Glory to God for those of you who are truthful about the weakness of the flesh. The truth is, anger takes many forms: underlying jealousy, boasting, unforgiveness, spite, critical spirit, self-righteousness, fear & frustration, stubbornness, intolerance, hate, revenge, etc., which every one of us is vulnerable to in our flesh.
Romans 8 tells us that it’s
impossible for our flesh to ever submit to God, “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
Ephesians 4 tells us, “Let all unforgiveness, outrage, anger, quarreling, and slander
be put away from you, along with all hatred.”
In other words, each time these things arise in our flesh, we have to be honest and admit it to God and he removes it. That's the work of grace. Not something we have conquered, but that Christ does each step of the way.
1 John 2:16
For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from
the world.
God isn't glorified to the world through our flesh but through our trusting him and him working things out in us.
Galatians 5, ““But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, tolerance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
This is the result of God doing a thing in us. When we boast that these things are the result of our own self-control, it's very obvious to others that it's self-righteousness. It stinks and does not have the sweet odor of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
I John I teaches us, “The message of God from the beginning has been that God is Light and in Him alone is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet we walk in our own understanding, we are lying to ourselves and don’t practice the truth. If we walk in His light as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have conquered sin in our flesh, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we admit our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”
If we don't get along with our brothers and sisters in Christ; if we can't fellowship with them in peace, joy and love; if we look for opportunity to contradict others and lift ourselves up; we aren't at that point walking in the spirit but in our own understanding and in our own strength. Nevertheless, all we need do is be honest with ourselves and realize that it's God working in us, that he is always in control and we're set free to fellowship with one another in love.
There’s never a time where we are in control over our flesh. “Let him who thinks he stand, take heed (be aware) or else he will fall.” The only way we are a conqueror is remembering that Jesus is in control, that our flesh has been crucified with Christ. It's a continual giving up your own understanding, your pride, and accepting the truth of God.
So in answer to your question, have I conquered anger: Nope! But Jesus has. It's a daily walk, from glory to glory that he conforms us all into his image. And praise the Lord for that!!! May he be glorified! Hallelujah!! \
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