Elijah's Great Victories....

 

 “Elijah’s Great Victories….”

1 Kings 18:41-46; 19:1-9

 

SUBJECT: DEPRESSION                                                                      

THEME: Proper rest is found in Jesus Christ even during bouts with Depression.

Matthew 11:28, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

INTRODUCTION:

I recently read about a successful businessman who was battling deep depression. He called his pastor and informed him of what he was going through.  He said-with a note of desperation in his voice-"I'm in deep trouble. I feel as if I'm living with a heavy; wet blanket over my head. I can hardly breathe. I don't want to get up and face the day's activities. My motivation is at an all-time low. I can't even think clearly. I'm feeling immobilized. I can't even function properly in my business." (Dr. Gene Getz)

It didn't take long to discern that this gentleman was terribly depressed.   The struggles he'd gone through over the past several years, no doubt brought this on.  The pastor’s diagnosis was confirmed by a Christian counselor; exactly as the pastor had anticipated.  His friend was plagued with chemical depression--an imbalance of our body's own chemicals, brought on by extreme stress.

The good news is that he responded quickly to medication and counseling—and was able to once again cope with the challenges he faced in life. It also helped him to establish some new spiritual goals.

Depression is A Common Human Experience

1 Cor. 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

All Christians face times of depression even some of God's choicest servants. Elijah certainly demonstrates this reality. What may be surprising is that Elijah's bout with depression came after his greatest spiritual victory.  It happened suddenly and seemingly without warning. But in retrospect, it was predictable.

MESSAGE:

I.  ELIJAH’S EMOTIONAL HIGH.

1 Kings 18:39-44, And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. [40] And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

    [41] And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. [42] So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, [43] And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. [44] And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

GREAT VICTORIOUS EXPERIENCES.

   A.  ISRAEL’S REPENTANCE.  18:39-40

        1. Through Their Words.  

Following Elijah's great spiritual victory on Mount Carmel, he had great hopes for revival in Israel. Understandably so! The people responded in masse and acknowledged that the Lord was the one true God (see 1 Kings 18:39).

       2. Through Their Works.

Their punitive  actions against the prophets of  Baal also indicated their desire to turn from their idolatrous ways (see  vs. 40).

    B.  AHAB’S RESPONSE.   18:41

Ahab's response encouraged Elijah the most.

       1. Ahab’s Humility.

The king's heart appeared soft and humble before the Lord. Following his utter defeat, Ahab's countenance must have reflected horrible dejection and weariness.

Rather than condemning the king, Elijah encouraged him to return to his royal tent and regain his emotional and physical strength. "Get thee up, eat and drink," Elijah said, "for there is a sound of  abundance of  rain" (vs. 41). In other words, Elijah was telling Ahab to cheer up! The drought was over.

      2. Elijah’s Hearing.

What Elijah actually "heard" at that moment was in his heart. With the "ear of faith" he knew  rain was on its way, even though there were no visible clouds, no thunder, and no lightning. But Elijah knew there would be! His knowledge of God's will enabled him to "hear" things others couldn't hear. God had spoken, and the fire from Heaven was just the beginning of what God had promised would happen. (Dr. Gene Getz)

    C.  ELIJAH’S RAINS.     18:42-46

As Ahab went off to “eat and drink," Elijah once again made his way to the top of Mount Carmel to pray and wait for God to send rain. From that vantage point, he and his servant could look over the vast expanse of the Mediterranean.

          1. His Prayers      Vs.  44

1 Kings 18:44, And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

 Elijah instructed his servants seven times to climb to a lookout point to see if there was any evidence of the coming storm. The seventh time, the servant returned with a positive report. He had seen " a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand." (v.44).

          2. His Proclamation.   Vs 44

This was all the visible evidence Elijah needed. He told Ahab to get his chariot ready and to head for Jezreel before the rain became so intense it would be impossible to travel (see v.44). Suddenly, "the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. (Vs. 45).

II.   ELIJAH'S MARATHON RUN.

1 Kings 18:45-46, And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. [46] And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.   

As Ahab rode off to Jezreel in the blinding rainstorm, a strange thing happened! The power of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel (v.46). 

A.  WHERE WAS AHAB’S RUNNER?

Ahab's security team had probably vanished. A key member of that team was Ahab’s personal runner-a man who ran out ahead of his chariot to make sure the road was clear. Considering the shocking events that had just transpired on Mount Carmel as well as the mass execution of the prophets of Baal, it's understandable why the designated runner went into hiding.

Imagine Ahab's surprise when Elijah suddenly became a part of his security team. Though the king could barely see through the blinding storm, he no doubt caught glimpses of Elijah-head bowed low and his cloak flapping in the wind as he braved the elements and led the king's chariot over winding, muddy roads back to Jezreel. (Dr. Gene Getz)

B.  AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT

Keep in mind that the distance from Mount Carmel to Jezreel-where Ahab had his summer palace-was nearly twenty miles. In view of Elijah's age, this was an impossible feat for an old man. The Lord had suddenly shifted His presence and power to Elijah, not to harm Ahab, but to help him! This must have been very reassuring to Ahab at this moment in his life. 

C.  IMAGINE FACING JEZEBEL

Another reason the Lord enabled Elijah to run ahead of Ahab's chariot relates to what the king would face when he returned to his palace. Jezebel would be waiting! Ahab would need all the emotional support he could get to stand up to this wicked woman and her four hundred prophets.

III. ELIJAH’S DEVASTATING DISAPPOINTMENT.

1 Kings 19:1-2, And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.          

A.  AHAB’S REPORT.

Things did not turn out as Elijah had anticipated. His hopes were dashed. When Ahab reported on the Mount Carmel experience, Jezebel was livid (see 1 Kings 19:1-2)! Ahab— weak man that he was-would not stand up to his wicked queen.

B.  JEZEBEL’S RESPONSE.

Imagine how Elijah felt when he received the following message from Jezebel: "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time." (v.2).

Elijah was hoping for a positive report that Jezebel had listened to Ahab, and had humbled herself before Almighty God. But not so! Like the pharaoh of Egypt, she hardened her heart. She only became more entrenched in her pagan ways and more steeped in her idolatry. Flying into a rage, she threatened to kill Elijah!

In the midst of her intense anger, Jezebel did not lose complete rationality. To unleash her fury on Elijah would put her own life in danger. She knew that the children of Israel had responded positively to what had happened on Mount Carmel. She was well aware of what they had done to the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Emotions were running high. Consequently, she knew she had to give Elijah a way out. This is why she gave him twenty-four hours to get out of town! (Dr. Gene Getz)

 

Fostering the Attitude of Trust

1 Thessalonians 5:17

SUBJECT: Cultivating the Christian Attitude of Trust

THEME: We can foster the spiritual attitude of Trust by praying without ceasing; infusing prayer with communion, confidence, and consistency!

RELEVANCE: our interior life as Christians is vitally significant to our spiritual welfare—attitudes and motives like behaviors are equally weighty aspects of our growth in grace. Doing the right things and being the right person should be in harmony. However, sometimes it is necessary to do right and trust that our hearts will catch up in a reasonable amount of time. You may recall, an attitude is “a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior.” Attitudes include our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; all of which are to be consecrated to the glory of our Lord God. Trust is an crucial attitude to foster.

INTRODUCTION: Our focus today is on the attitude of trust. Consider this weighty observation about the importance of trust from Harvard Business Review,

We think of trust as precious, and yet it’s the basis for almost everything we do as civilized people. Trust is the reason we’re willing to exchange our hard-earned paychecks for goods and services, pledge our lives to another person in marriage, cast a ballot for someone who will represent our interests. We rely on laws and contracts as safety nets, but even they are ultimately built on trust in the institutions that enforce them. We don’t know that justice will be served if something goes wrong, but we have enough faith in the system that we’re willing to make high-stakes deals with relative strangers (Frances X. Frei and Anne Morriss; Harvard Business Review, Begin with Trust, from the May–June 2020 Issue).

Certainly, trust plays a major role in our society and personal experiences. But from a biblical perspective what is trust? W. Grudem, author of Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Theology says, “Trust: an aspect of biblical faith or belief in which we not only know and agree with facts about Jesus, but also place personal trust in him as a living person” (Pg. 1256). In the NT, there is an insistence upon placing personal faith/trust in the living Christ to establish a relationship with God (Rom. 10:9, 14; 6:8; Acts 14:23; Gal 2:20; Phil 1:29; 1 Pet. 1:8). Trust is absolutely fundamental to our relationship and communion with the Most High! Trust does not end or expire in relevance after initial conversion. It remains an integral part of the Christian experience.

1493 Setting The Sails

When Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary, first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of cannibal islands the ship was becalmed [stationary], and it was slowly drifting shoreward unable to go about and the savages were eagerly anticipating a feast.

The captain came to Mr. Taylor and besought [asked or begged] him to pray for the help of God. “I will,” said Taylor, “provided you set your sails to catch the breeze.” The captain declined to make himself a laughing stock by unfurling in a dead calm. Taylor said, “I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails.” And it was done.

While engaged in prayer, there was a knock at the door of his stateroom. “Who is there?” The captain’s voice responded, “Are you still praying for wind?” “Yes.” “Well,” said the captain, “you’d better stop praying, for we have more wind than we can manage.”

—Oriental and InterAmerican Missionary Standard^[1]

The great missionary, Hudson Taylor knew God could be trusted with his welfare and the ministry God had so entrusted to him. Full of unwavering confidence in God’s power, wisdom, love, grace, and providence, the missionary cried out to God in prayer and God answered in a mighty way. How may we develop a ubiquitous—ever present and pervasive trust in God? One way to practice and develop confidence in God is to “pray without ceasing.”

FOSTER THE ATTITUDE OF TRUST THROUGH PRAYER  

1Thes 5:17, Pray without ceasing.

Recall the Lord Jesus’ promise, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. ²² And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.^[2]” (Matt. 21:21-22). 

Prayer and trusting God belong together like flowers to the spring season and like a melody to a song. While mere prayer rituals devoid of trust/faith in God are patiently useless, the prayer of faith can move massive obstructions and immovable obstacles to see God’s plan executed still. We must trust the Most High to realize the difference he makes in any circumstance. This kind of trust literally invigorates our prayer communion!

Thesis: We can foster the spiritual attitude of Trust by praying without ceasing; that is infusing prayer with communion, confidence, and consistency!

LESSON:

I.               Foster the Attitude of Trust through Prayer Communion

A.    An Obvious Reason for Praying without Ceasing is Communion!

B.    Prayer Communion is an Exercise of Trust.

                                                  1.     Communion is sharing or exchanging intimate thoughts and feelings on a mental and spiritual level. We commune deeply and confide transparently with those we trust. It is hard to use the word commune with reference to a stranger, yet the Lord God is virtually a stranger to many of us. Yet, he designed prayer, at least in part, for intimate communion with him.

                                                  2.     The Lord Jesus advocated for secret prayer with our Father! Saying, And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. ⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. ⁷ But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. ⁸ Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him (Matt. 6:5-8).^[3]

                                                  3.     Jesus advocates for prayer communion and not mere lifeless rituals! Prayer is dialog or a personal conversation with God; we speak most transparently and deeply with the Lord when we truly trust him. While public prayer is prescribed in other passages, God places extra emphasis here on the importance of being personal, yet reverent, with our heavenly Father. Do you get personal with God? Do you trust him enough to make things that are valuable to you vulnerable to his actions?

C.    What Does “Pray” Mean? (1Thes 5:17)

                                                  1.     The Apostle Paul says to, “Pray without ceasing” (1Thes 5:17). The word “pray” here means to speak to or to make requests of God. It implies enjoying and valuing his company and Presence...conversation involving speaking and listening. Speaking confidently with a much treasured Friend is the idea.

                                                  2.     It is not racing through a laundry list of requests, but entrusting serious concerns and real needs to Him who cares like no other. Our Father God wants us to come to Him as often and continually as possible...as frequently as opportunities present themselves...seizing seasons to be with Him. Come to him to speak and make requests; to be with him.

                                                  3.     4522 How Praying Hyde Prayed

Dr. Wilbur Chapman wrote to a friend: I have learned some great lessons concerning prayer. At one of our missions in England the audience was exceedingly small; but I received a note saying that an American missionary was going to pray for God’s blessing down on our work. He was known as Praying Hyde. Almost instantly the tide turned. The hall became packed, and at my first invitation fifty men accepted Christ as their Saviour. As we were leaving I said, “Mr. Hyde, I want you to pray for me.”

He came to my room, turned the key in the door, and dropped on his knees, and waited five minutes without a single syllable coming from his lips. I could hear my own heart thumping, and his beating. I felt hot tears running down my face. I knew I was with God. Then, with upturned face, down while the tears were streaming, he said, “O God.” Then for five minutes at least he was still again; and then, when he knew that he was talking with God there came from the depths of his heart such petitions for me as I had never heard before. I rose from my knees to know what real prayer was. We believe that prayer is mighty and we believe it as we never did before.—Gospel Herald^[4]

                                                  4.     Yes, Beloved, speaking with God is a wonderful privilege…an awesome time of communion with the Most High. Do we treasure prayer like this?

D.    What Does “Without Ceasing” Mean? (1Thes 5:17)

                                                  1.     It refers to frequent and regular prayers from a consistent prayer life. “Without ceasing” literally does refer to non-stop activity, but this is not possibly the meaning here because that disregards and automatically negates all the other commands in this passage. This is living with an attitude of prayerfulness and the ability to connect with God at any time.

                                                  2.     This is not continuous uninterrupted prayer. There is zero counsel to abandon normal life, duties and responsibilities in order to pray all the time without ever stopping. As an individual this is impossible, but a congregation or a band of believers can maintain ceaseless prayer. Perhaps we all have been a part of a 48 hour prayer vigil involving many participants.

                                                  3.     However, continuing in prayer communion is a definite expression of trust and confidence in the Lord’s love, character, wisdom, and power! Prayer is powerful because it is rooted...deeply rooted in a concrete trust in the awesome character of God and the precious Word of God. To hang on to God in prayer…to cling to Him refusing to entertain any other options are serious evidences of a well-founded trust. To utter and mean it when we say, ‘Your will, O’ Lord, on earth as it is in heaven.’ To yearn for His will above all…to cry out to God passionately…to hang on to the Lord while hot tears race down your cheeks are activities of unwavering trust in the Lord above all else.

E.    What Does No Prayer Communion Look Like?

                                                  1.     Obviously, no prayer communion is the opposite of prayer communion. If communion is partly rooted in trust, then no prayer communion is based on no trust.

                                                  2.     We are far too casual about prayer…so little reverence and respect for the Almighty Father. We don’t commune with people we do not respect.

                                                  3.     We have made prayer about ourselves…instead of insisting upon the will of God and the advancement of his purposes in this world. Do we really believe we know better than him? It is difficult to commune when ‘it’s all about you.’

                                                  4.     We pray primarily when we have an emergency…so few cherish a healthy habit of prayer personally and corporately. We only want God exclusively for difficult situations, but we do not want him involved with our lives. Then when life goes left we are angry with him because he did not prevent it. It would be shameful to discover how many Christians actually engage God daily in prayer.

                                                  5.     We cherish what we want from God more than we cherish time with God…we permit our dreams and goals to supersede relationship and fellowship with the Almighty. Our God is simply not the priority….

                                                  6.     We excuse our prayerlessness because we are busy and lead demanding lives with challenging schedules. Such confessions reveal poor planning and misplaced priorities. Our self-important veneer is just one crisis away from being shattered. God does not have your attention, and you really have no place for him. What will it take to get your attention again?

                                                  7.     We really don’t believe God will bother with our requests; we see him as indifferent and uninterested…we view God as distant, disengaged, and disinterested…much like ourselves. We have become practical Deist…or even worst practical Atheists. We have come to believe that God will not do anything at all…so, why bother praying? Others feel God is too weak to make a difference or too uncaring to be bothered with, so why pray? Some have even come to doubt whether God, if he does exist, even matters. Such misrepresentations of the Almighty are scandalous to say the least.

                                                  8.     I believe we need to repent of our irreverence, selfishness, irregularity, prayerlessness, materialism, powerlessness, idolatry, and indifference! Remember, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). Beloved, it is time to make this right with the Almighty Father. May the Lord revive a love for him in each of our hearts that will result in frequent communion with Him as Almighty Father God!

CONCLUSION:

God says to us through the great apostle in 1Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Yes, referring to frequent and regular prayers from a consistent prayer life—continuous communion with the Most High Father. We can foster the spiritual attitude of Trust by praying without ceasing; infusing prayer with communion, confidence, and consistency! Such an attitude must be fostered, nurtured, cultivated, developed, and trained until it becomes a normal part of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. What I started in this article I will finish in the following to give you the full content of this meditation.

As you may recall my family and I were privileged to serve in Germany as missionaries to our US military stationed there. God gave us some special years of ministry that I will always cherish. Sweet times with him in the study is one of my grandest personal memories from those years. God also gave us the incredible gift of faithful praying friends there in Germany. Fellow missionaries striving to reach precious people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They really believe God and live on their knees. Still today every week my friend in Germany reaches out to remind me to submit my prayer requests because Friday Prayer time is on their schedule. I wish to say, I deeply cherish their prayers to the Father for my family and me. I cannot count the number of times their prayerfulness strengthened and steeled me against the challenges. May God Almighty increase their number exponentially!

I do not get to see my pastor very often during the year. It has been that way for several years now. That is simply how it is in our itinerate ministry. Our work is typically somewhere else…in another city…with a different congregation or with a different church planter. Whenever I do see him and speak with him he assures me that he has been faithfully praying for our family. Occasionally, he will send a text to let me know he is consistently praying for us as we serve. I deeply cherish his prayers.

I share these accounts because prayer communion is their attitude. It’s a part of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They faithfully and consistently carry others before the throne of grace seeking their help and spiritual welfare. They pray and pray and pray some more. Every day at designated times, and as needs arise they instinctively fall to their knees and cry out to God. Some have special prayer engagements throughout the week and the calendar year. They intentionally sustain communion with the Most High and count it a blessing to enter the presence of God.

Beloved, we all must choose to hang on to God in prayer...to cling to Him refusing to entertain any other options. Continuing in prayer with unwavering trust in God’s great heart and mighty arm. This is serious evidence of a well-founded trust in the Lord. To utter and mean it when we say, ‘Your will, Almighty Lord God, on earth as it is in heaven.’ To yearn for His will above all...to cry out to our Father God passionately...to hang on to the Lord while hot tears race down our cheeks are activities of unwavering trust in the Lord above all else. 

So, what might this look like in our experiences? Continuing in fellowship and sweet communion with God must start somewhere…right? Call God up early in your day and keep Him on the phone throughout your day! You may need to pause the conversation periodically, but keep him on the line. Resume the conversation as many times as you need and as much as you desire. He is available to you 24/7; therefore, pray without ceasing. Your relationship with God will deepen and become more meaningful as this sweet attitude of trust takes shape through prayerfulness.

---

^[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (pp. 403–404). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

^[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mt 21:21–22). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mt 6:5–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[4] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (pp. 1035–1036). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

Confronting Anger I

1 Samuel 18:5-16

SUBJECT: ANGER 

THEME: Recognize anger in its various forms; this is the first step towards rooting its destructive power out of our lives.

  

Unfortunately too many people live in close proximity to anger and its damaging impact. Researchers have found that angry perpetrators often use violence and emotional abuse to control their families. Such individuals may feel they have the right to behave in whatever way they choose while in their own home. Far too often they do not take responsibility for their actions and prefer to think that loved ones or circumstances provoked their angry outbursts. They notoriously make excuses for their anger and violence–for instance, they may point to alcohol, frustration, or stress as the real culprits.

According to surveys some report ‘losing control’ when angry around their families, but can control their anger around other people. They do not tend to use violence in other situations. If around friends, bosses, work associates or authorities they tend to keep their anger under control. As you may have anticipated angry persons try to minimize, blame others for, justify or deny they resort to anger and violence. They typically deny the impact of their ferocity on family members. (Better Health Channel)

Few people in the Scriptures exhibited as much anger as did King Saul. His jealousy over the blessings of God in David's life drove him to violent outbursts also. Saul's anger was first evidenced when David returned from battle and the women greeted him with this song: “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” The Scriptures tell us, “Saul was very wroth [anger], and the saying displeased him” (1 Sam. 18:7–8).

Because of his anger and jealousy, Saul's behavior, though shocking, is typical of an angry person:

   A.  On two occasions he threw his spear at David, trying to pin David to the wall (1 Sam. 18:10–11; 19:9–10).

   B.  He placed David in a position of authority, hoping that David would fail to lead wisely and be discredited (1 Sam. 18:12–15).

   C.   He assigned David ridiculously dangerous tasks hoping  that David would die while fighting the Philistines. For example he charged David to kill one hundred Philistines before he would give him his daughter in marriage (1 Sam. 18:25–29).

   D.  Saul even resorted to pursuing David continually for more than a decade, forcing David to live in exile and move frequently from hiding place to hiding place (1 Sam. 24; 26).

   E.  Not only did Saul pursue David without mercy, but he ordered the murder of people who helped David.  
   F.  He even turned on his own son with murderous intent (See 1 Sam. 20:30.). Saul's anger had no end. (C. Stanley)

It is easy to see anger at work in a person such as Saul. The outbursts are violent, and the rage continues to boil and manifest itself repeatedly over time. The angry person often has visible changes in physical appearance—dilated eyes and tense muscles. Internally, blood pressure rises, and the stomach tends to feel as if it is in knots. (C. Stanley)

It is far more difficult for us to recognize anger in ourselves. We are such an angry nation as a whole, we tend to tolerate a great deal of anger in our personal lives, families, and neighborhoods. Some even see anger as a sign of strength or power.

This tolerance for anger is contrary to God's Word, and it is damaging to emotional health and well-being. It is also damaging to spiritual growth and witness.

Get the Insider Story on Anger: 

The Scriptures admonish us clearly, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: [27] Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephes. 4:26-27). Wrath is linked closely with the work of the evil one in our lives.  Accordingly, people should speak truthfully, but their anger should be restrained, short-lived, and used for righteous ends. The following observations give us some insight into the very nature of anger.

A.  CONSIDER THE NATURE OF ANGER.

Anger is a powerful emotion. If it is not handled appropriately, it may have destructive results for you and those closest to you. The long-term physical effects of uncontrolled anger include increased anxiety, high blood pressure and headache. Uncontrolled anger can lead to arguments, physical fights, physical abuse, assault and self-harm. On the other hand, recognizing anger could be the key that motivates you to make positive changes. (Better Health Channel)

   1.  The Meaning is To React With Displeasure.

“Anger is a sudden feeling of displeasure and antagonism in response to an irritating factor. The irritation may be created by a person or a situation. The irritation itself may have been felt for some time, but the response of anger nearly always has an eruption factor. It is not a planned response. The angry person is momentarily out of control—no longer operating according to reason or God's principles of love.”  –Charles Stanley

   2.  People Tend to Become Angry Because:

      A.  They Aren't Allowed to Have Their Own Way.

      B.  They Are in Pain, Either Physical or Emotional.

      C.  They Are Jealous (1Sam. 18:8-10).

            1.  People can become so jealous of other people's possessions, position in life (including relationships), privileges, and personal traits (such as appearance and personality) that they feel others' good fortune somehow spells their own bad fortune.

            2.  Intense jealousy and anger manifest themselves in similar ways—with explosive, erratic, sometimes violent, and always irrational overtones. Intensely jealous people are also angry people.

   3.  Angry People Tend to Feel Their Being Attacked (1Sam. 18:8-9)

In each example, angry people to some extent feel themselves to be under attack.

       A.  The attack may be against the will, reputation, status, physical body, marriage, possessions, integrity, or personal sense of well-being.

       B.  Sometimes the perceived attack is only a matter of perception.

           1.  People may see a connection between a current circumstance or behavior and an incident that happened many years ago (for example, abuse as a child).

           2.  In other instances, people may totally misread others' behavior or motives.

           3.  The anger that is felt, however, is the same whether the situation that triggered it is real or imagined.

   4.  Ultimately, Angry People Seek to Get Rid of the Perceived or Real Attacker (1Sam. 18:10-19:1).

       A.  King Saul desired to kill David. Violently angry people sometimes resort to physical violence—all forms of which, to some degree, are a prelude to murder.

      B.  In other cases, they seek to put distance between themselves and the persons causing the irritation (1Sam. 18:13).

Sinful anger is quite different from righteous anger. There are times when a believer may be righteously angry for God’s honor or against evil. There are; however, other times when anger is sinful. For instance, when it is an emotional reaction involving malice, jealousy, resentment, vindictiveness, or hatred because of personal wrongs, it is sinful. God clearly forbids such responses in Ephesians 4:26, 27. (MacDonald)

B. CONSIDER THE EXPRESSIONS OF ANGER.

Anger triggers the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. The adrenal glands flood the body with stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol.(Better Health Channel)

The brain shunts blood away from the gut and towards the muscles, in preparation for physical exertion. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increase, the body temperature rises and the skin perspires. The mind is sharpened and focused. (Better Health Channel)

Many people express their anger in inappropriate and harmful ways, including at least one of two ways:

   1.  As a Physical or Verbal Outburst (1Sam. 18:11).

Angry explosions are the first of two general expressions. These folks have very little control over their anger and tend to explode in rages. Raging anger may lead to physical abuse or violence. A person who does not control their temper can isolate themselves from family and friends. Some people who fly into rages use their anger as a way to manipulate others and to feel more powerful.(Better Health Channel)

        A.  A person may throw a punch, pound a fist against the wall, slam a door or phone receiver, swear, or shout, among other physical manifestations.

        B.  Anger may even manifest itself as gossip. Every form of abuse that I can name—sexual, physical, emotional, verbal—can be linked to anger. (C. Stanley)

   2.  As a Brooding Silence (1Sam. 18:9).
Anger repression is another manner; this form can be more difficult to detect. Such individuals view anger as an entirely evil emotion, and choose to suppress it. However, bottled anger often turns into depression and anxiety. Some people vent their bottled anger at innocent parties, such as children or even their pets. (Better Health Channel)

        A.  The Person Internalizes the Anger and Allows it to Seep into the Subconscious. Sometimes this anger displays itself as boredom or an aloofness from other people.

        B.  The person who broods in silent anger may manifest an eruption of that anger at a later date.

       C.  The anger may even erupt within the body in the form of disease. The Better Health Channel records, "The constant flood of stress chemicals and associated metabolic changes that go with recurrent unmanaged anger can eventually cause harm to many different systems of the body." Unless one deals positively and in a godly way with anger, anger will manifest itself in some way.

C.  CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANGER. 

Nothing good comes from anger, and that is why it is contrary to God's plan for spiritual maturity.

   1.  There are Spiritual Consequences.

      A.  Jesus warns that angry people will face God's judgment (Matt 5:22; Gal 5:20; Col 3:6-8).

      B.  James reflects the wisdom of God when he tells us to "be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath [angry]" (Js. 1:19).

      C.  Provoking another person to anger without reason is in itself a sin (Eph 6:4).

      D.  Anger can divide a church (2 Cor 12:20) and frustrate prayer (1 Tim 2:8).

      E.  It is disqualify from spiritual leadership because a pastor must not be quick-tempered (Titus 1:7).

   2.  There are Relational Consequences.

Outbursts of anger injure other people. Internalized anger injures the angry person. Both expressions of anger are closely linked to hate. Thus, anger is diametrically opposed to love. When we are angry,

     A.  We cannot respond with sensitivity to the needs of others.

     B.  We lose our ability to feel compassion.

     C.  We cause estrangement.

     D.  We create strife and enmity in relationships.

     E.  We cease to give generously.

     F.  We require unrealistically high standards of behavior from others to compensate for the way we feel we have been injured or attacked.

     G.  We become highly judgmental.

   3.  There are Emotional Consequences (1Sam. 18:12,15).  

When people feel anger, bitterness, or resentment over a period of time against a particular person, institution, or circumstance, they feel a constant agitation or irritation in their spirits.  This cause of anxiety and fear is internal. The anxiety is real, and is extremely damaging.

   4.  These Qualities Are Certainly Not Christ-like.

“But what, about the little bursts of anger we all feel from time to time?”

         A.  People who ask this are usually referring to brief outbursts of anger or daylong pouts. All of these expressions of anger are equally wrong before God.

         B.  Ask God to forgive you for all expressions of anger against other people and to cleanse you of an angry spirit.

         C.  Then ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His love, joy, and peace—so that you might manifest these and all the other fruit of the Spirit in your dealings with others.(C. Stanley)

D.  CONSIDER SOME WISDOM ON ANGER.

When does anger become sin?

“Anger is sinful when it rises too soon, without reflection; when the injury that awakens it is only apparent; when it is disproportionate to the offense; when it is transferred from the guilty to the innocent; when it is too long protracted and becomes revengeful (Matt 5:22; Eph 4:26; Col 3:8). ” — The New Unger's Bible Dictionary

   1.  Uncontrolled Anger Will Lead to Sin.

Genesis 4:6, And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?   

       A.  The Bible Does Not Say Why God Rejected Cain's Offering.

Perhaps Cain's attitude was improper, or perhaps his offering was not up to God's standards. God evaluates both our motives and the quality of what we offer him. When we give to God and others, we should have a joyful heart because of what we are able to give.

       B.  How Do You React When Someone Suggests You Have Done Something Wrong?

Do you move to correct the mistake or deny that you need to correct it? Do you attack the messenger?

             1.  After Cain's offering was rejected, God gave him the chance to right his wrong and try again. God even encouraged him to do this! But Cain refused, and the rest of his life is a startling example of what happens to those who refuse to admit their mistakes.

              2.  The next time someone suggests you are wrong, take an honest look at yourself and choose God's way instead of Cain's.

   2.  Ungodly Anger Is Often the Result of Bad Decisions.

Genesis 27:41, And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.  

       A.  Esau was so angry at Jacob that he failed to see his own wrongs.

              1.  He should never have given away his birthright in the first place. Jealous anger keeps us from seeing the benefits we have and makes us dwell on what we do not have.

              2.  When Esau lost the valuable family blessing, his future suddenly changed. Reacting in anger, he decided to kill Jacob. When you lose something of great value, or if others conspire against you and succeed, anger is the first and most natural reaction.

       B.  But you can control your feelings by:

             1.  Recognizing your reaction for what it is;

             2.  Praying for strength; and

             3.  Asking God for help to see the opportunities that even your bad situation may provide.

If you find yourself dealing with people who are not playing by the biblical rules, who are underhanded, deceptive, dishonest, and self-serving, can you learn to see the advantage you have over them? In refusing to use their tactics and choosing to abide by biblical principles, you are under God's protection, and He has promised to honor you and to prosper you.

A few years ago, while in the process of purchasing a newly built home, I found myself engaged in a conflict with one of the employees of the building firm. She was arrogant, rude, and terribly disrespectful to me, the customer. I responded as I knew a businessperson should: I was assertive, refused to talk to her, went to a higher authority, and demanded my rights.…

Instead of raising my voice and demanding my rights, I could have been just as assertive by calmly repeating my concerns, refusing to allow the conversation to deteriorate to that low level. I could have been kind and polite; I could have stopped and quickly prayed for the woman; I could have thought about what bitterness and anger there was inside her to cause her to behave the way she did and allowed God to give me compassion for her. I could have done all that, but I missed the opportunity because I was too concerned with the way she was treating me.

I'm not suggesting we become doormats, but we can control our reactions and respond in a Christlike manner, we actually have the advantage over the other person. When we take the world's way out, we often lose our Christian advantage, not to mention our testimony for Christ.

When our business dealings are guided by biblical principles, it gives us a great advantage. (Workday Meditations by Mary Whelchel)

   3.  Anger's Favorite Tool Is the Tongue.

James 3:6, And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

      A.  James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire -- the tongue's wickedness has its source in hell itself. The uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage. Satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them against one another.

      B.  Idle words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken. We dare not be careless with our words, thinking we can apologize later, for even if we do, the scars remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build.

      C.  Before you speak, remember that words are like fire -- you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.

If a believer gives way to unrighteous anger, he or she should confess and forsake it quickly. Confession should be made both to God and to the victim(s) of our anger. There should be no nursing of grudges, no harboring of bitter resentments, no carrying over of such irritations. We are not to allow the sun to go down on our wrath. Anything that mars fellowship with God or with our brethren should immediately be made right. (MacDonald)

Recognize anger in its various forms; this is the first step towards rooting its destructive power out of our lives. Stop making excuses for your sinful behavior and invite the Lord's grace and power to help you change. Stay tuned for the next article on this subject because it will also communicate helpful principles to help you change for the glory of God. Remember, your first step to positive change is confronting your anger honestly before God.