Outline from my weekend message

Hostage 4 “ANGER”

ARE YOU GIVING THE DEVIL A PLACE?

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

topos (top'-os); opportunity, location, place, room.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 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 master it." Genesis 4:6-7

WRONG WAYS WE HANDLE ANGER

1) SPEW IT.
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 29:11

A quick-tempered man does foolish things. Proverbs 14:17

2) STEW IT.
The older brother became angry and refused to go in… Luke 15:28

WHAT DO I DO ABOUT MY ANGER?

LET LOVE CONTROL IT.
Love… is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Cor. 13:5

REFUSE TO HAVE FIGHTS.
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Proverbs 17:14

… Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20

ASK GOD TO FILL YOU WITH SELF-CONROL.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24

WITH GOD’S HELPI CAN CHOOSE TO CONTROL MY ANGER

Love controlled anger

Love is self-control and a good temper. Having self-control and a good temper is easier said than done, especially for those individuals who are more prone to irritability for various reasons. Even so, have a temper that is either good or bad is ALWAYS a matter of choice. We can all learn to gain greater control over our tempers and how we react under pressure. Irritations will never cease, nor does our love need to when they come.

Reflection:
What makes me most irritable?
What do I do when I am under more pressure than I feel I can handle?
How do I treat others when I am irritated? Do I get mad when things don't go my way?
Do I have to have the last word? Why?
On a scale of 0 to 10 with 10 being severe and 0 being nonexistent, how would I rate my temper?
How would those closest to me rate my temper?

Review the previous blog of how self-control communicates love. Which one(s) do I do often? Which one(s) do I need more work on?

I can accept responsibility for my temper and exercise self-control. I do not need to feel Hostage to a bad temper.

Anger

This week in our Hostage series we look at how Anger can imprison us. Many say anger is just love disappointed. There is good anger and bad anger. For the next several days I will share thoughts on this subject. How you handle your anger is of utmost importance. An uncontrolled outburst of anger can completely alter or even totally destroy someone's life.

Some become easily angered at others, sometimes at the slightest provocation. We might even become hostile and behave in ways we will later regret. Gaining control over our thoughts, feelings and actions when irritated and angry is the best way to keep from acting out in unloving ways.

Controlling our anger is an expression of love. Love is not easily angered. Love can be seen whenever we:

• Take responsibility for our reactions to others


• Do not accuse or blame others for the way we feel


• Treat others graciously although they irritate us


• Keep from saying something hurtful and unnecessary


• Do not take our anger out on those around us


• Think before we speak


• Allow ourselves a time-out to gather ourselves together


• Do not expect more from others than we should

All human failures are the result of a lack of love.~Alfred Adler
We may not be able to control stressors and pressures in our lives, but how we respond to them is up to us.

Anger and Love

"Love is not easily angered" I Cor. 13:5

This week I am reflecting on how slow God is...that is to get angry I mean.

Ex 34:6
6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

Nu 14:18
18 'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.

Ne 9:17
17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them,

Ps 86:15Psalm 86
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Ps 103:8Psalm 103
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Ps 145:8Psalm 145
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Joel 2:13
13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
NIV
Jnh 4:2
2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Na 1:3
3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.

When I try to run from obedience to God, He will always catch me but thankfully he is slow to be angry with me. I love You Father!