#Proverbs #5: Control Your Anger

Control Your Anger

Proverbs 14:29

“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” (KJV).

“Those who control their anger have great understanding; those with a hasty temper will make mistakes.” (NLT).

The Emotion of Anger

The Book of Proverbs gives us a smorgasbord of wisdom that applies to every area of our life: It gives us wisdom in our relationships, family life, dealing with finances and walking in righteousness. But it also gives us a window into our heart, and helps us to consider our emotions as well. In the above Proverb, Solomon addresses the emotion of anger.

Anger is not necessarily a bad thing. It is an emotion, and when we are treated unfairly, we are going to get angry. However, what we do with that emotion is what makes it good or evil. If we can control our anger, it proves that we have great understanding. But those with a hasty temper will make mistakes. I’ve seen people get angry and then do things that they later regretted, impulsive and often embarrassing mistakes. When we control our anger, we can avoid some of those blunders.

How do we control our anger?

So what is the antidote to a person who struggles with anger? It’s easy to say, “Stop being so angry!” But it’s another thing entirely to try to control those emotions in your own life. What is the answer then? I believe it’s found in a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to a church in Galatia. He starts out by identifying the problem: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21). He then gives the solution: “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23).

How do we get more of this fruit of the Spirit in our lives? Spend time with Jesus in prayer! Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).

Lord, help us to abide in the secret place of prayer, abiding in Jesus the Vine, so we can bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Amen!

Pastor Chris Jordan

#Proverbs #4: Two Roads

Two Roads

Proverbs 14:2.

“He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.” (KJV).

“Those who follow the right path fear the LORD; those who take the wrong path despise him.” (NLT).

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost:

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood and I

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

 

Often, the references to roads in poetry are metaphors to make us think of our lives and how we live them. Even Jesus used this metaphorical sense in talking about roads when He said, “Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  (Matthew 7:13-14).

Everyone wonders: how do we find the road to the blessed life?  Jesus said that this road is the road less traveled by – that there are few who find it – and that it will make all the difference, for this is the road that leads to life. I believe this is what Solomon was talking about in the above Proverb:

The First Road – The Wrong Path:

The first road that Jesus talks about is the wide road that leads to destruction. He says there are many people who walk on that road. Proverbs 14:2 says that those who are perverse in their ways – those who take the wrong path – show that they despise God by walking on this road. It’s like God put up a big sign that said, “Abandon hope all ye who enter here” and yet foolish people still choose that road. The road of sin, rebellion, and ultimately death. But there is another road…

The Second Road – The Right Path:

The second road that Jesus talks about is the narrow and difficult way that leads to life. He says that – sadly – there are few who find this road. Proverbs 14:2 says that those who walk in their uprightness – those who follow the right path – fear the Lord. And here is the key to walking on the right path. It starts with a fear of the Lord.

To fear the Lord doesn’t mean that we are afraid of Him. However, it does mean that we respect Him, and when He says, “This is the way, walk in it,” we obey. Because we trust Him. And we know that the commands that He gives to us are for our own good.

Today, you are standing at a crossroads. Two roads diverge in a wood. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for those who choose the easy way. But the road to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few find it. Take the narrow road – the road less traveled by. It will make all the difference in your life!

#Proverbs #3: Just Reward

Just Reward:

Proverbs 14:14.

“The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.”

Christian Karma?

There are many religions in the world who believe in karma. Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs for example all believe in the concept of “action” or “deed”, that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect. In other words, if you are a good person, good things will happen to you, and if you are a bad person, bad things will happen to you. You might be surprised to learn that this idea actually has its origins in the Bible. King Solomon wrote: “Backsliders get what they deserve; good people receive their reward.” (Prov. 14:14, NLT).

Now lest some of you begin calling me a heretic for suggesting that karma is a Christian concept, let me clarify. Karma is a twisted and imperfect understanding of the Scriptural principle of reaping and sowing which the Apostle Paul describes here: “Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” (Galatians 6:7-8, NLT).

Consequences for our Actions:

Today’s Proverb teaches us that there are consequences for our actions. If you are a backslider, you will get what you deserve. If you live a life of sin and rebellion against God and His Word, don’t be surprised when life doesn’t work for you! But if you are a good person, and live to please the Spirit, you will receive a blessing from the Lord.

Let me illustrate. My dad was an alcoholic womanizer. He slept with many women in his life, and as a consequence, I have two sisters, two half-sisters, and at least three half-brothers that I know about (maybe more). My dad died about five years ago from a cancer that was caused from his excessive drinking and cigarette smoking. Sadly, this is an example of reaping what you sow.

Sometimes we live a sinful life and then experience the consequences for that sin, and we get mad at God and say, “How could you let this happen to me?” But it wasn’t God punishing us for our wrong decisions, but rather leaving us to the just reward of our own choices.

A Harvest of Blessing:

The good news today is that God is a merciful, gracious God. All of us have sinned, rebelled, and disobeyed His commandments, but we can confess our sins to Him and receive His free forgiveness. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he added an action plan for all of us. In light of the fact that there are consequences for our choices, he says, “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” (6:9, NLT).

Pastor Chris Jordan

#Proverbs #2: Attaining #Dreams

Attaining Dreams

Proverbs 13:19.

“The desire accomplished  is sweet  to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart  from evil.”

If I Believe It, I Can Achieve It?

There was a popular song by R&B singer R Kelly from 1996 called “I believe I can fly.” It hit the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The song boasted, “If I can see it, then I can do it, if I just believe it, there’s nothing to it… I believe I can fly.” Really? If I can see something then I can do it? All I have to do is believe it and I can achieve it? I don’t think so!

Now don’t misunderstand what I’m saying here. I’m all for being positive, but just because you want something doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. I can have a desire to be the best basketball player in the history of the world – rival to that of Michael Jordan – but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

Think about it for a minute: What kid hasn’t dreamed of being able to fly like Superman? As a child, I remember donning a red cape and leaping off of the diving board into the swimming pool, but the end result was always the same: I got wet. (Fortunately, unlike some foolish daredevils, I never tried this feat off of the top of a roof!).

Put Your Dream to the Test:

A couple of years ago I was preparing to write my first non-fiction book Supernatural: Contending for Signs and Wonders Today. When I sat down to accomplish my goal of writing and publishing my first book, I came across an excellent book by John Maxwell called Put Your Dream to the Test. John Maxwell says that the difference between a dreamer and someone who achieves a dream lies in answering ten powerful questions.

One of Maxwell’s questions included The Cost Question: “Am I willing to pay the price for my dream?” That question made me think of our Scripture in Proverb 13:19: “It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools will not turn from evil to attain them.” (NLT). When your desire is accomplished, it is sweet to the soul. But a fool isn’t willing to pay the price – turn from evil – to achieve his dreams.

To Accomplish Your Dreams:

The Bible says God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20). God wants us to dream big dreams! But, if we want to see those dreams come true, we must be willing to do what it takes to accomplish them.

When I wanted to finish writing and publishing my first book, I set a goal for myself to write a minimum of 15 minutes a day until I was finished. Quite often, those 15 minutes ended up being much longer, but I had a goal and I stuck with it, and saw my dream become a reality. If you’re willing to put God first in your life, you can see your dreams realized, too.

Pastor Chris Jordan

#Proverbs #1: Dream Big

Proverbs 13:12

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” (KJV).

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy.” (NLT).

When Hope is Deferred

Have you ever wanted something really bad or prayed about something for a very long time, but it never happened? Everyone has stories that they could share about disappointment and grief over things that they hoped for that never happened. When hope is deferred – when something you want doesn’t happen, or it doesn’t happen as quickly as you want it to – your heart gets sick. Hope deferred can cause you to stop hoping, stop dreaming, and even stop praying.

About ten years ago, my step-father lost his battle with cancer and he died. When that happened, my mom stopped praying. For many years, she refused to pray for circumstances to change, because she feared that they would only get worse. I am thankful that things have changed, and that she’s praying again today. Too many Christians allow themselves to get heart sick and then they lose courage, give up, and eventually they die.

“But”

The key to understanding God’s purpose in this Proverb is found in the small but important little word “But.” When I was an adjunct professor at Pacific Life Bible College in Surrey, BC, I always taught my Bible Research students to look for those key connective words. There is an example of this in Ephesians chapter two where the Apostle Paul talks about how we “were by nature children of wrath… But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us (has) made us alive together with Christ.” (v. 3-5).

So, although it is true that hope deferred can make our hearts sick – But God – His desire is that we would dream, and dream big. For when those dreams are finally realized, there is life and joy. Thank God for the big “buts” in the Bible!

When Dreams Come True

Also in Ephesians, Paul tells us that God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20). Our God is a good God, and He loves His children very much. He longs to bless us, to care for us, and meet all of our needs. But so often, we never ask. I wish we as Christians would believe the Bible more than we do!

Jesus Christ Himself taught, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24). Do you believe the promise? If you do, then pray! If you are in trouble, call upon the name of the Lord, for He is mighty to save! And when the Lord answers your prayers, make sure you praise Him. “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:21).

Note – this new series of 21 devotions from the Book of Proverbs originally appeared on another blog I write for: Proverbial Thought. Check it out for daily verse-by-verse devotionals from Proverbs!

 

iPray #8: Begin an Exciting Life of Prayer with Jesus

Challenge – Four Action Steps:

Here are four simple steps that you can take to begin an exciting life of prayer with Jesus.

1. Pray 5 minutes a day every day for the next 21 days.

I’m not asking you to commit to pray for a month or a year, just twenty one days – that’s three weeks. To make a commitment to pray just five minutes a day. And you might say, “That’s not very much! Just five minutes a day? What’s the point of that?” If you pray five minutes a day every day for 21 days, that’s 105 minutes of prayer – that’s an hour and ¾ of an hour! And, if you’re not praying at all, then that’s more than you’re doing right now. Have you ever prayed for 105 minutes before? You can do it!

Sometimes people think when it comes to prayer that we need to pray big prayers. “I heard about this great revival preacher who got up at four o’clock in the morning, and he prayed for four hours before he started the day!” I remember hearing stories like that and getting inspired. “Yeah, I’ve got to pray four hours a day every day!” And I’d set the old alarm clock for four o’clock in the morning. “Yes!” And the first day was glorious. But the next morning, I discovered that button – you know the button? The snooze button. “But, no, I’ve got to get up and pray four hours today!” And then by day three, it’s out the window and it’s not going to happen. “I can’t pray four hours a day – I need my sleep!”

However, I’m not asking you to pray four hours a day. Just five minutes. Can you do five minutes? That’s an attainable goal. What would happen if every member of the church started praying for five minutes a day every day? In a church of 100 people, that’s 500 minutes of prayer in one day. Do you think God could use prayers like that to make a difference in our community? I believe He could!

2. Start a prayer journal.

It’s good to write down all of the things you’re praying for. What are you believing God for in your life? Journaling is important because so often, we pray for things, but we don’t write them down. Then, when God answers those prayers, we don’t remember that it was something we had prayed for, and we forget to go back to God and say thank you and give Him honour and glory for what He did. Journaling is also important because it helps to build our faith. Every time God answers one of our prayers, we will have more faith next time to believe that He can do it again. So start writing down your prayer requests, and watch as God does miracles!

3. Attend church prayer meetings.

In our church, we have pre-service prayer meetings on Sunday mornings from 10:00-10:20 am. When Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross, on the night He was betrayed, “they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be filled with horror and deep distress. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.” He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by… Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. “Simon!” he said to Peter. “Are you asleep? Couldn’t you stay awake and watch with me even one hour?  Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak.” (Mark 14:32-35,37-38).

In our pre-service prayer, we don’t meet for an hour; we only meet for twenty minutes. That’s not long, but it’s a great way to start your Sunday morning. Not only do we pray for the worship service, our church family, and our community, we’re also preparing our hearts for what the Lord is going to do in the service. I want to challenge you – if you’ve never attended a church prayer meeting before, give it a try. Go at least once, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to go back. What do you have to lose? What do you have to gain?

4. Take a Prayer Walk Through your neighborhood.

At the end of our church’s teaching on prayer, we have planned a prayer walk around our town of Beausejour. We’re planning on walking and praying around the outskirts of our town, believing for God to make a difference in our community. This is something that you can do on your own in your town or city. When you go out walking your dog or biking around town, pray for the people in your community. Pray for their salvation. Pray for them to recognize their need for Jesus as Saviour. Pray for all of the pastors and churches in your community, for the Gospel to go forth in power and change lives for eternity.

In Joshua 1:1-3, the Lord gave this promise: “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:  “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them–the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” That’s a great promise to stand on! As you walk through your neighborhood, declare, “Jesus is Lord!”

Application: Which one or two of these suggestions can you put into practice in your life this week? 

Father, I thank you for your Word, and that you’re calling your people to go deeper into the place of prayer. As we abide in you, and your Word abides in us, we will see more miracles and answers to prayer. Thank you for helping us to respond to meet with you in the secret place. As we meet with you and pray in secret, you will reward us openly. I thank you that you are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to your power that works in us, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Chris Jordan

iPray #7 – The Story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho

The Story of Joshua:

In the Old Testament, there is a story that illustrates the miracle-working power of God. After the Lord delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, He called them to go into the Promised Land. Moses was dead, and the leadership baton was passed to Joshua. “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:13-15). What a powerful encounter with an angel of the Lord in prayer! And the Lord called Joshua to lead the children of Israel into battle against the city of Jericho.

“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.” (Joshua 6:1-2). Notice that the Lord said, “I have given Jericho into your hand.” Past tense. The Bible says that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24). You were healed at the Cross two thousand years ago. The battle is already won – victory is ours!

But then look at the interesting and unique battle strategy the Lord gave them: “You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.” (Joshua 6:3-5).

When the people heard the Word of the Lord, they believed it, they trusted it, and they acted on it. And here’s what took place when they obeyed God: “So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” (Joshua 6:20). They obeyed God and it worked – a miracle took place. They discovered that God is true and faithful and He will do what He said He will do.

There might be another reason why people don’t get answers to their prayers. Sometimes people pray and then they just sit back and wait for God to do a miracle. No! We need to pray like it all depends on God, but work like it all depends on us. We have a role to play, too. The children of Israel didn’t just pray and sit back and say, “Okay, God – you take the city now! Knock those walls down!” No, they had a part to play, too. We need to do what we can do, and then God will do what we can’t do for ourselves. If you’re sick, then do whatever you can to take care of your body – eat right, exercise, etc. If you need a new job, make sure your resumes out there and get some interviews! If you have relationship problems, do whatever you can to pursue peace with that person. Then, once you’ve done all you know to do, trust God for the rest. Amen!

Continued tomorrow…

Pastor Chris Jordan