19- Biblical Anger Management- C Factors - 6-Hatred

 

                                                           6-HATREDS-

 

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers up all transgressions.? Pro.10:12

“Now the end of the commandment is charity/love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of a faith unfeigned/sincere.” 1Timothy 1:5.

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” Hebrews 12:15

 Anger is one of hatred’s primary expressions. Although there is a Biblical place for hate, we are to hate sin and evil, especially our own sin and evil, yet as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we are to love all people, even our enemies. Matthew 5:43-44. So to harbor any other hate is dangerous. We can focus  hate on most anything or anyone and sometimes scarcely realize it, but its effects are nonetheless harmful. If we were to hate evil as the Bible teaches us, Proverbs 8:13, we would do just fine. We would be more like Jesus and only want to do what is right. On the other hand, if we turn our hatred toward people we are in danger of great sin even if they have seriously harmed us. The Lord is the One Who will avenge all wrong and evil, including ours if not repented of, in His own good time. Therefore we must leave the revenging of injustices and punishments to Him and instead obey His command to love and forgive. These are not options and He does supply the grace to enable us to do so. “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘it is Mine to revenge, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Romans 12:19.

 Anger broods and festers in hate and eats away while awaiting an opportunity to express itself. Hate blinds our eyes, deafens our hearing, hardens our hearts, and locks up our understanding. On top of these, it opens us up to further manipulation and control of the devil. DEAL WITH IT IMMEDIATELY- THAT IS YOUR TURE ENEMY!

                                           -YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH HATE?-

                                                           IDENTIFYING HATE

  Strangely enough, hate is not always recognizable initially often because we may not want to admit it since it is something or someone that we know we cannot or should not hate, or our concept of hate is ‘a strong emotion to where we would kill’. “It doesn’t bother me that much!”

The Bible describes hate is being demonstrated when love, honor, kindness, proper care, respect is due, yet is deliberately or spitefully withheld, even if not accompanied by any adverse emotion at that point. Genesis 29:31, Proverbs 1:22,13:24,19:7, 26:28, Luke 14:26, John 15:18, 24-25.

INDICATORS OF HATRED- When topics, thoughts, images (internal or external)

                                                 or any other references to a person(s) or things are

                                                 presented to you and you feel anger, resentment,

                                                 bitterness, intolerance, disgust,

                                                 apathy and indifference (where love and concern

                                                 are required)…     

 

ACTION STEP #1- Take it to the Lord immediately. Confess your

                                     condition, repent of your guilt, and ask Him to guide you 

                                      and help you.

                              #2- IDENTIFY AND EXAMINE.

a.       THE OBVIOUS. Who or what do you hate and why?

What does God’s Word (the Bible) have to say about it?

Is your offense valid, or is it merely a wrong to you?

Have you been wronged? Forgive and love.

NOTE#1 - If God does not give allowance for something you MUST  REPENT.

             If it is what He calls sin/evil, God still expects us to walk in the fruit of

             Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). Evil, the Bible teaches us to shun, avoid,

             abhor. This, however, does in no way give us a license to mistreat or

             hold in any disregard your fellow man. We are under Christ’s command

             to love one another.

          #2 – We are not required to agree with or  like everything, but God does expect us to

             behave in a Christ-like manner. If we are not, again we must repent and

             turn it over to the Lord and get His help.

STOP!- CONSIDER-DECIDE- DO SO NOW WHERE APPLICABLE

Godly wisdom, understanding, truth, humility, faith, and love that dispenses forgiveness and mercy are indispensable tools in combating anger and hate. This you find in Jesus 1Cor. 1:30

                   Wisdom –enables us to make good judgment

                   Understanding- gives us a clear perspective of persons, situations

                                             and things.

                   Truth-frees us from biases and prejudices.

                   Humility-enables us to be open, receptive, and teachable.

                   Faith, forgiveness, and love – brings healing and is the open door for all of the grace

                                  of God that we need to be free.

            1. Do you have all the facts, their perspective, and God’s Word on it?

                     2. Are you responsible for some of the problem?

                     3. Are you guilty at all before God and or man?

               4. What would Jesus do in this situation? What is right before God?

ALERT! To answer these questions we need serious humility and open-faced

              honesty, and to do some serious examining and soul searching.

NOTE#3 – Sometimes we get religious concepts that God never intended, (“…He

              shall send forth judgment unto victory.” Matthew 12:20.) We are rightly fearful of judging. Therefore we never deal with things properly, cover up, try to ignore, all the while they fester and eat us up inside, etc... Other times we practice denial when what is needed is a healing or deliverance by the Lord because it is something only He can do. He specializes in doing what we cannot. That way He gets all the glory and we reap the joy and the blessing. There are times when we must confront and rebuke, Matthew 18:15-17.

NOTE#4 – If you have been hurt, God does not take that lightly. He loves you so

              much. True, you must forgive, and He enables us to do that too, but He

              also wants to heal us. “He heals the broken hearted and binds up their

              wounds.” Psalm 147:3. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He

             has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal

             the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering

            of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Luke 4:18.

        That is the very reason that Jesus came. Go to Him right now and ask Him to heal you and help you. Don’t doubt.    

                 REMEMBER- You need to forgive, and you must ask forgiveness where you may have   been wrong.

                  -IF NECESSARY AND BEST, in accordance with Matthew 18:15-17,

                        In all wisdom, humility and carefulness, go to the one/s that hurt

                        you, or go to the appropriate authorities.

                      - Pray for the offending party and ask the Lord to help you forgive

                      and love them.

                                            STOP- CONSIDER-DECIDE-DO

“Whosoever hates his brother is a murder, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”1John 3:15

“He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him. When he speaks fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation.” Proverbs 26:24-26.

“Recompense no man evil for evil…Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’…Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17,19,21.

NOTE- Dealing with strong emotions, habits, mind sets, unless the Lord just sets you free immediately, may take constant and relentless work, repenting, growth. The struggle can be a fierce one, but absolutely necessary and rewarding. You are in a good way. Don’t give up.

  ACTION STEP #3- OBEY JESUS’ COMMAND TO LOVE!!! This is not an

                                  Option, this is what it means to be His disciple. No love =

                                   no faith. There is no short cut. It is all through the cross,

                                   but His victory and grace awaits us on the other side!!!

SOME REASONS FOR FAILURE

1-      Give up early

2-      Not wholehearted-not really wanting to change;

                                                 -holding on to your pride = your cause

                                                 - holding on to your self-pity

                                                 - still wanting retribution and or revenge 

                               - loving your hate/bigotry(sin), consequently feeling justified                                      

3-      Not entirely honest about all the facts

4-      Not bearing your share or the responsibility to resolve the problem

5-      Not bearing your share or the guilt that caused the problem

6-      Not willing to look at the other’s or God’s view.

7-  Not obeying Jesus’ command to love and forgive.

 

STOP-CONSIDER-EXAMINE-CONFRONT-HUMBLE YOURSELF-SURRENDER!!!