Slow to Anger

Slow to Anger

Revelation 14: ¹⁷ Then I saw another angel come out of the temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.

¹⁸ Then another angel, who is in charge of the fire, came from the altar. He shouted in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sickle, and cut the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because the grapes are ripe!” ¹⁹ So the angel swung his sickle on the earth, cut the grapes from the vine, and threw them into the wine press of God's furious anger. ²⁰ The grapes were squeezed out in the wine press outside the city, and blood came out of the wine press in a flood two hundred miles long and about five feet deep.

 

============

 

A neighbor gave an uncharacteristic shout to stop playing in front of his house. A stray ball hit the window but it did not break. This neighbor was usually docile and in the past, never minded us playing.

 

• We had done something that crossed the line of patience.
• Patience had finally run out and the neighbor was furious.
• We could no longer play in front of that neighbor’s house because patience turned to wrath.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw another angel who had a sickle. But this time it was to cut down grapes that were growing. These grapes seemed to be filled with the wrongdoing of humanity. They had reached a limit and GOD was furious!

 

My Observations:

• GOD is slow to anger, BUT HE still gets angry.
• GOD is extremely patient, but one day HIS patience will run out and HE will pour out HIS fury.
• GOD has given humanity plenty of time to turn from their wicked ways, and one day HE will be furious.

 

No one likes to talk about the wrath of GOD. I mean, we usually want to mention HIM as “gentle” or “forgiving” or “loving.” HE is all of the above. BUT GOD is also “jealous”, “just” and “supreme.” HE can and will judge mankind based on their relationship with HIS SON, JESUS, who is the Savior.

 

All have sinned and fall short of GOD’s glory. This means we all deserve GOD’s wrath. We are saved from HIS wrath by “active” belief in JESUS. Not just the knowledge of the story of JESUS, but allowing HIM to guide our lives as we surrender to the HOLY SPIRIT. I am grateful GOD is slow to anger and recognize, HE will get angry!

 

Challenge

• What does the writer say about GOD’s fury?
• Have you ever tried someone’s patience and saw him or her run out?
• If you are testing GOD’s patience with you, will you consider turning your ways over to HIM by believing in HIS SON, and surrendering your life to HIM so HIS anger will not be poured out on you?

Mad Enough to Kill

Luke 4: ²⁸ So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, ²⁹ and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. ³⁰ Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

============

“That’s the last straw” I said out loud. Tired of being pushed around, I went to the gym and started lifting weights. I was so mad at bullies who got their way that I spent hours in the gym sculpting my physique. One day I went to a bar with other muscular guys. One guy with us was very volatile and decided to pick a fight with others. “Wait a minute… this looks familiar” I thought to myself.

• There were times when I was bullied.
• There were times when I wanted to be the bully.
• There were times when I was the bully.

Anger about JESUS claiming to be GOD rose quickly throughout the synagogue. The crowd was so filled with wrath that they wanted to throw JESUS off of a cliff, but HE managed to escape. Their anger rose quickly.

• GOD wants me to keep my eyes open when I get angry.
• GOD wants me to add grace and mercy to my anger so I can still hear HIM.
• GOD wants me to grab hold of my wrath and give it to HIM instead of displaying it to others.

Anger, upset and disgust are the seeds to hatred. When I water them they get planted deeply in my heart and soon I am consumed with wrath. BUT GOD has a remedy. HE placed HIS HOLY SPIRIT in me so HE can guide me away from wrath, back to peace.

GOD wants me to examine my anger and if I cannot diffuse it, give it to HIM. HE desires that I not look at “that” person with disgust but add prayer and love towards them. HE gives me the ability to turn my bitterness into HIS sweet grace filled way.

• Are you mad?
• Do you get angry easily?
• Are you ready to get back at someone?
• Will you allow GOD to diffuse your anger and replace it with HIS love today?

Rage Controlled

2 Chronicles 11: ² But this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God: ³ “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, ⁴ ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.

============

Tired of this guys’ annoying ways, I stormed into my boss’s office and demanded justice! I mean this guy was loud and obnoxious and something had to be done. He handled the situation smoothly but I noticed I was getting passed over for promotions. I asked what was going on and he suggested I attend a leadership class.

“What would another class do?” I thought to myself. I mean I already know more than all of my peers in the department! I went and one of the first questions they asked was “Do you have rage?” As if I were in a twelve step program, I had to admit “yes.”

• Rage is a buildup of tiny bits of anger inside of me.
• Rage is a stack of bad memories that causes me to react negatively.
• Rage is a backlog of unmet desires coupled with disappointing results that causes me to be furious.

Rage is a wild animal inside of me that wants to tear the place down and stand on the burning rubble. The problem with rage is that it is very short sighted and blinding.

• GOD wants me to seek HIS face first each day in order to turn my rage into positive momentum.
• GOD desires that I give my rage to HIM and let HIM deal with the entire situation.
• GOD wants me to recognize what is causing me to have rage in the first place and allow HIM to replace it with grace and peace.

GOD doesn’t desire that I have rage pointed in the wrong direction. Rage at my own sin versus rage at a misinterpretation of someone’s intentions is the path that enables me to mature. The more I can seek GOD’s face without fear, the more GOD grows me to control rage, take a deep breath and ask GOD for grace.

• Do you have rage?
• Are you furious?
• Can you take a step back and ask GOD to help you identify why you are full of rage?
• Can you let go of your rage for a moment and give GOD your disappointment?

What goes around comes around

2 Samuel 17: Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. ² I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king ³ and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” ⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

-------

⁵ But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.”

-------

⁷ Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time.

-------

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

============

Fed up with being pushed around, I started lifting weights. Soon I gained some nice size and I started hanging with the muscle heads. One guy was particularly mean. Okay, I think he was on steroids. He suggested we go out to a bar with him to have some “fun.” Not knowing what he meant, I agreed.

Another guy said “I don’t think we should go” so I didn’t.  A few days later the bar going guy furiously stormed into the gym. “Why didn’t y’all show up? I had to fight these guys all by myself.”

GOD has protected me many times from bad advice and stupid actions. In this instance I was protected from becoming the bully I longed to get away from. I played out the scenario after the incident and I could see nothing but destruction.

• GOD says to me “Whatsoever you sow you will reap.”
• GOD says to me “Love one another as I have loved you.”
• GOD says to me “Be slow to anger.”
• GOD says to me “Vengeance is MINE.”

When I am full of rage and fury, my next steps are very important. I can take the full rage and turn it into hatred, spreading poison and death to many or I can follow what GOD says and give HIM my poison and let HIM diffuse the situation. If I choose GOD’s way I must realize HE wants to save “that” person as well. Whatever the choice, I will reap what I sow.

• Are you angry at someone?
• Do you have rage?
• Can you let go of your anger and rage and let GOD work it all out?