Taming the temper involves redirecting the energy of anger into transforming, revolutionary spiritual power so the curse becomes a blessing, and the enemy is not only withstood but totally defeated.

God is calling us to resist the devil, to choose not to get angry, and then to go on the offensive.

Let that temptation to anger become a springboard to loving, blessing, praying, and doing good until a confused and discouraged Satan flees from you.

Read lesson: 1326A

In this fourth of a series on dealing with anger, we are given three practical ways of dealing with our anger.

These three principles, if put into practice, will give us victory over anger.

Victory will not come overnight, but one day we will awaken to find an ebbing of the old urge to retaliate, a softening taking place in the spirit.

The bitterness and rage will be gone. It starts when we begin to seek the mind of Christ in controlling anger.

Read lesson: 1325B

The violation of those imaginary "rights" brings about a response in us that God never intended us to have.

The result is that we demand our day in court, or boil with resentment, or explode in a rage because we have assumed the place of God.

What rights are we claiming that are not ours?

Read lesson: 1325A

The essence of anger surfaces in detail in the New Testament which seems to reflect three expressions of anger that simply are not acceptable to God.

As we look at these different types of anger, we need to ask God to search us for what rights we are clinging to that we have not given to God.

What should our proper response be?

Read lesson: 1324B

Is it any wonder that a life under God's control must also have under control the enemy of ungodly anger?

Is it any wonder that taming the temper is no option for the Spirit-controlled life?

God's perfect motive for obeying is to please and serve one another as a means of expressing love.

This is God's ultimate goal. Unfortunately, throughout our Christian lives, there will be many times when we will not obey through love. Therefore, there needs to be a healthy understanding of the fear of the Lord.

What does it mean to fear the Lord?

What are we afraid of?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is a vital key to obedience in our lives.

Read lesson: 519A

In the second part of our lesson concerning receiving instruction, we will look at eight things to consider in the ones who give us counsel.

We are to look at their lives and counsel in light of the Word of God.

We are to consider such things as their spiritual gift, their life message, their life-style and others.

With all of this taken into consideration, what are we to do if this person gives us rebellious counsel?

We will also look briefly at our sixth principle of obedience which is that God expects us to use remembrances to encourage obedience.

Read lesson: 518B

God expects us to reject counsel, instruction and relationships that encourage disobedience.

There are those who would have us set up other gods such as success, money, or acceptance; but we cannot accept anything that draws us from Christ being the center of our lives.

How do we deal with someone who has given us wrong counsel?

What are things to consider when seeking counsel from someone else?

It is important that the counsel we receive be in agreement with God's Word.

Read lesson: 518A

God has given us ample illustrations of obedience in nature and in His Word.

God has convinced us through His Word that of ourselves we cannot obey.

We do not have the authority or the energy apart from Him to obey. But, we have available in Him all that we need to continually be obedient to His perfect will.

Let's take a look to see what it takes for us to plug into the power of God.

It is through our seeing ourselves as conductors that His energy is released through us.

Read lesson: 517B

God still rewards obedience. We will not only receive rewards in this life, but there is a reward platform in heaven that you and I will come before one day.

What kind of rewards will we receive, and what will we do with our rewards? The Scripture is clear that we will be so grateful for what He has done in our lives that our rewards will be used to further worship Him.

Read lesson: 517A