"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." —Ephesians 2:1-3
The Bible declares that we are THE CHILDREN OF
DISOBEDIENCE AND WRATH! All people are born with a sinful nature, prone to wrongdoing and
rebellion against authority. Humanity is prone to wrath (anger) and
rebellion! You
do NOT have to teach a child how to get angry and throw a tantrum fit... it comes
naturally. That's why you must TRAIN a child NOT to throw a
tantrum. You must TRAIN a child the proper way to get angry.
I remember seeing several anti-discrimination billboards years ago. There was a picture of several children from different ethnic backgrounds. The words read something like... “children don't see color, they're taught to hate.” That type of reasoning is backwards reasoning from the Bible. The Bible teaches that we are ALL prone to the evil works of the flesh. A child must be taught NOT to hate based upon color or lifestyle. A child must be taught NOT to hate anyone. I hate no one and I teach my children not to hate anyone.
However, I believe that a child should be taught to hate certain things (like abortion, sin, beer, cigarettes, pornography, etc). A child should be taught to hate anything that has the potential to harm them or others. Some parents don't see the harm in alcohol. That is unfortunate. A child should be taught from an early age that alcohol is liquid devil, set on fir of hell. A child does not need to be taught to hate, it WILL come naturally if the child is not provided a loving home with concerned and caring parents who TRAIN the child to be good and do good.
The Bible is simply teaching us that mankind is prone to war, hate and killing. History cannot deny this Biblical claim. Men are by nature warmongers! I once heard that when women get bored, they go to the shopping mall; but men who get bored, they start a war. I'm not so sure about that but it sounds good.
Seriously, men and women alike are prone to hate and war. It is the mamas who raise up their boys who instill the character and values (or lack of such virtues) into their children. It is true that children are mostly influenced in the earliest years of life (which is up to mom to love, train and nourish them). As the children grow older, dad comes into the picture more and has more influence upon them. Sadly, many children are neglected by working and busy parents who fail to take time to be with their children.
Even Christian parents are sometimes guilty of
spending so much time at church that they fail to spend time with their own
children. The family must come before the church in priorities. What
America needs as much as sin-hating, Christ-honoring, people-loving preachers is
mamas who raise their children up to serve the Lord and stand for what is right.
This is where America's preachers will come from. America needs to get
back to family time. Turn the TV off. If children are not
deliberately taught to love and respect others, then they will be nature hate.
This is what the Bible teaches. The works of the flesh are listed,
beginning in Galatians 5:19.
Jesus Became Angry Over Sin And So Should We
Did you know that it is ok to get angry? Yes, it is true. Jesus became so angry at the people who had turned the church into a money-making business that He made a whip and drove them out of the temple.
"And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables." —John 2:15
Wow! You wouldn't have thought Jesus would do such a thing. Jesus, violent? Yes! I doubt if very many Christians and churches today would have stood up for Jesus. Let's face it, if someone in your church did what Jesus did... even the Christians would think He was a nutcase. This is because we are so out-of-touch with reality nowadays. These folks blocking abortion clinics aren't nuts, they're conscientious people who are trying to stop the MURDERING of little children. Ironically they are being labeled as "hate mongers." Can you imagine? Those who are trying to defend little children's lives are being persecuted and increasingly prosecuted. Just wait until God gets a hold of those murders, no one is going to escape the wrath and judgment of God.
Just because the U.S. Supreme Court says that the unborn child is not a human being does NOT make it so. It was the same Supreme Court who told us that black people could be slaves. It takes a good man to break laws made by bad men.
If you think it is anarchy and sin to rebel against bad government, then you has better wake up because America NO longer belongs to it's citizens... it is being turned over little by little to the United Nations. Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-nego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's golden image in Daniel 3:12-20. They broke the law!
Daniel broke the law when he opened his window
toward Jerusalem and prayed three times daily. Daniel 6:10, “Now when
Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his
windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees
three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did
aforetime.” Daniel KNEW THAT THE WRITING WAS SIGNED (which forbid prayer to
the God of Israel), yet he went to pray anyway. Amen!
Losing One's Temper Is Wrong
America's citizens today are misinformed and confused. Many are indifferent. Most are complacent. God wake us up before it's too hate. Freedom gives us the right to be wrong, not to do wrong.
I could write a whole book concerning anger, but
that is not the purpose of this article. This article is simply to reveal
to you the Biblical teaching that mankind is prone to anger. It's in our
blood. Therefore, we must keep this FACT in mind if we are to deal with
anger. The answers are in the Word of God. If we know that we are
prone to anger, then we would all be wise to search out the Bible on the matter.
Ephesians 2:1-3 teaches that humanity is prone to two things: REBELLION and WRATH. If we know that we are prone to such evils, then we must be careful when we do become angered or decide not to obey authority. Are we really getting angry for a good reason, or are we just getting angry because we are losing our temper. Let me say this: It is never a sin to get angry for the right reasons, but it is always a sin to lose one's temper. It is wrong to fly-off-the-handle. It is wrong to hurt others.
When we learn to calm-down, back-off, stand-down when angered until we can properly evaluate the matter. A parent becomes angry at their child and hits the child. This is a sin. This is abuse. However, a parent who is angered because their child nearly got hit by a car while playing by the street is supposed to spank their child. God put that padded area back there on the behind for a reason. It is wrong to strike a child suddenly in anger. A child should be lovingly chastised, never abruptly as some foolish parents do. A child is a small person with feelings, great care must be exercised when disciplining a child. Anger is good is properly channeled.
Anger is a normal part of our everyday life. We must carefully PRE-DECIDE what we are going to do (and not do) when we become angry. This is so important. Unfortunately, we are all prone to sinful anger as well. Sinful anger is when we say things and do things which we shouldn't do. Jesus did NOT sin in the temple. Jesus took a just stand for what He knew to be right. It is NOT a sin for people to block abortion clinics. I is a sin to hate people. It is a sin to be cruel to others (such as abortion). It is a sin to hurt others in our anger.
So the next time you hear about the horrible things done by people, remember that God told us in the Bible that mankind is prone to hate and maliciousness. I'm just saying that you'll never have a PROPER Biblical perspective of the world until you accept the truth that people are all THE CHILDREN OF WRATH AND DISOBEDIENCE. This is what Ephesians 2:2-3 teach us. Keep this mind when your co-worker stabs you in the back. Keep this truth in mind when someone is mean to you or hurts you. I used to get bitter over the ways of people. Learning this Biblical truth helped me put things into perspective and keep my eyes on Jesus. Don't hate people, instead realize that they are doing what comes natural to us humans... SINNING. I am not condoning their sin, I am just saying that we must rise ABOVE their evil deeds and keep our mind focused on the BIGGER PICTURE.
People are going to be people... and people are prone to anger and disobedience. If we are to live amongst the enemy, then we must know our enemy. James 4:4 calls the world God's enemy. So then the world is also our enemy if we're right with God. I would ten-trillion times rather be God's friend than a friend of the world.
Jesus foretold in John 15:19 that the world would
hate us. 2nd Timothy 3:12 teaches that all those who live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution. Add to that the truth that people are prone to anger,
jealousy, disobedience and all the works of the flesh mentioned in Galatians
5:19-21 and it's a jungle out there!
The World Is A Large Insane Asylum Today
We are surviving as God's children in a world that's become a giant insane asylum. It's never been more important to walk closely with God as it is today. Jesus commanded us in John 5:39 to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! The Bible is our lighthouse in these stormy days of life. The world is a perilous place today. We are living in the last days. I believe that we are quickly approaching the end times, if not altogether here already. The Lord's return at the Rapture is nearer than ever before. People are viscous these days. As believers we need to be careful to love everyone, but trust no one. Jesus foretold in Matthew 10:36 and Matthew 24:10, that in the end times people would BETRAY and HATE their neighbors and very own family.
All of history's bloody wars are irrefutable evidence of the hateful, angry and disobedient nature of humanity. Over 200,000,000 people (soldiers and civilians alike) have died due to war over the past two centuries. There's a right way and a wrong way to become angry. It's never right to seek vengeance against those who hurt, trying to hurt them to get even. As Christians we ought to place the things that make us angry into God's hands, for vengeance belongeth to the Lord (Romans 12:19; 1st Thessalonians 4:6).
However, we should get angry over wickedness in public and take a stand for God (Psalm 94:16; Ephesians 5:11). This is proper anger. Ephesians 2:1-3 is speaking about carnal, worldly, sinful anger and disobedience. Children by nature disobey their parents. Citizens by nature disobey government. Governments by nature disobey the Bible. Mankind by nature disobeys God. It's in our blood. Feminism is rebellion against masculine authority (which is ordained by God). The teaching of evolution in America's classrooms is rebellion against God. The U.S. Supreme Court rebelled against God by permitting abortion. Courts that permit same-sex marriage are rebelling against God. Mankind is prone by nature to disobedience and wrath.
Again, the purpose of this article is to familiarize you with the Biblical truth that humanity is prone BY NATURE to anger and disobedience. The Bible specifically narrows out these two sins amongst all the works of the flesh mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21. Ephesians 2:2-3 stereotypes mankind as being creatures of DISOBEDIENCE AND WRATH. Knowing this compels me to desire to be obedient to God and to place the things that make me angry into God's hands. I choose not to be a vindictive person.
As a Christian I choose to place everything into
God's hands, because He has promised to deal with every work, whether good or
bad (Ecclesiastes 12:14). No one is going to get away with anything. Jesus said
in Matthew 12:36 that man shall give account for every idle word spoken. God Who
numbers our hairs doesn't even miss a word spoken, nor does a single thought
escape the Lord's eyes, and He will judge every person accordingly (Proverb
24:12). The world is prone to anger and rebellion. As Christians we have a new
nature, which is Christ in us (2nd Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:9). Therefore, we
should walk in the Spirit and put away wrath and disobedience from our daily
life. The old nature cannot be tamed, but we can yield to the new nature every
day. We can let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians
2:4-5).
Realize That Our Battles Are Against Satan And Not Against Flesh
Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
I have had many people throughout my life try to hurt me simply because they didn't like me. Some people were looking for reasons to become angry and hate me without cause, simply because I am different as a Christian. Many people hold a grudge and are just hateful. I have witnessed other people in the workplace do things to hurt other people, because they were filled with hatred and the spirit of Satan. The next week they would be smoking together like nothing happened, ready to cut each other's throat if they get the chance. That's the way of the wicked world. I want no part of it. I won't harbor hatred in my heart against anyone.
If my enemy is hungry I will feed him (or her) as the Bible commands. I will be good to them. The Bible tells us to try to be at peace with all people. The only way to accomplish this is to CHOOSE OUR BATTLES carefully. We ought to be willing to make enemies over the doctrine of Christ, Biblical separation and the simplicity of salvation; but not over most of the petty things that people fight over these days in our churches...
Romans 12:18-21, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
When people do us evil, God wants us to do good in response. This may seem like advanced Christianity, but it's basic 101 Biblical teaching. We are to love our enemies and pray for those who hurt us. Luke 6:35 says that GOD IS KIND to the EVIL and to the UNTHANKFUL. That is our example to follow. God has promised to avenge us of all evil (Romans 14:10-12; James 4:12).
In closing, Ephesians 2:2-3 stereotypes mankind as being creatures of DISOBEDIENCE AND WRATH. May we as Christians, with God's help, be different than the unsaved world. I want to obey God and put away wrath, placing everything into God's hands, for He will judge all in eternity.
