2. (Jonah 3:10-4:11) Then God saw their works, that
they turned from their evil way; and God relented
from the disaster that He had said He would bring
upon them, and He did not do it. {1} But it
displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.
{2} So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD,
was not this what I said when I was still in my
country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I
know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow
to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who
relents from doing harm. {3} "Therefore now, O
LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for
me to die than to live!" {4} Then the LORD said, "Is it
right for you to be angry?“>>>
3. {5} So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east
side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and
sat under it in the shade, till he might see what
would become of the city. {6} And the LORD God
prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah,
that it might be shade for his head to deliver him
from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the
plant. {7} But as morning dawned the next day God
prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it
withered. {8} And it happened, when the sun arose,
that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the
sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint.
Then he wished death for himself, and said, "It is
better for me to die than to live." {9} Then God said
to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the
plant?" And he said, "It is right for me to be angry,
even to death!"
5. THE DANGER ZONE
Anger is just one letter short of danger—it’s
true in English as well as in practice. Dr.
Bedford Williams at Duke University has
determined that students who scored high on
a “hostility test” were in far greater danger of
dying young than their peers. In fact, those
who were prone to anger were in greater
physical danger than those who smoked, had
high blood pressure or even high cholesterol.
6. THE SCRIPTURES SAY A LOT ABOUT ANGER
1. (Eph 4:29-32) 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.
2. (Prov 22:24-25) Make no friendship with an angry man, And
with a furious man do not go, {25} Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.
3. (Prov 29:22) An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man
abounds in transgression.
4. (Eccl 7:8-9) The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. {9} Do
not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the
bosom of fools.
7. Here are four simple steps
to help move you out of the
danger zone when you feel
as if your hostility is
managing you, rather than
the other way around:
8. I. CONTROL IT.
A. Like writer Ambrose Bierce said so well, “Speak
when you are angry and you will make the best
speech you will ever regret.”
B. (Prov 15:18) A wrathful man stirs up strife, But
he who is slow to anger allays contention.
C. (Prov 16:32) He who is slow to anger is better
than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than
he who takes a city.
D. (Prov 19:11) The discretion of a man makes him
slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a
transgression.
9. II. TALK IT OUT.
A. Don’t keep it in and let it fester.
B. Many times just talking about your anger to
someone else helps relieve the anger.
C. (Psa 4:4) Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate
within your heart on your bed, and be still.
10. III. ACT ON IT.
A. Do what needs to be done to resolve the
situation. Helplessness will only provoke
more anger and, eventually, despair.
B. (Prov 15:1) A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
11. IV. END IT.
A. Just as there was a starting point for your
anger, there must be an ending. Make a
decision not to prolong destructive hostility
and you will find yourself healthier and
happier.
B. (Eph 4:26-27) "Be angry, and do not sin": do
not let the sun go down on your wrath, {27}
nor give place to the devil.
12. THE D”ANGER” ZONE
A. For every minute you’re angry, you lose sixty
seconds of happiness. Are you ready to find peace?
B. (Col 3:4-9) When Christ who is our life appears,
then you also will appear with Him in glory. {5}
Therefore put to death your members which are on
the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil
desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. {6}
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming
upon the sons of disobedience, {7} in which you
yourselves once walked when you lived in them. {8}
But now you yourselves are to put off all these:
anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out
of your mouth. {9} Do not lie to one another, since
you have put off the old man with his deeds,
