WHEN IT’S TIME FOR A LONG FUSE by Dr. Abidan Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson NC

Introduction:  Blow a fuse/Have a short fuse/Blow a gasket, Hit the roof, go ballistic, throw a fit/throw a tantrum, Hot under the collar, see red, make one’s blood boil, Bite someone’s head off, Fly off the handle. All these are just idioms for being angry. Maybe the reason we use idioms is because the actual idea of being angry makes us look foolish and weak. In our series on James (Practical Book for Practical People), today we will talk about how to deal with anger. Turn to page #1849. This message is titled “When It’s Time for a Long Fuse.”

James 1 (page #1849-50) 18 “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Overall Background:  Past few Sundays, we have been looking at Trials and Temptations.

For e.g. Imagine you are walking along a road by yourself. Out of nowhere, you hear footsteps behind you. You turn and you see two individuals. One has a nametag that says TRIAL and the other has a nametag that says TEMPTATION. They don’t ask permission if they can join you. As you walk, one gets on your left and the other on your right. You come to a fork in the road. One road looks easy and quick and broad and plain. The other road looks dark and dreary and narrow and painful. You have a decision to make. Mr. Temptation says, “Come with me. I will show you an easy way out.” Mr. Trial says, “Walk with me. It will be difficult, but it will take you to the right destination. Who do you pick?

• BOTH TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS TRAVEL ALONG THE SAME ROAD IN OUR LIVES. THEY ARE OUR CONSTANT COMPANIONS.
• TRIALS ARE FOR OUR GOOD. TEMPTATIONS ARE NOT. 
• GOD USES TRIALS TO GROW US. SATAN USES TEMPTATIONS TO DESTROY US. 
• IF YOU CHOOSE THE ROAD OF TRIALS, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT BUT IT WILL BRING GOD’S BEST IN YOU.
• IF YOU CHOOSE THE ROAD OF TEMPTATION, IT WILL BE EASIER BUT IT WILL LEAD YOU TO SIN AND DESTRUCTION.
• WHICH ROAD WILL YOU PICK?

IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST, HE WILL TAKE YOU DOWN THE NARROW ROAD – THE ROAD OF TRIALS BUT HE WILL BRING YOU TO LIFE. LISTEN TO HIS PROMISE.

¹⁸Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits (SAMPLE) of His creatures.

THE REASON HE SAVED US IS TO PRESENT US AS A SAMPLE BEFORE GOD AND THE WATCHING WORLD. 

TRIALS ARE GOD’S WAY OF MAKING US A SAMPLE OF HIS GRACE

Now let me go a step further. ALTHOUGH TRIALS CAN BRING OUT THE BEST IN US, THEY ALSO TEND TO BRING OUT THE WORST.

I. THE MOST COMMON RESPONSE DURING TRIALS IS ANGER

Look at verse 19 – By the way – A.T. Robertson (very famous Bible scholar) said – “Nowhere is James richer than in this wonderful paragraph in verses 19-27.”

19 So then, (wherefore/therefore) my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

Immediate Background: Watch the progression that leads to anger.

• ANGER BEGINS WHEN WE FAIL TO LISTEN – let every man be swift to hear

During times of conflict, we are so busy trying to explain ourselves, argue our point or complain about our troubles, we do not stop to listen. 

Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Zeno, the Stoic philosopher, said: “We have two ears and one mouth; therefore we should listen twice as much as we speak.”

Application: It is amazing how many problems come because we have not stopped to listen to the other person.

• ANGER GETS WORSE WHEN WE FAIL TO CONTROL OUR MOUTH – slow to speak,

During times of conflict, we often say things that are uncalled for. 

A.T. Robertson again says: “Anger inflames one to hasty and unguarded talk. In turn, the words act as fuel to the flames. The talk inflames the anger, and the anger inflames the talk. The more one talks, the angrier he becomes – like a spitfire. If one stops talking, his anger will cool down for lack of fuel.” 

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 10:19 “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”

Someone said: “A closed mouth gathers no foot.”

Application: How many of us have said things in the heat of the moment that we regretted later?

• FINALLY, IT ENDS IN DISASTER WHEN WE GET ANGRY.

slow to wrath

Background: The word for wrath is the Greek word “orge” which is not explosive anger but a deep seated inner resentment. No one knows this is going on inside.

When we go through trials, we face a range of emotions. Physical trials (sickness) – we feel helpless, hopeless, tired; Financial trials – we feel stressed out, afraid (bills); Relationship trials (husband/wife, family, people) – we feel hurt, rejected, disappointed, jealous. Instead of dealing with the right emotion, we jump over all of them to anger.

Tim Lahaye quotes Henry Brandt – anger is involved in 80-90 % of all counseling. In Anger is a Choice,he adds: “when people overreact something else is going on.” (p. 68)

For e.g. What happens when this rubber band is stretched? I can stretch it all I want but it will not make any noise. But what if I stretch it all the way? Result – It pops/snaps/breaks. 

Different people have different ways of handling anger. FOR EXAMPLE:

• Some people are like a TOXIC WASTE – they bury it deep inside and it looks like everything is fine on the surface. However, in time it seeps out and contaminates their attitudes and relationships.
• Some people are like a VOLCANO – it seems to rumble for days and months and even years. All of a sudden it explodes and all the hot lava and burning ash is scattered everywhere.
• Some people are like a FREEZER – it just turns ice cold and that’s that.

EMOTIONS LIKE HELPLESSNESS, HOPELESSNESS, FEAR, REJECTION, DISAPPOINTMENT, JEALOUSY, ENVY ARE HARD TO DEAL WITH. ANGER IS EASY TO EXPRESS. THEREFORE, PEOPLE JUMP TO THE EXTREME EMOTION BECAUSE IT IS QUICK, IT IS POWERFUL AND IT GETS THE JOB DONE – SORTA.

For e.g. Bob has been working on a deal for about a year. He has put his heart and soul into it. It is Friday. Today they will sign the papers. It is all done. Out of nowhere, the client backs off and Bob’s deal gets rejected. By the way – Bob’s wife, Tammy, has been preparing a big meal that evening. Kids have had a great week. Everything has been wonderful. He gets home by six. She’s ready. Well – it is 6:45. No Bob. Dinner is overcooked, cold, kids are fighting. Finally, 7:30 Bob walks in. He does not know how to handle rejection. But he knows how to be angry. Tammy is hurt. She does not know how to handle disappointment. Tammy – “you are always late. You don’t care about your family.” Bob – “you always nag me. I am sick of your complaining.” Anger takes over, the evening is killed, and now the relationship has holes in it that have to be patched.

let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath

II. ANGER WORKS CONTRARY TO THE CHARACTER OF GOD

20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Background: The righteousness of God = His moral purity, reliability, faithfulness

The Bible talks about two ways we receive this righteousness.

POSITIONALLY	PRACTICALLY
ONCE WE GET SAVED, WE HAVE A NEW POSITION BEFORE GOD.	ONCE WE GET SAVED, WE HAVE A NEW NATURE FROM GOD.
WE ARE STANDING IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. GOD HAS DECLARED US RIGHTEOUS. WE DON’T HAVE TO WORK FOR THAT.	WE HAVE A NEW DESIRE TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY BEFORE GOD. GOD HAS MADE US A NEW CREATION.
Philippians 3:9  “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”	Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
MEANING: WHEN GOD SEES ME, HE SEES CHRIST.	MEANING: NOW THAT I AM CHANGED, I REPRESENT GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THIS WORLD.
IT GUARANTEES HEAVEN TO ME.	IT BRINGS OTHERS TO HEAVEN WITH ME.

Application: Can my anger and my temper tantrum represent God and His righteousness before a watching world? James answers: 20 for the wrath of man does not produce (represent) the righteousness of God.

III. THE SOLUTION TO ANGER: REJECT AND RECEIVE

What does James say to that? – 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness

Background: The word for lay aside is apotiqhmai which means “to take off.” The word connotes the idea of removing clothes. It is a participle. This means we must read it as follows: “Having put aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness.” 

Many people are trying to make themselves a NEW CREATION; Some are trying to get old things to PASS AWAY; Some are TRYING TO MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Some of you are looking at me saying: “Then why do I still do what I do?” “Why do I still have the same old anger?” 

IT IS EASIER AND MORE FAMILIAR. YOU HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM YOUR SLAVERY BUT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN RESCUED FROM YOUR OLD HABITS (Surrounded by the World, the Flesh, and the Devil)

For e.g. Eating Sardines with Rice and Ketchup in college.

But, there is more:

and receive with meekness (humility = okay to admit that you have a problem) the implanted word (Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”), which is able to save your souls.

What is this “save your souls?” Not salvation to go to heaven but deliverance from sin and death.”

CHRIST HAS WALKED THE MILE FOR YOU.