Putting Out the Fires of Anger

Text: Proverbs 16:32
 

Introduction: Do you ever get mad? Angry? Are you angry right now? Over what? Is it eating at you? What can you do? Is there help available? How can we appropriate biblical truth by the power of the Holy Spirit to experience freedom?

The right kind of “FIRE” is not bad; it can keep you warm in the winter time. But the wrong kind of “FIRE” can burn down your house! Plus, it can burn down your relationships. 

Suggestion: Keep a FIRE EXTINGUISHER handy!

By examining the book of Proverbs 16:32, along with other passages, we can learn, “How to Put out the Fires of Anger,” which lead to resentment and grudges.

Follow the three (3) steps that lead to “Putting out the Fires of Anger”:

  1.  The Causes
  2. The Cost
  3. The Cure
 

1. Anger SHOWS up! 

  • “The Causes” (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.”
 

**Underlying Faults CAUSES Earthquakes

Suppressed Anger & bitterness can be like an Iceberg:
      • 1/8 is seen protruding out of the water
      • 7/8 is unseen underneath the water
**Sparks flying CAUSES Explosions
 

Unresolved conflicts of the Past can surface at a moment’s notice….out of nowhere.

 

2. Anger BLOWS up!

  • “The Cost” (Prov 14:29)
“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.”
 

**Ventilation

**Retaliation

**Depression
 
Duke University did a study. In the research, they determined that an “ANGRY” person is 5 times more likely to have heart disease. The devil uses this as a major tool… taking people out!
 

3. Anger can GROW up!

  • “The Cure” (Prov 15:1)
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
 

Paul writes about the CURE to Anger,

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil” (Eph. 4:26-27).

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:31-32).

Instead of being, “Bitten with Bitterness,” Jesus has a remedy; i.e. “JUST LET IT GO!” He forgives us. And then He enables us to forgive others. The Blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit is a “FIRE EXTINGUISHER”!

Keep them close by!!
 

Conclusion: All of this anger and resentment effects our “TESTIMONY” as a CHRISTian, not to mention the damage it does to our relationships with our loved ones and friends.

Today people are spending thousands and thousands of dollars trying to CURE the deadly disease of resentment.

If we will only admit this stronghold, confess it as sin, TRUST in Jesus for His forgiveness, and purpose to forgive ourselves and others; then and only then, we will experience FREEDOM like never before!
 
Love y’all ,
Dr. Randy Reese