A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Teaching, Training & Commissioning
Chapter 12 Episode 1
REMOVING THE OBSTACLE OF ANGER
We are told, in Romans 12:2, that as disciples of Jesus, you are not to be conformed to this world, but you are to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is: that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Let’s say that another way. You are transformed (from the Greek word, “metamorphóō” or metamorphized, metá, “change after being with” and “morphóō”, “changing form in keeping with an inner reality), by the renewing of your mind, which PROVES WHAT THE WILL OF GOD IS: (#1), That which is good, (#2), that which is acceptable, and, (#3), that which is perfect.
The result is a visible demonstration of God living within you.
There are obstacles to being transformed into a Child of God and becoming a disciple of Jesus and entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Galatians 5:19-21 tells us of these obstacles and that those who practice these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The next ten chapters (episodes) will discuss these obstacles and their remedies.
For your convenience, I have color-coded
- The Obstacles to your transformation in green,
- The penalty of the obstacles in purple and
- The Remedy of the obstacles in Blue.
Episode 1: Removing the Obstacle of anger requires Reconciliation
Matthew 5:21-22 says “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother
shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
Verse 23 through 25 says, “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way,
Verses 25 and 26 say “so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.
This anger, from the original Greek word, “orgizó”, means to provoke or enrage. It expresses a “fixed anger” and a settled opposition, which is positive when inspired by God, but, always a negative when arising from the flesh. It is a seething, consuming anger and a wrath full of passion, directed at a person. This anger intends punishment and vengeance as its objective.
It is a sinful and unnecessary anger which focuses on punishing the offender rather than focusing on the moral content of the offense.
This anger is both an obstacle and a trap. Once ensnared, your effectiveness as a disciple of Jesus is negated. (In other words, your light is extinguished, and your salt has lost its savor and is good for nothing except to be thrown out and trod under foot of man.)
When this type of anger becomes your ‘mindset’ and is expressed toward another person, it is tantamount to murder. It will sentence you to a lifetime “mental prison” of your own making.
Romans 8:5–6 says, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
The remedy is both simple and difficult. It does not matter if you are innocent of the offense, you must assume full responsibility for both the offense and for reconciliation. Nothing held back. Complete forgiveness. This is the only way for the disciple of Jesus.
Remember: This is a necessary step in your training and preparation in becoming Jesus’ disciple and to effectively engage in this Spiritual war. You have to pay the price of a disciple, and that cost is high. Both the religious and secular worlds persecuted Jesus and His followers because of His teachings. And, they will persecute you, too, if you choose to be His disciple.
Jesus came to show us the way to Life, and He warned that the gate is small and the way that leads to life is both narrow and difficult, and there are few who find it. This is a big step in that direction.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)
Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,
“Removing the Obstacle of Lust”
(The previous episode can be found at “The Standard of Righteousness”)
(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along. You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)
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