Moses - An Unlikely Choice: Arresting Anger (Numbers 20:7-12)

Series: Moses - An Unlikely Choice

Sermon: Arresting Anger

Scripture: Numbers 20:7-12

Date: September 29, 2019

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together.  Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals."  So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him.  And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels!  Must we bring water for you out of this rock?"  Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.  Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."  (Numbers 20:7-12)

Anger is not always a sin.  The Bible says to be angry and sin not.

I want us to see three things that will help us allow God to arrest our ungodly anger, three things that will help us give our anger to God:

1. Heart
   • "Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one."  -Ben Franklin
2. Harm
   • Anger is harmful to your health
     • Studies argue that regular feelings of anger increase the likelihood for heart disease, and that within two hours of an outburst, the chance of a heart attack or stroke skyrocket
   • Anger is harmful to the people around you
     • Sin can be forgiven but often leaves consequences.  This is especially true with anger.
   • There are 6 deadly steps to anger: Bitterness > Rage > Anger > Brawling > Slander > Malice
3. Helps
   • Count to 10; take a breather; take a walk; talk to a friend
   • Admit & analyze it
   • Repent
   • Forgive
   • Forgiving does not mean:
     • it was not a big deal.
     • they get away with it.
     • you were not hurt.
     • forgetting.
     • saying that it didn't matter.
     • pretending it didn't happen.
     • it is the same as reconciling.
   • What forgiveness is:
     • letting it go & saying 'you don't owe me anything'
     • canceling the debt of one who has sinned again you by promising not to bring it up to the offender, to others, or to yourself
     • treating that person like God wants you to treat them.