APGAR 3

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

Examine yourself. Test yourself. Have evidence to show you are a Christian.

G - Grimace
Don't be an ogre!!
Am I easily annoyed? Do I let anger get the best of me?

1. Kindness is proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
   - Th Holy Spirit leaves a trail of fruit.
   - John 15:5
   - God wants us to be kind, like Christ.
   - Acts 16. An observable difference after he came to know Christ.
   - 1 Thess. 2:7 Paul transformed.
   - Kindness is a mellow goodness, sweetness, like a wine that's aged and lost it's "harshness."
   - Romans 2:4

2. What irritates you reveals the best or worst about you.
   - What causes you to shake with anger?
   - Not all anger is bad.
   - We should hate sin.
   - Is your anger springing from concern for yourself or concern for someone else?

3. The length of your fuse indicates the level of your maturity.
   - All of God's people should be long-suffering. Slow to anger!
   - Be quick to forgive.

4. What you let get to you ultimately controls you.
   - Rage is mindless and enslaving.
   - You will do things you regret and say things you can't take back.
   - Proverbs 29:20
   - Self control is such an important quality in the life of a believer.

5. Going off turns God's power off.
   - Your anger clogs the pipe and prevents the Living Water from flowing through you.
   - Numbers 20
   - The wrath of people does not produce the kindness of God.

6. Kindness counts the most when you feel it the least.
   - It's east to be nice when people are nice to you.
   - Luke 6:32
   - Being irritated is not a sin, it's your negative actions that are.
   - When you remain calm when you feel like snapping its a blessing to you and the people you would have blown up on.

7. You're an insect too.
   - For every person who bugs you, there are probably three people you annoy.

8. Crankiness is really just selfishness so the antidote is to be selfless.
   - Philippians 2
   - Pride keeps us thinking we're better than other people.
   - The cure of pride is humility.

I want to be pleasant to be around.
I want to be a blessing to those around me.
Ask myself how would Christ respond in this situation.
Slow down, take a few deep breaths, THINK before I speak!
Do not discipline out of anger.