Untitled Sermon (48)

Goodning to all of you

Truly what a blessing it is to be in the house of the lord , one more time

Good to see all of you

Let’s open up with a song and prayer

And we will dive right into our lesson

Thank you Bro

Tonight, we will continue to look in James

James Chapter 1 verses 19-20

And you should find these words as printed

James 1:19–20 (NIV)

Look what it says

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger, does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

because human anger, does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

And so tonight,

We are going to talk about

Overcoming Anger

I believe that, tonight, that this is a great subject to talk about , because there are so many people who don’t know how to control their anger.

We all get angry sometimes

Right?

But the question is, how many of us, know how to control it?

Tonight James helps us

Because he gives directions about handling anger.

ESS: and so , James shares with us that, We can overcome anger, by obeying the principles of God’s word.

OSS: And so, my prayer tonight , is that

after this lesson that, We turn from unrighteous anger and we control our emotions, and live a life, that’s pleasing to God.

Amen

And I think that this subject is very critical

And I say that Because, when you think about ANGER

Anger , This emotion, has destroyed families,

You think about it right now, some family members aren’t speaking to one another right now , somebody got mad at the family renuion, or you let pookie or ray ray borrow some money and they ain’t paid you back

And we let anger creep in

Not only that,

But Anger , This emotion, has also split churches,

Because some one group couldn’t have it their way ,

I mean you got some churches, where people, bring their guns to a business meeting

Anger is something else,

Not only that, But it has also caused bitterness in friendships

People have stop being friends behind somebody not being able to control their ANGER

And so, Anger is something, that’s real

Because This emotion, has the potential to hurt and effect everyone involved.

When we start talking about Anger

Anger has gotten out of hand so much that

Corporations and businesses, professional teams and schools, have even implemented self-help anger management classes.

That;s how serious this is

And listen,

I know therapist are good , counseling is good , other outside resources may be helpful

But from a spiritual point of view

I believe that, in order to overcome anger, I believe that, we must have .........a changed heart.

We must have a change of heart Because if I have a change of heart , I will have a change of Attitude

AMEN

But how many you know that, Anger , didn’t just start with our generation

Anger, has been evident in every family of every generation.

Does anybody know where it started?

It started with the first family.

How many of us remember Cain and Abel

When you look in Genesis 4:3–8, It says there in Genesis chapter 4 verses 3-8 that

“And in the process of time ,it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,

but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Now Cain talked with Abel his brother, and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.”

And so what does this tells us, this tells us that when we don’t obey the will of God , ANGER can easily creep in our hearts

And so, once again

Anger has been around

And Anger is a problem in the world today. Anger is a problem in many Christian homes, businesses, and even in our churches.

And so brothers and sisters

Let me say this

We must overcome anger, to be good witnesses, for Jesus Christ in this world.

Amen

---------------------------------------

And so here, This text gives us some instructions on overcoming anger.

The first thing , that I want us to look at is

I. His prescribed plan v. 19

What is his prescribed plan

(A.) We are to hear others words v. 19a

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen,

Yours may say swift

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man, be swift to hear,”

We are to hear others words

And so , what where they to listen to?

They were to listen to, God’s Word

This is All of what James had previously taught the believer’s, should have been summed up in their response, to what they know.

James says because we have been saved by the will of God, so that we may be of service to God, then we ought to act like Christians.

Amen,

James says that, Since We are the firstfruits of God’s creatures, we must act like it.

How many of know of some people, who profess that they are Christians, but don’t act like it

But James, says that since we are saved by the will of God

Since We are the firstfruits of God’s creatures, , and he says this in verse 18 , he says that, we must act like it.

Amen

And so here is James

James wanted to impart the sense of family, to his readers.

James would have us to know that , God’s prescribed plan to all believers, is that we be swift to hear. We are called to hear other’s words.

What does the word Swift mean?: It means speedy, quickly, with quickness or speed.

In essence, it gives the sense of urgency.

In other words

This says that, We must be urgent to hear all of what is said to us.

Why is this important

Great Biblical Truth:

Because If we are not quick to hear what the Lord says to us in His word, then we will never be quick to hear what man says to us, with their words.

And see this was the problem with Cain . Because Cain did not hear God’s words, look what happened to Cain , he found himself in sin.

Listen yall, We will never learn until we learn to listen.

Listening is vital

James say, “let every man be swift to hear,”

From the leaders to the pew members, to the oldest to the youngest, spiritually mature to the spiritually immature;

every man is called to apply God’s prescribed plan, to their lives.

Listen church, If we are going to overcome anger, we must be swift or eager to hear.

And let me say this

Hearing does not mean, just to hear the sounds that come from the mouths of others, but to listen to the intent..... of their words.

Because, There is a big difference in hearing and listening.

See, Hearing in the Bible, has the meaning of understanding or comprehending.

Amen

And See, there are so Many of us , who get angry at others , because we don’t listen or understand and we draw conclusions and get angry at what is said.

There’s a story about A 3rd grade teacher, the 3rd grade teacher called out to one of her students and finally got his attention. Little Tommy had been day dreaming and was not paying attention to what was going on. The teacher asked, “Tommy, do you have trouble hearing?” Tommy said, ‘No ma’am, I don’t have trouble hearing, I have trouble listening!”

And see, let say this

That That’s where many of us are today, we hear, but we do not listen.

Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.”

Proverbs 29:20, “Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool, than for him.”

And so Part of God’s prescribed plan for us, is to be swift to hear.

Let me ask you a question

Are you swift to hear? Do you listen to the Word of God?

Do you get angry when God confronts you with your sins?

But yall listen ,

We must be swift to hear

And so, James says that if we are going to overcome anger , we first have to hear..... others words.

-----------------------------

But then watch James

In verse 19b we see:

We are not only to hear others words v. 19a

But in the (B. part of verse 19

James says that

We are to hold our words v. 19b

Because Look what it says

It says that ,

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak

James says that, Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak

And here, James gives another admonition to the church.

And he says that,

We are not only to hear others word’s, but we are to hold our words.

But listen to James,

we are to hold our words.

How many of us find that hard to do?

How many us find it hard to hold our tongue?

How many of us find it hard to do, to keep our mouths shut?

Sometimes it’s hard …right?

But even as hard as it is at times to do

In every circumstance, we must think before we speak.

Because if we are honest, we don’t always think before we speak

****Let somebody say something out the way

*****Pull out in front of you

And before we know it, one of them words un slipped out

I know the lord is working on all of us

But listen to me well ,

In every circumstance, we must think before we speak.

We must not lash out at those , who have lashed out at us.

I know you want to get them back

But As believers in Christ, We need to be careful , what we say, when we say it, and how we say it.

Amen

------

But watch James

What do we see, that James does

James uses the opposite word of swift , when he uses slow.

He says , that We are to hold our words.

And I like what Warren Wiersbe says

Warren Wiersbe says that

He says that Since “We have two ears and one mouth, that ought to give us a sign , that we ought to listen more, than we speak.”

And so, brothers and sisters

We are to hold our words.

Amen

Look what it says in Proverbs

Proverbs 10:19, “In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

In essence, this says that it;s wise to hold our words

Amen

But then in Proverbs 17:27, it says

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.”

And so, By way of raising your hands

Are you a man or woman of understanding?

Do you fly off the handle easily?

Does your temper get the best of you?

Listen brothers and sisters,

I know things will happen, that will get us upset

But A man of understanding, has a calm spirit.

A man of knowledge, spares his words.

And so , in every circumstance , Brothers and sisters , We are to hold our words.

Amen

But let me ask you?

What does it means To hold back our words?

that means that, the Lord has control of our mouth and our emotions.

How many you know, the lord will control your mouth

The lord will do it!, if submit to his will

In 1 Peter 3:10, “For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.”

See, let me say this , Speaking up and causing confusion is not, what the Lord desires.

It is not the lord’s desire to speak out in a dangerous manner

That’s not the lord’s desire

But keep in mind Now, That James is not saying, that we should never speak up.

Because There are times when we are to speak up

For instance, if someone is in the wrong

But what James is saying here is that

We are not to retaliate or fly off the handle, but think about what we will say

Amen

Because every word we say, we will have to give account to it

and so , This is why James says what he says

James says that, We are to be swift to hear when spoken to, we are to be slow to speak... when spoken to.

Amen

Listen to what Matthew Say

Matthew 12:36–37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

And so this is why this is important to be slow to speak , because we will have to give account , to what we say

And so let me ask before we move on

Are you slow to speak?

Brothers and sisters,

Please hear me well

If we are going to overcome anger in our lives, then we must first hear others words, then hold our words.

Amen

But then, The next part of God’s prescribed plan is in the last part of verse 19:

(C.) We are to harness our wrath v. 19c

Look what it says

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and

what?

slow to become angry

Be slow to wrath

It says , be slow to become angry

Brothers and sisters, listen

A Christian that is under God’s hand and abiding in God’s prescribed plan, will be slow to wrath.

But Why is this important?

See, because When we are born again , we receive God’s nature and when we walk with Jesus, we become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

See God is slow to anger

And the more we walk like him, the more we will be behave…… like him

Look at Jonah chapter 4 verse 2

Jonah 4:2, says“for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.”

And see, listen God is a God who is slow to anger......... and when we walk with Jesus......... we will be slow to anger.

see, this means that we will be slow to speak up..... and not so easily , to become angry

But if God is a God who is slow to anger, we are to be slow to anger

Amen

See, brothers and sisters

Listen, Our anger and temper, must be brought under check by the power of the Holy Spirit and in line with the word of God.

Because we all know, When we get angry, you know like we said earlier, we say stupid things, hurtful things,

right?

things that we really don’t mean, and we do stupid things.

When we are angry, we don’t think straight or respond properly because we are consumed by this emotion.

Because Look what Proverbs 14:17 says , It says, “A quick-tempered man, acts foolishly, and a man of wicked intentions is hated.”

But look what Proverbs 14:29, “He who is slow to wrath, has great understanding, but he who is impulsive.. exalts folly.”

And so, let me ask this question

Do you harness your wrath?

Are you harboring some anger towards someone else?

Are you slow to anger or do you get angry at the drop of the hate?

But I want to help you, and it’s helping me too

Brothers and sisters , If we are going to honor the Lord Jesus Christ in this world and be a sound and solid witnesses for Him..... then we must overcome anger.

Amen

And so , here in our lesson

James revealed God’s prescribed plan to us.

And that is

We must hear others word’s, hold our words, and harness our wrath.

Amen

But In stark contrast to His prescribed plan; we also see in here verse 20:

II. Our personal production v. 20

Look what it says in verse 20

It says

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Why?

20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

And so, here , what is James saying

anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

But let me say this , James is not saying that we should never get angry and I’ll talk about that in just a minute.

But when we talk about anger, the anger of man, forfeits us, from living a righteous life.

Amen

Anger forfeits us, from living a righteous life.

Great Bible Fact: See, Because Man’s anger, does not produce, Godly actions.

Man’s anger, does not produce or bring forth the righteousness of God.

And this is what we must understand,

God requires righteous living, from all of us

Why?

Because God’s standards are high,

God’s standards are holy.

And if we live for him,

Our standards should be high

Amen

-----

And so

What is the righteousness of God?

Because verse 20 says that

human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

What is the righteousness of God?

When we talk about the righteousness of God

Brothers and sisters

This refers to a life, that is in agreement with God, a life that is consistent with His ways, a life lived within the context of God’s will and God’s purpose.”

The righteousness of God, comes from a life, watch this ...... lived for God.

See, Overcoming the anger, that is not from God, is God’s desire for each of us.

And see, I want you to know, that there is an anger that is from God.

And what I’ve learned is that, that many churches, does not have this righteous indignation.

And this is the reason why so many compromise with sin,

It’s because they don’t have no conviction about moral and social issues, they don’t take a stand against anything, they don’t stand for anything.

God help us to realize, that we must take a stand against sin, that we must get angry about sin.

And Warren Wiersbe said something, that really blessed me

He wrote, “that the person who cannot get angry at sin, does not have much strength to fight it.”

See, this is what I’ve learned, why so Many get angry with God , because His word convicts their hearts and they respond negatively toward God.

And Instead of getting angry with God, we need to get angry with sin.

Have you been under God’s prescribed plan?

Are you overcoming anger, that is destructive?

Do you have control of your emotions and your mouth?

My brothers and sisters, if not

God calls for us, to repent, to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath!