OVERCOMING ANGER & LUST

INTRODUCTION

“Be ye therefore perfect,

even as your Father which is in heaven

is perfect”

Matt 5:48

INTRODUCTION

ANGER• Consequences of anger

• Causes for (good) anger

• Compare: Anger vs Resentment

• Practical tips & application

INTRODUCTION

LUST• Type of lusts

• Temptation: Jesus; Eve

• Compare: Lust vs Human need

• Compare: Lust vs Temptation

• Practical aspects

MATT 5:22

“…that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

CONSEQUENCES OF ANGER

“An angry man stirreth up strife,

and a furious man aboundeth in

transgression”

(Prov 29:22)

CONSEQUENCES OF ANGER

“It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry

woman”

(Prov 21:19)

ST Apr 3 2005

Anger: Psalms 37

• v3: trust in the Lord, and do good…• v4: delight thyself also in the Lord..• v5: commit thy way… trust also in him• v7: rest in the Lord… fret not thyself

because of him who prospereth, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

• v8: cease from anger, and forsake wrath

Anger: Prov 16:32

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city”

(Prov 16:32)

APPLICATION

• Do I get angry easily?

• Why?– lack of trust in God– lack of self control

• What can/should I do about it?

(e.g. in children discipline)

MATT 5:22

“…that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

CAUSES FOR ANGER

Biblical examples–Moses (Exo 32:19-20)– Nehemiah (Neh 13:25)– David (1 Sam 17:25-30)– Jesus (Mk 11:15-17, Matt

21:12)

CAUSES FOR ANGER

Common Characteristics– Rare display of anger– Not about themselves– angry with sin and passionate about

God’s kingdom– led to them doing a “socially

unacceptable” act

CAUSES FOR ANGER

• Moses (Exo 32:19-20)– Broke the 2 tablets (v19)–Made Israel drink gold powder (v20)

• Nehemiah (Neh 13:25)“ And I contented with them, and cursed

them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair (!!)….”

CAUSES FOR ANGER

• David (1 Sam 17:25-30)– Got a scolding from his brother– Got the same answer from others

• Jesus (Mk 11:15-17)– How many were ignorant?– How many (families) were ruined?

APPLICATION

• What is my response to– idolatry– unequally yoked marriages/couples– evil in general?

• USA “freedom of choice”: a problem?

• How can I be passionate for God?

• Do I care enough?

ANGER vs RESENTMENT

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

(Eph 4:26)

RESENTMENT: a big NO NO!

• Spiritually

• Physically

MATT 5:27-30

• v28: Lusting after a woman = adultery

• v29-30: Do what it takes to overcome it

• More than 1 type of lust

TYPES OF LUSTS

• 1 John 2:15-17

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…v15”– the lust of the flesh– the lust of the eyes– the pride of life

TYPES OF LUSTS

• the lust of the flesh– bodily cravings

• the lust of the eyes– Objects/things/possessions

• the pride of life– Pride; claiming God’s glory

ST Apr 3 2005

TYPES OF LUSTS

• Jesus’ 3 temptations in Matt 4 each appealed to the 3 types of lusts

– Stone to bread (bodily hunger)– jumping from temple (show off:

claiming glory for self)– worship the devil (worldly possessions)

TYPES OF LUSTS

• Eve’s temptation

“And when the woman saw that • the tree was good for food, • and that it was pleasant to the eyes,• and a tree to be desired to make one wise,

she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat…”

(Gen 3:6)

LUSTS vs NEEDS

• Lusts are inappropriate ways to satisfy our human needs. Some e.g.s

• How to distinguish??– Bodily need?– can afford it?–What’s wrong in claiming credit for my

hard work?

LUSTS vs NEEDS

Often nothing seriously wrong, but...

“Be ye therefore perfect,

even as your Father which is in heaven

is perfect”

Matt 5:48

LUSTS vs NEEDS

• How to distinguish??– Bodily need?– can afford it?–What’s wrong in claiming credit for my

hard work?

• e.g. Jesus in Matt 4– Clear Commandments– Glory to God, not for self

LUST vs TEMPTATION

• Why split hairs?? key difference in fighting them

• Lust: Flee e.g. 2 Tim 2:22

• Temptation: Resist e.g. 1 Cor 10:13

• examples of real life scenarios

LUST vs TEMPTATION

• Danger of not fighting lusts (Rom 1)

“God gave them up….” used 3 times

APPLICATION

• “If I can afford/manage it, why not?” to “is what I do to God’s glory.”

• How can I identify potential problem areas in my life? (line between lust and physiological need is often thin)

• Am I willing to do what it takes? (Matt 5:29-30)

CONCLUSION

“Be ye therefore perfect,

even as your Father which is in heaven

is perfect”

Matt 5:48

What does it mean for you (anger, lust)?