STAYING CALM IN AN ANGRY WORLD

SERMON STARTER

 

          How do you stay calm in our angry world? Everywhere you go people are hostile: whether you are driving a car, watching your favorite newscaster, pursuing any hobby, or simply interacting with a family member. People are stressed, uptight and quick to displace their rage in your direction if you enjoy taking responsibility for other people's consequences or angry feelings.

          People are angry because of under-employment, unfair treatment from a hostile supervisor, a neighbor's thoughtlessness or bill collectors that scream in their faces. Jesus has called us into His Kingdom of Peace. He is the Prince of Peace and He speaks to the troubled, stormy waters of our soul, saying, "Peace be still."

          This sermon pursues some nuts and bolts issues on staying calm when anger seems at times to overwhelm you.

 

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

P.S.  This Sunday morning people were stirred up in my community because a 12 year old boy died from drowning in the local river. The rumors were that a gang of adolescents pushed him into the water after beating him up. According to autopsy reports, there are no signs of assault-type trauma on his body, but my people listen more to rumors than newspaper facts. My timing on this sermon was confirmed by the mood of my small congregation. Interesting. . .

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

 

July 15, 2012

Pastor Phil Roland, Sheepfold Ministries

 

STAYING CALM IN AN ANGRY WORLD

EPHESIANS 4:17-32

". . .you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. . ."  Ephesians 4:22,23

TO STAY CALM IN AN ANGRY WORLD:

I.  ALLOW JESUS TO TRANSFORM YOUR MIND - Romans 12:1,2

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

            A. Seek God with your whole heart - Matthew 6:33

            "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these

             things shall be added to you."

1. Make seeking and keeping God in your life a top priority

                        2. Discipline yourself - Purge your Thinking and Speaking

                        3. Eg. Marble in the Box

                        4. Give up "Stinking Thinking" and "Stinking Speaking"

            B. Release control of your mind and allow Transformation

                        1. META-MORPHEO - Transfiguration - Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:2

                        2. Transformation is change from the inside out

            C. GIVING UP WORLDLY THINKING - v. 17b

            ". . .no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their                      mind. . ."

1. RECOGNIZE the Source of the thought

                                    a. Is it from the World, the Flesh or the Devil?

                                    b. Is it from an ancient family script or

                        2. REFUSE to entertain/dwell on any thought that doesn't                                        honor Jesus

                                    a. Purge the thoughts from your mind

                                    b. Get the mind of Christ - Philippians 2:5

                                    "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,"

                        3. REPLACE ungodly, worldly futility, or satanic thinking with                                 the Word of God

                                    a. Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things

                                     are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure,

                                     whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good

                                     report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything

                                     praiseworthy--meditate on these things."

                                    b. Memorize the Word of God and quote it to yourself

STAYING CALM IN AN ANGRY WORLD, cont., p.2

TO STAY CALM IN AN ANGRY WORLD:

II.  PUT AWAY LYING - Verse 23

"Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another."

A. WE LIVE IN A LYING CULTURE

                 Book: “The Day America Told the Truth,” by James Patterson,
                        1. 91% of Americans lie routinely about matters they consider                                trivial
                        2. 1 out of 3 people lie about important matters
                        3. 86% adolescents lie on a regular basis to their parents
                        4. 75% of Americans lie to their friends
                        5. 7 out of 10 married people lie to their spouses
            B. Effects of Lying to one another

                        1. Disrupts Connection in Relationships

                        2. Creates Conflicts

                        3. Annihilates Trust

                        4. Eventually destroys Relationships

                        5. Destroys this Life's Legacy: Loving God and One Another

            C. Cannot build a relationship w/o Honesty, Integrity and truth

                        1. You must be real and be yourself in a relationship

                        2. If not, you're living a lie

                        3. Put off Falsehoods and Speak the Truth

TO STAY CALM IN AN ANGRY WORLD:

III.  DON'T SIN WHEN YOUR ANGRY - Verse 26,27

"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give

place to the devil."
            A. Everyone gets mad once in a while, it isn't good to stay there

                        1. Refuse to act out impulsively when facing Injustice

                        2. Be ProActive, not ReActive

                                    a. Think: Can I develop a Positive Action Plan?

                                    b. Eg. Lawyer friend, Child was bullied by Classmate

                                        She went to the Bully's house and knocked on the                                                 door, introduced herself, and presented a prepared

                                        basket of fresh fruit and candy. The boy's mom

                                        invited her in and as they resolved the problem the

                                        kids became best friends, enjoying candy and fruit

                                    c. Angry Actions Must Not Lead to Angry Reactions

            B. Anger that you "Sleep On" turns to Malice and Revenge

                        1. Must not Bottle Up your Anger

                                    a. Results in mental and physical health problems

                                    b. Creates unneeded Stress

                        2. The Human Heart cannot Handle Unresolved hostility

                                    a. It can cause serious damage to your physical heart

                                    b. It can cause irreversible damage to your spiritual                                                    heart

STAYING CALM IN AN ANGRY WORLD, cont., p.3

            C. Unresolved hostility hidden in the heart gives opportunity to the                       Devil -  Ephesians 4:27, NIV - "And do not give the devil a foothold."

                        1. Can you picture a large Bat-like creature sticking a hook-like                  claw into your flesh?

                        2. Harboring Anger and Ill Will Invites the Devil to Latch On

 

IV.  WATCH YOUR WORDS, THE TONGUE HAS POWER - v. 29

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

A. Harbored Hostility has its Consequences

                        1. Angry Feelings can lead to Angry Thoughts

                        2. Angry Thoughts can lead to Angry Words

                        3. Angry Words can lead to Angry Actions

                        4. Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue - Prov. 18:21

                        "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it

                         will eat its fruit."

            B. Strategies that Will Keep You Calm

                        1. Put Away Behaviors that Do Not Produce Peace- v. 31
                        "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put

                         away from you, with all malice."
                        2. Practice Kindness - v. 32

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

                         just as God in Christ forgave you."

3. Discipline Your Mind with Godly Thoughts - Isa. 26:3

                        "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,

                         Because he trusts in You."

4. Think about the Lord at All Times - Psalm 16:8

"I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right

                         hand I shall not be moved."

5. Allow Jesus to have First Place in your Mind and in your Life

                            Proverbs 3:5,6

                         "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own

                          understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall

                          direct your paths."

a. Have your found Perfect Peace in Jesus?

                                    b. Seek Him and Find Him Today!

STAYING CALM IN AN ANGRY WORLD

Ephesians 4:17-32 (NKJV)
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27 nor give place to the devil.
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.