I. Introduction
A. H. R. Palmer was an American Musician and Composer. We have already talked about him in Lesson 11, "Yield Not to Temptation."
B. Eph. 4:29-32 Our speech should: 1. Cause those who hear
us to be edified. 2. Impart Grace to the hearer. 3. Not grieve
the Holy Spirit. 4. Not contain bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor,
and evil.
II. Verse 1-read
A. "Angry Words! O let them never from my tongue unbridled slip." James 3:1- 12, Psalms 32:8-9, Proverbs 26:3-5 The comparison made here between the tongue and the bridle of a horse first lets us know that we must not let our speech go unchecked. Think before you speak, is an old saying that has much merit for us. Secondly, the purpose of the bridle is to make sure the horse does not stray from the direction it is to go. If we do not check our speech, it will lead us into circumstances that we do not want to be in.
B. "May the heart's best impulse ever check them ere they
soil the lip." Prov. 23:7, Matt. 5:8, John 7:37-39, Col.
3:15, Phil. 4:5-7 Some of the things that I think are referred
to as the best impulse of our heart, are: 1. Our conscience. If
we train our conscience correctly it will check our speech. 2.
Prayer. If we are in a constant mind of prayer, our speech will
be guarded. Ask your self next time you use improper speech-would
I use this in a prayer to God. 3. Gentleness. The ability to be
gentle in speech must be developed by some of us. To approach
any situation calmly and controlled is a skill we all must be
striving to develop.
III. Verse 2-read
A. "Love is much to pure and holy." I Pet. 1:22,
Eph. 1:4, 5:25-27, I Cor. 13
Anger can destroy love. All the things that love can accomplish
can be easily done away with through one angry outburst.
B. "Friendship is to sacred far." Prov. 22:24, 18:24, Acts 27:3. To lose a friend over angry words is to lose comfort, love, help, concern, and someone who will listen. But we should be greatly concerned that anger could cause us to lose the greatest friend we will ever have-Jesus Christ!
C. "For a moments reckless folly, thus to desolate and
mar." Numbers 20:1-13
Moses discovered in a difficult way what the results of anger
can do. In his case it resulted in separation from the results
of his work for over 40 years! Considering all the great works
that Moses had done, and the punishment he received, what will
God do to us for the anger that we display?
IV. Conclusion
"Angry words are lightly spoken, bitterest thoughts are rashly stirred, brightest links of life are broken, by a single angry word." Prov. 14:17, 29:22, Eph. 4:26, Psalms 64:1-5. The phrase, "angry words are lightly spoken", refers to the fact that when we are in an angry state of mind we tend not to think as carefully about what we are saying. In a single instant of time, we may undue friendships that have lasted years, alienate all that hear us, and often do irreparable damage to our influence on others for good. A news report that I saw recently said that evidence points to the conclusion that middle aged men who are angry, double their chances for a stroke. But more important to us as Christians is the fact that uncontrolled and unrepented of anger can separate us from God!