Proverbs 16:32 - Sermon Series 2/3

Proverbs 16:32 - Sermon Series 2/3 in Proverbs

GREETING:

Good evening everyone, thank you for making it a priority to be here this evening.

I know you are busy, I know you guys have school, work, friendships, family, and relationships that take up your time, energy, and schedules… so thank you for joining grace youth tonight and making the Lord a priority in your life…

I am very happy to see you all and I am so glad and honored to be your youth pastor.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Workout equipment and the reason why it is in the youth Building

Jordan and Emma, two of our leaders get married next weekend (7 days away) so so exciting

MISSION PLUG - JAPAN:

Our church wants to make sure you are informed and know about different people groups around the world who do not have a lot of access to the gospel so that we can be praying for them and keep you informed

This month we are still praying for the people who are living in Japan

The students who live in Japan typically study for 12+ hours a day

There life worth and success is based upon bringing honor and glory to their family name through their career and social status

The main religion in Japan would Buddhism (about 69%), but they typically inter mix several different beliefs

Believing in Jesus Christ would certainly bring dishonor and disgrace to a family, making it difficult to become a Christian for fear of failing your family

PRAYER - JAPAN:

Lord would you word spread across Japan

Would students and families come to know the love of God through the Gospel

Father, would you be with our brother and sisters in Christ, encourage them and strengthen them through your spirit to boldly proclaim your Gospel

AMEN!

WORSHIP:

Leading: Jake Norton

3 Songs upfront

1 Song on the back end

SCRIPTURE READING:

David Tucker

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

David Pray’s after reading the scripture

MESSAGE INTRO:

We are in our second week looking at the Book of Proverbs…

Last week we looked at Proverbs 3:16-17…

This week however, we will be looking at Proverbs 16:32…

Please follow along with me as I read it… I will be reading out of the English Stand Version (ESV)… so if you don’t have that version, that is fine, but that is why the words may not match up exactly the same…

Proverbs 16:32 says this…

Proverbs 16:32 (ESV)

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

So what is God trying to teach us or tell us in and through Proverbs 16:32?

POINT #1 which is in your outline for you to fill out… is this…

POINT #1: There is a real DANGER when someone is quick to ANGER

The word "anger" can refer to "nostril" because the Hebrew word 'af (often translated as "anger") can also mean "nose" or "nostrils". This connection stems from the physical expression of anger, where nostrils flare, and the ancient association of the nose with "burning" smoke or fire as a sign of intense wrath. The phrase "slow to anger" in the Bible can literally mean "long nostrils," suggesting that it takes a long time for the heated anger to escape

VISUAL - PARENTS GETTING UPSET

I can remember when my parents would get upset and angry at me for not listening or disobeying… There voice would begin to rise… they would call me by my full name… there face would turn a little red… and there nostrils would flare… you could literally hear and see them getting angry…

STORY - ME ANGRY

You may not know this about me… but the older I get the easier it is for me to quickly become angry…

The time it takes me to go from 0 - 100 is very quick…

EXAMPLE/ILLUSTRATION

Just the other day my son was throwing a tempter tantrum… he does this thing where he throws himself on the floor and just fake cries… and he is very loud…

I walked over to him… slowly and kindly picked him up off the floor and I got real close to him and said, “hey buddy… what is wrong… how can I help? What can I get for you?

He looks me in the eyes… and right hooks me across the face…

In fact, I have had to really think about why I get angry so quickly… why my fuse is so short?

And in the moment I had so many feelings rush over me… I thought… I think you are about to take flight… I might chuck you… then I thought… that was great form and technique… and I really felt it… I am really proud… then I went back to getting mad and angry… and had to walk away from him because I quickly got angry…

REASONS WHY BEING QUICK TO ANGER LEADS TO DANGER:

#1: Anger does not allow you to admit your wrong or hear anyone else

#2: You say things that are harsh and mean

#3: You do things that cause damage and hurt others

#4: You justify your anger with a “good cause” or say it comes out of a loving place”

Have you ever been so mad before you cant even think straight?

Have you ever been so lost in the heat of your anger that you have said and done things that you never thought you could or would?

Have you ever been so angry that you aren’t able to hear anyone else’s perspective or take any advice?

STORY - WIFE ARGUMENTS

My wife and I just had an argument about how to parent and raise Maverick the other night.

We laying in bed… it was 11 PM… and we start talking about how we want to parent our kids and the things we liked and didn’t like about how we were parented…

Long story short, I told my wife that I wanted Maverick to respect me and to fear me and the consequences of not obeying me…

She said she didn’t want our kids fearing me… I got so angry that I went on a 15 minute run on why I was right… what I meant by fear… and I would not allow her to change or share her opinion

THIS IS WHAT I DO NOT WANT YOU TO MISS…

ANGER DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO LET GO OR ADAPT…

ANGER IS THE ULTIMATE DEFENSE FOR OUR EXPECTATIONS and DEEPEST DESIRES

I use anger to shut others down… to end conversations… to make a point… and to declare this is how it is…

My way or the highway is was built upon anger!

And that is EXACTLY WHY GOD TELLS US TO BE SLOW TO ANGER… because a lot of our life is listening to God… laying down our desires and expectations… putting down the defenses… adapting and changing to what Christ calls us to do… NOT OUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY…

Question: Are you someone who is slow to anger? Have you identified what causes you to become angry? and Why?

Or are you someone who will use anger to get your way or express your disappointment that your expectation was not me…

POINT #2: You will have to EXERCISE AUTHORITY over your ANGER

(January 2025): 58% of drivers admitted to road rage behaviors, such as honking (50%), yelling (43%), or using angry gestures (32%). 4% admitted to getting out of their car to confront another driver.

The Zebra (May 2025): 82% of US drivers admit to driving aggressively or having road rage in the last year. 59% honked in anger, and 42% yelled or cursed at another driver. 6.2% have witnessed a physical altercation related to road rage.

Increasingly dangerous: A June 2024 article in The Hill noted that injuries and deaths from road rage more than doubled between 2018 and 2023

STORY = DRIVING IN MY CAR

I was at the light intersection here in independence… I was waiting to turn left at the light… I had a green light but I have to yield to other drivers going straight… so as I am waiting for traffic to clear so I can turn left… the person behind me lays on his horn…

I look in the rear view mirror and this guys is with his girlfriend and he puts his hand up in the air as if I do not know what I am doing…

I proceed to point at him and laugh… I laughed some more… waited… and then clapped and laughed…

I then turn left and he is riding my car bumper… we turn left on the main highway and he pulls up right next to me…

He tells me to role my window down… and I did… I proceed to tell him… that he is too small… laughing and clapping… that he does not want to pull the car over because his girlfriend should not have to witness me putting in a comatose position…

He then speeds up and drives away…

WHAT I FELT…

I remember feeling a warm enjoyable feeling that rushed through my body… and then instant regret… and shame…

I have never met this man… but I allowed my anger to be put on full display… instead of my heavenly father and savior… all he will remember about me is someone who laughed and clapped in his face… who called him too small…

Instead of someone who could have simply apologized and admitted that I was wrong…

It was this recent explosion of anger that God revealed to me that I have to take this seriously…

In fact, in Proverbs 16:32… the word rule means = “To exercise authority over, as of nations or other entities, even natural ones (like animals). The word Rule could be replaced with “to control”

In other words, God is saying, you are going to have to work on, practice, and have control over your anger… like a man trains a dog, so I will train my feelings, habits, and anger…

CALL WORSHIP TEAM UP

CLOSING STATEMENT:

Here is the reality… You will either RULE it or it will RULE you… Does anger rule over you? Or do you rule over your anger?

James 1:19–21 (ESV)

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.