Here’s the Notes from Sunday’s message at New Life Community Church. You can listen to this message by going to our website at http://www.newlifesite.com/.
Inside Story, Part 4 Sunday, July 15, 2012
“Time Bomb”
1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Psalm 139:1-3 (NIV)
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
Two times – at the beginning and the end of this psalm – David speaks of God searching our heart/searching our souls.
Hebrew word for search – chaqar . Means “to investigate, to search or search out, to explore”
Vs. 1 says He HAS searched me; Vs. 23 prays “NOW search me.”
Principle: God already knows everything about us. Now He wants to turn the lights on so we can walk in freedom – “the way everlasting.”
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)
Today we’re going to talk about ANGER.
What makes you angry?
Examples: Traffic
Movies
Arrogant or rude people
Big Things: child abuse, dishonesty in government, poverty,
Over 20 times in Scripture, ANGER and FIRE are used together. Anger can be good – warm you, cook your food, make life better. Or it can be bad – burn your house down.
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV)
THIS VERSE IS OUR GOAL IN THIS MESSAGE.
Foothold: Gk. Topos. Opportunity, Location, Place
Definition: an·ger: a strong feeling of displeasure, hostility, annoyance, or belligerence aroused by a wrong or a grievance or a perceive wrong or grievance; wrath; ire.
So long as there is evil in the world, there will be (should be) anger that such evil exists.
There are at least 6 different words in Hebrew for ANGER – ranging from irritation to fury or rage.
There is good anger and bad anger. Unfortunately, we are usually so unable to handle our anger that it is almost always seen as bad.
Good anger is the result of SEEING CLEARLY.
Bad anger DISTORTS everything it touches.
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.” Genesis 4:6-7 (NIV)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV)
Two Wrong Ways to Handle Anger
1. SPEWERS. They EXPRESS.
For Spewers, there is a direct connection between their anger and their mouth – their words.
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)
Billy Sunday – shotgun
A quick-tempered man does foolish things. Proverbs 14:17 (NIV)
Have you ever had a time that you got so mad that you did something you regretted later?
James 1:19. Quick to hear/listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.
2. STEWERS. They SUPPRESS.
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. Psalm 32:3 (ESV)
Often called THE SILENT TREATMENT
The older brother got so angry that he would not even go into the house. His father came out and begged him to go in. Luke 15:28 (CEV)
A Third Group: CIRCULAR
How to Handle Your Anger.
1. Find out why you’re angry.
2. DO NOT succumb to impulse anger.
3. Realize that you’re the one in danger.
4. Bring the situation under the control of the Holy Spirit.
5. For BAD ANGER: Put it out!
6. For GOOD ANGER: Find God’s Release