Dec. 2006 Update.

No Copyright

Preface

“Everyone has a temper, while those who don’t kindle it are true gentlemen.” This is a worldly saying.

Before we believed in Jesus, we often got angry and lost our tempers. But there are also many Christians who continuously fly into rage and lose their tempers, even after they got saved.

Anger and temper are different yet similar. We can say that temper comes from anger. The unbelievers might have big tempers, but even many people who have been believers for years can not restrain from it. In fact it’s of little use to depend on ourselves to hold down the anger and temper. They will be naturally put out and we can not kindle them even if we want, if only we know how to get help from the Holy Spirit.

Someone says, “I have no sin. I don’t need to believe Jesus.” Even if you don’t have the other kinds of sins, you must have the sin of kindling anger and temper. According to God’s righteousness, even if you kindle your temper just for one time, you are worthy of perishing and suffering the ever-lasting pain.

When we believe Jesus, we receive a new life -----an eternal life. It does not sin and of course it doesn’t kindle anger and temper. But there is still the old life (old man) in us and it can lose its temper. Though we will not lose the eternal life for the sake of this, we will lose many rewards in heaven and suffer much loss.

Since everyone might get angry and kindle his temper, this booklet is fit for all of us and it’s a necessary reading for everyone. May God use this booklet to make our anger and temper deduced, even completely disappear. Glory to God!

Chapter 1 Anger ----Wrath

Scriptures:

“Restrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Fret not yourself, it tends only to evil.” (Psa. 37:8)

“ Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:19-21)

Because temper comes from anger, let’s first talk about anger. Everyone has anger and everyone gets angry. It is most saddening and this sin is really very bad. Maybe someone says, “ I don’t always get angry with others.” This doesn’t mean there’s no anger in you. It’s just because the others may be stronger than you and you are afraid to burst out even though you hate them extremely, with the anger inside of you. It does not show you are gentle and amiable.

Ⅰ. Anger

When there’s somebody offending us, we by nature will hate him and get angry with him.

There are two words for anger in the original Scriptures. The first one is thumos. This is a flame burning on the grass, emerging violently, but it goes out as quickly as it comes. The second word is orge, which means a long-lasting and deep-rooted anger, with a long and old grudge.

Anger can cause resentment among people and conflicts in a family. Many nice families are ruined just because of anger. Anger can also destroy our careers and friendships very often. Anger can cause retaliation, as grinding a stone can make sparks. People who are apt to get angry always lose their expression, and Christians lose their good testimony because of anger.

Many people are amiable before getting angry. But when he gets angry he is disgusting as a beast. So we say anger makes us brutal.

Now we try to discuss anger from medical common knowledge:

When one’s emotion is stirred too great, there will be a lot of secondary adrenaline secreted to make up for the consumed one. The hot-tempered don’t use this secretion to eliminate the flame of anger, but to increase it.

The first one who got angry in the world is Cain: “ And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” (Gen. 4:4-5) Thus he became the first murderer in the world: “Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let us go out to the field.’ And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.” (verse 8)

Peter struck Malchus’ right ear with a sword because of anger, “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.” (John 18:10)

The consequence of his getting angry is the scold from Jesus, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Mat. 26:52) Peter had cut off Malchus’ right ear, which in fact, because of his anger, cut off his testimony as a disciple.

There was a sister who was eager for her husband to receive Christ. One day her pastor talked about the salvation of souls with her husband. He said, “I don’t particularly oppose to Christianity. But if everyone who believes in Jesus gets hot-tempered like my wife, I will not be willing to receive Jesus.” Later the pastor told the sister about what her husband said. The sister felt very sorry and asked the LORD for forgiveness, with weeping and repentance.

Then several days passed. Her husband came back home from outdoor fishing, with rod on his shoulder, on no purpose bumping a valuable desk lamp into pieces. So he clutched his ears with both hands, waiting for his wife’s curse. To his surprise, instead of cursing, his wife smiled, saying, “It doesn’t matter, my dear. Even in a best family accidents will happen.” Her husband then asked her why she didn't fly into a rage. She said, "Those have already gone past. I apologize for my violence before. Praise God. He helps me to control my anger now."

Several weeks later her husband believed Christ. Bible tells us, “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret----it leads only to evil.” (Psa. 37:8) “One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.” (Pro. 16:32) Paul also persuades us to forsake wrath: “But now you must get rid of all such things----anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth.” (Col. 3:8) James says, "for your anger does not produce God's righteousness."(James 1:20)

Even the worldly think that getting angry is a foolish behavior. If we rush into a rage easily, we can do nothing right or properly. Getting angry is a temporary craze.

Polv Tark said, “One would have his wish fulfilled if he makes up his decision to refrain from anger.” Pay attention, however, God doesn't want us to become animals, which have no loftiness and wills.

Getting angry is before losing temper. We will not lose our tempers if there are no anger and hatred. Firstly, we have anger in heart. Then in action we get angry and lose our tempers, and furthermore, we will scold and curse others, even beat and kill them, “All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.” (I John 3:15) The worldly count hatred nothing great, but God sees the one with hatred murderer. But why do they not have eternal life abiding in them?

Those who have true faith certainly will not kill people with sword or gun. But who have never hated others? Aren't those who hate people saved? If so, there will be no one saved.

Nevertheless, when we believe by true faith, God gives the eternal life----the resurrected life of Christ ----to us. Thus we have gotten a new life, which is the new man. However, we still have the old man (old life). So there are two men in us. The new man does not sin and also can not sin. “Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God's word abides in them; they can not sin, because they have been born of God.” (I John 3:9) Word is seed in original scriptures, which means a new life. The new life cannot sin, but the old man still sins.

Then how can we curb our anger?

Firstly we should have a strong determination to abandon it. Never say, "all my family are hot-tempered. My anger is inherited from my parents; since everyone has anger, what does it matter?" If so indulgent we are, it shows we haven't made up any decision to abandon it.

Secondly we should confess anger is sinful: ask God for forgiveness whenever we sin.

Thirdly we should let the Holy Spirit tame our wild horse: whatever sin we commit should be dealt with, yet we cannot depend on ourselves to deal with it. We must rely on the Holy Spirit, “ Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh...But if you are led by the spirit you are not subject to the law.” (Gal. 5:16-18) “If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.” (Gal. 5:25-26)

Always depend on the Holy Spirit and let our anger be subdued by it. Don't let anger become our owner. We should change our mouths of anger into the ones of praising. Please remember sincerely: “Blessed are the meek.”(Mat.5:5)

Ⅱ. Righteous Wrath

We don't mean Christians absolutely cannot get angry. First of all let's see what kind of anger it is. If only for the sake of our benefit, fame, status, favor, personal resentment and loss, we should never get angry.

1. We should only have the wrath of God

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18) “On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.” (Col.3:6)

The wrath of God is righteous wrath, because God is righteous. We can have righteous wrath only for the sake of God's kingdom, righteousness, glory, will and considering God's desire. This is the wrath towards sin. It's a pity many times we have fast anger instead of righteous wrath.

Moses threw and broke two tablets of covenant. “As soon as Moses came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burnt hot. And he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain...” (Exodus 32:19-20) The Israel asked Aaron to make gods for them and Aaron cast an image of a calf and they worshiped it. (Exd. 32:1-6) This generated Moses' righteous wrath, so that he threw and broke the tablets from his hands. At the time Moses was receiving from God the two tablets with the Ten Commandments on them, the second of which says we shall not worship idols, the Israel made a golden calf to worshi#p. So the righteous wrath of Moses, the servant of God, was kindled against them.

Elijah killed the prophets of Baal because of his righteous wrath against them, “Elijah said to them, ‘seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.’ Then they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi kishon, and killed them there.” (I kings 18:40)

In the temple he (Jesus) found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the moneychangers seated at their tables. “Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables.... ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’”(John 2:14-17) When the righteous wrath of Jesus was burnt, he didn’t beat anyone or the cattle, sheep and doves. He just drove them out with a whip of cords.

When Paul was stimulated, he didn’t get angry for himself. But against those who didn’t preach Gospel and love the LORD his righteous wrath was kindled, “...and woe to me if I don’t proclaim the Gospel.” (I Cor. 9:16) “Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the LORD. Our LORD, come!”(I Cor.16:22)

Sometimes not getting angry is a cowardly behavior; instead of a good thing, it even becomes a bad thing, for instance, to tolerate evil is to abet it. Refraining from righteous wrath is sinful.

Righteous wrath is not kindled for ourselves. It’s a sin to be angry because of suffering a loss by our own. When we find someone offending God, we should have righteous wrath. Even though we might suffer from this, we should not be afraid.

2. We should avoid false righteous wrath

Many times we play on any theme to say that we are kindling righteous wrath.

When Moses was young, “...He looked this way and that, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” (Exodus 2:1-12) As the result of this he fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian. (verse 15)

Moses obeyed God’s commandment to strike the rock and then water came out of it (Exodus.17:5-7). After he kindled righteous wrath he was said to be the humblest man more than anyone else on the face of the earth. (Number 12:3) But after that when he struck the rock for the second time, “Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff...” (Numbers 20:11), the righteous wrath he kindled was false and he was punished by God. “But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” (verse 12)

Moses’ first striking rock represented LORD Jesus’ crucifixion. Since Jesus was crucified just for once, there should not be a second time to strike rock. Moses kindled false righteous wrath. Thus he could not lead the Israelites into Canaan.

Apostle John was hot-tempered by nature and he burnt false righteous wrath too, “when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘LORD, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elijah did?’” But he turned and rebuked them, and said, “You don’t know what spirit you are of, for the Son of Man has not come to destroy the lives of human beings but to save them...”(Luke 9:54-56) However, God made him a disciple full of love later.

Following Judas Iscariot, the disciples also kindled false righteous wrath. “But the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, ‘Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.” (Mat. 26:8-9)

Ⅲ. God is slow to anger (Psa. 103:8-9)

… and abounding in steadfast love: many people are quick to anger for there’s no love with them. But God is abounding in steadfast love, which makes him kindling righteous wrath. All are sinning to anger without love.

Everyone whom God used greatly had kindled righteous wrath: Moses had a deep love for the Israelites. But he kindled righteous wrath for them and broke tablets, which dealt with the sins of Israelites. Samuel scolded Saul because of love for him. (I Samuel 15:10-34) The anger with no love can make people stumbled.

Slow to anger: when human sinned, God was to destroy them with flood. But before the flood, he ordered Noah to make an ark, which took Noah 120 years. (Gen. 6:3) God tolerated 120 years before He made the earth flooded. This is His love.

The lambs are slow to anger. But once they anger, even the oldest shepherd has no way. We should be slow to anger. (James 1:19) What a pity that many people don’t kindle righteous wrath but just quick wrath! May we ask God to help us to anger slowly.

“Don’t be quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

“He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever: we should not let the sun go down on our anger.” (Eph. 4:26) Those who anger should calm down when he or she goes to bed. Especially for the couples, “do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Always keep your love.

Ⅳ. What we have to notice when anger

1. Don’t slip of the tongue

When we anger we will often say something rude, indignant or overstating. But to slip of the tongue is a sin.

2. Don’t lose your manner

The complexion of a furious man always changes and so does his tone. Thus his attitude completely changes too. Such people often throw things down to the floor, shut the door violently or speak like roar.

3. Don’t lose your hand

Once a professor lost his hand because of anger and throttled his daughter to death.

4. Don’t harm health

Parents’ health is always ruined by anger when they bring up their children. If they teach the children calmly, it will be beneficial for all of them.

5. Don’t be provoked

Many people make room for the devil. They are often provoked. We should not be provoked and controlled by the outside environment. Peninnah provoked Hannah severely but Hannah was not angry. (I Samuel 1:2,6-8) Though some people tried to provoke Paul when he preached Gospel, he was not provoked and the Gospel was proclaimed in every way. (Phe. 1:17-18)

6. Don’t vent spite

Sometimes we restrain from anger but vent it to others. This is greatly wrong. Yet it’s harmful to the body if we don’t kindle the inner anger. What to do then? Hannah didn’t kindle her anger but came to the LORD to pour out her heart. And then her heart became calm. We should depend on the Holy Spirit to eliminate our anger. There is a process from swallowing an insult to reacting calmly to any insult. Anyway, we should never lose our hearts.

Chapter 2 Temper

Anger is before temper. Those who don’t have hatred will not lose any temper. Though everyone has temper, there is difference on the degree of each one’s temper.

Ⅰ. Temper

In Bible there isn’t the word temper: it just mentions spleen (Deuteronomy 18:3), which is specially used in Chinese. Ahab turned away his face (I King 21:4), which in fact means he lost his temper. But the word temper is not used in Bible. The word wrath in Psa. 2: 5 is the breath from nostrils in original Scriptures (Psa. 18:8, Job 4:9), which is the meaning of losing temper.

There is a good temper as well as a bad one. Now we discuss on the bad temper.

Spleen is below the stomach and it’s the smallest internal organ. (According to traditional Chinese medical principle), there must be temper since there’s spleen. When one loses his temper, his face may turn green.

There are several kinds of factors influencing one’s temper:

1. Some people say one’s temper is related to his blood type: the one with “O” blood type is most hot-tempered.

2. Living area: the Northern have the temper of their own, and the Southern have the temper of their own. The people living in different areas have different kinds of temper.

3. Race: the Mongol have their special characteristics; the Ke Jia of Cantonese have their special characteristics; and the Japanese have their special characteristics, etc.

Ⅱ. Classification of Temper

There are many kinds of tempers and we can not treat them the same way. We should analyse them so that they can be well dealt with.

1. good temper

Not all tempers are bad. A good temper means a good disposition. The one with a good temper does not lose his temper. Or we can say he has been so much dealt with that he almost has no temper. Such a man can not lose any bad temper, no matter how the others try to stimulate him.

The good temper are really very few, while the bad temper are so many that they can’t be counted. Not only the worldly people are like this, but also many Christians are the same. Because one has not been well dealt with, he looks not like a Christian when the nature of his old man kindles. Even though a man has a good temper indeed, he may have bad tempers sometimes. A true Christian does not depend on himself to change his bad temper. We’ll talk about this later.

2. bad temper

The saying says, “everyone has a temper, while the one who does not kindle it is a true gentleman.” But how many people are there not kindling their tempers on earth?

A bad temper refers to a big temper with impatience together. Only impatience is not a bad temper; the one whose temper is not good may not be impatient too. But the combination of impatience and a big temper is a bad one.

Every one who has a spleen must have a temper; he who has a liver must have the fire of anger.

The issue is how a man restrain his temper, but a Christian can not deal with his temper by restraining it. He who has a big temper always slips of the tongue and loses his manner or loses his hand when his temper is kindled. After it he usually feels regretful. However, his temper will be greatly kindled soon. And then he regrets again. There is no way for him to change.

Many hot-tempered people are not evil and can be understood by those who contact with them for a long time. However, it’s very easy for a bad-tempered person to lose his wife, friends, job and high position.

3. Eccentric temper

This is worse than a bad temper. A bad-tempered person has routine and can be understood. But the emotion of an eccentric-tempered person rises and falls too greatly and suddenly for others to understand. He always enters into rivalry with others, which makes him not easy to get along with. Such a man has few friends and has to change his job often. This is really what we should not have.

4. Stubborn temper

A bad-tempered person kindles his temper quickly. But a stubborn-tempered person kindles his temper within a long time. Some people even don’t reconcile for months when in temper. They stubbornly adhere to their opinions. This is different from insisting on truth. A stubborn person would rather persist in the error than confess it. Christians should have definitive views and insist on their standpoint, unyielding for the sake of truth. But when we have errors, we should confess them. Every error should be dealt with.

5. wilful

Many young girls and boys belong to this kind. Most people were born wilful and also have been affected by the world when they grow u#p.

We should restrain ourselves and control our feelings without indulgence. The parents should not allow the habit of indulgence of their children developed. If the parents indulge their children to do whatever they want, this will make them ruined.

Jonah was an indulgent prophet: “But God said to Jonah，‘Do you do well to be angry for the plant？’ And he said：‘I do well to be angry，angry enough to die.’”(Jonah 4:9)

The one who shepherds the church can not be indulgent. “For a bishop，as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.” (Titus 1:7, see II Peter 2:10)

The indulgent are not reasonable and restrained. It’s not strange to see the worldly people’s indulgence. But what a pity that many Christians are indulgent. They are not willing to be restrained by others, even by God. This is terrible.

6. inactive temper

Active temper is the temper of activeness, but inactive temper is more unbearable. Most men are active-tempered, while most women are inactive-tempered. E.g. when Mother gave the brother three fruit candies while just one to the sister, the sister kindled her temper in a low voice, saying, “I don’t eat. I don’t like them.” Then Mother gave two more at once. But she didn’t accept. On the contrary, she turned and ran out, murmuring, “ I am going to die.” See? Inactive temper is worse.

Ⅲ. To be judged

God hates anger and temper because both of them are sins. “But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgement; whoever says Raca to his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, “You Mory!” shall be liable to the hell of fire.”(Matthew5:22)

What Jesus referred to is the judgement that the Jews received. ...shall be liable to judgement means the judgement of the inferior court: “You shall appoint judges and officers in your own towns which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgement.” (Deut. 16:18, also see II Chro.19:5) The inferior court is composed of the elders of the village. The number of the elders is decided by the size of the area: there are only three elders in a village with no more than 150 dwellers; there are seven elders in a bigger village and 23 elders in a much bigger area which we call it a town. Jesus judged all selfishness and anger as sins.

The laws of any country do not count those who anger and lose their tempers sinners, but the law of Israel does. Jesus said, “every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to the council.” The council means the inferior court.

Whoever says Raca to his brother shall be liable to the council: Raca is raga in Aramaic, which means empty and dunce. Many people are not judged even if they often abuse others.But Jesus said, “they shall be liable to the council,” which is the supreme civil and religious court of the Jews.

... and whoever says, “You Mory” shall be liable to the hell of fire: Mory is more in Aramaic, which means fool and idiot. Why shall whoever abuses others like this be liable to the hell of fire? Because it is against God.

The word hell is Gehenna in original language, which is the name of a place. It lies in the valley of Hinnom, which is on the Southwest of Jerusalem. (Joshua 15:8, 18:16) There is one place in the valley called Topheth. (Isaiah 30:33, Jeremiah 7:31, 19:1-6). In ancient Ahaz, the king of Judahs, brought Israel the offering of fire to the foreign god Molech. The Israelites burnt their children through fire to Molech in the valley (II Chro. 28:3,33:6,Jeremiah 7:31,32:35), which is forbidden by Moses’ law. (Lev. 18:21)

The evil religion wasn’t wiped out until the King Josiah ordered this valley as a place cursed forever. (II King 23:10-14) The Jews carried from Jerusalem all kinds of uncleanness and the corpses of animals and criminals to this place to burn. Thereafter, it became a place of collecting and burning garbage. Like a public furnace of burning wastes, there’s often fire in it, on which covering a thick smoky curtain. There reproduced a kind of disgusting worm, which ate corpses only and it was difficult to put them out. So the Jews consider it as the representative of hell. (Isai.66:24, Mark 9:44-45)

According to God’s will, all those cursing others shall perish. Both cursing and kindling a temper are sins. You will have to bear the pain in Hell even if you only kindle your temper for once. Thus, according to God’s righteousness, no one can avoid this.

But praise God He loves us, even sending His begotten son Jesus Christ to this world to accomplish the work of salvation, so that those who trust in Him shall be saved, avoiding the ever-lasting punishment.

After being justified and saved by faith, we shall not perish any longer if we get angry or lose temper again. But we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. (II Cor. 5:10)

Being saved by faith is ever lasting, but we shall be rewarded or punished according to our life and work after we get saved. Being saved is equal to everyone, while the rewards and punishments are quite different to each one of us. So we shall be careful to anger and kindle our tempers, lest being punished because of our tempers.

Ⅳ. Being dealt with thoroughly

Most people know the truth that everyone has a bad temper, but none of them can solve this problem. Let’s see the Scriptures:

Temper is similar to tempest. Sometimes the word temper is translated into mixed with oil (Exodus 29:2) and seasoned with salt (Exodus 30:35). Temperance means self-control, “Paul argued about justice and self-control...” (Acts 24:25) “...gentleness, self-control...” (Galatians 5:23) It includes many aspects. Our temper shall be self-controlled. Paul said, “let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.” (Colossians 4:6) The speech of those who easily lose their tempers is usually hasty. It seems that their speech had been added hot peppers in it. But Paul said, “let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”

A hot-tempered man is hasty and he needs self-control. His speech is usually ungracious, lacking of salt to be seasoned with to become good for others.

Firstly we have to notice what we say. “Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:19-21) Please remember: we have to be slow to speak; especially for the hasty people they have to be so. Yet, it’s not enough. In addition, we have to be meek in heart, because in Bible it says, “make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man.” (Pro.22:24) People can not get closer to a man given to anger and even dare not contact with him. We have to learn to be gentle, “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” (Pro.17:27) “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Pro. 15:1) We should even be gentle to those brethren who have sinned, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness...” (Gal. 6:1)

It’s a superficial thing if we just learn to be gentle. What’s more important is that there should be no anger in our inner part. However, the superficial gentleness can still be helpful to remove others’ anger. Otherwise, quarrelling will be aroused, which even can not be controlled.

First of all we must depend on the Holy Spirit, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh... Now the works of the flesh are plain: ...enmity, strife, jealousy, anger...” (Gal. 5:16-20) The works of the flesh do not only include fornication, impurity, licentiousness, etc, but also include enmity, strife, jealousy, anger and so on. It’s also the work of the flesh when kindling one’s temper, which comes from anger.

If we depend on the Holy Spirit, we will bear the fruit of the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal.5:22-23) We have to notice that patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control are all the fruit of Spirit. A hasty person who gets angry easily can not be patient, kind, gentle and self-controlled, manifesting only the works of the flesh instead of the fruit of the Spirit. We should never think that losing temper is a tiny issue so as to indulge it. If so, we will suffer much loss.

We must rely on the Holy Spirit to put to death our earthly and bad behavior of the flesh. (Colossians 3:1-10)

The old man has died, “For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (verse 3) Why do we still have life when we have died? It’s because we’ve got by faith a new life from Christ, though our old life died. And this new life, i.e., the new man, is hid with Christ in God.

Since the old life died, why says it in the following that put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness... (verse 5)? The reason is that the old life actually hasn’t completely died, though in its position it has been considered to be dead. What to put to death? In addition to what have been mentioned, such as fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, the Scriptures also says, “but now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander...” (verse 8) Anger, wrath, and malice, which should be put away, are included in the anger and temper. We have to depend on the Holy Spirit to put them to death.

We should not only put these things away, but also put on something. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; (as the LORD has forgiven you)...(verse 12~13)”. We need to depend on the Spirit and first of all we should make our decision to put something away and something on. To put something away is passive while to put something on is active. But to deal with the old man is not a quick thing. It’s step by ste#p. “...and have put on the new nature, which is being rewarded in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (verse 10) When we depend on the Holy Spirit to deal with the old man and make our temper deduced, we will become more and more like the image of our LORD, we will not be hasty any longer and we will become a gentle and amiable Christian. This is what God requires us of.

The worldly people think it’s harder to change one’s nature than to change national territory. Yet we Christians don’t have to change our nature, we need to by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body so that we will live. (Romans 8:13)

May we read this booklet for times and let the Holy Spirit lead and guide us to put to death our anger and temper, becoming gentle and kind Christians from hasty persons. In the past people did not like getting along with us, but now we’ve been changed by God and people like having fellowship with us. May God add us power and make us renewed, full of His Gloria image!

SAMUEL LAMB

Aug. 21, 1997

After You Believe in Jesus

Matt 11:28

Before You Believe in Jesus

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