Put Your Anger Under Control
TOPIC: PUT YOUR ANGER UNDER CONTROL
Read: Exodus 29:5-7
MEMORISE: Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath (Ephesians 4:26).
EXPOSITION
Handling anger is an important life skill. Anger can shatter communication and tear apart relationships, and it can ruin both joy and health of many people. Nevertheless, anger is not always sin. There is a type of anger of which the Bible approves, often called, “righteous indignation”. God is angry (psalm 7:11; Mark 3:1-5). Believers are allowed to be angry, but our anger should not lead us into sin (Eph. 4:26-27). Biblically, anger is God-given energy intended to help us solve problems.
We can know for sure that our anger or indignation is righteous when it is directed towards what angers God Himself. Righteous anger is justly expressed when we are confronted with sin. When Jesus got angry with the money-changers in the temple, or the self-serving Pharisees, it was because they were exploiting religion instead of using it to bring people closer to God (Matt. 2:1). Anger has turned to sin when we begin to attack the wrong doer instead of attacking the problem at hand. It also becomes sin when it is allowed to boil over without restraint, resulting in a scenario in which hurt is multiplied, leaving devastation in its wake. Often, the consequences of out-of-control anger are irreparable. For instance, when Jacob was saying his last words to his sons, he pronounced a course upon the anger of Simon and Levi. He did so not because indignation against sin us unwarrantable in itself, but because their wrath was marked by deeds of fierceness and cruelty. “Cursed be their anger for it was fierce. And their wrath, for it was cruel!” (Vs7).
The anger of these two brothers was sinful anger in the nature of it, and so criminal and detestable; it was strong, fierce, and furious in its operation and effects, and so justly cursed. Their anger was issued in the cruel and barbaric slaughter of the inhabitants of Shechem. (Gen. 34:25-30). It was execrable and abominable, both before God and men, such as deserved and brought the curse of God upon themselves. God said, “I will divide them in Israel” (v.7). What God said about them eventually came to pass. The anger you fail to control, will control you, and it can ruin your life and put your destiny in danger. Be warned!
PRAYER POINTS
1. Set me free, Oh lord, from slavery to the spirit of anger.
2. Lord, give me capacity to manage and control my emotion in time of provocation.
3. Lord, heal the couples who have emotional problem of short temperament in Jesus’ name.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
• O God, empower me to serve You with fresh vigour, in Jesus' name.
• Because of Heaven, you might have to deny yourself of some things you love.
• No man is an island.
• And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." - Luke 23:43
• The key to having effectual, fervent prayer is confession of your faults.
Broadly speaking, Reformed theology includes any system of belief that traces its roots back to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century. Of course, the Reformers themselves traced their doctrine to Scripture, as indicated by their credo of "sola scriptura," so Reformed theology is not a "new" belief system but one that seeks to continue apostolic doctrine.
Generally, Reformed theology holds to the authority of Scripture, the sovereignty of God, salvation by grace through Christ, and the necessity of evangelism. It is sometimes called Covenant theology because of its emphases on the covenant God made with Adam and the new covenant which came through Jesus Christ (Luke 22:20).
Authority of Scripture. Reformed theology teaches that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God, sufficient in all matters of faith and practice.
Sovereignty of God. Reformed theology teaches that God rules with absolute control over all creation. He has foreordained all events and is therefore never frustrated by circumstances. This does not limit the will of the creature, nor does it make God the author of sin.
Salvation by grace. Reformed theology teaches that God in His grace and mercy has chosen to redeem a people to Himself, delivering them from sin and death. The Reformed doctrine of salvation is commonly represented by the acrostic TULIP (also known as the five points of Calvinism):
T - total depravity. Man is completely helpless in his sinful state, is under the wrath of God, and can in no way please God. Total depravity also means that man will not naturally seek to know God, until God graciously prompts him to do so (Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18).
U - unconditional election. God, from eternity past, has chosen to save a great multitude of sinners, which no man can number (Romans 8:29-30; 9:11; Ephesians 1:4-6,11-12).
L - limited atonement. Also called a "particular redemption." Christ took the judgment for the sin of the elect upon Himself and thereby paid for their lives with His death. In other words, He did not simply make salvation "possible," He actually obtained it for those whom He had chosen (Matthew 1:21; John 10:11; 17:9; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:32; Ephesians 5:25).
I - irresistible grace. In his fallen state, man resists God's love, but the grace of God working in his heart makes him desire what he had previously resisted. That is, God's grace will not fail to accomplish its saving work in the elect (John 6:37,44; 10:16).
P - perseverance of the saints. God protects His saints from falling away; thus, salvation is eternal (John 10:27-29; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:3-14).
The necessity of evangelism. Reformed theology teaches that Christians are in the world to make a difference, spiritually through evangelism and socially through holy living and humanitarianism.
Other distinctives of Reformed theology generally include the observance of two sacraments (baptism and communion), a cessationist view of the spiritual gifts (the gifts are no longer extended to the church), and a non-dispensational view of Scripture. Held in high esteem by Reformed churches are the writings of John Calvin, John Knox, Ulrich Zwingli, and Martin Luther. The Westminster Confession embodies the theology of the Reformed tradition. Modern churches in the Reformed tradition include Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and some Baptist.
Read: Exodus 29:5-7
MEMORISE: Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath (Ephesians 4:26).
EXPOSITION
Handling anger is an important life skill. Anger can shatter communication and tear apart relationships, and it can ruin both joy and health of many people. Nevertheless, anger is not always sin. There is a type of anger of which the Bible approves, often called, “righteous indignation”. God is angry (psalm 7:11; Mark 3:1-5). Believers are allowed to be angry, but our anger should not lead us into sin (Eph. 4:26-27). Biblically, anger is God-given energy intended to help us solve problems.
We can know for sure that our anger or indignation is righteous when it is directed towards what angers God Himself. Righteous anger is justly expressed when we are confronted with sin. When Jesus got angry with the money-changers in the temple, or the self-serving Pharisees, it was because they were exploiting religion instead of using it to bring people closer to God (Matt. 2:1). Anger has turned to sin when we begin to attack the wrong doer instead of attacking the problem at hand. It also becomes sin when it is allowed to boil over without restraint, resulting in a scenario in which hurt is multiplied, leaving devastation in its wake. Often, the consequences of out-of-control anger are irreparable. For instance, when Jacob was saying his last words to his sons, he pronounced a course upon the anger of Simon and Levi. He did so not because indignation against sin us unwarrantable in itself, but because their wrath was marked by deeds of fierceness and cruelty. “Cursed be their anger for it was fierce. And their wrath, for it was cruel!” (Vs7).
The anger of these two brothers was sinful anger in the nature of it, and so criminal and detestable; it was strong, fierce, and furious in its operation and effects, and so justly cursed. Their anger was issued in the cruel and barbaric slaughter of the inhabitants of Shechem. (Gen. 34:25-30). It was execrable and abominable, both before God and men, such as deserved and brought the curse of God upon themselves. God said, “I will divide them in Israel” (v.7). What God said about them eventually came to pass. The anger you fail to control, will control you, and it can ruin your life and put your destiny in danger. Be warned!
PRAYER POINTS
1. Set me free, Oh lord, from slavery to the spirit of anger.
2. Lord, give me capacity to manage and control my emotion in time of provocation.
3. Lord, heal the couples who have emotional problem of short temperament in Jesus’ name.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
• O God, empower me to serve You with fresh vigour, in Jesus' name.
• Because of Heaven, you might have to deny yourself of some things you love.
• No man is an island.
• And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." - Luke 23:43
• The key to having effectual, fervent prayer is confession of your faults.
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
What is Reformed Theology?
Broadly speaking, Reformed theology includes any system of belief that traces its roots back to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century. Of course, the Reformers themselves traced their doctrine to Scripture, as indicated by their credo of "sola scriptura," so Reformed theology is not a "new" belief system but one that seeks to continue apostolic doctrine.
Generally, Reformed theology holds to the authority of Scripture, the sovereignty of God, salvation by grace through Christ, and the necessity of evangelism. It is sometimes called Covenant theology because of its emphases on the covenant God made with Adam and the new covenant which came through Jesus Christ (Luke 22:20).
Authority of Scripture. Reformed theology teaches that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God, sufficient in all matters of faith and practice.
Sovereignty of God. Reformed theology teaches that God rules with absolute control over all creation. He has foreordained all events and is therefore never frustrated by circumstances. This does not limit the will of the creature, nor does it make God the author of sin.
Salvation by grace. Reformed theology teaches that God in His grace and mercy has chosen to redeem a people to Himself, delivering them from sin and death. The Reformed doctrine of salvation is commonly represented by the acrostic TULIP (also known as the five points of Calvinism):
T - total depravity. Man is completely helpless in his sinful state, is under the wrath of God, and can in no way please God. Total depravity also means that man will not naturally seek to know God, until God graciously prompts him to do so (Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18).
U - unconditional election. God, from eternity past, has chosen to save a great multitude of sinners, which no man can number (Romans 8:29-30; 9:11; Ephesians 1:4-6,11-12).
L - limited atonement. Also called a "particular redemption." Christ took the judgment for the sin of the elect upon Himself and thereby paid for their lives with His death. In other words, He did not simply make salvation "possible," He actually obtained it for those whom He had chosen (Matthew 1:21; John 10:11; 17:9; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:32; Ephesians 5:25).
I - irresistible grace. In his fallen state, man resists God's love, but the grace of God working in his heart makes him desire what he had previously resisted. That is, God's grace will not fail to accomplish its saving work in the elect (John 6:37,44; 10:16).
P - perseverance of the saints. God protects His saints from falling away; thus, salvation is eternal (John 10:27-29; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:3-14).
The necessity of evangelism. Reformed theology teaches that Christians are in the world to make a difference, spiritually through evangelism and socially through holy living and humanitarianism.
Other distinctives of Reformed theology generally include the observance of two sacraments (baptism and communion), a cessationist view of the spiritual gifts (the gifts are no longer extended to the church), and a non-dispensational view of Scripture. Held in high esteem by Reformed churches are the writings of John Calvin, John Knox, Ulrich Zwingli, and Martin Luther. The Westminster Confession embodies the theology of the Reformed tradition. Modern churches in the Reformed tradition include Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and some Baptist.
Comments