Everyone Should Be Quick To Listen, Slow To Speak And Slow To Anger
Therefore Be Imitators Of God
JAMES 1:19-20
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
”James 1:19-20 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/jas.1.19-20.NKJ
By talking too much and not listening, we are disrespectfully communicating to others that their ideas are less important than ours, and that we know better than them.
James encourages us to reverse this process; to listen carefully, and process the information correctly before responding, making sure that our response is not as a result of self, anger or pride, or that we simply like the sound of our own voice.
When we respond to a situation out of anger or indeed pride, we by-pass the process of looking at the evidence-the facts.
All to often we judge a situation, a person, or a comment by our emotions rather than the truth. We actually say, “I know I’m right because my emotions are right. But emotions rise to both truth and lies and are not designed to bring discernment.
Sadly, we are quick to believe our emotions even when the facts paint a completely different picture.
We find ourselves trying to prove our point rather than seeking the truth, simply because our pride is being pricked and it is easier to believe the lie.
The devil operates much like the fake news media in today’s world; their stories and whispers are aimed at our emotions. They bring propaganda not truth; their goal is to stir up our emotions that we believe the lie and bring the result they hope for; rage, anger, pain, sorrow, disappointment, lust, and so on.
When we respond from our emotions, we open a door to the demonic.
His whispers of hot air fill one’s mind with lies and like a balloon will eventually burst.
Therefore, take every thought captive, ”For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.“
II Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV
When we speak out of turn, we can apologise, but cannot unsay our words, which can be so damaging.
Furthermore, anger erupts when our ego is bruised-“I am not being listened too, my opinions are not respected or important.”
We should become angry when injustice or sin occurs because others are being hurt. But we should not become angry because we have failed to win an argument or someone disagrees with our opinion, or we feel offended or neglected.
Selfish anger has no place in Christian life; selfish anger helps no one and temporarily blocks the truth.
I say “temporarily”, because the truth always finds its way no matter how much the darkness tries to hide it (JOHN 1:5).
But listening is just the beginning when it comes to God’s Word.
What good is their in hearing God’s Word and learning His ways and wisdom if you don’t put it all into practice? Will it profit you anything?
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
James 1:21-25 NKJV
What we say has impact whether we are speaking over ourselves or others. Negative words and name calling is witchcraft and brings curses.
Calling yourself or others “useless” like every negative word gives way to the devil into one’s life and brings those words to life.
While the devil can use negativity to curse people, God’s Word is more powerful than any force of this world, and speaking it out breaks curses and moves the mountains in our lives, including every chain of the devil.
Therefore, don’t just read His Word and take it in; ask God for understanding and revelation, and then speak it over yourself and others, and all the situations of life, and watch the darkness flee.
God’s Word makes every impossible situation possible (MATHEW 19:26; LUKE 1:37).
God spoke out His whole creation; “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.”
Psalms 33:6 NKJV
My beloved, you are children of God, and what you say is powerful.
Therefore, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”
James 3:1-12 NKJV
We cannot continue to walk with one foot in the light and the other in darkness.
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
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God bless you all.
