"Anger Management" (James 1:19-21)
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading: Eph. 4:17-32
Not a class, just a principle.
Not a class, just a principle.
What the world needs a class for...
James summarizes for the believer in a principle.
Theme: Anger/Word
Theme: Anger/Word
Specifically here - anger (vv. 19-20)
Broader context - the word (v. 18; vv. 21-25)
Wrong Reaction (vv. 19-20)
Wrong Reaction (vv. 19-20)
What is the wrong reaction? (v. 19)
What is the wrong reaction? (v. 19)
James is telling the believer here that they should strive to BE...
The opposite of what they most naturally will BE...
SLOW to hear, QUICK to speak, and QUICK to anger - NO!
As a believer, they should strive to be different in this way.
The obvious area of difference - slow to anger, not quick to anger.
Anger is an emotional stirring expressed in words and actions.
“a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong”
It’s a desire to counter/resist a perceived wrong. It is different than sorrow - retract.
It is an impulse, response, or reaction most commonly expressed in speaking.
That’s why if we can resist responding quickly to wrong by speaking, we will also avoid that expression of anger.
Proverbs 10:19, 13:3, 17:27-28
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
It’s not always wrong (Eph. 4:26), but it usually is; especially when it is quick.
Why is it wrong? (v. 20)
Why is it wrong? (v. 20)
Produce - accomplish, bring about, work, promote, perform (“achieve” NASB)
Righteousness - rightness, goodness
Here a quality/characteristic of God. God is right in what He does, says, and thinks.
Our anger rarely brings glory to God as righteous.
Our anger is usually of US and for US, it is usually not of GOD and for GOD.
In Numbers 20 Moses apparently gets angry with the people for complaining, which seems like a justifiable reason. But his anger did not produce the righteousness of God (Num. 20:12).
How can we change? How can we BE different in this way? (“It’s just the way I am.”)
Right Replacement (v. 21)
Right Replacement (v. 21)
Put away - take off like clothing
Filthiness - moral impurity, dirt
Wickedness - badness, evil
General, anything that could fall into these categories.
Therefore - related to what’s before - anger.
Colossians 3:1-17
So, to stop reacting in anger, and to put off other filthiness and wickedness like this...
Receive - accept
Word - we know that this is the word of God by...
Truth that gives new birth (v. 18).
Save your souls (v. 21) - secured your eternal destiny.
Romans 5:9-10
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Implanted - engrafted, becomes a part of you therefore changing you
Meekness - humility, recognition of need
There is an encouragement here about what God’s word can be and what it has been.
So that you will receive it.
1 Peter 1:22-2:3
How will you receive the Word?
How will you receive the Word?
Benediction: 2 Peter 1:2
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.