Overcoming Anger Part 2

Dave and Bethlie continue their series on overcoming with this part 2 of Overcoming Anger.

1. How do you overcome anger in your marriage and family
   1. Start with confession
      1. Eph 4:30. Confess it as sin
         1. Control your anger - better - confess your anger
         2. Jesus got angry - you aren't Jesus
   2. Meditate on Scripture
      1. Proverbs 15:1-3
         1. A soft/gentle answer turns away wrath
            • Recognize that you are most vulnerable to sin when you are sinned against
         2. the tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright
            • Recognize that your words evidence your heart
         3. the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good
            • Recognize that God is always present and always holding us accountable 
      2. Proverbs 17:19
      3. Ecclesiastes 9:17
   3. Start with some growth/spiritual steps
      1. If you have an anger issue this is the answer
         1. You have to grow
            1. Confess it as sin
            2. Pray about it every day
            3. Ask forgiveness
            4. Secure accountability
            5. Respond immediately to any failure
         2. You have to sow
            • As you sow the right seeds, you will begin to see fruit
         3. You have to love and honor
            1. Your wife matters
            2. Your husband matters
      2. If you are married to someone with an anger problem, this is the answer.
         1. You have to grow too
            1. In order to confront your spouses anger, you have to put your spiritual house in order
               • essential to have the strength, courage, perspective, and ability to help your spouse
            2. Pray about how to respond in a right way
            3. Practice how to respond in a right way
               • That was a very angry way to say that, can you say it differently so I don't feel so defensive
         2. You have to allow time for fruit
            1. Anger is usually a learned behavior that is habitual
            2. When you respond to your spouse with gentleness and a request for a different response, allow your spouse to process that
               1. It makes them aware
               2. It give the Spirit time to work
   4. Separate as a last resort.
      1. I can't (with a clear conscience) believe that anger is a grounds for divorce
      2. Separation however, may be needed if a man's anger is making him abusive