The Emotions of Lent: Anger

The Emotions of Lent – Anger

Patuxent Presbyterian Church

Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

LENT III

Genesis 4:1-16   
James 1:19-22    
John 2:13-17

There are two kinds of anger:

1. ‘Bad’ anger that is in direct proportion to our inability to be in control, an anger that arises out of our own brokenness.

Galatians 5:20 “…The acts of the sinful nature are….fits of rage…” “fits of rage” single Greek word = to seethe, rage or boil; literally ‘whirlwind’ or ‘storm.’

‘Bad’ anger - A case study: Genesis 4:1-16

Anger: the Hebrew word conveys a kindling, burning, consuming dynamic.

Genesis 4:5-6 “The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his

offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.”

Q: What makes you angry?

Genesis 4:6-7 “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.’”

Q: What do you hear the Lord saying to you when you are angry?

Genesis 4:8 “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.”

Q: What have been some of the consequences of your anger when you have vented it? 

A subtle consequence of anger: it interferes with our ability to pray.

I want people everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger…” 1 Timothy 2:8.
How are we to address anger in our lives?

First, learn to identify and distinguish between
The POTENTIAL for anger which is always within us as broken persons;
The PRESENCE of anger which will continue at times to test our will;
The PRACTICE of anger which will harm us and the recipients of our anger, reminding us of the admonition in God’s Word: “love…is not easily angered.” 1 Cor. 13:5.

Second, learn to practice self-control – Proverbs 16:32
“A person who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and someone who rules their spirit is better than someone who rules a city.”

Third, deal with anger as soon as it appears; to postpone it is to allow it to fester.

“’In your anger do not sin’: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

2. ‘Good or righteous’ anger that reflects God’s consuming anger at all things contrary to His will and purposes, things that damage people, an anger balanced with grace.

‘Good or righteous’ anger – A case study: John 2:13-17
John 2:17 “’Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Zeal – the Greek word means to be hot or burn (in spirit), fervent; boiling = hot enough to boil over with passion for something.
Consume – eat up, devour.
The zeal or anger of Jesus involved: 
a specific time frame: ‘market time’ in the temple
a specific focus: the commercialization of faith, gouging poor worshippers
a specific purpose: changing the system
He was always in control of His zeal or righteous anger – it never controlled Him. 

Q: Have you ever known a ‘righteous anger’ or zeal for addressing something wrong in the world that hurts people and angers God? 

MONDAY MORNING
1. Make a list of all the things that make you angry in life and in relationships and then every day this week ask the Lord to help you with your anger.
2. Ask the Lord to give you a ‘righteous anger’ or zeal for something wrong in the world that angers God because of what it does to people.