The acts of the flesh are obvious: … fits of rage, selfish ambition …
Summary: Rage and ambition are a toxic emotional brew. They bring nothing but hurt to those around us when we fall victim to the passions of our own flesh.
One of the tragedies of church life is that churches are populated by people. It’s been said that if there were a perfect church, I would not be allowed in because then, it wouldn’t be perfect anymore.
There is a lot of truth to that!
What sets Christians apart from the world around us is that …
… what should we say here?
That we are redeemed? Yes, that is true.
That we have repented of our sins? Mmmm … that should be true.
That we meditate on God’s Word day and night? We should (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3).
That we continually pray the Lord’s Prayer as Jesus taught us, and each time we do, we are reminded to forgive our debtors because we want God to forgive us of our sins (Matthew 6:12)?
That we love God above all else and our neighbors as we love ourselves? Especially those in the pews (or chairs) next to us in church!
If these statements are true for you and me and the Christian next to us, then we tend to exhibit something called “humility.”
The spirit of the flesh wants nothing to do with humility unless cloaking itself in a false humility will further its gains. The flesh wants what it wants. The flesh puts itself first.
When we allow the flesh to rule us, we serve a being with an insatiable thirst. The flesh can never get enough. Never.
Because it can never get enough, the flesh is never satisfied. It wants what others have. It tries to take what it wants. The flesh of others doesn’t like people taking away what it wants for itself, so it resists. It is then that we see the “selfish ambition” Paul is telling us about lead to “fits of rage.”
Want leads to selfish ambition, and ambition leads to frustration when we don’t get our way. When that happens, the flesh expresses itself in “fits of rage.”
Paul teaches us to see the difference between the “good” and “bad” in ourselves. He is also helping us understand each other. When we see others enslaved by rage and ambition, we need to check our own emotional response. We can’t fight rage with more rage. Our only hope is to douse the flames with the love of Jesus.
Application: Keeping our eyes on God’s will keeps us from being a slave to our flesh.
Food for Thought: How should we react to fits of rage and selfish ambition in people who claim to be Christian?
How should we react to fits of rage and selfish ambition in people who claim to be Christian?
Try to out do them… or ask if what they are doing glorifies our Lord and how.
Anon –
That is an interesting question! “Does what you are doing glorify the Lord?”
It has the effect of a splash of cold water to the face. It brings us out of ourselves and forces us to see things from a different perspective.
Thank you!
Definitely pray for them, and while in the presence of the Lord, ask that you be given a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
The Bible gives us wisdom in dealing with a fellow believer who may be allowing struggling:
Restore in a spirit of gentleness
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Communication, and if that doesn’t work, some intervention.
Matthew 18:15-16 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
Keep Christ in the center. A good way to accomplish this is to keep the Word in the response. Not “slap them in the face with Scripture”, but gentle reminders of how Christ lived, and wants us to live.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Well said, Chris!
I love the balance of prayer and action in your answer, always couched in the grace and love that God shows all of us.
How should we react to fits of rage and selfish ambition in people who claim to be Christian?
Let Jesus in us, respond to the darkness in them. It is His power in us called to reveal truth to the lost no matter where they are. We are called to become lights in the darkness, “empowered byJesus allowing Him to work through each of us.”
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:13-14
For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Acts 13:47
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Mathew 5:16
Ron,
You point us to the source of all truth and light: Jesus!
“Let Jesus respond” is great advice!
Thank you!