Anger, Sin, and Trouble
By Dr. Muriel Larson
Vesuvius? A coal mine blast? A Fourth of July finale? Nope, only Sarah blowing her top again! She's angry and she's letting everybody know it.
When Sarah was a little kid, she discovered that temper tantrums helped her get her own way--sometimes. So she's been using the "little kid" approach ever since and still gets results with it. In the face of her anger, other people give in to her. She wins arguments but loses friends too! (And others like her may lose husbands, wives, or other relatives.)
The worst thing about our losing our tempers are the things we do and say when we lose them. "In your anger do not sin," says Ephesians 4:26. The trouble is that usually we do sin when we're angry, don't we? Scripture in Ephesians 4 also warns against the use of bad language, bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, abusiveness, and all kinds of malice. (This list brings the Greek words originally used down to our understanding.) When we lose our tempers, somehow one or more of these things pop out, don't they?
PUTTING THE NEW SELF IN CONTROL
The longer we have had a bad habit, the harder it is to overcome it. However, Ephesians 4:22-24 tells Christians to "put off the old self," and "put on the new self."
When we allow the Holy Spirit to control our actions, we put the "new self" in control and get the victory even over life-long habits. But as long as we allow the old self to control our actions, we may find it difficult to overcome such things as temper tantrums, bad language, smoking, drinking, complaining, faultfinding, and stretching the truth.
This advice was given to persons who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior and have the Holy Spirit in them. In order to have this “new self” in the first place, we have to make sure that we have truly received Christ. To do that, read John 3 until it gets through to you, or check out on internet: http://www.journeyofjoy.com
BIBLICAL RESOURCES
Some people may solve the anger problem by "counting to ten." For a Christian, however, an even better method is to send up a quick call to the Lord to help you control that temper. When you begin feeling as if you're going to make like Vesuvius, ask the Lord right then to help you to be like Jesus and control yourself.
Ask the Lord to help you forgive everyone who has ever hurt you. Then with His help proceed to do it. In this way you can be delivered from the deep-down anger in your soul that may pour out upon others at the least provocation. See Ephesians 4:32.
James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Often things that make us angry are temptations from Satan. Whether temptation be from Satan or from our own worldly reaction, the solution is the same: "Come near to God, and he will come near to you" (James 4:8).
When we depend on God's help, we gain victory over losing our tempers. Each victory draws us closer to gaining control over our tempers, our lips, and our actions. Christians who exhibit such control can be testimonies for Jesus Christ—and have much better relationships with other people!
By Dr. Muriel Larson
Vesuvius? A coal mine blast? A Fourth of July finale? Nope, only Sarah blowing her top again! She's angry and she's letting everybody know it.
When Sarah was a little kid, she discovered that temper tantrums helped her get her own way--sometimes. So she's been using the "little kid" approach ever since and still gets results with it. In the face of her anger, other people give in to her. She wins arguments but loses friends too! (And others like her may lose husbands, wives, or other relatives.)
The worst thing about our losing our tempers are the things we do and say when we lose them. "In your anger do not sin," says Ephesians 4:26. The trouble is that usually we do sin when we're angry, don't we? Scripture in Ephesians 4 also warns against the use of bad language, bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, abusiveness, and all kinds of malice. (This list brings the Greek words originally used down to our understanding.) When we lose our tempers, somehow one or more of these things pop out, don't they?
PUTTING THE NEW SELF IN CONTROL
The longer we have had a bad habit, the harder it is to overcome it. However, Ephesians 4:22-24 tells Christians to "put off the old self," and "put on the new self."
When we allow the Holy Spirit to control our actions, we put the "new self" in control and get the victory even over life-long habits. But as long as we allow the old self to control our actions, we may find it difficult to overcome such things as temper tantrums, bad language, smoking, drinking, complaining, faultfinding, and stretching the truth.
This advice was given to persons who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior and have the Holy Spirit in them. In order to have this “new self” in the first place, we have to make sure that we have truly received Christ. To do that, read John 3 until it gets through to you, or check out on internet: http://www.journeyofjoy.com
BIBLICAL RESOURCES
Some people may solve the anger problem by "counting to ten." For a Christian, however, an even better method is to send up a quick call to the Lord to help you control that temper. When you begin feeling as if you're going to make like Vesuvius, ask the Lord right then to help you to be like Jesus and control yourself.
Ask the Lord to help you forgive everyone who has ever hurt you. Then with His help proceed to do it. In this way you can be delivered from the deep-down anger in your soul that may pour out upon others at the least provocation. See Ephesians 4:32.
James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Often things that make us angry are temptations from Satan. Whether temptation be from Satan or from our own worldly reaction, the solution is the same: "Come near to God, and he will come near to you" (James 4:8).
When we depend on God's help, we gain victory over losing our tempers. Each victory draws us closer to gaining control over our tempers, our lips, and our actions. Christians who exhibit such control can be testimonies for Jesus Christ—and have much better relationships with other people!
copyright © 2008 Dr. Muriel Larson. All rights reserved.