The Praise Initiative

*** Video: Thanksgiving at My House ***

Pure praise
A seminary professor of mine told me about a church that he once pastored. In this church there was a young boy who had Downs Syndrome. Once they got to know each other, this little boy loved his pastor. He said that he would often be standing in the church, talking to people about the sermon or the weather or whatever, when all of a sudden… bam! He would feel something hit his leg. This little boy would just grab his leg and hug him as tight as he could.

The pastor always sat at the front of the church so he could step right up to the pulpit when it was time to preach. One morning he was at the front of the church singing during the worship service when this little boy caught his eye. Without realizing it, the boy had sort of drifted right to the front and center of the sanctuary. There was this little boy with Downs Syndrome totally caught up in praising his Lord. His eyes were closed. His hands were lifted. His voice was singing praise to God. He was absolutely oblivious to everything and everyone who was around him.

As the pastor looked at this young boy he said, “Something came over me. I had the distinct sense that I was looking at someone who was gazing directly at the face of God. It immediately moved me to tears.”

What does it take to offer pure praise to God? Does it take a certain IQ? Does it take a well-developed vocal ability? Does it take a certain age level? Does it take accomplishment or prestige or financial status or citizenship or appearance or acceptance or discipline or strength or artistic ability or membership or indoctrination or particular political views or any of those things?

The answer is no. Praise God, the answer is no. What does it take?

THE PRAISE INITIATIVE
We are going to talk about the Praise Initiative today. If you have watched “Lost,” you may be familiar with the Dharma Initiative. I went online the other day to look at some real initiatives.

This is what I found:
National Nanotechnology Initiative; Global Reporting Initiative; Ethical Trading Initiative; Faith-Based Initiative; Nuclear Threat Initiative; eHealth Initiative; Healthy Forests Initiative; National Fatherhood Initiative; Women’s Health Initiative; Tobacco Free Initiative; Equal Justice Initiative; Biotrade Initiative; Children’s Literacy Initiative; and many, many, many, more.

These are important things. These are things that are worth initiating. These are things for which people are showing initiative. I think praise is important, and today I want to start a Praise Initiative. I hope you will join me.

First, let’s clarify some terms.
Initiative: a) An introductory act or step; leading action. b) One’s personal, responsible decision. c) The power or right to introduce new legislation.

For our purposes today, I want to distinguish between worship, praise and thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is different than worship and praise in that thanksgiving is appreciation to God for something that He has done for me. On Thanksgiving, we go around the table and answer this question: “What is something that you are thankful for?” That is a great question to ask and answer. It is important to have gratitude for what God has done for us. Without thankfulness we are thankless and ungrateful.

Praise and worship are very similar. Thanksgiving is gratefulness to God for what He has done or is doing. Praise and worship is gratefulness to God for Who He is. There doesn’t have to be a specific reason. Scripture says, “In everything give thanks,” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) meaning in the good and in the bad. No matter what. That is the essence of praise and worship.

In actual terms, praise and worship basically mean the same thing. The word ‘worship’ literally means ‘worth-ship.’ It means ascribing worth or value. ‘Praise’ comes from the word ‘prize.’ It means to prize something over everything else. Basically, they’re equal.

Practically speaking, I have noticed this distinction. Worship is normally used as a broad, umbrella term. It encompasses the attitude and actions that recognize God’s worth. It is the essence of being a worshipper.

Praise, on the other hand, is normally used to describe a particular act of worship. It is the expression of worship, usually a vocal expression of worship such as singing or speaking about how great God is. So, The Praise Initiative is about taking action and responsibility to express how great and awesome God is in practical ways.

Every initiative needs a good spokesman. Our spokesman today is the perfect spokesman for The Praise Initiative, King David.

Psalm 108:1-5 (NKJV)
1 A Song. A Psalm of David. O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 2 Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. 3 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations. 4 For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth;

What great imagery David gives us in these verses! You can envision David getting up early in the morning, before the dawn, looking over at his silent instruments sitting over in the corner and saying, “I know how I will start this day. I will begin with praise. I don’t need anything to stir me up and prepare me for praise. I’m ready right now.” And before the day had even begun, David was praising God.

Remember the old Army commercial that used to say, “We do more before eight o’clock in the morning than most people do all day?” (I always wondered why they thought that was a selling point.) Well, David could say, “I praise God more before eight o’clock in the morning than most people praise all day.”

1. My praise is my choice .

Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. Psalm 108:2 NKJV
(Circle the words “I will”)

No one can choose for you whom you will praise. No one can praise for you, it is something you must do for yourself.

 It is personal.

Others can lead you into praise and worship, but no one can praise on your behalf. It is all you. The question isn’t, “How was the praise and worship in church today?” That is NEVER the question. The question is always, “How was YOUR praise in church today?” That is what really matters.

The camera is on you
You know those rides at those big amusement parks that have those cameras at the most exciting part of the ride? I remember years ago when our family went on Splash Mountain together. We were not alone. We waited and waited and waited our turn in line as the lines snake around, back and forth. There were hundreds of people. (Maybe millions) We finally got up to the front of the line and were ushered into our log ride, which was part of a number of logs joined together with people in all the logs.

The ride started off slow at first, floating through Disney scenes. Then it picked up speed and crested this hill where you face a straight drop. Right there you scream and hold on while a camera snaps a picture.

At the end of the ride you walk by a wall with all these pictures there just waiting for you. We found our picture on the wall. It was awesome. In the picture was just our log with just our family. Looking at the picture, you would think that we were the only ones on the whole ride.
God’s got one of those cameras. In those times of praise He only sees you. There is no one else around. What does He see?

2. My praise is a catalyst.

Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. Psalm 108:2 NKJV
(Circle the words “Awake” and “awaken”)

How hard is it to wake you up for praise? What does it take? A little coffee… a few rifts on the electric guitar… some nice, melodic keys… a fast song, a slow song, then two fasts songs?? “If they play just the right songs in just the right way, then maybe I will join in to praise.” Do you need to be waked up for praise, or can your praise wake others up? When someone tries to wake you up for praise, do you hit the snooze alarm?

 It doesn’t need a push. It is a push.

 Thanksgiving needs a reason. Praise does not.

Awake, saxophone!
Here is a saxophone. (We don’t have any lutes. Pretend it is a lute.) Look at how quiet it is. If this saxophone started playing, then I could really praise. But it can’t. It is an inanimate object. It is unable to wake up and praise God. If I’m waiting for it, then I’ll be waiting a very long time.
Worshippers don’t need to wait for the instrumentation. The instrumentation has to wait for the worshippers. Add the worshipper, and watch what happens.

3. My praise is not confined.

Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. Psalm 108:2 NKJV
(Circle the words “the dawn”)

David said, “I will awaken the dawn.” What does that mean? That means that his praise begins in the darkness. When it is still dark. When I can’t see what is happening around me. I’m not going to wait for the right conditions to praise the Lord.

 Praise in the darkness brings light.

Psalm 57:7-11
Was David in a nice, beautiful, comfortable temple when he praised the Lord? There is no indication where he was, is there? There isn’t in this psalm, but these words are an exact duplicate of Psalm 57:7-11. There we are told that David spoke this psalm while he was in a cave, hiding to save his life from King Saul. His praise was not confined to a certain time or a certain place.

Let me ask you a question: In the course of your week, where and when do you express praise to the Lord?

“Well, that’s simple,” you say. “I praise Him here on Sunday mornings.” Okay, great. What else? My point is, is your praise confined to a certain place and a certain time with certain conditions? If it is, I have good news for you. You do not have to confine your praise. You can let it out of its cage and give God praise all over the place.

CONCLUSION
Dayenu, recited at the Passover
If He had brought us out from Egypt, and had not carried out judgments against them
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed! (or “It would have been enough for us.”)
If He had carried out judgments against them, and not against their idols
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had destroyed their idols, and had not smitten their first-born
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had smitten their first-born, and had not given us their wealth
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had given us their wealth, and had not split the sea for us
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had split the sea for us, and had not taken us through it on dry land
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had taken us through the sea on dry land, and had not drowned our oppressors in it
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had drowned our oppressors in it, and had not supplied our needs in the desert for forty years
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had supplied our needs in the desert for forty years, and had not fed us the manna
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had fed us the manna, and had not given us the Shabbat (Sabbath)
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had given us the Shabbat, and had not brought us before Mount Sinai
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had brought us before Mount Sinai, and had not given us the Torah
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had given us the Torah, and had not brought us into the land of Israel
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
If He had brought us into the land of Israel, and not built for us the Holy Temple
— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!

*** Video: Gift of Worship ***

EMOTIONS SURVIVAL MANUAL: In Case of Loneliness: You've Got a Friend

An emotional sermon series

Over the last eight weeks or so, we have explored this rarely navigated area of who God created us to be – our emotions. We have talked about attitude, depression, joy, grief, anxiety and anger. Today we are concluding our series with another powerful emotion: Loneliness.

*** Skit: “Freight Train Peace” (part 1) ***

LONELY IN A CROWD

The women in the skit feared what many of us fear: being alone. For many others, this is not a fear, it is a reality.

This is not due to a shortage of people. You can find a ticking population clock on line that will tell you that, as of today, the world population is estimated to be 6,630,364,193. The United States population is 303,337,455. (4.5% of world population)

There’s plenty of people, and the population is growing all the time. You can watch the numbers tick up constantly on the internet. So, how are we doing?

Americans have less close friends

A study conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, released in June of 2006, revealed that Americans have less people they can confide in than past generations.

In 1985, the average American had three people in whom to confide matters that were important to them. In 2004, that number dropped to two.

Perhaps even more striking, the number of Americans with no close friends rose from 10 percent in 1985 to 24.6 percent in 2004. [Janet Kornblum, "Study: 25 Percent of Americans Have No One to Confide In," USA Today (6-23-06)]

Even the Apostle Paul had his share of relationship woes.

2 Timothy 4:9-17 (NKJV)
9 Be diligent to come to me quickly;

Be diligent to come to me quickly

Paul begins by saying, “Timothy, I need you, Buddy. Don’t leave me all alone. I’m lonely without you.” Let’s continue reading:

2 Timothy 4:9-17 (NKJV)
9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. 16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Within this passage of scripture, we deal with 9 people with whom Paul had some type of relationship. And this is only a partial list of a much greater list throughout the New Testament. Four of these deal with specific relationship issues, and we’ll deal with those four in just a few moments.

Let’s make a couple of important observations and applications from this passage.

SURVIVAL TIP: Develop relationships with people

(Add in there, “Develop comparable relationships”)

The Apostle Paul was a model of ministry though relationships. But he wasn’t the only one. Page after page, the Bible is filled with relationships.

From the very beginning, in the original design and construction of people, there was wired in a need for relationships

Genesis 2:18 (NKJV)
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

New King James: a helper comparable to him

New Living: a helper who is just right for him

New English Version: a suitable companion

New Int’l Version, New American Standard Bible: a helper suitable for him

- We are made for relationships.

Genesis 2:20 (NKJV)
20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

Here was the problem: There was man, there were the animals, and there were God. Man needed someone comparable to him for relationship. The animals were not comparable. And God was not comparable. Among the universe, he was a unique creation. He was all alone. He needed a pal.

… Someone who is like me… someone who understands me… a soulmate…This is true in our marriage relationship, but also applies to other friendships as well. We need companions. We need relationships with those who are comparable to us.

Which leads us to number two:

SURVIVAL TIP: Prepare for disappointment.

Here’s the deal: If you get into the relationship mode, you will experience disappointment. I guarantee it. It is inevitable.

- Demas: Forsaken.

Paul mentions Demas in other letters (Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24). He refers to Demas as his co-laborer in the gospel. But not in this letter to Timothy. Paul served with Demas and figured that was a relationship that would stand the test of time. But at some point, Demas decided to go his own way – do his own thing – and they split paths. Demas left, “having loved this present world.” That generally means that he chose the good-life over the God-life. Paul didn’t see it coming. He couldn’t anticipate it.

Have you ever had a relationship that just went sideways like this? Not that you did anything to them or they did anything to you, you just went different ways. It can be hard to take. It happened to Paul. But he continued to build relationships.

- Luke: Faithful Few.

I feel bad for Luke here. Paul says, “No one is around. I’m all alone. Only Luke is with me.” Luke must’ve been thinking, “Hey, Paul, what am I, chopped liver?”

I had someone come into the church office when I was the only one there and say, “Where is everyone? Isn’t anyone here?” Well, I’m here and I’m somebody.

This last week I went to a pastor’s conference in southern California, and I was all alone. I flew down there alone, I stayed alone and I went to the sessions alone. Only Pastor Tom was with me.

Here’s the point. These faithful friends, like Luke (or Pastor Tom) are so valuable, but they are just too few. We need more of these faithful friends.

Who are your faithful friends? Who can you count on? confide in? be alone with? Do you have one? Good, but you need more. Don’t stop there.

- Mark: Forgiven.

The next person Paul mentions is Mark. He says, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” Luke is here. I want you here too, Timothy. And bring Mark with you. I want my three amigos with me.

Mark is mentioned in a number of other places in scripture. He was the cousin of Barnabbas. Peter called Mark “my son.” Mark was the writer of the Gospel of Mark, and most scholars think he did it using Peter’s eyewitness accounts. There are other interesting facts about Mark as well. He was well-connected.

But the most important fact for this conversation is this: This is the Mark, also known as John Mark, who went along with Paul and Barnabbas on their first missionary journey. Mark couldn’t hack it and, for some unknown reason, left the mission and went home. When Paul and Barnabbas were planning their second missionary journey, Barnabbas wanted to bring Mark along. Paul refused. Paul was so dead-set against Mark coming along that there was a sharp contention between Paul and Barnabbas and they split up. Paul went with Silas and Barnabbas went with Mark.

Mark had really disappointed Paul. But their relationship had been reconciled so that Paul said here, “Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”

Some relationships will experience a falling out. One person may disappoint another. Those relationships can be reconciled. Not just put back to the position they were before the problem arose, but even better and stronger than before.

- Alexander: Foe.

There are some people that are going to give you problems. In this search for significant relationships, you will encounter enemies along the way. That’s okay. It is not a failure. It is going to happen. Don’t let this stop you from reaching out in relationship.

Paul said to Timothy, “This Alexander dude caused me a lot of trouble. He is against me and the Christianity that I preach.” Notice what he doesn’t say. He doesn’t say, “Go get him Timothy. You’re a young guy. Take him out. Slander him. Organize rallies against him. Write books against him.” His comments are so low key. He just says, “Watch out for him. Separate yourself from him. God will repay him. You don’t have to do that.”

Don’t waste your energy fighting your foes. Use your energy finding your friends.

There may be some people who have hurt you, like Demas. Bounce back. There may be a few people like Luke in your life, but too few. Appreciate them and find more. Maybe there are people with whom you need to reconcile, like Mark. Don’t wait. Do it today. There may be someone in your life like Alexander that has been a continual problem to you. Don’t waste your time with them. Just avoid them. Let God deal with them.

SURVIVAL TIP: Realize this: With Jesus you never stand alone.

Here is the most important survival tip of all. In verse 16 Paul says, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me.” Then he says in verse 17, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.”

How do they do it without the Lord?

I know I tell you this all the time, but only because it happens all the time. One week ago I was standing by the hospital bed of a man in our congregation. He had been given a dreadful diagnosis. He had three weeks to live. They were going to have to begin some radical treatment.

I stood with him and prayed with him. We had a great visit. He had great peace and confidence in the Lord. Then he said to me, “I can’t imagine how people deal with these types of situations without the Lord. Without the Lord right by me, I don’t know how I would get through this.”

There is a tangible, real, priceless benefit when God stands by you and strengthens you.

*** Skit: “Freight Train Peace” (part 2) ***

- Jesus became comparable.

Remember how I said that in Adam’s relationship with God that He was not comparable? Well, God decided to change that, and so He became comparable in Jesus to have relationship with us.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV)
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

EMOTIONS SURVIVAL MANUAL: In Case of Anger: Don't Strike Out

Slapping the face of God
There is an amazing story that unfolds in the gospel of John, chapter 18, starting at verse 19.

It was nighttime. Jesus had just been arrested in the garden of Gethsemane where his disciples drew their swords to defend Him and Jesus said, “Put your swords away.” The detachment of troops bound Him and led Him to the Sanhedrin Council Chamber adjacent to the Temple. Late in the night, the Sanhedrin was called together to question Jesus – called from their families, called from their beds, perhaps, called from their favorite TV show. They were putting in some overtime tonight, all because of Jesus.

The ring leader was Annas, the high priest. He had actually been removed from that position by Rome and replaced that year with Caiaphas, his son-in-law. But, in Jewish law, the high priest was a lifetime position, so they brought Jesus to Annas acknowledging their law, not Rome’s. Before taking Him to be crucified, they would also have to take Jesus to Caiaphas.

Annas, the high priest and the most revered figure in the Jewish hierarchy, took his place to question Jesus. Others from the Sanhedrin took their place and crowded around Jesus. The high priest began the questioning, asking Jesus to tell him about His disciples and His doctrine. As if it were all part of some kind of a secret plot.

Jesus knew right where this was all heading. He said in essence, “It is no secret. I’ve taught openly and plenty of people heard what I said. Ask any one of them, they can tell you whatever you want to know.”

When Jesus said that, one of the officers of the high priest who was standing next to Jesus pulled his arm back. He was angered by Jesus’ words. How dare He speak that way to the high priest! Who did He think He was?! He was probably angered by the growing problem that Jesus had been causing them by gaining the support of more and more people. He may have been angered by having to spend a late night at the office. There may have been other factors, too. We don’t know. But this many pulled his arm back to generate some needed force. His muscles tightened. His body weight shifted. His face was furrowed with disgust and rage. He opened his palm towards Jesus’ face and, holding nothing back, he released his arm forward until, with a sharp sting, his open palm connected with the face of Jesus.

Stop action, right there, for just a minute, and look at this scene. Consider its incredible impact. Here is a man slapping the face of God. A man slapping the face of God because of anger. Jesus was bound. He didn’t fight back.

Think about this slap:

It was the first strike. This was the first of much greater and escalating violence that would come. Jesus was about to be beaten by soldiers. He would be scourged to within an inch of His life. He would then face the cruelest violence known to man: crucifixion. This slap started the whole thing. Violence often leads to greater violence.

This man faced Jesus in eternity. Do you ever think about those who committed violence against Jesus, especially this man? Some time after this event he died. When he got to eternity, just think about his reaction when he saw that the One running the place was the guy that he slapped out of anger. Wouldn’t that be a bummer? I would hate to be that guy.

When you or I strike out against someone else in anger, we are slapping the face of God. Jesus said, “When you do it unto the least of these, my brethren, you do it unto me.” (Matthew 25:45) For every explosion of anger or strike against another person we will face, not that person, but Jesus Himself. You might as well see your hand on the face of Jesus when you lash out at someone else.

Righteous indignation?

But we do have one defense, right? Righteous indignation! Sometimes we are justified in our anger because it is righteous indignation.

I would caution you about using that defense. First of all, I think it is way overused. Secondly, it can be very deceiving. This man, whom we just read about, would have said that his anger was the result of righteous indignation. He would have said, “This guy has been causing trouble, saying bad things about the religious leaders and then had an air of superiority over the high priest. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I mean, who does this guy think he is, anyway? When I heard him talk to the high priest that way, righteous indignation rose up inside me. I was totally justified in my actions.”

Beware of self-justification through righteous indignation.

Anger at Easter
I remember the first Easter in our household after becoming the Senior Pastor of this church. It was many years ago. The first Easter that I was preaching the Easter message that Jesus rose from the tomb and gives grace to sinners for eternal life!

We had three services, as we have had since that time. One was on Saturday night and two on Sunday morning. My two girls were much littler then. My wife and two girls woke up on Sunday ready to celebrate Easter. They were excited and ready for our family traditions that we have done on that day. I, on the other hand, was focused. I was in Sunday morning pastor mode. I was thinking about my message on grace, thinking about those who would come to the service. I was in the zone… on a high spiritual plain. When the girls wanted to do fun family things that morning before church, distracting me from prayer and study, I felt ‘righteous indignation’ rise up in me. Didn’t they know who I am? Didn’t they understand the spiritual responsibility I had?

And I blew up. A pastor of a church, on Easter morning, yelling at his poor kids. What a heart warming scene!

At that time we had a friend of the family living with us in a room upstairs. He heard the commotion from upstairs and figured the noise was us having a good time, celebrating the blessed day. He didn’t want to miss the party, so he came hurrying down the stairs. When he figured out it wasn’t a party, but me yelling at everyone, he quickly stopped his motion down the stairs and hid in his room.

I was wrong. It was stupid. But I sure felt justified at the time. I apologized to the family and we have never had that problem since.

KEEPING ANGER ABOVE ‘C’ LEVEL

We all deal with anger at one time or another. So, what does the bible say and what practical applications can we make to deal with anger?

There are three levels of dealing with anger that I want to talk about today. They are sequential, meaning they progress from one level of anger to the next. They all start with the letter ‘C’: Containment, Control and Change. The first step of dealing with anger is containment. The next step is control. The final step is change. Keep your anger above ‘C’ level.

Let’s use two great passages about anger. First, from Jesus and then from the Apostle Paul speaking to the Ephesian church.

Matthew 5:21-26 (NKJV)
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Now from the Apostle Paul:

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV)
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.

CONTAINMENT
The first step is containment: do whatever it takes to make sure that no one gets hurt by your anger. This requires taking personal responsibility. Not “I didn’t mean to,” or “I felt justified,” or “I was having a bad day.”

SURVIVAL TIP: Take responsibility for your anger.

Jesus said, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

You go and take responsibility. Don’t pretend it didn’t happen. Don’t wait for him to come to you. Take responsibility and do something about it.

 It’s not okay to hurt someone.

This is especially true if you have, and you know you have, an anger problem. You have a greater responsibility than anyone for containment.

Restrain the ox
In Exodus 21:28-36, God is giving the people specific direction for the laws by which they are to live. It says if an ox gores a person to death, then the ox should be killed, but its owner is not responsible. Then it says if the ox had gored before and the owner was warned that it was a gorer but the owner didn’t restrain the ox (containment), then the owner is totally responsible and should receive the death penalty. A big difference!

A tendency for anger is not an excuse. It is a greater duty to contain that anger.

Containment: a sturdy fence

Change this ox to a present-day pit bull. Think of anger as a pit bull. If that pit bull has been violent in the past and maybe even bitten someone, you have got to keep that pit bull behind a sturdy fence. You’ve got to make sure that it is contained. It’s not someone else’s responsibility. It is yours.

You can’t go places where you will be prone to anger. You can’t take part in activities that can aggravate your anger. You can’t be around people that make you angry. You can’t let yourself be in situations that will inflame your anger. You may need to take special anger management classes. Containing your anger is your responsibility.

CONTROL
Control: a good leash

The second level is control. Let’s say that pit bull of anger has been tamed a great deal. It no longer demonstrates the violence that it once did. You can now go out in public. But that dog will need to be controlled. You still need a good leash.

How do you put anger on a leash and exercise control? Here are three survival tips:

SURVIVAL TIP: Catch it early.

Jesus said, “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him.” Ephesians says, “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.” One of the greatest bits of advice for dealing with anger is: catch it right away. Don’t let it spiral out of control.

Advice for newlyweds
Have you ever seen a video camera at a wedding catching people at the reception and asking them to give advice to the new bride and groom? If you have, you have heard people say, “Here’s the best advice I can give you: Never go to bed angry.” That is the most used piece of marital advice I have ever heard. And, it is good advice. It is taken from Ephesians 4:26. It is not only good advice for newlyweds. It’s good advice for us.

SURVIVAL TIP: Watch your mouth.

Thomas Jefferson once wrote some rules for living. “When angry count to ten before you speak, if very angry, count to a hundred.” Seventy-five years later, Mark Twain, the author, picking up on that same theme said, “When angry, count to four, if very angry, swear!” I wouldn’t take that last bit of advice.

Jesus said, “If you say, ‘Raca!’: and “… whoever says, ‘You fool!’” In times of anger, your mouth will get you into more trouble than anything else.

You may have noticed the word ‘Raca!’ in verse 22. It was a term of utter contempt in the Jewish culture. The word itself comes from the sound that is made when someone is clearing their throat, working up phlegm and preparing to spit on someone. It was a virtual loogie.

Put your mouth on a strong leash when you are angry. Watch what you say and how you say it.

SURVIVAL TIP: Make it right.

Matthew 5:24 says, “First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Do whatever it takes to reconcile with someone that you have wronged. Instead of being the aggressor, be the confessor.

 Turn ‘worked up’ into worship.

 Turn turmoil into testimony.

This brings honor to the Lord.

CHANGE
The last level is change.

Remember the picture of anger as a pit bull? If containment is a sturdy fence to prevent anyone from getting hurt, and control is a good leash that allows you to go out in public and manage anger, then change is a trip to the pet store.

This is when I say, “I don’t even want to own something dangerous anymore that needs to be contained or constantly controlled. I want to change.” It is trading in that pit bull for a calm and docile Labrador retriever, or a harmless lap dog.

Only Jesus can make that change for you. I left this area on your outline wide open; because what He can do to change you is also wide open. He can transform you from the inside-out. Only He can do it. He can transform anger into gentleness.

A changed life
One of the couples in our host home was sharing one night about how their lives had changed since giving their lives to Jesus. Neither one of them were Christians when they got married. Both have become Christians since then. She said the first indication she had that Jesus was real in her husband’s life is that his anger was gone. He noticed it too. He just didn’t couldn’t get angry like he could before. Jesus had changed him from the inside.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NKJV)
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, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Do you see the exchange there? Exchange bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice for: kindness; a tender heart; and forgiveness… even as God in Christ forgave you.

CONCLUSION
Here is the best news of all, and I’ve saved it for last: God is not mad at you. Sin is a slap in the face to God. Hurting others is a slap in the face to God. Just like the officer in John 18, you have slapped Jesus in the face. But, you know what? He is not mad at you. He is forgiving toward you. His forgiveness has cancelled His anger toward you and can cancel your anger toward others.

Today we celebrate communion together. Communion is a testimony to that very fact, that God is not mad at you.