I want to look at some very important instructions in wisdom regarding a universal problem—yielding to fleshly anger. We'll talk about overcoming anger and other sins of the flesh that can keep families in bondage to sin from one generation to the next.
Take Authority Over Anger In Your Life
God's wisdom tells us how to avoid anger: "A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger" (v. 1 AMP). A person who is slow to anger also avoids strife: "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger appeases contention" (v. 18 AMP). Those two scriptures right there provide enough instruction to save you a world of hurt!
Verses 2 and 4 in The Amplified Bible show the fruit of an angry man: "The tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly, but the mouth of the [self-confident] fool pours out folly.... A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree of life, but willful contrariness in it breaks down the spirit" (vv. 2, 4 AMP).
You see, with our words we can either be a blessing or a curse to people.
We have a responsibility to think about what we are about to say before we say it. We are to be in control of our own thoughts and words: "The mind of the [uncompromisingly] righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things" (Pr. 15:28 AMP).
That's important because man's wrath never produces God's righteousness: "He who foams up quickly and flies into a passion deals foolishly" (Pr. 14:17 AMP).
You know, just because you open your mouth doesn't mean something has to come out! There is something between your voice and your brain that can work for you—it's called your heart, your spirit man! You can learn to control yourself when you're tempted to "foam up quickly and fly into a passion." Your spirit can arrest those fleshly, angry words before your mouth pours out evil.
Many times in a family an uncontrollable temper is passed down from generation to generation. Dad has a bad temper, so his son has a bad temper too. Mother has a bad temper, so her daughter learns that same trait.
But you don't have to pass on your bad temper to your children. And you don't have to yield to it yourself, speaking out hurtful and foolish things you will later regret.
You can control your temper. Stop and speak to yourself when you're about to "pour out folly" in anger. Command your flesh to line up with God's Word in Jesus' Name.
The devil will try to tell you, "Well, that's just the way you are. That anger is a part of your personality." But that isn't true. You've been recreated in Christ. You don't have to allow anger to attach itself to your life any longer.
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries