Victory Blog

So I’m an angry person. What must I do to change and overcome?

1. I must realize my anger is sin. My anger is not a character flaw. Being an angry person is not just the way that I am. In light of this…
   • I must confess my sin to God and ask His forgiveness
   • I must confess my sin to the people I have hurt and ask their forgiveness.
2. I must fill my mind with the Word of God.
   • This is the only way for change; the Holy Spirit energizes change though the Word of God
   • Filling my mind with God’s Word will change my patterns of thinking
   • “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”¹
   • “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”²
3. I must ask God for help, “Ye have not because ye ask not.”³
4. In any situation in which i get angry, I must seek reconciliation right away.⁴
5. When i get angry, I must seek constructive ways to redirect its energy (e.g. bike riding)⁵
6. I can trust God, for He has promised deliverance, even over anger: “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”⁶

1. 1 Pet 2.2 [↩]
2. 2 Tim 3:16-17 [↩]
3. James 4:2 [↩]
4. Eph 4:26-27 [↩]
5. Rom 6:12-13 [↩]
6. 1 Cor 10:13 [↩]

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.“¹
Have you noticed that there are a lot of angry people around us? People angry about finances, government, jobs, loss of rights and at other people. I am of the opinion that most human anger is sinful. James wrote that human wrath (boiling rage or fury) does not bring about the right the God commands.
In my life, I have come across a number of angry people and I have noticed several characteristics shared by them:
1. Angry people don’t care who they hurt. It may be strangers, family or friends, once the anger starts, no one is safe.
2. Angry people don’t listen to the Word of God. (Note the beginning of our text above) It seems that once a person gets angry, the Word of God gets blocked. Sometimes there is an active resistance to preaching and to biblical counseling.
3. Angry people are basically selfish in motivation. This is rooted in pride.
4. Angry people very seldom are “wrong.” Why else would they be angry?
5. Angry people tend to gather other angry people around themselves. Note the following in Proverbs, “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. ² Angry people tend to attract other angry people. A pack mentality often results.
6. Angry people are influenced by the devil. Paul wrote these words, ”Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.“³ If a person does not deal biblically with his anger, he allows the devil to have a toe hold in his life.

1. James 1:19-20 [↩]
2. Proverbs 22:24-25 [↩]
3. Eph 4:26-27 [↩]

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” ¹
In Ephesians, there are parallel thoughts: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”²

Words are powerful. They can hurt or help.  Our days are filled with words. Some words are gracious, others are angry. Some words are spoken graciously, others tinged with a bad attitude. Some words are judiciously chosen, others are thoughtless and painful.
Paul wrote that we are to speak with grace. That is graciously. Angry, biting words are never right. In fact, they are sinful, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”³ Gracious words are always right, even in disagreements. Gracious words help, direct, and built up. Gracious words strengthen relationships. Gracious words are to always characterize the believer’s speech.
Paul also wrote that we are to have our speech seasoned with salt, or “pure and penetrating.” One writer expressed the though this way, “Their words must not be dull or insipid but should be interesting and judiciously chosen.” Salt was used in seasoning and preservation of food. So our speech is to speak the truth, yet we are to speak graciously, with the right attitude.
The old devil would like believers to use their words to hurt and destroy. And it happens often. We need to be on guard, praying as the Psalmist did, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.”⁴

1. Col 4:6 [↩]
2. Eph 4:22 [↩]
3. James 1:20 [↩]
4. Psa 141:3-4 [↩]

Sermon: Understand the Importance of Reconciliation, Col 1.20-23

Pastor Lloy Stevens

Victory Baptist Church

Sunday, 04/18/10/, AM Service

 Understand the Importance of Reconciliation, Col 1.20-23 [41:47m]: Play Now | Download (135)

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.”¹
Reconciled to God, o glorious thought. I who once was His foe, alienated from Him, have been brought into the reality of HIs family. My Lord took the initiative, He sent His Son to shed His blood, thus bringing peace. In the cross, God has declared peace between me and Himself. Now, instead of dread, there is assurance; instead of denial, there is love; instead lostness, there is hope. “I love your, O Lord, for reconciling my soul to You.!”

1. Col 1:21-22 [↩]

In Colossians Paul wrote, “in all things that He Himself would become to have the preeminence.”¹ I would confess that Jesus is my Savior and Lord. That is a fact of being born again. But, experientially, is Jesus my Lord? Does He have the preeminence in my thoughts, my work, my play, my every day living? Am I seeking to please Him supremely? Is His Word impacting my life in a very real sense? Can I with complete honesty state that that Jesus the Lord of my heart right now?

1. Col 1.18 [↩]