Anger Management 101

Intro; This morning as we looked at the intent of the Law, we realized that there was a difference between what was being taught by the religious leaders and what God really meant.

Because God is Spirit, we must always first consider our hearts, the spiritual matter before we do the physical actions of our life. Physical actions are always birthed in the heart.

Matthew 15:18–19 (NKJV)

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

So tonight I want us to continue forward with “Anger Management 101”.

How do we address the issues where we have let our anger get us into?

Text; Mt. 5:23-26

Matthew 5:23–26 (NKJV)

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

1. Recognize the Anger Issue; 23

The first step in “anger management” is recognizing there us an anger issue.

The anger issue can be yours or your brothers but it cannot go unresolved.

Notice that this person remembers there is an issue when he is in the presence of God at the altar. [He is fixing to ask forgiveness of his sin through sacrifice and conviction comes]

The Holy Spirit will not let you enjoy worship if you are at ought with your brother. A christian cannot hope or expect to be right with God if he is not right with his brother. Yet, many christians are not experiencing true fellowship with God because of this!

John 16:7–8 (NKJV)

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Psalm 139:23–24 NKJV

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

1 John 4:20–21 NKJV

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

2. Reconcile with your Brother; 24

When there is animosity or sin of any sort in our heart there cannot be integrity in our worship. Therefore we need to right with our brother.

Leave your gift at the altar- this would be something unusual because they had waited in line to come an offer a sacrifice. To leave it would mean holding others up and people wondering what was going on.

But Jesus says if you won’t be reconciled to your brother first, then God will not accept your sacrifice [worship].

Reconcile- the restoring of a relationship

It’s kind of hypocritical to stand before God and ask Him to forgive us and accept our praise and worship, when will are not willing to do that with others!

A break with another person means a break with God.

Not being right with another person means not being right with God.

Broken fellowship with another person means broken fellowship with God.

Anger against another person means rejection by God.

Matthew 6:12–15 (NKJV)

12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Parable about forgiveness [Mt. 18: 21-35] [turn to text and summarize]

King is God

Servants is Israel/mankind

The debt is SIN that no man can pay

The king showed compassion/mercy at Calvary through Christ [debt paid in full]

Forgiven servant would not forgive what others owed him

God’s wrath came upon that man because he would not forgive as he was forgiven

3. Resist Procrastinating; 25-26

One of Benjamin Franklin’s many famous quotes is, “don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”

Procrastination- the act of willfully delaying the doing of something that should be done now. Procrastination is the compounding of problems we are not willing to address.

Jesus is saying the time for reconciliation, just like the time for salvation, is always now. Tomorrow may be too late.

Adversary- enemy, accuser, opponent

Here we see that Jesus has moved from reconciling with a brother [believer] to setting things right with one who is not a brother in Christ.

Then as now people have the opportunity to resolve issues and settle matters before they get to court. Once they get to court then the issue is in the hands of a judge/jury. Once its there you have to accept the verdict given.

This case concerns paying a debt to a creditor that you owe. If you can make arrangements to pay that debt before you have to go to court over it. If you go to jail the debt still has to be paid putting a burden on your family

Jesus is giving practical advice to resolve our differences with our adversary before their anger causes more trouble.

Proverbs 25:8–10 NKJV

8 Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? 9 Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; 10 Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined.

Proverbs 16:7 NKJV

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Close;

Remember that anger is an issue of the heart. Strong feelings of displeasure leading to bitterness, conflict/murder, that cannot be justified! Anger is sin when it is not addressed and left to fester and grow.

Ephesians 4:26–27 NKJV

26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.

Recognize your anger

Reconcile quickly with your brother

Resist procrastination