(Pastors Notes) Finding Peace in an angry World.

Finding peace in an angry world- James 1:19-2

our video feeds are filled with cultural outrage. people acting out in public, destroying property or assaulting others verbally or physically. we live in a day where your worst moment can become documented and published online for all to see. but, believe it or not the internet and social media did not make the world angrier. it just turned up the microphone.

anger has been an issue ever since can killed Abel. if you think about its pretty sad that 4 people couldn’t get along on the planet. i guess it was just too much to handle.  not a proud moment in early human history.

If four people couldn’t keep peace on an entire planet, maybe the problem isn’t out there but in here.

James shows how God re-trains our reflexes: quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

9 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 

23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

James 1:19–27 (NLT)

I. Why our anger fails (v.20)“Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”

• Derails decisions: “If you’re raging, don’t be deciding.”
• Drains energy: “Hot emails lead to long apology tours.”
• Damages others: Anger fueled by hurt/pride rarely serves the other.
• Ask yourself- Does my anger aim at redemption or at retaliation? What fruit follows?

If our anger can’t produce God’s righteousness, what can? His Word in us.”  what does his word say? Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.

• Reflex #1 — Quick to Listen
  • Never assume you know the whole story.
  • Too many people just get triggered and react but a mature person listens to gain perspective.
  • Listening will give you a more information about a situation.
  • listening shows someone you value them.
• Reflex #2 — Slow to Speak
  • “Be slow to speak—once words are out, the damage is done; cleanup takes longer than prayerful patience.”
  • “I’ve never met a Christian who’s mastered this, but I’ve seen many learn to pause, pray, and keep the inside voice inside.”
• Reflex #3 — Slow to Anger
  • Identify the source (fear? pride? control?). Breathe–pray–wait.

III. From hearing to doing (vv.22–25)

• to look at yourself in the mirror and than walk away forgetting what you look like sounds very strange. and yet it illustrates exactly what the bible is, a Mirror for the soul.
• When we read the Bible it reflects what we should be like. it is showing us what a man or woman that serves God should be in character. and how we we should act. so to be Studying the word and yet remain unchanged in our speech and actions is an indicator we don’t take our faith seriously.
• Receive the Word; restrain the tongue; redirect the energy

IV. What retrained reflexes look like in public (vv.26–27)

• Humble Yourself: refuse to rage
• Hold Your tongue: no instant replies.
• Help the vulnerable: righteous anger is different than human self centered anger it creates a zeal within us to help us that are oppressed or struggling, it looks at those who are forgotten or downtrodden. it is becoming a voice for the voiceless

conclusion:

“Our anger couldn’t produce God’s righteousness—so Christ became our righteousness. At the cross He absorbed wrath; by His Spirit He plants the Word that rules our reflexes. Today, invite Him to retrain your reactions—so your life speaks love louder than outrage.”