I Was Angry
Joshua Pollard
August 9, 2026
Instructions in the Old and New Testaments are direct and clear about not sinning out of anger
Psalm 4:4a (NIV)
4 In your anger do not sin
Ephesians 4:26a (NIV)
26 In your anger do not sin
· Anger is diverse
Definition: Feeling strong displeasure when something seems unfair, wrong, or obstructive. Anger often creates a desire to defend yourself, confront the problem, or restore fairness. Source: www.feelingswheel.app
Wide Range of Emotions that fit in the Anger range:
Let down
Betrayed
Resentful
Humiliated
Disrespected
Ridiculed
Bitter
Indignant
Violated
Mad
Furious
Jealous
Aggressive
Provoked
Hostile
Frustrated
Infuriated
Annoyed
Distant
Withdrawn
Numb
Critical
Skeptical
Dismissive
· Anger can be found in God’s people and lead to misaligned miracles
Numbers 20: 7-12(NIV)
7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink” 9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
· Once your expectations are missed you have the choice: Be in alignment with God’s Grace or be out of alignment from a place of Deficit where you believe you did not get what you deserved and stay there
· In order to exit anger without sinning you must SLOW DOWN
Psalm 4:4 (NIV)
4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)
26 In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
SLOW > FAST
Spirit-Led Self Talk > Fear
Love-Prompted Labor > Anxiety
Obedience-Optimized Opportunities > Stress
Wise Counsel > Talent
James 1:19-20 (NIV)
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
Get Your Mind Right
How to Lead Like Jesus
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
August 2, 2026
Common Perils and Pitfalls of Leadership
Case Study—Moses on the Brink of Burnout
Exodus 18:13-17 13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.
Case Study—Saul the Insecure Leader
1 Samuel 10:1,6-7, 20-24 1Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance? 6 The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 20 When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22 So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.” 23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
1 Samuel 15:3a,9,14-15, 24-25 3a Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. 12 Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.” 14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”15 Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.” 26 But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!” 30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.”
1 Samuel 16:14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.
4 Domains of Leadership
- Self
1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
2.Family
1Timothy 3:5 If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church
3.Work/School
1 Timothy 3:7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
1 Peter 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the [unsaved] Gentiles [conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], so that [a]for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may [instead come to] glorify God [b]in the day of visitation [when He looks upon them with mercy].
4.Kingdom Community (Church)
Acts 6:3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
Exodus 18:21,23 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
Sermon in a sentence:
The secret to leading like Jesus is to live like Jesus.
Mark 10:42-45 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Luke 5:15-16 15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Mark 1:36-38 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
John 4:34 34 My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Disclaimer: Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s Word — His opinion — and provides His instruction for how to live life under His rule (i.e., the Kingdom of God).
