We talked two weeks ago about righteous anger and how we need to be stirred up about the things that God is stirred up about.
James 1: 19, 20 slow to get angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
- Anger is a work of the flesh or Gentile mind. Galatians 5: 19 anger and those who live this way will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Matthew 5: 21 If you are angry with someone, you are in danger of judgment. Call someone an idiot you are in danger of the fires of hell.
- Ephesians 4: 27 gives the devil a foothold.
I. RIGHTEOUSNESS GOD DESIRES
It is possible to live different in our lives and produce the righteousness God desires. Vs 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words
Righteousness means I am made right with God.
Colossians 3: 1 – 3 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ set your sights on the realities of heaven where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Saved by faith in this fact. Doing things do not save us and doing things do not stop us from being saved. Sign of something deeper going on in our life.
II. TURN THE OTHER CHEEK SYNDROME
how does anger stop me from remembering that I have been:
- Raised to new life
- Think of the things of heaven.
- I have died to this life and am now hidden with Christ.
How many have ever heard the verse Luke 6: 29 If someone slaps your cheek, turn the other cheek toward them.
All know it, but don’t do it.
III. WE DEMAND PERFORMANCE FOR IDENTITY.
Matthew 18 tells the story of a man who owed millions of dollars to a master. He could not pay it back so he cried out for mercy. Master did it and forgave his debt.
Identity was debt forgiven, new lease on life, no prison for me, chains off my wrists, new appreciation for who the master is.
Runs into someone who offended him. Vs 28 100 denarii a denarii is a days wage.
Power to do something about it and he threw the person in prison.
CAN’T THROW SOMEONE IN PRISON, BUT I AM GOING TO FIX THIS.
identity is no longer in Christ and what he has done for me, it is in the lack of respect I am getting from this person.
WE ARE DRIVEN TO IMPRESS BECAUSE OUR SELF IDENTITY IS TIED UP IN IT.
- mad at spouse because they don’t see how hard I am working and keep demanding of me.
- Mad at children because what are people going to think of me because of the way you are acting.
- Mad at work because if you were in charge, you would change things.
I NEED OTHERS TO BECOME OR BEHAVE A CERTAIN WAY FOR ME TO BE HAPPY.
I am going to fix you because you are not making me happy. No one likes getting fixed so we tear back into them.
What will others think of me if I allow this to go on. IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.
Enjoy family, work, children, but there is a big difference between loving recognition I get from these things and needing them.
IV. DEVIL’S FOOTHOLD.
James 3: 6 tongue is a flame…set the whole life on fire for it is set on fire by hell itself.
Ephesians 4: 27 gives the devil a foothold.
We no longer find our identity in Christ, but we find it in our expectations of how others should act around us. WE FIXATE ON THE TEMPORAL
Colossians said set your sights on Jesus Hebrews 12: 2 Fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith
Why did Paul spend three chapters telling us who we are in christ before he started to tell us how to live with others? WE HAVE TO KNOW WHERE OUR IDENTITY COMES FROM.
What can we do?
EXAMPLE: pick apples from a tree they just come back. must kill the root system.
WALK AFTER SPIRIT AND NOT FULFILL THE FLESH. Galatians 5: 16
John 3: 34 gives the spirit without limit.
I died and my life is now hidden with Christ in God Colossians
Galatians 5: 24 Nail these passions to the cross.
Teach me how to live this life out. 1 Corinthians 2: 16 I have the mind of Christ.
End up in a jail like the man in the parable or one who is enjoying the mercy of the master.