Choose Wisely

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:  Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. Proverbs 22:24-25 (KJV)

Have you ever heard the expression “Like Father, Like son”? Or perhaps the old saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”? There is a great spiritual truth to be gleaned from these colloquialisms. Let me illustrate.

Have you ever attended a church and observed the “group thought” process that takes place. When the Pastor speaks it is not just his words that penetrate the hearers but his attitude. If the pastor loves people and reaches out to them then the church will do the same. If the pastor is judgmental and condemning then the church will do the same. If the leadership of an organization strives for excellence then you will see that same passion rising in the rank and file. These examples serve to illustrate the spiritual truth of transference. We become like those that we allow to speak into our lives. Actions speak louder than words!

This is important because even if that person is teaching the Bible and saying the right things the spirit behind the words comes attached. A humble and contrite spirit or a proud and haughty spirit can both speak the same words. The words become the wrapping around the gift. In our Scripture today we are warned to avoid angry men. Why? Because we will learn their ways, they become a snare to our soul.

Often demonic activity is cloaked in religious activity. STOP! Did you catch that? Why would Satan want to teach a Bible Study? Why would he want to run a charity? Why would he pastor a church? Perhaps that is exactly the audience that he wants to influence. Consider this message from Paul,

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NIV)

We are warned that Satan puts on spiritual clothes and infiltrates our meetings. He comes with a negative spirit tearing down those around him. He finds fault with what the preacher says or does and believes he knows better. He speaks judgment and calamity on those around him. He gathers to himself those of like mind. Bitter, angry, rebellious! Not openly but privately and ever so subtle. This spirit of antichrist exists to infect like a virus among the saints. Hiding in the body until it bursts forth in death and destruction.

When a Father has an angry spirit he will spread the spirit but the fruit is not always what you might think. An angry father will produce depression in his family. This is the transference that takes place. The wife will be depressed, the children will be depressed and the home will become a place that everyone wants to avoid. The wife will look elsewhere for peace and the kids will find other people to fill that void. Open rebellion will soon break out in the home, daughters will seek love in the arms of strangers, and sons will grow disenfranchised and angry. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You can tell a lot about Mom and Dad by watching the children and you can tell a lot about pastor by watching his church.

The Bible tells us to guard our heart in Proverbs 4:23. Consider this,

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)

When Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit He said that, “from our innermost being would flow rivers of living water.”

The heart is where the good and the bad flows. Words aren’t processed in the heart but spirits are! When we receive a word there is more than language, more than syllables, entering our being. We are receiving the spirit from which these words are spoken. Subtle nuances of speech, laughter, body language or the life lived by the speaker insert themselves between the lines and add themselves to us. Our heart receives the language, often unspoken, and so begins the spiritual warfare.

The viruses that spread through our body are the best example of how this warfare takes place. When we are around those that are sick the virus cannot be seen but it invades our being as only a microscopic organism so small it can’t be seen with our natural eyes. The virus immediately begins to multiply and attack the good cells in our body and it is not long before the effects of the invisible war within our body is evident. We still don’t see the virus but we can sure see the results and those results can kill us if we don’t deal with the cause.

Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly. When He took our sins and suffered the death of the cross Christ ushered us into a life full of His abundant grace. We were “born again” and our Spirits were once again made alive in Him. Don’t allow anything to harden your heart or quench the Spirit of God in your life. That means knowing those that labor among you and walking in Christ’s Spirit. Remember the words of Paul as he wrote to the Corinthian Church.

"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (NIV)

Now that’s just good advice.