That Was A Rager

What is the fear that makes you rage?

This is Vince Miller.

Our text today is from Matthew 2:16. It reads:

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. — Matthew 2:16

As we know, if human fear is not monitored and regulated, it can result in horrific acts of rage.

King Herod was known for being a deranged man and ruler. He frequently used intimidation and death to save face when he felt outmaneuvered. History states he killed both his wife and two children. And here at Jesus’s birth, his outlandish fears continue his raging saga.

Herod responded by attempting to locate the boy who threatened his reign as king. But when he discovered that the wise men made him look foolish, he became furious. In a horrific act of rage born from fear, he killed all the Jewish males born over a two-year span to eliminate any threat to his throne.

This moment was appalling and disgusting. Yet it was rage born from one thing — unmoderated human fear. Rage and anger were only his secondary response. Therefore, hundreds of baby boys were murdered by one man’s fear.

Yet, the truth is, our fears have the potential to do the same if we don’t know them and don’t moderate them.

Here is your call to action today:

I want you to recall the last time you got angry with someone. It might have been a real rager. And then, try to remember what fear led to that response. Because a man who knows his fears is always better equipped to regulate his rage. And the man who fears not his fears but only God will always have the right response.

You can visit me at vincemiller.com.

And live all for him, who lived all in for you!

41 thoughts on “That Was A Rager

  1. Eddie Ackerman says:

    the fear of not being heard or respected is why I tend to lash out at my kids, who usually don’t hear or respect me.

  2. Randall says:

    The fear of losing control often causes me to rage responses. I fear outcomes not going my way, relationships not working out, not getting certain results professionally. When the dust settles after a rager, I often feel humiliated, ashamed, and immature. I pray that I will continue to surrender control of outcomes to God. Give him control, and fear only him.

  3. Jason Guillory says:

    I’m one to hold things in and let issues build up. Then after I can’t take anymore, I explode. I don’t have the patience I once had. I believe this stems from being disrespected in my own household. I do just about everything for them, and it seems to go unnoticed, not appreciated, or taken for granted.

    On another note, I don’t like being disrespected or lied too either.

  4. Bill Adams says:

    I once pulled in front of a car and forced them stop. He had pulled in front of me after almost running into me after running a stop sign. I did not appreciate his gestures while driving next to me after that. I had him stopped and I was exiting my car to pound some sense into him and he ran like a coward, but he took my license plate number and had the gall to call the police who stopped me blocks later. I was humbled by my actions and I hope the officers found him to warn him after I explained the situation that enraged me. My wife was with and attested to the situation. She was embarrassed by my actions and being pulled over by the officers.

  5. Dave says:

    When I was still married and during a “perfect storm” in my life I had an affair. This caused much anger because I didn’t want to be found out. I wasn’t willing to face my fear and confess what I had done was wrong. I broke the covenant I had with both my wife and with God.

  6. jtmchef says:

    I’ve been much better with rage in the last few years. I tend to internalize my rage which I know isn’t healthy or productive for anyone. By internalizing these thoughts and anger I am shutting out those that I love.

  7. Douglas says:

    Rage. Being petrified of a very bad decision because of somebody else’s fear, in my opinion acting on impulse and not trusting in God‘s plan first. I myself have been in that position in the past when I was in the military.

  8. tinellisd says:

    I’m aware that my fear causes rage to build in me. Fear and a feeling of helplessness. I pray for God to teach me to accept the things I cannot change and to allow me to continue to face my fears. I’m weak but I’m fighting.

  9. Matthew says:

    I have had moments of rage-when they have occurred my mouth spews forth words and emotions that cause others to hurt for a long time. Knowing this, I try to remove myself and write in my journal what I am feeling until my heart has changed.

  10. Todd McClanahan says:

    I’ve never really considered how my fears and insecurities might lead to anger. God I pray to recognize that you made me perfect in your eyes, all of me! I pray for confidence and your guidance through fearful moments so that I may avoid the easy anger route. Amen.

  11. Michael Prill says:

    “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh word, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior”
    Ephesians 4 verse 31.
    Father God, please send me the Holy Spirit to guide me during difficult times. Have the Holy Spirit council me to stay calm and not let me rage take over. Give me the wisdom to recognize to signs that will make me made and how to best deal with them.

    In Jesus name

    Amen

  12. Patrick says:

    Anger and rage are tools of Satan that only serve to destroy our relationship with God. I pray that God continues to alert me when anger begins to creep into my life. I ask for strength and wisdom to overcome Satan’s attempts to destroy my love for Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is my strength!

  13. Samuel says:

    Lord, help me to remember that this world and its circumstances are but a blink of the eye and to allow them to anger, control and defeat me are not your and should not be my end.

  14. Sean Swift says:

    This is great advice. I have been looking for a prayer for that split second before I become angry.
    Jeremiah 29:11
    11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

  15. Peter says:

    Heavenly Father help me be obedient to You and Your word.
    You said to Your servant in the book of Joshua 1:8-9 that I am to meditate
    on You and Your word and remember that You commanded, courage and not fear, strength from dependence on You being here with me and not blind rage where I try to control and go my own way again.
    I can’t rely on my own understanding, so I trust in You. Lead me.
    In Jesus name.

  16. Daniel Chapman says:

    “Acts of self-preservation” jumped out at me.

    Lord, in those moments I try to “preserve” myself or anything else, guide me Holy Spirit to do His will only and know that it’s only You Father who can “preserve” anything.

    Psalm 120 : 7-8

    Father help me to see where I rely on my own “self preservation” so that I can give that to you and rely on “God preservation”.

    This simple statement blew me away this morning. I never really give much thought to preservation of God, but what a wonderful thing to desire and be thankful for.

  17. rob lafond says:

    Lord, help me be aware and “in control” of my fears so that they do not lead me to acts of rage and desperation. Give me comfort in the fact that you walk beside me/us and help guide us in your image.

  18. Jack says:

    28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose Romans 8:28

    Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

    Father, help me realize that nothing comes into my life that has not been screened by You and deemed it will be good for me. Second, help me to realize, that through the Holy Spirit, I have the ability to be a conqueror not an instrument of rage. Finally, by conquering I will be a better person.

  19. Bob says:

    This is the persistent area of defeat in my life, mostly directed to myself. I am powerless to overcome it so if it is, it will be only God who does it. That is my prayer and He will get the glory!

  20. Dean says:

    I pray that God will be in control of my life and fears. In doing so, my anger and rage will be in control

  21. Bobby Johnson says:

    So my fears naturally are things that threaten me in one way or another.
    “Lord please grant me your peace when I face fears”

  22. Ray says:

    God, help me to first recognize fear for what it is and when I am fearful and then to turn to you in faith trusting you have a good plan in that situation.

  23. James Gould says:

    For me, rage can come on so fast. It’s almost like a chemical reaction and I sometimes can go into a blackout like drinking…. So I will pray every morning to take away this fear. And if I get this fear that raises the hair on my neck I will try and pause so I can pray again. This is my only hope.

    Continuous Prayer through teach day !!!!

  24. Thomas Sells says:

    Praying that I will use the principal’s of God’s Word to help me to control the sinful behavior of anger. I do realize that my fears cause that anxiety and it stirs up in me this uncomfortable feelings and then I act out. Praying for peace!

  25. Dennis says:

    I pray that God continue to speak to me as I battle my issues with anger and that I am obedient to His ways.

  26. Mark says:

    My prayer is that should I ever experience fear or any emotion that might lead to rage that God would prompt me to stop, walk away, engage in a moment (or many) of time with HIM in prayer and meditation. Very fortunately I can’t think of any times in my life where my anger turned to rage.

  27. Eddie Ackerman says:

    God, I pray that when I lose my temper with my kids, You remind me that they are not the same age as me, and don’t have the same viewpoint as I do, so I can’t hold them to the same level of maturity as I hold an adult to. Amen.

  28. Cory B says:

    My anger is typically towards those closest to me. I almost always know when these possible outbursts may occur and with who. I need more prayer in preparation when dealing with certain people. Or avoiding them whenever possible. God gives me the advance notice, it’s up to me to do the right thing. Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. So much easier said than done for me.

  29. W. James Anderson says:

    Well…. My rage and Herod’s are night and day. His rage was rooted in the authority he had as a ruler. I do not have that authority. Not to say I haven’t had outbursts of rage. Mine is just in another arena. With my deep rooted anger that obviously can lead to outbursts of rage. Enter the very thing I’m in. Pretty shitty. I’ll spare the details and I am not fully innocent in this problem but overall I’m pretty angry about it. It’s hard to not let this spill into other areas in my life but it is my desire and goal to make the right decisions brought this maze. I don’t always, feel stuck but God must have something … met with what I am to do to combat this problem. Some of it mine, some of it other peoples and them there’s the Spiritual side. The warfare. The Strongholds. Anyhoo. Rage. Such a drag. To add a little humor from the movie “What About Bob”, Baby steps towards the elevator…. Peace💀🌺💀

  30. Jesse Skytland says:

    Praying and following thru with God’s plan is ideal and I will do my best to keep to his ways.

  31. Damien says:

    At work when I don’t know what the outcome will be or when a project is going sideways, I will pray for the Holy Spirit to lead me through this time of unknown outcome. And NOT get angry or take it out on a team member who at the time brought me the news of the situation.

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