"ANGRY WORDS!

O LET THEM NEVER"

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"...

a. Words written by D. K. P.
b. 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...

a. With valuable advice in our dealings with one another as members
of God's family
b. Warning against disrupting friendship and love through
unthoughtful use of the tongue

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

I. THE NEED TO BRIDLE THE TONGUE

A. THE TONGUE IS POWERFUL...

1. It is difficult to control
a. It has the power to control the whole body - Ja 3:2-5
b. For it reflects the true expression of the inward man - cf.
Mt 12:34-35
2. It has power to do good and evil
a. To turn away wrath, or stir up anger - Pro 15:1
b. To use knowledge wisely, or pour forth foolishness - Pro
15:2
c. To be a tree of life, or a breaker of spirits - Pro 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."

B. THE ADVANTAGES OF RESTRAINT...

1. Avoids sin - Pro 10:19
2. Keeps one out of trouble - Pro 21:23
3. Makes one to appear wise - Pro 17:27-28
4. Uncontrolled tongues can destroy friendships
a. Poorly chosen words, unthoughtful and rashly spoken words
b. 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."

C. HOW THEN SHALL WE USE THE TONGUE...?

1. If for good, our words can be:
a. Sweet to the soul - Pro 16:24
b. A thing of beauty, like apples of gold in settings of silver
- Pro 25:11
2. But if for evil, then beware:
a. We will be judged by our words - Mt 12:36-37
 b. We will defile our bodies (and our friendships!) - Ja 3:6

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

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE

A. THE BLESSINGS OF FRIENDSHIP...

1. Some of the most beautiful passages in the Bible were
expressions between friends
a. Ruth's love for her mother-in-law, Naomi - Ru 1:16-17
b. Jonathan's devotion to his friend, David - 1 Sam 18:1
c. Jesus' love for His disciple, John - Jn 19:25-27
d. Paul's love for his coworker, Timothy - 2 Ti 1:1-4
2. Good friends provide wonderful benefits
a. A true friend is "a man for all seasons" - Pro 17:17
b. A true friend can be closer than blood relatives - Pro 18:24
c. The rebuke of a true friend is of more value than the praise
of an enemy - Pro 27:6
d. The advice of a true friend can be precious - Pro 27:9
e. Seek to hang on to good friends - Pro 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."

B. THE NEED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER...

1. Our Savior teaches us to do so
a. A new commandment, to love as He loved us - Jn 13:34-35
b. Stressed again and again - Jn 15:12,17
2. It is a "blest" command
a. Love will avoid offending another with loose words - 1 Co
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)
b. Love will not allow loose words offend it - 1 Co 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...
a. Especially between brethren in Christ
b. Whose love is to be a mark of true discipleship - Jn 13:35

2. True love values friendship so highly, that it will resolve...

a. To say nothing that unnecessarily endangers our friendship
b. 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