Becoming a believer does not make us a robot without a free will, therefore we still have choices to make. Will we listen to the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, seeking after God's will? Or will we listen to our sinful flesh's desires, to the world's ideas, and seek after Satan's will?
Through His work on the cross, Christ conquered Satan. Because of that, we should look to Jesus as we battle every spiritual temptation and deal with every situation.
As well, we were never meant to go-it-alone! Not only are we to lean on God, but all believers are to work together as a family unit...
(Ephesians 4:1-16) Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Working together as a family will not be without its disagreements or tensions. We all still make mistakes. And emotions can run high, and run a-muck. It is never wise to get carried away in anger, especially before you even see the full picture.
For example, gossiping is not only wrong, but it can be very misleading. Therefore we should be more angry at the gossiping than the person being gossiped about. If there is a reason to be angry at a person's behavior, we need to go and speak directly to that person first!
Being angry is not a sin. We ARE to be angry at sinful behavior. If we weren't angry at that, we'd be showing tolerance and acceptance of it.
God created us with emotions. The "negative" emotions (like fear and anger) are there as a security-system which alerts us to danger. Once we are alerted, we can do damage-control, so that we can get back to the place of enjoying the positive emotions.
In order to enjoy the positive emotions, we do need to deal with our anger, and strive towards reconciliation - AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ! ! ! And to do that, we need to forgive. And confess our sins if we have done anything wrong.
When we don't forgive and when we avoid reconciliation - we give Satan an opportunity to cause even more damage. Remember, those who are not on God's side are part of Satan's kingdom, and they are called children of wrath.
Satan's will is for us to be greedy, selfish and self-righteous so that we will hate to the point of becoming bitter, causing divisions and dysfunctional situations. This is no way to live. And when we follow Satan's will, we grieve the Holy Spirit...
(Ephesians 4:17-32) So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
From this we see:
- Jesus went to hell to pay for our sins then ascended to the heavens in victory (Eph.4:9-10)
- with Jesus' work on the cross, He conquered Satan (Eph.4:7-9)
- being unforgiving gives Satan an opportunity to cause more damage (Eph.4:26-27)
Personal experience: within church, I have seen arguments get to the point where it doesn't make any sense at all. Things which began as small, silly disagreements based on misunderstandings could have been quite easily reconciled. But because of stubbornness, self-righteousness and gossip, etc. these tiny things grew to crazy proportions.
Does this mean we should run away and "wash our hands" of ever being involved with that group, that church or any other church ever again? No! Then Satan wins!!!
We do need to humble ourselves and put others ahead of ourselves. We do need to apologize for our part in things, whether or not we are forgiven. And immediately forgive the others, whether they apologize or not.
As believers, we are supposed to submit to each other! The Bible does not tell us to only submit to someone IF they submit to us.
Jesus is our ultimate example. He humbled Himself by leaving heaven and coming to earth to die for everyone's sins - whether anyone accepted Him as their Savior or not!
Today's takeaway: we once walked in darkness, but now we are part of the Light, therefore we should want to walk in the Light. We once walked in hatred, but now we are part of God's love, therefore we should want to walk in God's love. So what does that all look like?...
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
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