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"ANGRY WORDS! O LET THEM NEVER"

Mark Copeland/01/07/2024


INTRODUCTION
  1. Many of the songs we sing are designed to teach and admonish - cf. Co 3:16
  2. One such song is "Angry Words! O Let Them Never"...
    1. Words written by D. K. P.
    2. Melody arranged by H.R. Palmer, Will W. Slater
    -- In "Hymns For Worship", it is song #394, entitled "Love One Another"
  3. A favorite of many, it is a song...
    1. With valuable advice in our dealings with one another as members of God's family
    2. Warning against disrupting friendship and love through unthoughtful use of the tongue

[In both verse one and three, the focus is on...]

  1. THE NEED TO BRIDLE THE TONGUE
    1. THE TONGUE IS POWERFUL...
      1. It is difficult to control
        1. It has the power to control the whole body - Jm 3:2-5
        2. For it reflects the true expression of the inward man - cf. Mt 12:34-35
      2. It has power to do good and evil
        1. To turn away wrath, or stir up anger - Pr 15:1
        2. To use knowledge wisely, or pour forth foolishness - Pro 15:2
        3. To be a tree of life, or a breaker of spirits - Pr 15:4
        -- "Angry words! O let them never from the tongue unbridled slip; May the heart's best impulse ever check them ere they soil the lip."
    2. THE ADVANTAGES OF RESTRAINT...
      1. Avoids sin - Pr 10:19
      2. Keeps one out of trouble - Pr 21:23
      3. Makes one to appear wise - Pr 17:27-28
      4. Uncontrolled tongues can destroy friendships
        1. Poorly chosen words, unthoughtful and rashly spoken words
        2. Can make even the closest friends become enemies - e.g., Psa 55:12-14
        -- "Angry words are lightly spoken, bitterest thoughts are rashly stirred, brightest links of life are broken, by a single angry word."
    3. HOW THEN SHALL WE USE THE TONGUE...?
      1. If for good, our words can be:
        1. Sweet to the soul - Pr 16:24
        2. A thing of beauty, like apples of gold in settings of silver - Pr 25:11
      2. But if for evil, then beware:
        1. We will be judged by our words - Mt 12:36-37
        2. We will defile our bodies (and our friendships!) - Jm 3:6

        [To encourage the proper use of the tongue, the song in verse two and the chorus reminds us of...]

  2. THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE
    1. THE BLESSINGS OF FRIENDSHIP...
      1. Some of the most beautiful passages in the Bible were expressions between friends
        1. Ruth's love for her mother-in-law, Naomi - Ru 1:16-17
        2. Jonathan's devotion to his friend, David - 1Sa 18:1
        3. Jesus' love for His disciple, John - Jn 19:25-27
        4. Paul's love for his coworker, Timothy - 2Ti 1:1-4
      2. Good friends provide wonderful benefits
        1. A true friend is "a man for all seasons" - Pr 17:17
        2. A true friend can be closer than blood relatives - Pr 18:24
        3. The rebuke of a true friend is of more value than the praise of an enemy - Pr 27:6
        4. The advice of a true friend can be precious - Pr 27:9
        5. Seek to hang on to good friends - Pr 27:10a
        -- "Love is much too pure and holy, friendship is too sacred far, for a moment's reckless folly thus to desolate and mar."
    2. THE NEED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER...
      1. Our Savior teaches us to do so
        1. A new commandment, to love as He loved us - Jn 13:34-35
        2. Stressed again and again - Jn 15:12,17
      2. It is a "blest" command
        1. Love will avoid offending another with loose words - 1Co 13:4-5a
          1. Love suffers long (patient)
          2. Love is kind
          3. Love does not envy (not jealous of others' good fortune)
          4. Love does not parade itself (does not brag about itself)
          5. Love is not puffed up (not arrogant)
          6. Love does not behave rudely (not inconsiderate of others' feelings)
        2. Love will not allow loose words offend it - 1Co 13:5b-8a
          1. Love does not seek its own (not defensive)
          2. Love is not provoked (not sensitive)
          3. Love thinks no evil (assumes the best intention)
          4. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but in truth (concerned more about truth than winning)
          5. Love bears all things (puts up with snide remarks, slights)
          6. Love believes all things (gives others the benefit of the doubt)
          7. Love hopes all things (looks for the best in others)
          8. Love endures all things (including hurt feelings by unkind or unthoughtful words)
          9. Love never fails (to show patience, compassion, forgiveness)
          -- "'Love one another', thus says the Savior; Children, obey His blest command."
CONCLUSION
  1. Friendship is too holy to let loose words in reckless moments destroy it...
    1. Especially between brethren in Christ
    2. Whose love is to be a mark of true discipleship - Jn 13:35
  2. True love values friendship so highly, that it will resolve...
    1. To say nothing that unnecessarily endangers our friendship
    2. To let nothing that is said, no matter how hurtful, to destroy our friendship

May this song, "Angry Words! O Let Them Never" serve to remind us of the blessing and duty we have regarding our love and friendship as disciples of Christ!

Have you become a disciple of Jesus Christ...? - cf. Mt 28:19-20