Daily Devotional – January 12 (The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner, Part 4: “Dealing With Anger”)
By admin On January 11th, 2014.
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Daily Devotional – January 12
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The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner,
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Part 4:
“Dealing With Anger”
To read Part 1, click here…November 3rd (The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner!)
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“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry:
for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
Ecclesiastes 7:9
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Do you have a temper like a firecracker, always quick to fire off at someone?
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Are you like a semi-dormant volcano, ready to burst forth molten lava, when someone doesn’t perform like you want them to? Does your temper often flash like lightning bolts at your children and spouse?
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And after you calm down, do you feel remorseful, wishing you could have more control over such unchristlike behavior? And even though you repent of your out-of-control temper, the very next day you do it all over again?
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Well, there is a solution to your problem. And there is great hope in Christ, for your intemperate bursts of anger!
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Mocking Bird Argument – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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PRIDE BEGETS ANGER
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One thing that must be understood about anger, is that it finds its root in pride. Yes, anger seems to go hand-in-hand with a proud heart!
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Listen…
“Proud and haughty scorner is his name,
who dealeth in proud wrath.”
Proverbs 21:24
Anger, or wrath is the product of pride.
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Hans Thoma – Jupiter – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
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Well, just how do we get rid of our uncontrollable anger?
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The only true way to get rid of anger is to be filled with the Spirit….
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22, 23
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As you can clearly see from this above passage from Galatians, the fruit of the Spirit are the very opposite of those attributes which produce “proud wrath”.
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STOP THINKING I KNOW MORE THAN GOD
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Now, an entire book could be written on this subject. But this devotional will only focus on one very important aspect concerning overcoming anger.
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And to illustrate that one aspect, maybe it’s best to quote Proverbs 3:5, 7…
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding…
Be not wise in thine own eyes:
fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
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If a person given to anger could just live by this one passage, then there might be a great victory over angry outbursts.
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Because so much of anger is caused by the mindset that, “I know what is best! And if you don’t perform according to my expectations, then my wrath will be kindled against you!”
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Yes, this mindset is perhaps the biggest contributing factor in those who are constantly losing their temper.
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Anger during a protest – by David Shankbone – CROPPED IMAGE – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License
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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
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So, if a churchgoer can begin to study God’s Word with the intent of following Jesus, and no longer trusting in their own self-will, then that angry person might cease from thinking that he or she knows better than everyone else.
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And the more that we know about God’s will, as revealed in Scripture, the less we will insist upon our own way (see 1st Corinthians 13, 4, 5, ESV Version)…
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”
Job 23:10
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One very important ingredient to overcoming is to allow God to purify us through fiery trials, that we may ultimately become humble, patient, and trusting with childlike faith.
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Yes, God compares Himself to a goldsmith who purifies gold (and silver) by sending it through the fire, which eventually separates the dross until the gold is fully purified.
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And so, we must not murmur when we go through fiery trials, knowing that God is bringing us through each and every trial out of His great love for our soul!
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And then, when we have been purified, we can say along with Job…“But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” Job 23:10
Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain
Goldkey (logo removed) – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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GOOD NEWS! TIME TO CHANGE!
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Now the Good News is, that the true God of Heaven is willing to purify us from our love of pride and anger! Yes, and the Day which is just before us, has been designed for that very purpose…
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Listen…“Enter into the Rock,
and hide thee in the dust,
for fear of the LORD,
and for the glory of His majesty.
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled,
and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,
and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
For the Day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty,
and upon every one that is lifted up;
and he shall be brought low:”
Isaiah 2:10-12
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And so, this and other similar passages reveal just who it is that will be the recipients of God’s righteous anger in the soon-coming Day of the Lord!
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And those of us who are given to these pernicious qualities, will be humbled and brought low in that Day!
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WORK WHILE IT IS DAY
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And those who do finally find meekness and lowliness of heart will naturally react to disappointing and upsetting circumstances much differently than they once did, when they were yet proud in heart.
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So while there is still a little time left, let’s use our allotted hours wisely in trying to overcome our proud anger, before, “the night comes when no man can work.” John 9:4
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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
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“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
and he that ruleth his spirit
than he that taketh a city.”
Proverbs 16:32
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TO READ PART 5, GO HERE…
May 3 (The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner, Part 5: “Cause & Effect Christianity”)
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Drive out all my foolish proud anger! Purify my heart. Give me the mind of Christ, so that I too can become meek and lowly on heart…
Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read…November 29th (Tip-for-Tat Christianity), or you can also read… “September 30th (How To Spot The Biggest Sinner!)”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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“THE SCORNER (THE PHARISEE)”
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“For from within, out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications,
murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, lasciviousness, AN EVIL EYE,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Mark 7:18-23
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Please tilt your head to the left. Do you see a man with a very long pointed nose. (Obviously, the sketch to the right is just an exaggeration in order to help you find the face in the photo to the left.)
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Do you see an angry look? His right eyebrow is raised as if he is judging.
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This second face in the Moon appears to be that of a combination of a man as well as a fox. Or maybe a wolf. Doesn’t he have a long narrow nose like a wolf or fox? Maybe even a dog. Nevertheless, the expression on his face, as he appears to look down upon the Earth, is that of scorn. Unlike the first Moon-man’s sad shock and awe; this ‘man/fox/wolf/dog’ appears to be that of anger and scorn. As if he is disgusted at the sinful planet below.
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He is very moral, you see!
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 2nd Face: The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner”
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TOMORROW…
January 13 (Arcturus, The Star That Wise Men Follow “Following The Stars!?”)
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22 MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded truth-seekers) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
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THIS IS STUDY #12 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…
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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain
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