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(Jonah 3:10-4:11) Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring

upon them, and He did not do it. {1} But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. {2} So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD,

was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who

relents from doing harm. {3} "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!" {4} Then the LORD said, "Is it

right for you to be angry?“>>>

{5} So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and

sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. {6} And the LORD God

prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him

from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. {7} But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that

it withered. {8} And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint.

Then he wished death for himself, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." {9} Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" And he said, "It is right for me to be angry,

even to death!"

THE D"ANGER" ZONE

THE DANGER ZONEAnger is just one letter short of danger—it’s

true in English as well as in practice. Dr. Bedford Williams at Duke University has

determined that students who scored high on a “hostility test” were in far greater danger of dying young than their peers. In fact, those

who were prone to anger were in greater physical danger than those who smoked, had high blood pressure or even high cholesterol.

THE SCRIPTURES SAY A LOT ABOUT ANGER1. (Eph 4:29-32) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your

mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. {30} And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. {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, just as God in Christ forgave you.

2. (Prov 22:24-25) Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, {25} Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

3. (Prov 29:22) An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression.

4. (Eccl 7:8-9) The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. {9} Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Here are four simple steps to help move you out of the danger zone when you feel

as if your hostility is managing you, rather than

the other way around:

I. CONTROL IT.  A. Like writer Ambrose Bierce said so well, “Speak

when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”

B. (Prov 15:18) A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

C. (Prov 16:32) He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

D. (Prov 19:11) The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

II. TALK IT OUT.  A. Don’t keep it in and let it fester. B. Many times just talking about your anger to

someone else helps relieve the anger. C. (Psa 4:4) Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate

within your heart on your bed, and be still.

III. ACT ON IT.  A. Do what needs to be done to resolve the

situation. Helplessness will only provoke more anger and, eventually, despair.

B. (Prov 15:1) A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

IV. END IT.  A. Just as there was a starting point for your

anger, there must be an ending. Make a decision not to prolong destructive hostility and you will find yourself healthier and happier.

B. (Eph 4:26-27) "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, {27} nor give place to the devil.

THE D”ANGER” ZONE A. For every minute you’re angry, you lose sixty seconds of

happiness. Are you ready to find peace? B. (Col 3:4-9) When Christ who is our life appears, then you

also will appear with Him in glory. {5} Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. {6} Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, {7} in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. {8} But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. {9} Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

TONIGHT’S SERMON:

THE STORY OF TWO JOSEPHS