Deep Emotions | Anger 6/27/21

Perris Valley Church

Proverbs 29:23 (NLT)

Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

Jonah 4:1-4 (NLT)

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” 4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

1. Uncontrolled Anger can lead to over-reactions

Proverbs 14:29 (NLT)

29 People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

Proverbs 29:22 (NLT)

An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.

Job 18:4 (NLT)

You may tear out your hair in anger, but will that destroy the earth? Will it make the rocks tremble?

Ephesians 4:17-19 (NLT)

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

Jonah 4:5-6 (NLT)

Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.

2. Our first reactions to difficult situations are often not our last reactions.

Psalm 37:8-9 (NLT)

Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. 9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

Ephesians 4:20-22 (ESV)

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

Jonah 4:7-9 (NLT)

But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.

9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?

“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”

3. Anger often makes difficulties feel much bigger.

Ephesians 4:23-24 (ESV)

and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Jonah 4:10-11 (NLT)

Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”

4, Anger takes our eyes off of Jesus.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV)

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.