THE BELIEVER’S PROGRESS WITH TOTAL FREEDOM FROM ANGER

Gleans from Sunday End of Month with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.

DLBC Gbagada, Lagos HQ

30th September 2018

THE BELIEVER’S PROGRESS WITH TOTAL FREEDOM FROM ANGER

Matthew 5:21-26; John 8:32,36; Romans 6:18,19; 8:2; Galatians 2:20; 5:1

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment” (Matthew 5:21). Here, the Lord Jesus Christ was opening a new chapter in the life of everyone there. He said, Thou shalt not kill. Why? Every creature is important to God, He created everyone for a definite plan and purpose, and each one should make the progress and accomplish God’s plan. If you cut short his life you have done something to the plan of God and the progress that person ought to make and God will have to deal with that terminate your own progress you ought to make. Look at every person with a definite purpose for his life and don’t cut short his life. “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22). When you are angry with a brother you judge his worth and ability, and if  he knows it he is affected inside and diverted, depressed and distressed, so he cannot concentrate or function to fulfil God’s will for his life. So Jesus says, don’t get angry with that individual. The law of sowing and reaping says you will be in the danger of judgement as well. When you say to a person, Raca, an empty headed fellow, a nonentity, a fool, it is a reflection on God who created him; you endanger your life. “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee” (Matthew 5:23).  Jesus also taught that when you bring a gift to God and remember that someone has something against you as you have hurt or damaged their self-confidence, God is not interested in that gift after you have belittled Him, go and reconcile with that person first. Reconciliation, restitution, peacemaking, righteousness make us fit to offer anything, our voice, gift, talent and treasure unto the Lord. You cage yourself if you do not make amends and restitution.

If there is any problem we need to address in our families, it is the problem of anger. You might think that this passage talks on restitution, you are right. But that is not the only interpretation. We need to take the whole passage and see today what is hindering our progress and revival in the church, and in our lives. It is this problem of anger. We cannot make progress when we have anger. Progress is the believer’s birthright; all-round progress, spiritual, material, secular, marital, health-wise and the work of the ministry Negative emotions hinder our health and our fulfillment in life. No one can enjoy all-round progress in isolation. You cannot make progress without relationship with other people, you relate with saints and sinners, neighbours and strangers, friends and foes, good and not so good people in life, truthful and troublesome people. The secret of our progress is freedom. Anger hinders our progress, promotion and prosperity. Everything depends on you. No one can make or keep you angry without your permission, and no one can stop or hinder your progress without your consent. What you need is total freedom, and you will be free. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). There is a supernatural, heavenly and external force coming to make you free from sin (Romans 6:18). “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). Progress from heaven and by the Spirit, as the Lord has created and intended for you, will come upon your life in Jesus Name. When Christ comes into our lives, He sets us free and releases us so that we can accomplish what the Lord has ordained for us to accomplish. Stand fast therefore in this liberty.

Point 1. THE DANGER AND CONSEQUENCE OF ANGER IN THE HEART

Matthew 5:21,22; Job 18:4; 5:2; Genesis 27:41-46; Psalms 106:32-33; Deuteronomy 3:23-26; 1 Samuel 20:30-33; 2 Chronicles 26:16-21

And whosoever – anyone, for God is no respecter of persons – kills shall be in danger of judgement. Cain was the first murderer in the Bible; he killed his brother Abel. (That just fast-tracked Abel’s way to heaven and lengthened his time there!) But a curse came upon Cain. The problem and the injury were greater on Cain. Pharaoh was angry and killed all the newly born males; those babies went straight into heaven without the hassle and problems of life, but the problem was on Pharaoh. Nebuchadnezzar in anger threw the three Hebrew children into the fiery furnace. They were not angry but had confidence in their God, and He delivered them, while Nebuchadnezzar lost his mighty men to the furnace of the fire. It is the person that gets angry that creates problem for himself! “He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?” (Job 18:4). Anger destroys the person who is manifesting anger. His brain, heart and other parts are affected and he cannot thing of his progress and prospect. “They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes” (Psalm 106:32). Here was the meekest, spiritual and most privileged man at that time, Moses, a man loved by God, one who gave up every imaginable thing for the redemption of Israel. These same people provoked him to anger and he did contrary to God’s command. Water came out, the people drank and were satisfied, but for Moses, he got into trouble. Things were never the same for that man Moses after this incident. “But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter” (Deuteronomy 3:26). He bore the consequence of that anger. Anger destroys the person more that the people he is angry with.  It affects our prayer life and relationship with God, as well as our progress and God’s plans for us. Anger does not know how to limit itself to the person or object that you are angry with. It throws its spear beyond the target to the people not in the picture; like in the case of Saul against Jonathan that the mother was brought into the picture. Anger scatters everything. Satan and your in-laws cannot scatter your family. If that family is scattered, it is your anger and fury that scatter everything. “And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David” (1 Samuel 20:33). Angry people forget themselves, their plans and desire. Saul wanted his son to reign yet he wanted to smite him with a javelin. Angry people hinder and destroy themselves. Anger separates him from success and happiness, destroys and distresses him, slows down the brain from positive thinking and progressive planning, scatters the family, has devastating effect on the person, makes the person deny himself of divine favours, and causes self-destruction like in the case of Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:19-21). The angry person is less productive and hinders himself from ever reaching his potentials. There is a great future ahead of you, don’t allow anger to hinder you from getting to that future. Those who manifest anger, less talented persons will surpass them. So leave that anger, hatred, negative emotion, fury alone and you will make progress in life and ministry.

Point 2. THE DECLARATION OF CHRIST ON ANGER IN HIS HOUSE

Matthew 5:23,24

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy bother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:23,24)  There are some things here:

1. Remembrance – John 14:26. Anywhere you may be and you remember that you did that thing as a result of anger, or that someone has ought against you, that place is your altar, offer prayer of petition to God. If you do not remember, the Holy Ghost brings things to our remembrance as well. If you never remember that that person, child of God has something against you, then you don’t have the Holy Ghost. You are spiritually dead, and the Lord will not accept your sacrifice.
2. Repentance – Like 17:3-4. When something has happened and there is an exchange of hot words that the other fellow is offended, because you are the originator, there is need for repentance. You rebuke or correct your brother not in anger but in love. After you remember, there is repentance. If you don’t forgive, then you have problem with the Holy Ghost.
3. Reconciliation – Matthew 5:24. There are some people that their anger has mastery over them, not under their control. Reconcile with that brother, talk face to face, don’t carry the fire of hatred and anger in your heart.
4. Restitution – Genesis 20:7,14. The restitution might be major or minor, it must be done. “Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine” (Genesis 20:7). Abimelech knew nothing about the plan of God for Abraham to have a child by Sarah, and his taking her would hinder God’s plan, so He was under the judgement of God until he restored Sarah to Abraham. Abimelech did not do his restitution in anger, malice or animosity. He spoke kindly with Abraham and gave him gifts. He did his restitution cheerfully and freely, not with hard feelings at all.
5. Recovery – Genesis 20:17-18; Isaiah 57:18-19; Luke 19:8-10. There is recovery for you in Jesus Name. Restitution is not limited to second wife, returning wrong certificate, money stolen or material things you took by force, they are all there, but there are other things, like you took somebody’s business, you return his business back to him. When you take anything, something tangible that does not belong to you, you are to return or restore that thing. Take David who cut off the edge of king Saul’s robe; he took the honour, identification mark, royalty and authority of Saul away. When you take what belongs to another person, the power, authority, honour or opportunity that belongs to him, you are to restore. Even if you stole the hearts of the people loyal to that man, you are to restore.
6. Renewal – Genesis 20:14-15. There must be renewal of relationships. There was a renewal of relationship between Abraham and Abimelech. The restitution he made to Abraham did not bring animosity nor hatred between them but a renewal of relationship.
7. Return – Matthew 5:24. You return fully to the Lord, to serve the Lord and your service to the Lord will be acceptable in His sight in Jesus Name.

Point 3. OUR DOMINION AND CLEANSING FROM ANGER FOR ETERNAL HAPPINESS

​Matthew 5:21-22; Job 34:31-32; Psalms 37:8-9; Proverbs 16:32; Ecclesiastes 7:8-9; Acts 9:3-4; Matthew 25:40,45; Ephesians 4:30-32

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21,22). You see the destination of the people who are living and manifesting anger and not doing anything about that angry disposition to take care of it, are heading for hell fire. To avoid that we must be free from sin and anger. “Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more” (Job 34:31). I will not offend any more, nor be angry, fight or do evil anymore.

Progress, success, happiness, health, goodness of God are all for you, but how will this happen? “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil” (Psalms 37:8). Cease from anger; it is destructive, cuts you away from progress and success. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Proverbs 16:32) He that is slow to anger, that is, you deny and refuse the manifestation of anger in your heart and life. Don’t give anger the first chance to enter when it wants to enter, do other things, say other things, something nice, and go the other direction, then anger will get angry and vanish away. Anger will not be your friend, will not destroy you, and will not be your partner in life. Anger rests in the bosom of fools. You will not be a fool. But goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4). When you get angry with a child of God, then you are angry at Christ, you are furious against Christ. Understand that when the temptation comes to be angry, it is not against that person, but it is against Christ. You will not be angry with Christ. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). When you are angry against your brother, and withdraw anything good from him, then you are angry at Christ. You will not grieve the Spirit of God because of anger and evil speaking. You will throw them away and be freed from all anger. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31,32). With this, your progress, success and happiness have come. Take away that anger and malice, throw them away, and now you are free.

Ponder on this! Angry people hinder and destroy themselves. Anger destroys the angry person. Anger separates him from success and happiness, destroys and distresses him, slows down the brain from positive thinking and progressive planning, scatters the family, makes revenge have devastating effect on the person, hinders prayer, makes the person deny himself of divine favours, and causes self-destruction. Pastor (Dr.) W.F Kumuyi. 

Ponder on this! No one can have and enjoy all-round progress in isolation. You cannot make progress without relationship with other people, you relate with saints and sinners, neighbours and strangers, friends and foes, good and not so good people in life, truthful and troublesome people. The secret of our progress is freedom. Pastor (Dr.) W.F Kumuyi. 

Reflections – Don’t give anger the first chance to enter when it wants to enter; do other things, say other things and go the other direction, then anger will get angry and vanish away. Pastor (Dr.) W.F Kumuyi.

Words on the Marble – No one can make or keep you angry without your permission and no one can stop or hinder your progress without your consent. Pastor (Dr.) W.F Kumuyi.

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