Slow to Wrath
The greatest thief in a person’s life is their own temper. It comes to steal their peace, their joy, and their health. It can and will destroy every form of prosperity; from financial security to spiritual wellness. Many children will fall asleep tonight in terror because of somebody’s abusive temper. Marriages do not survive uncontrolled rage. Anger erodes the very foundation of every relationship. Everything you said you would never become is possible when you fail to control your temper. A person with a short fuse will fall short in life.
Proverbs 16:32 says, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his own spirit is better than he that captures a city.” Here we see what makes a person mighty and strong: They have rule over their temper. This person is described as an insurmountable force. The word “better” in the original Hebrew means “more prosperous”. The word “mighty” means “giant, champion, chief, and valiant man”. You could read the verse this way, “He that is slow to anger is more prosperous than any champion…” This explains why so many people are dominated in life. When the “giants” in life rear their ugly face, they are powerless because their temper has stolen their strength. They are powerless against the forces of stress, sickness, and depression because their own temper has exhausted their spirit to fight. The verse says that a person who has controlled their own spirit has won a greater conquest than the spoils of war. But a person with no control is vulnerable to every attack. Proverbs 25:28 says, “He that has no rule over his spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls.” A city without walls in those days was invader prey. You too have opened yourself to unseen forces every time you throw a fit of rage. With every insult you are condemning your own future. That temper is disqualifying you.
I have talked with people who are almost proud of their temper. They speak as if their temper is a strength. Screaming and throwing fits is never a strength. It is a weakness. It is the end of your defenses. James 3:16 says, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Like metal conducts the properties of electricity, strife and anger will conduct satanic properties. Demonic elements of frustration will begin to control you and your home. Have you ever seen somebody who has lost control and you said, “They aren’t acting like themselves, it was like a totally different person.”? Your statement was correct. They weren’t acting like themselves. They weren’t acting by themselves. People with anger problems are yielding to wrong spirits. They are allowing demonic agencies to control them.
A person will never get free from a bad temper until they learn to yield to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit is always patient. God’s Spirit is always submissive and merciful. Get into the scriptures and into prayer and learn to rule your spirit. Don’t let others rule it for you. Don’t let your temper be your undoing.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
