Redirecting Anger
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Point: Take Your Anger to God and Leave Matters in His Hands
The Point: Take Your Anger to God and Leave Matters in His Hands
Last Week
We attempted last class to speak about fear.
We aimed to speak about the importance of running to God when fear approaches.
This week
We will be talking about Anger.
The emotion that gets probably the most notice.
Anger is an emotion instant displeasure on account of something evil that presents itself to our view.
Anger is not a sin, if it is controlled.
You can be angry for many justified reasons.
God is angry at sinners
11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.
There was an incident at my mother’s house the other day in which my older brother high of drugs did something horrible.
Then my step-father did something wrong also.
I was angry at both of them.
My anger was justified, but that does not mean I get to act out on it.
Truth is, that uncontrolled anger can pester along in your heart allowing bitterness to grow which will exclude you from Heaven.
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Sinful anger will exclude you from heaven.
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
The Setting
The Setting
The Psalm we are going to go over today is called an imprecatory psalm.
imprecatory Psalms are those that invoke judgement, calamity or curses on your enemies.
Like the following
15 Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
6 Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.
9 Happy the one who takes and dashes Your little ones against the rock!
These Psalms are not an indication of how christian minds are to think.
Instead it is a human reaction to horrible situations.
It is not that the bible agrees with these statements, but instead that it shows you human nature as a sinful creature.
It shows human reactions to being hurt, abused, or taken captive.
In life, there are serious things that are worthy of our anger.
But it is not always the case, we sometimes get angry at simple things.
Kids for instance can get angry at the moon, or ice cream being too cold.
Or you laughing at them while they are actually serious about their concerned about the floor creaking.
Impart 1
Impart 1
What is your biggest pet peeve?
1 Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help.
3 Also draw out the spear, And stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
Opposition comes in many forms.
If I am driving my car at 80 mph and the speed limit is 65 mph, this is not opposition.
Our justification may be, don’t you have some drugs to get off the streets instead of worrying about how fast i am going?
That is us justifying ourselves.
At school you might get in trouble for talking too much.
Is it because the teacher does not like you?
Or is it because you are the one wrong.
These are minor issues in life but we are sometimes faced with real issues that can tempt us into anger.
David
David
Wrote this Psalm most likely while being persecuted by Saul.
Saul was jealous of David
7 So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”
God’s favor was on David and no longer on Saul and he was jealous and attempted to kill David.
Now if someone is attempting to kill you, it might be really hard to love that person.
David had multiple opportunities to kill his enemy.
Hiding in cave using the bathroom and David had an opportunity.
Crept into the camp while Saul slept.
David took the matter to God
He cried out to God for Him to do something.
How do we respond when we get angry?
Many fume internally.
Some dream of creative ways to get revenge.
Some express their discomfort by gossiping angrily to others.
David did it best, he brought it to God.
What might keep us from being honest with God about our anger?
Anger
Gossiping
Lack of faith
Let us trust in God, that He will do justice for me, even if I can’t see it.
Impart 2
Impart 2
13 But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.
14 I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.
15 But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease;
16 With ungodly mockers at feasts They gnashed at me with their teeth.
While David mourned for his enemies when they were going through hard times.
He even prayed and fasted for him.
Saul still came after David to kill him.
There are many people in life that should have our best interest at hand but unfortunately that is not always the case.
Sometimes those who we trusted and looked up to , have betrayed us and even broken our hearts.
David sang songs for Saul and his best friend was his son, Jonathon and also, he was married to Saul’s daughter.
Saul still wanted him dead.
It is one thing when someone you don’t know says something negative about you, but it is quite another when it is someone close to you.
Sometimes our own parents might say things to us that really hurt us.
People say sticks and stones my break my bones but words will never hurt me.
That is not true, many times the words linger for years and the pain does not leave over words said.
But the anger is not supposed to remain there, it is supposed to be brought to God in prayer.
Many teens today, will bottle up the anger for their parents or loved ones who should have been there to protect them in a moment, or should have treated them better, and will turn to rebellion.
Some will withdraw, or disassociate from their loved ones.
Impart 3
Impart 3
17 Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, My precious life from the lions.
18 I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.