How to Keep your Cool?

OPENING

MORALITY is among, if not the most contentious issues of societies

It is the common cause of arguments and disagreements

Every nation has their toll in moral decay that for some leads to crisis

In the Philippines, a government-sponsored Moral Recovery Program was launched

It is hopefully intended to reverse the degradation process of their morality

BREATHE!

Even

Here in the States, The John Birch Society wrote in a recent article that there is a secret ingredient in the American system of government that is more important than the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence

Those onboard the Mayflower in 1620 (Pilgrims) knows this

In its infancy, the United States was undeniably a religious nation

This country is founded in Christianity

It is our sense of right and wrong - the morality that, if properly developed, serves as a personal policing agency to govern and guide our actions. Those with such a moral compass are able to exercise personal responsibility, rather than be compelled to comply with society's rules by government force. They do not kill, steal, cheat, or commit other legal and moral offenses, because they know that such actions are wrong and behave accordingly

It is our sense of right and wrong - the morality that, if properly developed, serves as a personal policing agency to govern and guide our actions.

Those with such a moral compass are able to exercise personal responsibility, rather than be compelled to comply with society's rules by government force.

They do not kill, steal, cheat, or commit other legal and moral offenses, because they know that such actions are wrong and behave accordingly

In its infancy, the United States was undeniably a religious nation

This country was founded in Christianity

Sadly, it is rapidly deteriorating, and unless it is revitalized, the ideals embodied in our nation's founding documents will have no more meaning than the average politician's promise.

BREATHE!

World Values Survey is a global network of social scientists studying changing values and their impact on social and political life

The survey, which started in 1981, seeks to use the most rigorous, high-quality research designs in each country.

The survey, which started in 1981, seeks to use the most rigorous, high-quality research designs in each country.

They use the data from their surveys to seemingly countless purposes such as economic development, democratization, religion, gender equality, social capital, and subjective well-being

These data have also been widely used by government officials, journalists and students, and groups at the World Bank have analyzed the linkages between cultural factors and economic development.

BREATHE!

The Human Truth Foundation came up with a World Morality Index

At the bottom of their list are Somalia, Marshall Islands, Congo, Chad and Yemen

While Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland sits on top of their index

Now, the problem with these surveys and indexes is that:

They don’t have a COMMON REFERENCE for all countries

What is moral country may not be moral to another

And, it is CHANGING

Countries through laws are enacting laws to moralize what was previously immoral. example: same sex marriage

BREATHE!

What about you? Where, or from whom do you rely to learn your values in life?

From you parents?

From School?

From the Leaders of your society?

From the programs you watch on TV?

Ask the person next to you

But the problem with those sources of values is that, they are not universal, and they are changing

The church should be the reflection of cross cultural and cross generational values

And the only ultimate source of “VALUES THAT LAST” is the Universal and Unchanging truth of God

BREATHE!

For the next few Sundays, let us see what VALUES THAT LAST we can learn from the Bible

And today, I’d like to talk to you about “Anger”

We always hear that patience is a virtue

and Patience is the opposite of Anger

Proverbs 19:11 NIV

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

BREATHE!

Ask the person next to you… How do you keep your cool?

Story about my occasional arguments with my wife

It’s not because I am a pastor that it would mean that I don’t blow my top!… sometimes I do too!

It is not just the bush fires in Alpine that gone wild, even you and I, and all of us here, had our raging moment

Who among you did not? Raise your hand…

BREATHE!

And so since I myself, and many of you included, are guilty on this, I decided to consult the Word of God and listen to some sermons on HOW TO KEEP MY COOL?

When Jesus did His sermon on the mount, He talked about:

The Beatitudes

Murder

Adultery

Divorce

Giving to the Needy, and many more

Jesus said in

Matthew 5:21-

Matthew 5:21–22 NIV

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Raca is a derogatory expression used by Jews of the first century to show open contempt for another

It was derived from Aramaic and Hebrew term meaning “empty” - worthless!

Jesus equates Anger to Murder

Perhaps the Lord was alluding to what happened betwen Abel and Cain in

Because of Anger, Cain murdered Abel

However, it was not Anger that actually prompted Cain to kill Abel, it was the cause of his anger

And that is what we are going to look into this morning

What blows our top?

and How to Keep our Cool?

BREATHE!

TEXT: - How to Keep My Cool?

Proverbs 29:22 NIV

An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

I will share with you today and next Sunday 7 steps on How to Keep Your Cool

1. Resolve to Control My Anger

Ephesians 4:26–27 NIV

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

2. Realize the Cause of My Anger

There is always a reason or cause to your anger

You just don’t get angry for no reason

The reason why people get angry is because of FHA

Frustration

Hurt

Afraid (Fear/Insecure)

3. Restrain My Mouth

James 1:19–20 NIV

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Sharp tongue will cut your own throat

Sarcasm

don’t get mad just because you want to get even

Anger is Contagious

Proverbs 22:24–25 MSG

Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious— don’t get infected.

Proverbs 22:24 MSG

Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads.

Dad came home stressed out and he yelled at mom...

You don’t have to stay the same

You can change

4. Reflect Before I React

Proverbs 15:1 MSG

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.

Sharp tongue will cut your own throat

Reflect, in other words THINK

Ask yourselves… is it

Truthful - is what I am about to say the truth

Helpful - or it will simply harm the other person

Inspiring - does it build up or does it tear down

Necessary - if it’s not necessary, why do I have to say it?

Kind

The more you understand, the more understanding you will be

PRAYER

Let’s ask the Lord to soften our hearts

To open our eyes and see how He’s shaping our lives

Let us surrender and ask God to give us faith

Faith to change our ways

Faith to help us keep our cool