1. Anger the Destroyer

Anger the Destroyer (Matthew 5:21-24) Discussing what Anger Is and Does and How to be Delivered from It

Introduction: The Sermon on the Mount is a reclarification of the Old Testament Law. With the Jews unscriptural response to the invading Roman Empire, Israel lost the spirit of the Old Testament Law. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount reclarifies what the people of Israel once knew.

Jesus opens the sermon by focusing on Anger.

I.Anger Deceives A.Anger Feels Justified qAnger leads to Murder qRaca = “empty headed fool” qAnger almost always communicates rejection!

B.Anger Sometimes Seems to Work qDon’t let Intensity become Indignation qDon’t let High Spirited become Harsh qIt’s OK to be Judicious, it’s not OK to be Judgmental qIt’s OK to be Emphatic, it’s not OK to be Enraged qIt’s OK to be Watchful, it’s not OK to be Wrathful qIt’s OK to be Determined, it’s not OK to be Destructive qThe excuse, “but it keeps the family in line,” violates Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: The Greatest Quality a Husband and Father can Demonstrate is Genuine Love, and the Most Destructive Attitude a Father can Have is Anger. qThe Angry Person Feels Like He has a Cause C.There is No Justification for Anger q“ Without a Cause” means, there is no cause

            Cease from anger and forsake wrath - Psalms 37:8

For the wrath of man seeketh not the righteousness of God - James 1:20 qThe Number One thing killing our Christian children today is the anger of one or both parents. qAnger also destroys the oneness between husband and wife. qMany times a child’s rebellion is caused and fed by their parents anger, causing the strife to grow in intensity.

Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man, thou shalt not golest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. - Proverbs 22:24-25 qWe must have a Christ-like Response I will have mercy and not sacrifice. - Matthew 12:7 qAngry Correction is An Attack on the Child’s Character qGood Parenting is Calm Attentive Firmness!

Key Statement:“Anger is not caused by what is happening outside of you, it is caused by what is happeninginsideof you.”

II.Anger Described A.Anger is Like a City Without Walls (Proverbs 25:28) qAnger creates weakness in those under your authority allowing sin and destruction to enter in. qAnger creates and promotes health problems.

B.Anger is Like an Unbearable Load (Proverbs 27:3) A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fools’ wrath is heavier than them both. - Proverbs 27:3 qA child is carrying an unbearable load when they are under an angry parent. qSatan’s goal is to use anger to destroy any possibility of a godly seed.

C.Anger is Like a Flood (Proverbs 27:4) Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; - Proverbs 27:4 qOutrageous = “like a downpour or flood”

D.Anger is Like a Poisonous Snake (Proverbs 27:4) qWrath = “pictures the cruel venom of asps” q“when a man gets mad, he goes mad”

E.Anger is Like a Fire Breathing Dragon (Proverbs 27:4, Job 41:10) qCruel is used to describe the Leviathan in Job 41:1-34. qJob 41:19-21 describes a fire breathing dragon.

III.    Anger Discovered

Key Statement:“Anger is not caused by what is happening outside of you, it is caused by what is happeninginsideof you.”

A.Anger Comes from Pride (Proverbs 21:24) qWe forget what God has done for us qFirst step to conquering anger is to take responsibility for your anger and to humble yourself. qThe only one who has a right to be angry is God Himself, because He is the only one who has the right to take vengeance.

B.Anger is Created from the Tension of Unresolved Guilt (Proverbs 26:28) A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. - Proverbs 26:28 qCain kills Abel because he becomes angry with God and does not resolve his guilt (Genesis 4:1-26) qBalaam and Balak (Numbers 22:1-41) oBalaam becomes angry at his donkey because of his unresolved guilt in his willingness to help Balak curse Israel. qKing David, Bathsheba, and Uriah IV.Anger Defeated A.Quit Justifying Your Anger B.Accept Personal Responsibility for Your Anger qRemember that the source of anger is inside of you and not outside of you.

C.    Confess any Pride by Humbling Yourself before God and Others and Asking for Help.

D.Deal with Any Unresolved Guilt from the Past E.Forgive Others Who Do You Wrong and Leave Vengeance to the LORD.

F.Seek to Become Meek and Gentle Like Jesus q“Meekness is Strength Under Control and Anger is Weakness in Control.”

G.Think of the Blessings that Will Be Yours When You Cease to Be an Angry Man or Woman. q“God is helping me get control!”