> 00:38:48.000 typically, 00:38:48.359 --> 00:38:49.480 you infect others 00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.239 with your anger 00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.000 and frustration, 00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:52.139 try to win them 00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:53.039 to your side 00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:54.039 rather than point them 00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:54.639 to God, 00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:56.839 then you probably 00:38:56.839 --> 00:38:57.799 need to confess that too. 00:38:58.699 --> 00:38:59.400 Anger is a fire, 00:38:59.519 --> 00:38:59.799 remember? 00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:01.179 It will spread 00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:01.779 and destroy 00:39:01.779 --> 00:39:02.940 if it's not rained in. 00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:04.619 So lastly, 00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:05.819 last question is this. 00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:07.759 It's a good reminder. 00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:09.519 What did God do 00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.359 with his anger 00:39:10.359 --> 00:39:10.900 toward me? 00:39:11.859 --> 00:39:13.079 What did God do 00:39:13.079 --> 00:39:13.839 with his anger 00:39:13.839 --> 00:39:14.420 toward me? 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:16.859 God is the only person 00:39:16.859 --> 00:39:17.239 ever 00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:18.440 who has every right 00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.279 at all times 00:39:19.279 --> 00:39:20.019 to be angry 00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:20.879 and stay angry 00:39:20.879 --> 00:39:22.259 because his anger 00:39:22.259 --> 00:39:23.019 is holy anger 00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:23.500 that burns 00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.299 toward our sin. 00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:25.559 And yet, 00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:27.119 in his patience, 00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:27.859 in his mercy, 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:29.119 he absorbed 00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:30.659 his anger 00:39:30.659 --> 00:39:32.019 at the cross of Christ 00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:33.379 and he is no longer 00:39:33.379 --> 00:39:34.339 angry toward us 00:39:34.339 --> 00:39:35.659 because of Jesus. 00:39:37.259 --> 00:39:38.319 God mercifully 00:39:38.319 --> 00:39:39.079 bore the brunt 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:40.019 of his own anger 00:39:40.019 --> 00:39:40.619 in Christ 00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:41.839 and we must do the same 00:39:41.839 --> 00:39:42.420 toward those 00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:43.940 who offend us. 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:44.739 We must be ready 00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:45.799 to forgive, 00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:46.699 we must be quick 00:39:46.699 --> 00:39:47.179 to listen, 00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:48.219 we must be slow 00:39:48.219 --> 00:39:48.739 to speak, 00:39:49.099 --> 00:39:50.079 slow to become angry 00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:50.980 because that's 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:52.219 what our Heavenly Father 00:39:52.219 --> 00:39:53.219 has been like 00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:53.940 for us. 00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:55.619 Church, 00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:56.480 everybody gets angry 00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:58.179 but angry, 00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:58.819 anger, 00:39:59.000 --> 00:39:59.859 if it's not carefully 00:39:59.859 --> 00:40:00.719 ruled by the fear 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:01.179 of the Lord, 00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:02.920 is destructive fire. 00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:04.859 Let's be angry, 00:40:05.059 --> 00:40:05.299 church, 00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.319 but not sin. 00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:08.039 Don't let the sun 00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:09.179 go down on your anger, 00:40:09.679 --> 00:40:10.699 Ephesians chapter 4. 00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.400 Seek to diffuse 00:40:12.400 --> 00:40:13.319 the anger bomb 00:40:13.319 --> 00:40:14.179 in others 00:40:14.179 --> 00:40:15.319 for the sake of others. 00:40:16.319 --> 00:40:17.339 Let's be a gentle, 00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:17.980 patient, 00:40:18.359 --> 00:40:19.980 long-nosed people 00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:21.599 so that we resemble 00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:23.280 our righteously angry 00:40:23.280 --> 00:40:24.539 and merciful 00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:26.059 and compassionate God. 00:40:26.460 --> 00:40:27.380 Let's pray together. 00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:32.880 Lord, 00:40:33.019 --> 00:40:34.159 I can imagine 00:40:34.159 --> 00:40:35.840 I'm not the only one 00:40:35.840 --> 00:40:37.139 hearing this 00:40:37.139 --> 00:40:39.139 who feels 00:40:39.139 --> 00:40:39.840 the weight 00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:41.400 of unrighteous anger. 00:40:41.400 --> 00:40:44.340 Lord, 00:40:44.420 --> 00:40:44.820 you know that 00:40:44.820 --> 00:40:45.760 I'm an angry person 00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:47.940 and I am often 00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:49.139 angry for the wrong 00:40:49.139 --> 00:40:49.660 reasons. 00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:51.660 Jesus, 00:40:52.019 --> 00:40:52.880 thank you 00:40:52.880 --> 00:40:53.720 for offering 00:40:53.720 --> 00:40:54.260 yourself 00:40:54.260 --> 00:40:56.039 as a sacrifice 00:40:56.039 --> 00:40:57.619 that the righteous 00:40:57.619 --> 00:40:58.740 wrath of God 00:40:58.740 --> 00:40:59.820 would be 00:40:59.820 --> 00:41:00.840 expended upon. 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:02.539 Thank you, 00:41:02.619 --> 00:41:02.720 God, 00:41:02.780 --> 00:41:03.400 for absorbing 00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:04.260 your anger 00:41:04.260 --> 00:41:05.500 in Christ 00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:06.160 toward me. 00:41:06.159 --> 00:41:07.839 Lord, 00:41:07.899 --> 00:41:08.699 help us to live 00:41:08.699 --> 00:41:09.920 as patient, 00:41:10.239 --> 00:41:10.920 gentle people 00:41:10.920 --> 00:41:12.099 because you have 00:41:12.099 --> 00:41:12.579 been that 00:41:12.579 --> 00:41:13.619 toward us sinners. 00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:16.099 In Jesus' name, 00:41:16.259 --> 00:41:16.480 Amen.