Often when two or more things converge in time, we tend to want to say it was just a coincidence. Instead we should be asking as Graham Cooke puts it in one of his teachings, “What does this mean and what am I to do?”
This happened awhile back with my daily devotional and a news report that I believe has significance for the season, the new era, we have entered.
First, the scripture from the daily devotional was Ephesians 4:26-27, from the NLT, ‘And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.’
We all have at some point heard a message preached about “don’t let the sun go down on your anger”, but as I looked at this scripture and the converging news report, something much deeper, with implications for our families, our cities, our state and our nation started to be revealed.
Let’s start with the end implication, “anger gives a foothold to the devil”, not an opening or an open door but a foothold. So, what is a foothold?
A foothold is defined as “a place where a person’s foot can be lodged to support them securely, especially when climbing” or even more directly applicable here, “a secure position from which further progress may be made.”
So we are talking here about “anger” giving the devil a secure position from which he can make further progress in your life, in your family, in your city, in your state, in your region and in this nation. Is your anger, is any anger, worth giving that kind of foothold to the enemy.
Now I know that the immediate response when you start talking about anger is to go to the scripture of Jesus turning over the money changers tables in the temple and chasing them out, and then say, righteous anger is OK. This may hurt but you are not Jesus and only God judges as righteous. If you’re using this to justify being angry, it is likely self-righteous anger and you added that to the sin of being controlled by anger. So let’s get that behind us, repent, and move on because there are even greater implication here.
Now for the news report that was really telling, actually it was a polling question. The politics of the question is not relevant here but the responses are. I know that if I asked another question with a different political group with the same response selections, I would get the same percentage results. So don’t get hung up on the politics. Here it is:
What really caught my attention was the distinction between just being “dissatisfied’ versus being “angry”. A full 62% say that they are actually angry and if we extend this as I mentioned, does it indicated that at least 62% of us are angry about something. Are we controlled by that anger, do we let the sun go down on that anger, are we giving the devil a foothold with our anger?
So, what does it take to go from just being dissatisfied with something to being angry about it and then being controlled by that anger? As a practical example, we have some roundabouts (traffic circles) in our town that generally drivers don’t know how to navigate and the city officials think show how advanced (modern) we are, I suppose. What would take us from being dissatisfied with these roundabouts to being angry about them to being angry at the city officials to actually being controlled by that anger?
When our anger gives a foothold and that anger is toward our city, county, state and national officials there are consequences. We don’t have to guess the consequences, God tells us in scripture.
In Romans 13:1, we are told “to be in subjection to the governing authorities.” The scripture is specifically talking about civil authorities although some use it to get you in subjection to them - that’s witchcraft by the way. It goes on to say that all authority is from God.
Then in Romans 13:2 we get the consequence, “Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.” Do you have some things going on in your life that you just do not understand and cannot find the root? Perhaps it is rooted in not just being dissatisfied or disagreeing with your city mayor or President Trump but being angry and controlled by that anger; giving a foothold for opposing their authority and bringing condemnation on yourself.
There is good news however, God always gives an alternative and that is in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” Want to transform your life from chaos and conflict to tranquility and quiet? Perhaps it is time to start praying, interceding, giving thanks for and petitioning God on behalf of those in authority - your city mayor, your state government and President Trump.
We also have to realize that there is a large issue in play that goes beyond our individual victimhood. If fully 62% of people are controlled by their anger, what percentage does it take for Satan to have a foothold in your city, your region, your state or this nation. Are we praying for localities and the locality is not the issue but the locality issues are a result of the high percentage of people controlled by their anger in the vicinity. Do you think Sodom and Gomorrah was about the cities or was it about the high percentage of people in the cities engaged in sinful activities?
As we pray according to 1 Timothy 2:1, we must not get so focused on those in authority but we must remember that it first says, “on behalf of all men”. To impact our city, region, state and nation, we must pray, intercede, make petition to God, and give thanks for all men including those in authority - our civil government leaders and workers. We must reduce the 62% and not allow it to grow. So, let’s pray:
Father God, I confess that I have allowed dissatisfaction in some areas of my life to progress to an unholy anger and I have allowed that anger to control those areas. I repent for being controlled by my anger and ask that Holy Spirit would help me identify the specific areas where my anger has allowed the enemy a foothold. I ask that those footholds be removed even now. Particularly where my anger has prevented me from properly praying for all men including those in authority, I repent. I also come before Your Throne to petition You on behalf of those in authority for wisdom and courage to fulfill the destiny that You ordained for them including their divine effect on the destiny of our city, our region, our state and our nation. I thank you Lord for placing them in a position of authority to make manifest your plans in this earth. In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen.
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