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Sunday Sermon Outline
STUDIES IN ANGER, HUMAN AND DIVINE- part
2
THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT OF ANGER I. Anger may be viewed from several
different perspectives. If we think
of it like a ‘disease’, we would speak of its
effect upon people.
Normally, the language we use would be ‘fruit of anger’ or ‘consequence’
– Gal.6:9-10. As a sin, inappropriate anger
destroys both the subject and object of its focus. Prolonged anger may certainly cause
physical problems to the cardiovascular system with increased blood pressure and
excessive heart rate as well as the digestive system with excessive acid and
other destructive actions.
Where a person remains angry, there is more likely to be difficulties in
social settings, resulting in broken relationships,
loneliness, and ongoing conflict with others. Prov. 15:1, II. Inappropriate or uncontrolled
anger may bring punishment. See
Prov.19:19 (#3 on list) “man of great wrath” = clearly some people have a
greater capacity for anger than do others. Note Genesis 49:5-7 concerning Jacob’s
prophetic blessing upon his many sons: “I
will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in
1) Simeon- reduced to the smallest of
tribes and omitted from Deut.33 list; note also
Josh.19:9 2) Levi- receives no inheritance, but is
blessed through the efforts of one man, Phinehas, in Numbers 25:11-13 and through
their opposition to idolatry in Ex.32:16. The person who suffers from “great
wrath” must learn he/she will suffer dire consequences from their unrestrained
anger. For them, the lesson of I
Cor.6:7 and I Peter 2:23 must be learned. III. Inappropriate anger produces
barriers and isolation. The
believer with few friends may need to ask “Is my anger driving people away from
me?”.
see Prov.
22:24. 1) “Bully” syndrome- see Prov.21:24 – here are some characteristics of a
“bully” overbearing
domineering
heavy-handed
harsh intimidating
posture emotionally threatening dictatorial or
controlling The bully has learned to get what
he/she wants through this behavior, but fails to perceive or care about the
results of how others practice emotional distance. 2) “Isolation” –see Prov.21:19- hear,
“wilderness” speaks of isolation brought on by someone’s
anger. It is illustrated in Gen.30:2,
where Jacob’s anger is that of resentment of the demands Rachel is making
upon him. No doubt, Jacob and
Rachel experienced emotional
isolation. Page 2 Another illustration is in II Samuel
13-15, where Amnon, one of David’s sons, rapes Tamar,
Absalom’s sister. David fails to deal with it, but grows
angry ( David isolates Absalom
( Note Prov.6:32-34 where the consequence
of “fury” comes following adultery. Three sources of
inappropriate anger: 1) Anger that results when one’s
selfish demands are not met.
When we do not get our way when we are selfish,
often there is anger toward others who we see as having failed us or even toward
ourselves. Selfishness prompts anger which, when goals are not achieved, in
turn, brings depression. a. The practice of meekness and humility (Col.3:12-13) along with a
consciousness of the failure of materialism to satisfy (I Tim.6:6-8) can serve
to reduce levels of selfish demands. This may be achieved best through the
walk in the Spirit
(Gal.5:16). b. Some confuse aggressiveness with
insight, discipline and wise choices and thereby, doom themselves to a state of
constant anger. While there is a
skilled assertiveness that is required in many areas of
life in order to achieve quality goals, many men/women instead lazily think that
by aggressive demanding of others their personal goals will be met. Then, when failure is experienced they
grow angry at others for not giving them what they want. Occasionally, they will have some goals
met and erroneously (Prov.12:15 a) attribute success to their bullying
manner. The legacy of their
relationships smells bad—see Prov.10:7b. |