Ok, the last couple of weeks God gave me words to speak about anger. We have learned about how to handle our anger and we have read God’s word about what we need to do to prevent anger from ruling over us. Is it possible, that no matter how soft-spoken we are, no matter what we do, that we just can’t seem to prevent others from being angry with us, or persecuting us? There are times when we will do things that are going to make us “unpopular” even, or especially, when we follow God’s precepts. The world will hate us. God knows this. He even tells us in scripture (of course) that is will not be possible to live at peace with everyone.

Romans 12:17-19 (NKJV) ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have^[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord.

Vs 18 reads: “if it is possible”. I find that strangely comforting, knowing that there will be times when we follow God’s word and His law that we are not going to make everyone happy. Which, I think is sometimes something that some of us do, trying to make everyone happy, convinced that it is our responsibility to persuade people to peace. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen. Vs 19 reminds us that even when others are mad at us, we must put aside our own anger and let God take care of everything. So does this verse tell us that we can just do whatever we want and if someone gets mad or takes offense, that’s their problem?
I don’t think so. God tells us that it is our responsibility to do whatever we can to make sure we are living at peace with everyone, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

⁸ Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; ⁹ not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. ¹¹ Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. ¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” ¹³ And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶ having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Pursue peace, we will probably suffer for righteousness’ sake, it is ok, we will be blessed. Great promises from God. There is however, a catch. God tells us to be ready to defend what we do, why we hope and to have a good conscience, a clear conscience it reads in the NIV. So He tells us that we can’t just do whatever we want and if someone takes offense than it is their problem. We must strive to do what is best in the eyes of God. We must be ready to give account to others for what we do, and we have to be able to use scripture to do so. Otherwise, we are lost. We must strengthen our spirit, reading scripture, praying, fasting, staying in relationship with other Christians and helping each other to be strong in the Lord.

Hebrews 12:12-15 (NKJV)

¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. ¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 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;

Vs 14 reads that we should pursue peace and holiness, another one of those if/then statements. If we don’t pursue peace and holiness, then we will not see the Lord. By “see” the Lord, Paul is referring, not to the physical aspect of seeing the Lord, we all know that on judgment day, everyone will see Christ and be judged. Paul is referring to the daily walk that we have with Christ, seeing Him in everything, “hanging out” with Him and understanding Him. Living a holy life, pleasing and acceptable to God in everything we do and say.

We are reading a lot about how we need to pursue peace. I think the key to living at peace is to pursue holiness, without holiness, without God in our lives, nothing we do can make any difference. Without holiness, we cannot truly walk in love. If we don’t walk in love, we will make others stumble, we will make others angry.

Romans 14:15-19 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; ¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. ¹⁹ Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Live in love, strive for peace, pursue holiness, these are the things that will keep us from anger. Remember that we need to help each other.

1 Thessalonians 5:10-18 (NIV) ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. ¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

In conclusion: we are all priests, prophets and kings according to the word of God.

Malachi 2:5-7 (NIV)  ⁵ “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. ⁶ True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. ⁷ “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.

Since we are all priests, then we are all messengers of the LORD Almighty therefore we have the promises He has written. A promise of life and peace, if we follow His law. Finally, remember what we prayed for last week:

Psa. 19:14 (KJV) 14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Let’s pray.

Anger is part of our lives almost every day. We see anger in others; we see anger on TV, in movies, hear it on the radio and see it in our daily lives. Where does it come from? Why does it have such power over people and lives and countries? To see anger all we have to do is drive around for a little while, or look in any public high school. The other day was graduation for Beaufort High. Approximately 370 students graduated in the class of 2011. After the graduation, there were 9 fights, 6 hit-and-runs and numerous destructive acts in the parking lot and school. Why? Why are we so angry as a nation?

In the classroom I was stunned at how many of the students at Beaufort High are self-destructive in their anger. Watching them explode and then implode because they have no control over their emotions.

So what is anger really? I looked up anger and it was not a very helpful definition.

Definition of ANGER

transitive verb: to make angry <he was angered by the decision> intransitive verb: to become angry

So I looked up angry…also not very helpful.

Definition of ANGRY

1. feeling or showing anger
2. a: indicative of or proceeding from anger <angry words>b: seeming to show anger or to threaten in an angry manner<an angry sky>

Is our nation so angry all the time that we don’t even need a definition for the word? We all know what it means…how sad.
Wikipedia says that anger is a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. God’s word speaks about anger in so many places, God never says not to become angry, but He does warn us about anger.

James 1:19-21 (NIV) 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and 20 “Slow to become angry” Not: Do not be angry, but slow to become angry.

Proverbs 29:11 (NIV) 11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.

Proverbs 29:22 (NIV) 22 An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins

Proverbs 15:18 (NIV) 18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 14:17 (NIV) 17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated

See, what God says about people who get angry quickly is that they are fools and are prone to commit many sins. When we lose our tempers, we don’t hear God, we don’t hear the Holy Spirit and we say and do things that are not Godly. But it is SO easy to let anger have control, so easy to respond to someone else’s anger with anger of your own. How many times do we get into arguments and lose our tempers? Especially with people we love, they seem to be able to “push our buttons” better than others. And once we’re angry, we lose control of our tongues.

James 3:1-12 (NIV) ¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

“Slow to become angry” Not: Do not be angry, but slow to become angry.

Proverbs 29:11 (NIV) 11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.

Proverbs 29:22 (NIV) 22 An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins

Proverbs 15:18 (NIV) 18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 14:17 (NIV) 17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated

See, what God says about people who get angry quickly is that they are fools and are prone to commit many sins. When we lose our tempers, we don’t hear God, we don’t hear the Holy Spirit and we say and do things that are not Godly. But it is SO easy to let anger have control, so easy to respond to someone else’s anger with anger of your own. How many times do we get into arguments and lose our tempers? Especially with people we love, they seem to be able to “push our buttons” better than others. And once we’re angry, we lose control of our tongues.

James 3:1-12 (NIV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. ³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Genesis 4:3-11 (NIV) ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.⁴ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” ⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”^[a] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. ⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” ¹⁰ The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. ¹¹ Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV) ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.

So how do we deal with our anger? What advice does God give us to handle our tempers?

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (KJV) 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools

Ephesians 4:31-32 (KJV) 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you

Colossians 3:8 (KJV) 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Basically, God tells us to put our anger aside, be slow to anger, be patient, be kind. Treebeard says “Don’t be hasty.” We must put aside ourselves and put God first, others second and ourselves last. So difficult sometimes, but again, God knows that we need help and in His word He gives us perfect advice.

Proverbs 19:11 (ESV) 11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 16:32 (ESV) 32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 12:16 (NIV) 16 Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.

So how do we avoid anger? We stay away from things that are un-Godly. Choose carefully what we watch, be picky about what we listen to, shun angry people. It is up to us to do what God wants, to answer softly.

Proverbs 15:1 (ESV) 1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 22:24 (NIV) 24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,

In summary: God allows us to be angry, knowing that He created us with emotions and we know that anger in itself is not sin. Anger leads to sin when we don’t deal with it correctly. Be patient, be kind, respond softly when others are angry. Choose wisely what you listen to, watch and who you hang out with. Love one another. Let’s pray.