Breaking Free…from Anger
First
Presbyterian Church, Brownsville, TN
January 25,
2009
Dr. Will Jones
Summary: Jesus promises his followers that they
will be free. In the book of John, he promises to set us free from
spiritual slavery and from sin. Freedom through Christ is a major theme of
Paul’s writings as well, especially in the books of Romans and Galatians.
Being a Christian brings freedom from anger and for peace.
Outline:
I.
Breaking free…from anger
a.
Jesus’ promises of freedom:
a.
.“If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!”
b.
…free from slavery to sin.
c.
…free for God and others
1.
“Let my people go, so that they can worship me.”
II.
Anger
a.
Scenes of anger in daily life
a.
A “culture” of anger?
1.
Anger management classes
2.
Road rage: 1990’s term
3.
You Tube: Dads fight at little league football games
a.
My little league experience….
4.
The angriest customer gets the most attention
b.
Scenes of anger in Scripture
a.
Cain’s anger at Able
b.
Moses throwing down 10 Commandments on stone tablets
c.
Eliab, David’s older brother, overhears
David talking to others about fighting Goliath, grows angry at David for
leaving sheep alone
III.
Justifiable anger
a.
Jesus’ anger
a.
John 2: Cleansing the
b.
Mark 3:5
“He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn
hearts…”
b.
Righteous anger
a.
The Angry Christian, Andrew Lester
1.
Capacity to become angry part of our creatureliness
a.
Image of God
2.
Righteous anger is a force that changes for good.
3.
Justifiable anger a sign of love/concern; not indifference
IV.
The problem with anger
a.
We’re human & fallible.
a.
We cross the line between justifiable anger and inexcusable anger
1.
Righteous anger, unrighteous rage
2.
Indignation at injustice is rational, working for solution
3.
Unrighteous rage leads to sin
b.
Physical affects:
a.
Increased blood pressure; decreases immune system, increases risks
of heart disease
c.
Anger leads to sin
a.
Harsh words
1.
Prov. 15:1: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh words
stirs up anger.
2.
“No matter how just your words may be,
you ruin everything when you speak them in anger.” John Chrysostom
b.
Broken relationships:
1.
Brian (57) hasn’t spoken to or seen his son Paul (24) in over two
years; they live just over a mile apart; two grandchildren he’s never met;
harsh words spoken in anger between them; no reconciliation; two years –
ten?
c.
Violence
1.
Fights
2.
Conviction Monday of Scott Jeffries; killed wife Ashley on
Thanksgiving Day 2006.
a.
Anger that fueled his life every day
3.
Edward Richardson (
d.
Way of living, being, and acting: becoming an angry person
e.
To recognize your anger and know that it has the power to change
you
f.
Carol Tavris: studies show that
ventilation and catharsis of anger usually amplifies the emotion by rehearsing
it, rather than relieving it. Acting angry reinforces anger as a way of
acting.
1.
Prov. 29:11 A fool give full vent to his
anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
2.
Joy is sapped and anger becomes dominant
a.
Everything is always someone else’s fault
V.
Christ sets us free from anger
a.
Jesus comes to heal our souls and to free us from the prison of
sinful anger
b.
John 8: Knowing the truth about yourself and who and what makes
you angry…certain kinds of people: why? What situations make you hostile?
Why?
a.
Anger as an emotion often based on fear and misunderstanding
c.
James 1 reading, “anger does not bring
about the righteous life God desires….”
a.
“…therefore get rid of moral filth and evil that is
prevalent.…(anyone)
who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do
this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he will be blessed in
what he does.
b.
Connection between a moral life and decreased anger; living
rightly and living peacefully.
1.
Hypocrisy breeds anger: when you say one thing and do
another. If you live in a way that is not morally sound, then your
immediate reaction when anyone challenges you is: anger.
a.
“We get angry with others in direct proportion that we are angry
with ourselves.” (Albert Ellis)
c.
But knowing and living and doing God’s word, has a way of
diminishing anger
1.
Problems have solutions through lead through a peaceful, not angry
path
d.
Are you imprisoned by anger? You don’t have to be.
e.
“Blessed are the peacemakers”
Please send me a DVD copy of this sermon ….