Introduction:

( We Could Well Title Ths Message: )

A. God's Disfunctional Family --- (We Christians)

In a disfuncitonal family there is:

1. A Bad Attitude,

2. Selfishness & Conditional Love,

3. Unforgiveness & Bitterness,

4. Anger & Conflict With The Authority Figure In The Home.

B. Today, we will be talking about Our Conflict With & Anger At our, Authority Figure, our Heavenly Father --- God!

Job ---Job 3:20-22, "Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter <in> soul; {21} Which long for death, but it <cometh> not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; {22} Which rejoice exceedingly, <and> are glad, when they can find the grave?" --- 7:11-21, "Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. {12} <Am> I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? {13} When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; {14} Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: {15} So that my soul chooseth strangling, <and> death rather than my life. {16} I loathe <it>; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days <are> vanity. {17} What <is> man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? {18} And <that> thou shouldest visit him every morning, <and> try him every moment? {19} How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? {20} I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? {21} And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity?"

Would You Say Job Was Angry With God?

David --- Psalms 73:12-13, "Behold, these <are> the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase <in> riches. {13} Verily I have cleansed my heart <in> vain, and washed my hands in innocency." --- 10:1, "Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? <why> hidest thou <thyself> in times of trouble?" --- 44:23-24, "Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast <us> not off for ever. {24} Wherefore hidest thou thy face, <and> forgettest our affliction and our oppression?"

Would You Say David Was Angry With God?

Jeremiah --- Jer. 20:7-9, "O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. {8} For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. {9} Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name."

Would You Say Jeremiah Was Angry With God?

Naomi --- Ruth 1:20-21, "And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. {21} I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why <then> call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?"

Would You Say Naomi Was Angry With God?

Moses --- Numbers 11:15, "And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

Would You Say Moses Was Angry With God?

C. Do you ever feel Confused, Disappointed, Resentful and even Angry With God?

1. Why I still Long For and Desire the very things God Has Forbidden?

2. Why am I dealt my particular Circumstances ..... ?

3. Why do I have such Emotional Pain that it seems too Great To Bear?

4. Do find myself Praying Less because God Seems Indifferent to me --- and your problems.

D. If so, we are in good company! --- Our Lesson Text:

Job --- David --- Jeremiah --- Naomi --- Moses .....

E. Howwever, the Fundamental Human Dilemma is not Anxiety --- Depression --- Anxiety --- Anger or Imbalance In Neuro-Transmitting Chemistry.

F. Our Depression, Anxiety and Anger are Not The Results Of:

1. Neglect, rejection, or abuse by a Parent or Spouse,

a. Your Environment or the Way You Were Raised.

b. Molestation,

c. An Illicit Affair by a spouse,

2. Rejection by your own child, or a Child's Rebellion,

3. The Loss of A Loved One --- Jacob ...,

4. A debilitating Injury or Sickness,

5. A major Financial Loss --- A rudely shut door of opportunity.

6. P.M.S.

7. Peer Pressure.

8. It's not our Past History, difficult and ugly as that may be

9. Nor is it Sickenss, an Accident, Loss or Affliction.

10. Our greatest problem is not even the Sins We Commit.

11 Our greatest problem is the Seperation In Our Soul from the love, joy and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

12. This Seperation or Conflict causes us to be Angry With God.

G. This message is for those who are Tired of The Pain and the Searching and the Emptiness --- those who Really Want A Fulfilled Life!

1. God's Unchanging Desire is to have a Close & Intimate Fellowship with you.

2. Man's greatest Dilemma --- the Source of His Problem --- is a Separation From His Source of Fulfillment --- which is God! ---

H. We Alienate Ourselves from God by:

1. Actively Contradicting Him ...

2. By Taking Issue with Him over What Is Good.

3. By Wanting To Be In Control --- "You Can Ask Me, And I Will Do Anything For You, But Don't Try Telling Me What To Do!"

God is Not in the Asking Business.

I. The Cure Is Not --- insight --- or healing of memories--- or making the unconscious conscious --- or increased rationality --- or finding one's real self ...

1. Biblical Psychology existed long before Contemporary Psychology came into being.

2. You Cannot Deal With deviant human behavior As If man is a Malfunctioning Computer.

3. The Cure Is in building a Right Relationship with our Creator and Saviour - Almighty God.

J. The Pastor or Counselor can help you discover the pathway, but You Must Take Yourself Step-By-Step To The Goal --- the work is up to you.

I. Are You So Angry At God That You Are Looking Somewhere Else For Fulfillment In Life?

A. Have you spent many Empty Sleepless Nights wondering What You Did to deserve this Hurt:

1. Grief ... Loneliness ... Alienation ...

2. Or, Do you have a desperate sense that Life Is Meaningless or Unfair?

3. Are you Blaming God for your Plight In Life.

Are you in fact Running From God:

B. The Irony in all this is that --- We React By Bitting The Hand That Can Set Us Free --- which is God.

1. Do you ever Vent Your Anger on the Very One Who Has The Power to shield you from pain.

2. Do you ever feel that your hurt is God's Fault? --- He:

a. Betrayed you --- Let you down,

b. Failed to protect you --- Forgotten about you,

c. Ignored your record of faithful service,

d. Broken His promises to hear and answer prayer ...

3. Because you were hurting, you:

Turned On God --- Blamed Him --- Doubted Him, and Hardened Yourself against Him.

C. Are you so angry at God, that you Focus On The Externals of your dilemma that you don't pay attention to what is going on at a Deeper Level?

1. Do you try to Hid Your Hurts:

a. Trying to be "Strong" --- Trying to be "Adult" ...

b. Even "Denying" that there is a Conflict or Anger in the first place.

2. Some have Tried Everything:

a. Marriage Counseling ... Psychotherapy ... Religion ...

b. Even, Plunging Into Affairs ...

c. Soaking Themselves In Their Work ... Workaholics ...

d. But, Nothing Has Worked ...

3. Some have even tried to Anesthetize themselfs with Alcohol --- soften the pain with Drugs?

4. Some have gotten into "Pseudo-Spiritual" movements.

a. Getting in touch with your True-Self,

b. Visualization,

c. Audio tapes --- "subliminal" inspirational messages,

d. Yoga, Transcendental Meditation, Psychic Mind Control --- Chatting with "Ascended Masters".

5. Others have tried pouring themselves into Christian Practices:

"I'll go to Church more ... Pray longer ... Give more."

D. However, None Of These Things Work --- the true field of conflict lies even Deeper than the Unconscious Mind.

Our Real Problem --- Conflict & Anger With God!

II. Most Emotional Problems Results, Ultimately, From A Disagreement (Dispute, Conflict) With God>.

A. Are You Causing a Conflict by Struggling and Quarreling with God about What Is Best For You?

B. For some, their quarrel with God begins when they Believe A Lesser Good Is Best For Them --- They say:

1. "If only I could get into This school"

2. "I must have That job"

3. "I'll be miserable If He/She won't love me"

4. "Why can't life be The Way I Want It --- right now?"

C. For others, the conflict begins by Believing A Bad Thing Is Truly Good --- they say:

1. Sex --- Why is it so wrong to Sleep With Someone You're Not Married To? --- as long as you love one another?"

a. "An affair will be good for me because I don't have enough love at home."

b. "God couldn't possibly oppose such a beautiful thing as human love."

c. "Besides, I'm not hurting anybody."

d. "Anyway, the old morality is outdated.

2. Lie --- Why Can't I Lie, if it will help me or someone else?"

3. Divorce --- It shouldn't be considered wrong for me to Leave My Wife And Family --- not if I'll be More Fulfilled --- after all this is the 90's.

D. For still others, the conflict erupts from Believing The Reverse --- That Something Good Is Actually Bad ---

1. "Nobody tells me what to do"

(All of us should be accountable to each other)

2. "It's my life, and if anyone else is concerned about the choices I make, it's their problem"

James 5:19-20, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; {20} Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

3. "Love? --- Commitment? --- Marriage? --- All that does is give somebody a licenses to run your life."

4. However, the Christian's Servant Attitude should extend even to our Brothers In Christ.

Gal. 5:13, "... by love serve one another."

Phil. 2:3, "... in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

5. Even Jesus --- Matt. 20:28, "Even as the Son of man came not to be [ministered] unto, but to [minister], and to give his life a ransom for many."

6. Now, we have really Quit Preaching and Starting Meddling.

7. We not only alienate ourselves from God but also from our friends & family By Wanting To Be In Control.

E. In the Fourth Century, Christians Writers referred to the sin of "Sloth" --- (one of the Seven Deadly Sins).

1. Today, we define sloth as "Laziness".

2. However, what they Described as "Sloth" was the Same Condition we call "Depression".

3. They noted that the "Slothful" or "Depressed" person:

a. Avoided prayer and Bible reading,

b. Insisted that spiritual pursuits were fruitless,

c. Had feelings of dejection, restlessness, indifference and mental exhaustion,

d. Believed that work was unbearable,

e. Feeling that the days are too long.

4. Noteworthy is the fact that they considered this condition one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Not A Mere Illness.

5. There are Many Very Legitimate Reasons for Christians to be Depressed --- Medical Reasons --- Chemical Imbalance, etc.

6. But make sure your's is a Medical Reason and not Spiritual.

7. In other words, it Could Be a Sin to be Depressed!

8. However, depression is Not the Root Cause of our problems.

III. Truths That Will Give You Victory & Set You Free.

John 8:32, "And ye shall know the [truth], and the [truth] shall make you [free]."

A. First, Acknowledge that you Still Have The Old Adamic Nature!

1. Because of our Adamic Nature, we can Drift Away From God Slowly and almost Undetectable.

a. Do you ever Go To Church and it feel like it's pretty much a Ritual --- something we do .....

b. To Keep God Satisfied --- Use as a Sedative for Inner Distress ..... It Makes Me Feel Better!

2. Do you ever find yourself Believing With Your Head but Drifting In Your Heart --- Thinking:

a. "Born-again" Christians are "supposed" to Have All The Answers ...

b. The Space between you and God has been Caused By God --- He remains Indifferent to your pain ....

c. God has Failed To Support You.

(1) He has, in effect, Deprived You of what is truly good.

(2) He has somehow, Let You Down!

3. You Need To Understand that you Still Have that Old, Sinful, God-Despising Nature which was in you before you were "Born-Again".

This nature is Permanently Affiliated With Satan --- It will Never Stop Making Trouble For You.

4. This old nature cries out like David:

Psalms 10:1, "Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? <why> hidest thou <thyself> in times of trouble?" --- 44:23-24, "Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast <us> not off for ever. {24} Wherefore hidest thou thy face, <and> forgettest our affliction and our oppression?"

5. However, God Doesn't hid, or stand afar off, or sleep, or forget us --- the Seperation Is Of Our Own Making!

Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid <his> face from you, that he will not hear."

6. When we Disagree With God, we are saying indirectly that He Is In The Wrong --- so we must learn to:

"... Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the [lust] of the flesh (The Adamic Nature)." (Galatians 5:16)

7. Now, keep in mind, there is No Such Thing As A Spirit-Controlled Life.

B. Second, Admit that you are Mad At God!

1. It is a Fearful thing to Admit We're Angry With God and so we Cover Our Anger at Him with Denial.

2. So, Why Do We continue to Ignore or Hide From The Real Issue? ---

Why do we Deny that Anger At God may be the Real Root Cause of all our problems?

a. "What would God do If He Knew? --- What would that say about me as a person? --- As a Christian?"

b. "After God has done so much for me --- sending His Son to die on the cross and all --- I'd be Ungrateful If I Admitted to being angry at Him."

c. "God Wouldn't Understand my problem with Him, and He'd only tell me to 'Shape Up.'"

d. "I can't allow myself to feel anger at God; He's so big He Could Wipe Me Out."

(1) "If I Express my real feelings toward Him, He Might Get Really Angry and take away the few blessings I have.

(2) He might want to show me How Bad It Can Get!"

e. Besides, "Good Christians Don't get angry. And they don't never, ever, get into an argument with God?"

3. So, we Hid From God because we are Afraid we will Offend or Drive Him Away.

We are Terrified that He is out to Test Our Spiritual Strength by Crushing Us.

4. We ask, "If God Is So Kind And Loving And Powerful, Why Can't He Do Something To Help Me?"

a. It's Hard To Believe that God has Our Best Interest in mind.

b. Remember: Job, David, Jeremiah, Naomi, Moses.

c. There is a force of Human Pride in each of us that will fight to the death for what we feel --- "We Have Met The Enemy And He Is Us".

5. Often, intelligent, spiritually sensitive Chrisitans keep themselves Oblivious to the Truth behind Their Own Afflictions & Problems --- which may be Many:

a. Depression ... Apathy ... Unhappiness ... Doubts ... Fears ... Distance ... Meaninglessness in Life ...

b. Anxiety ... Fearfulness ... "Stress" ... Rationalizing Bad Choices ...

c. Anger ... Bitterness, Hostility, Quick-Temper, Contempt, Violence, Sarcasm, Restlessness, Easily Aggravated, Constant Irritability, and Getting Even.

(1) Some people almost Radiate Waves of Anger --- a Frown is their Everyday Expression.

(2) Some of people Smile Nearly All The Time no matter what's going on --- because they have learned to Mask Their Anger.

d. Cynicism --- Cause By Anger With God.

(1) Believes things can only get worse.

(2) God has failed him, so why hope for the future, only to be let down again.

e. Loss of Natural Gratitude.

(1) Unmitigated Self-Centered Expectations ...

(2) Even Dogs smile and wag their tails to thank you for some kindness.

f. Tranquilizers ... Alcohol ... Other Drugs.

Valium ... Ritalin ... Prozak ... etc.

(1) Trying to find that "Lift" from another source --- Other Than God ...

(2) Maybe, the Chemical Will Do More for them than God can do.

(3) There are Many Very Legitimate Reasons for Christians to take these drugs --- but make sure your's is a Medical Reason and not Spiritual.

g. Denial --- "Anxious? Not me --- Philippians tells us to 'have no anxiety about anything.' I'm a Bible-believing Christian. I can't be anxious."

Super-Spirituality ... Plastic Christianity.

6. The Truth Is That All of these problems & characteristics Could Be evidencs that We Are Angry At God!

7. Are you willing to Admit your anger against God?

C. Third, Appreciate the fact that God Knows What's Right or Wrong For You better than you do!

1. We, many times, Deny Our Feelings both toward Ourselves and toward God.

2. We believe God Is Wrong about What Is Best For Us.

a. We Say, "I love my child too much to spank him/her."

b. God Says, in Proverbs 13:24, "He that [spareth] his [rod] hateth his [son]: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."

3. We take Issue With God about something We Want To Do --- (that He Has Forbidden) --- Lottery ...

4. We Object to, and Don't Want To Accept, some event in our lives --- (which He Has Allowed).

Romans 8:28-29, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to <his> purpose. {29} ..... <to be> conformed to the image of his Son, ..."

5. We Can't quite Believe that God Understands Our Deepest Needs.

a. Psalms 103:14, "For he knoweth our frame; he [remembereth] that we <are> [dust]."

b. We readily admit that We Don't Known Everything, but we do believe that We Know Our Own Needs.

6. We Equate Wants With What's Good For Us --- if we want something, it's bound to be good.

a. We may even Distorte The Truth.

Judges 17:6, "... every man did <that which was> [right] in his own [eyes]."

Isaiah 5:20, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;"

b. People don't Soak Their Brains In Alcohol or take Drugs because they believe Something Bad Will Happen ..... But because They're Sure They'll Find Pleasure & Joy.

7. Besides, It's Okay For Me To Sin Once In A While --- I'm forgiven, so the consequences won't be that bad.

Numbers 15:29-30, "Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, .... {30} But the soul that doeth <ought> presumptuously, ..... the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people."

8. There are Certain Beliefs That Generate Sin:

a. Pleasant Sensations must be Meeting Important Needs and are therefore Good!

b. We must realize that God Does Know What Is Best For Us.

9. Certain Foundationals Truths you Must Believe!

a. God Is Good!

(1) John 1:5, "... God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

(2) You can't Look At The Cross and think --- "God Is Unloving."

b. God Knows What's Best!

Psalms 139:1-4, "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known <me>. {2} Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. {3} Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted <with> all my ways. {4} For <there is> not a word in my tongue, <but>, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether."

c. God Is All-Powerful And He Is In Charge!

(1) God is Not Nervously sitting on the edge of Heaven Stunned, Dismayed and Helpless at what is going on in your life or in this world.

(2) Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

(3) Job 42:2, "I know that thou canst do every <thing>, and <that> no thought can be withholden from thee."

D. Fourth, Allow God To Be God!

1. Allow God to Tell you what to do --- not Merely Beg (Ask) for your service, If You Happen To Agree and don't have anything else to do.

2. It's Not Always Easy to know what right or wrong in a given situation.

When we Insist On Our "Rights" and choose them anyway --- It Is Sin.

3. Possessions May Become Our Idols!

4. Even Our Reputation May Become An Idol!

5. What Is The Truth I should tell myself?

a. Western Thought Begins With Man and tries to Figure Out And Judge God.

b. Christianity Begins With Bedrock Truth About God and Applies That Truth To Man.

c. Man Believes that his thoughts and preceptions are right Regardless of What The Word of God Says!

d. You Must Choose between the Worship of God and the Worship of Self!

e. Allow God to be God in your life.

6. Do We Always Have To Know Why? --- Or Can We Trust God With Our Life?

a. Why did God Allow this to happen to me?

"God Has An Obligation to tell me why."

b. When We Demand To Know Why? --- We Usurp God's Place! --- Allow God To Be God!

(1) One couple tragically loses a child and, though they grieve, their faith remains strong and steady?

(2) Another couple also tragically loses a child and their lives are consumed with bitterness and anger.

(3) The Difference --- One becomes Fixated On Demanding An Answer To The UnKnowable?

c. Many people begin Psychotherapy because they Want To Know Why they believe or act in certain ways.

d. We must learn to Trust God and Walk By Faith.

Habakkuk 2:4, "Behold, his soul <which> is lifted up is not upright in him: but the [just] shall [live] by his [faith]."

Romans 1:17, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from [faith] to [faith]: as it is written, The [just] shall [live] by [faith]."

E. Fifth, Associate (Fellowship) with God!

1. What is the --- Worst Thing That Could Happen To You?

a. Proverty? --- Without Material Necessities?

b. Cancer? --- Alzheimedr's Disease?

c. Loss of a Child? --- Wife? --- Husband? --- etc.

d. To Be Thought A Sissy? --- Less Than A Real Man?

e. Being Rejected? --- Disapproval By Peers? --- Divorce?

2. The worst thing that can happen to anyone is to become Separated From God In Our Spirits, Thoughts or Actions.

3. As long as you or I believe that Something Other Than God Is Our Highest (Ultimate) Good --- We Will Remain Subject To Unhappiness And Hopelessness.

F. Anger With And Seperation From God Leaves Us:

1. Where God is only some sort of a Blind Force in ourlife who Neither Notices Nor Cares about us.

a. He created the universe, set it in motion and then Retired To A State of Eternal Inactivity.

b. We begin to be in Denial of God's Involvement in our lives.

2. Leaves us In Complete Control of our lives --- We become our own god --- in Rebellion against the Lord.

3. Leaves us Cut Off From The Source of Life, Power, Love and Answered Prayer.

4. Drives us to Harmful Behaviors that will only ruin us.

G. All of this Attacks God's Character.

H. The Truth About God!

1. God Loves You With An Everlasting Love!

Jeremiah 31:3, "... Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

2. God Loves You Even When You Don't Love Or Serve Him.

Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

2 Timothy 2:13, "If we believe not (are not fithful), <yet> he abideth faithful: he cannot [deny himself]."

3. God Is For You, Not Against You; Your Ally, Not Your Enemy; Your Helper, Not Your Destroyer.

Romans 8:31-32, "What shall we then say to these things? If God <be> for us, who <can be> against us? {32} He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

No One Can Look At The Cross of Calvary And Question God's Love!

4. God Has Specific Plans For You. What He Plans For You Is Good, Not Bad!

Jeremiah 29:11-13, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, ..."

5. God Always Does Right By Us.

Psalms 48:10, "... thy right hand is full of righteousness."

I. You Must Choose To Believe God! --- The Devil --- The World --- or Self ...

Acknowledge --- Adamic Nature,

Admit --- Mad At God,

Appreciate --- God Knows Best,

Allow --- God To Be God,

Associate --- Fellowship With God!