June 5, 2011
Pastor David King

James: Faith that Works
Wisdom is found in the conservation of words while sin and folly is
found in its abundance (Prov. 10:19; 17:27-28; Eccl. 5:2)
Just Stop It! Part 5 “Stop Playing God”
James 1:19-20
“Who died and made you God?” was a phrase I remember hearing growing up when
someone was acting like they were the boss. Have you ever acted like you were God?
Be slow to respond to this question because as we study Scripture we discover that
there are some activities that have been reserved exclusively for God and one such
activity is vengeance and wrath. As James points out we are to be quick to hear, slow to
speak and slow to wrath!
James 1:19–20
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to
speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the
righteousness of God.
LISTEN UP
YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING (19)
 A fool answers without listening (Proverbs 18:13)
Proverbs 18:13
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to
him.
 Wisdom is characterized by a listening ear (Proverbs 20:5)
Proverbs 20:5
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of
understanding will draw it out.
Ecclesiastes 5:2
2 Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything
hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let
your words be few.
 Let God’s Word speak and not your own (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:3)
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints
and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
SIMMER DOWN

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND YOURSELF
God Is The Avenger and Your Deliverer
(19-20)
 Romans 12:17 Leave place for God’s wrath and vengeance
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all
men.
Proverbs 19:27
27 Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the
words of knowledge.
YOU DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS
Proverbs 17:27–28
27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of
understanding is of a calm spirit. 28 Even a fool is counted wise when he
holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
2 Peter 1:3
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and
godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and
virtue,
 To listen is to learn and be wise (Proverbs 19:20, 27)
Proverbs 19:20
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in
your latter days.
QUIET DOWN
Proverbs 10:19
19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his
lips is wise.
(19)
Avenge not yourselves - To "avenge" is to take satisfaction for an injury by
inflicting punishment on the offender. To take such satisfaction for injuries done
to society, is lawful and proper for a magistrate; Romans 13:4. And to take
satisfaction for injuries done by sin to the universe, is the province of God. But
the apostle here is addressing private individual Christians. And the command
is, to avoid a spirit and purpose of revenge.
18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of
your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

 Deut. 32:35
God is the avenger In due time
35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the
day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’
 1 Sam. 26:10-11 The example of David vs. Saul
10 David said furthermore, “As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his
day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid
that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But please, take
now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.”
 Psalm 94:1
God avenges
1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs— O God, to whom vengeance
belongs, shine forth!
 Proverbs 20:22 Do not repay evil, God will be your deliverer
22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
 Jeremiah 51:36 God will avenge and defend your cause
36 Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will plead your case and take
vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.

2 Timothy 4:14 Paul trusted God to repay Alexander the
metalworker
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him
according to his works.
 Hebrews 10:30 God will avenge, repay and judge
30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
And again, “The LORD will judge His people.”

You have been called to forgiveness, peace and love
 Proverbs 19:11 Wisdom reacts slowly yet forgives quickly
11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to
overlook a transgression.

Leviticus 19:18 God called the Israelites to love each other
Eph. 4:26-27
Pursue restoration ASAP before sin forms a
stronghold
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor
give place to the devil.
 James 3:18
righteousness is sown in peace
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
 Ephesians 4:15 speaking truth in love
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the
head—Christ—

Anger is the gateway emotion to murder (Matthew 5:21-28)
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and
whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that
whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the
council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.23 Therefore
if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has
something against you,24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your
way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.25
Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your
adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and
you be thrown into prison.26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get
out of there till you have paid the last penny. 27 “You have heard that it was
said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’28 But I say to you that
whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with
her in his heart.
In our moments of unrestrained anger, our premeditated acts of
“getting even” and our hatred we take upon ourselves activities that
belong to God. In a real sense we are playing God. This morning we
need to take to heart James’ instruction, “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 1:19b-20.