to do something about it. Keep in mind that mere service can be just carnal works unless the individual is filled with the Spirit of God. Yes, the greatest need in the lives of God’s people today is the filling of the Holy Spirit. Humility and meekness are char acteristics of Mr. Sanguine who is guided by the Spirit. No longer a bull in the china shop, as was Peter, we find here the gentle and tender touch. Since a sanguine can often be very caustic and abrupt in his speech, when Spirit-controlled, he will seek to glorify Jesus Christ and Him crucified. A Spiritrfilled sanguine is a really lovable person who loves people and wants to help them in every way possible. We all need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we’ll get our eyes off of our selves and onto the needs of others, both spiritual as well as physical. Get on your knees and confess your sins to God. Then look on the whit ened harvest field, recognize the need of the lost souls for whom Christ died. Don’t fall into the pattern of feeling sorry for yourself. The min ute we start pampering ourselves, we’re disobeying God. We are sure to be most miserable. The nursing of grudges always ends in heartache and sorrow. If you’re a sanguine tempera ment, frustrated because you never seem to accomplish anything, or get anywhere, you need to confess your sins and weaknesses to the Lord, asking the Spirit of God to give you a purposeful life. By the grace of God, make it a point every day to study the Bible. Meditate on the truths you’ve read; memorize them, too. I think every Christian should master the first epistle of John. It’s able to give a tremendous spiritual life and stabilize us in our daily walk. All of us have trouble concen trating when we read the Scripture. This is why we need the Spirit of God to work within us. 9
saw tremendous potential in Peter who was a friendly, lovable type of person, yet possessing rock-like char acteristics. The secret of the victori ous Christian life, which is not the exceptional, but rather the norm, is one controlled by the Holy Spirit. Mr. Sanguine has some serious weak nesses which need to be modified by the Holy Spirit. Frequently, Mr. Sanguine may have a tendency to be very volatile, angry one moment and happy the next. Such a nature needs to be over come if we are to be useful servants of the Lord. There is a weakness of will when he doesn’t follow through or finish his jobs. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Such char acteristics supply strength for every natural weakness. The Holy Spirit provides self-control. The Christian will not be this way by nature but only through the power of God. There is a discipline that is needed in such areas as the devotional life. I knew a sanguine who really loved the Lord yet he couldn’t get into the habit of reading the Word of God every day. He realized that if he did this every day, as well as prayed, he would become a consistent, effective Christian. So he made this little rule, “No Bible, no breakfast.” He kept that challenge for spiritual growth uppermost. Following this route, he brought himself into a state of vic tory. His friends found that he sud denly had an ability to communicate truth. His temperament was being controlled by the Holy Spirit. Another weakness of the sanguine is restlessness. He can hardly sit still. He wants to go about doing good deeds. By the way, if you find yourself indulging in too much self contemplation, start being concerned for others. Happy is the one who sees the need of this troubled old world and gives himself to Jesus Christ
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