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Anger:Good or Bad?
Part1
November10, 2024
David Kretz
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the imageof God he created them; male and female he created them.”
(Genesis 1:27, New International Version)
“Jesusmade a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove outthe sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers coins over the floor, andturned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, hetold them, “Get these things out ofhere. Stop turning my Father’s houseinto a marketplace!”
(John 2:15–16, New Living Translation)
· We need to be very carefulbefore reacting like Jesus
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: Youmust all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human angerdoes not produce the righteousness God desires.”
(James 1:19–20, NLT)
· What is the root cause behind our anger?
“And we know that God causes everything to worktogether for the good of those who love God and are called according to hispurpose for them.”
(Romans 8:28, NLT)
· Much of the time, the root ofour anger is pride.
“…God said, ‘You must not eatit or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “Godknows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be likeGod, knowing both good and evil.”
(Genesis 3:3-5, NIV)
“Thou shalt have no other godsbefore me.”
(Exodus 20:3, KingJames Version)
“Do not be quick in spirit to be angry. For angeris in the heart of fools.”
(Ecclesiastes 7:9, New Life Version)
· God hates injustice.
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever andever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.”
(Psalm45:6 NIV)
“The Lord said, ‘I have indeedseen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying outbecause of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering….So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelitesout of Egypt.’”
(Exodus. 3:9, NIV)
“For now that you have faith in Christ you areall sons of God…. Gone is the distinction between Jew and Greek, slave and freeman, male and female—you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
(Galatians 3:28, PHILLIPS)
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go toPharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of theHebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.’”
(Exodus 9:1, NIV)
· As followers of Jesus Christ, we naturally feel anger at the thingswhich anger God.
Mineeyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes ofwrath are stored; He hath loosed the fate fullightning of His terrible swift sword:His truth is marching on.Glory, glory,hallelujah! Our God is marching on.
· We must examine our hearts for any hypocrisy within us.
“The ark and Israel and Judah are stayingin tents and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the opencountry. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to mywife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”
(2 Samuel 11:11, NIV)
“Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Thenwithdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”
(2 Samuel 11:15, NIV)
“When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, shemourned for him. After the time of mourning wasover, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore hima son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”
(2Samuel 11:26-27, NIV)
“When he came to him, he said, ‘There were two menin a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a verylarge number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children.It shared his food, drank from his cup, and even slept in his arms. It was likea daughter to him.
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich manrefrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal forthe traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb thatbelonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come tohim.
David burned with anger against the man and said toNathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb fourtimes over, because he did such a thing and had no pit.’”
Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!
(2Samuel 12: 1-7)