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unfoldingmoments · 17 days ago

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Don't let Anger Consume you

Read: James 1:19-27 Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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1. “Don’t just point fingers, usually you're the one who gets pointed at.” This expression suggests that instead of accusing others, the one doing the accusing often becomes the target of blame themselves.

2. Anger is a matter of the case or the nature, don’t make it a character trait. I can get angry, but I don’t like to be angry. Learn from patient people and avoid surrounding yourself with those who are quick to anger. Traffic jams are normal, but being stagnant is dangerous—spiritually stagnant is spiritual death. People who don’t change are spiritually dead.

3. Be quick to listen, slow to speak. Anger is not just a passing outburst. Beneath or behind the trait of anger, there is usually a wrong orientation. Don’t just fix people’s behavior, but correct the principles behind their lives. There is a foundation that is not right. People who are quick to anger are slow to listen and quick to speak. There’s self-righteousness involved—thinking "my opinion is the most correct." An angry person is spiritually deaf. When angry, we become spiritually deaf, our senses die. Anger is the emotion that makes one deaf. Someone who is quick to anger has a serious character problem, often linked to their ears and mouth.

4. Emotions are a sign that there is pride in your heart. Self-righteousness. People who know they are wrong or lack confidence won’t get angry—they stay above the clouds. Anger is not a fruit of the Spirit, but of the flesh. If you want to be slow to anger, be quick to listen. Learn to pay attention to others and understand their feelings. The opinions of others deserve to be listened to. Preventing anger is not about suppressing emotions but redirecting our view and correcting our course. We’ve been focused on “me, me, me.” The key to being patient is prioritizing others first. Those who listen and care for others will find themselves less likely to struggle with anger issues.

5. People who are angry are not only dealing with emotions but with a distorted self-image: "I am right, others are wrong." Psychologically, this often stems from low self-esteem. Proud people are often insecure deep inside. They might have unacknowledged insecurities or unresolved trauma from the past, causing them to become harsh, when they were once fearful. There are two types of reactions: people who turn into victims of trauma or people who become aggressive, like gangsters. Every gangster is really driven by fear and the need for acceptance. They form a “family” out of necessity, because without one, they have nothing.

6. Avoid meeting angry people, as they can explode. Look at yourself if you are constantly angry. A tree is known by its fruit, not by its preaching. As Christians, we must be patient. We can be firm, but we should not be quick to anger. Cause and Effect: Being quick to listen is the cause. Being slow to anger is the effect. My opinion is not the most important—listen first. The mistakes of others shouldn’t lead to decisions with permanent consequences. Human anger does not achieve the righteousness of God.

7. Don’t let your emotions control you. If I need to correct someone, choose your words carefully and pick the right time. When angry, we become deaf—we are slow to listen and quick to speak. Count to ten, pray first. I can do it because I want to, and if you want, you can too, because God gives us the Holy Spirit. When angry, enter into God’s presence. The way to calm down is not by discussing the issue but by waiting in God’s presence. When you enter God’s presence, you don’t need to talk about it right away—just sing. Allow the Holy Spirit to address it. Even if you feel frustrated, wait and let God bring it up. We have the fruit of the Spirit: self-control. You can swallow your anger when you enter God’s presence.

8. When you sing and follow the lyrics, your heart might still be upset, but continue in God's presence. When you open the Word, your heart will be laid bare, and the Word will speak to what you need. When you come out of God's presence, you’ll be able to correct others with peace. I can organize my words and see more clearly after spending time in prayer. Even if there has been damage done, I can find a solution, because I’ve prayed. True Christians need these skills—it’s not just theory, it must be practiced.

9. Entering God's presence requires being neutral first. Don’t bring anger into it—it will make you spiritually deaf. Everyone dies spiritually if they can’t tune into God’s voice. Coming out of God’s presence after an hour is the same as entering. When you pray, neutralize your emotions first. If you don’t, your prayer won’t be effective, because it will not be God speaking but you trying to control Him. We often feel that our emotions are everything. This is the mistake we make when entering God’s presence. When anger controls us, we can’t pray—it’s like we’re trapped by Satan. Anger demands a decision, a response, and this is where confusion and strife occur. For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:20).

10. Ego-centric anger is always about "me"—"I don’t like this." People who are angry are self-centered. If it’s not something affecting them personally, they might be able to offer good advice. When you get angry, your heart is already affected. You need to take some time. James 1:21 says: "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

11. Anger should not dictate your life. Learn to control it. God’s Word has the power to save us from making big mistakes. Be thankful for people who help you hold back your anger. Anger usually invites all kinds of filth and evil. In spiritual matters, anger is like the one thing that, when mixed with anything, makes everything unclean.

12. If we reach the point like Moses, where he was angry and struck the rock, missing out on entering the Promised Land because he failed to honor God’s presence, we should be cautious. When anger becomes a lifestyle, everything in life becomes defiled, and evil increases. One sinful trait invites even more evil spirits. The sin of anger is one of the most destructive. Don’t let God give you blessings, only for Satan to cause destruction in your life through your uncontrolled anger.

13. James 1:22-25: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." Don’t just listen and forget; do it, and God will bless everything you do.

14. The basic nature of some people can be negative—complaining, angry, emotional. It takes intention to change that nature. It's easier when you're young, but adults have already formed habits. That's why it's not enough to just hear the Word; adults must become doers of the Word. For example, when a woman looks in the mirror, she sees what needs fixing—her hair, her make up, brushing teeth, shaving, etc. The Word is like a mirror, reflecting our image. We must note what we need to change in our hearts, "Lord, I want to change, show me."

15. The fruit of the Spirit requires us to decide to change our basic nature. It’s difficult because we’re not children anymore—it’s more ingrained. But we must change. Pray: "God, in the areas where I’ve failed to change on my own, please send someone to help me grow. According to Your will, help me to overcome." Don’t pray for blessings, wealth, or luck—that’s just a bonus. Ask for the image of Christ to be formed in you.

16. Don’t just be hearers of the Word, be doers of the Word. Philip was considered a holiness preacher, and not everyone liked him. We need a holy church that is transformed into God’s image. We fight against wrong traits and sin that hinder us.

We believe in blessings and divine healing, but that’s not the main focus. Wisdom is application. Each person has their own challenges, temptations, and traps.

17. Illustration: A dog, when feeling threatened, will attack. The best defense is offense. Your strongest defense is to take action. Why does a dog bite? Not because it's strong, but because it's scared. Our spirit must precede our flesh.

18. Before I get angry, I change. When I’m angry, I immediately bless the person. "God bless you and I love you with the Lord." I used to be someone who couldn't say “I love you” or “forgive me.” I once had the principle: “It’s better to die than to say sorry.” But God changed me. Go back to where you were hurt—don’t run away—show love, win the victory, and don’t retreat. If you take a thousand steps backward, move a thousand steps forward to make it right. This is God’s assignment: in the areas where you’ve failed, practice applying His Word. Don’t just be a listener who forgets after hearing the sermon. Apply it. Reflect on Christ’s image and make it your task to live it out. You’ve seen His image; now act on it. I’ve found this to be true: if I step back to pray, I only forgive, but if I move forward and apply the Spirit’s guidance, I overcome.

19. My DNA test shows I have Tibetan ancestry. Don’t blame your ancestors. Now, follow God and there’s no curse from your ancestors. Don’t sin in your own life.

20. 1. Listening first can prevent emotions from being triggered. 2. The Bible cleanses the heart. When reading the Bible, set resolutions and strategies. 3. Life is happier when there is less anger. Don’t preach happiness—preach that people will be less angry, and they’ll naturally become happier. Anger is just a manifestation. Beneath anger is the spirit of disappointment and bitterness, which must be removed. Be like Joseph, with a sweet spirit.

Ref: Ciri-Ciri Orang Kristen Sejati : Tidak Marah-marah - Ps. Philip Mantofa (GMS Church)

#anger #angry #christianity #change #mentalhealth #spirituality #spiritualgrowth #deadlysin

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