19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)

Once I was convinced of the issues the Lord wanted me to deliver in today’s message I asked Him for a title. I wanted it to be an attention grabber for my web site readers. In spite of my repeated requests God didn’t give me one. So I decided to name it “The Unnamed Sermon.” How’s that for a title?

Since the early 80’s when I was privileged to serve the homeless I have had a warm spot in my heart for the drug addicts God brings into my life. To give you an idea of what has happened to those poor wretched people I’m going to read a poem that was written by a little talking pill. I hope everyone and especially you young children will listen very carefully. I’ve been hoping and praying that each of you folks will be blessed by it.

The Pills poem:

I destroy homes, tear families apart, and that’s just the start.

I’m more costly than diamonds, more costly than gold, the sorrow I bring is a sight to behold,

and if u need me, remember I’m easily found. I live all around you, in schools and in town.

I live with the rich, I live with the poor, I live down the street, and maybe next door.

My power is awesome; try me you’ll see, but if you do, you may never break free.

Just try me once and I might let you go, but try me twice, and I’ll own your soul.

When I possess you, you’ll steal and you’ll lie. You do what you have to just to get high.

The crimes you’ll commit, for my narcotic charms will be worth the pleasure you’ll feel in your arms.

You’ll lie to your mother; you’ll steal from your dad; When you see their tears, you should feel sad.

But you’ll forget your morals and how you were raised, I’ll be your conscience, I’ll teach you my ways.

I take kids from parents, and parents from kids, I turn people from God, and separate from friends.

I’ll take everything from you, your looks and your pride, I’ll be with you always, right by your side.

You’ll give up everything your family, your home, your friends, your money, then you’ll be alone.

I’ll take and take, till you have nothing more to give. When I’m finished with you you’ll be lucky to live.

If you try me be warned this is no game, and if given the chance, I’ll drive you insane.

I’ll ravish your body; I’ll control your mind. I’ll own you completely; your soul will be mine.

The nightmares I’ll give you while lying in bed, the voices you’ll hear from inside your head,

the sweats, the shakes, the visions you’ll see; I want you to know, these are all gifts from me,

But then it’s too late, and you’ll know in your heart, that you are mine, and we shall not part.

You’ll regret that you tried me, they always do, but you came to me, not I to you.

You knew this would happen, many times you were told, but you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.

You could have said no, and just walked away, If you could live that day over, now what would you say?

I’ll be your master; you will be my slave, I’ll even go with you, when you go to your grave.

Now that you have met me, what will you do? Will you try me or not? Its all up to you.

I can bring you more misery than words can tell. Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.

How would you like to walk in an addicts shoes? All too often these poor wretched people are lashed out at by folks who are habitually angry people. For instance, speaking to the addict who asks them for help the habitually angry person will spew’s out of his or her mouth soul destroying venom such as by telling the person that he or she is a stupid idiot. In fact, true Christian’s will admit that they have sometimes reacted in a similar fashion. Here’s a sampling of the kind of stuff that comes gushing out of their mouth. “I told you this would happen! How many times have I warned you? But you wouldn’t listen to me, would you? You never listen! I can’t even stand the sight of you. Not only do you look awful but you smell as though you were drenched by a bucket of vomit! And then they slam the door in the addicts face.

Satan loves working through habitually angry people who have perfected the art of demoralizing folks who are down and out. In their insightful book, “The Cry of the Soul” Dr’s Dan Allender & Tremper Longman write: “Nothing hurts quite like being mocked, taunted, or violated with contempt.” “In fact, no emotion is more often chosen by the Evil One to assault the Gospel than contempt.” “Contempt is a form of anger. Anger intimidates and controls, provoking us to battle or retreat. Contempt ups the ante, intensifying our fight or flight exponentially. In provoking us to retaliate with contempt or kill desire with numbing shame, it violates and destroys. One reason for the extraordinary power of contempt is that it isolates us as unlovable, withering our hope for love.” Although he wasn’t an addict King David certainly knew what it felt like to be treated in this despicable manner.

⁸ My constant boast is God. I can never thank you enough! ⁹ And yet for a time, O Lord, you have tossed us aside in dishonor and have not helped us in our battles. ¹⁰ You have actually fought against us and defeated us before our foes. Our enemies have invaded our land and pillaged the countryside. ¹¹ You have treated us like sheep in a slaughter pen and scattered us among the nations. ¹² You sold us for a pittance. You valued us at nothing at all. ¹³ The neighboring nations laugh and mock us because of all the evil you have sent. ¹⁴ You have made the word Jew a byword of contempt and shame among the nations, disliked by all. ¹⁵ I am constantly despised, mocked, taunted, and cursed by my vengeful enemies. ¹⁶ Psalm 44:8-16 (TLB)

⁶ I am like a vulture in a far-off wilderness or like an owl alone in the desert. ⁷ I lie awake, lonely as a solitary sparrow on the roof. ⁸ My enemies taunt me day after day and curse at me. ⁹ I eat ashes instead of bread. My tears run down into my drink because of your anger against me, because of your wrath. For you have rejected me and thrown me out. ^{10 11} My life is passing swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering like grass, Psalm 102:6-11 (TLB)

“Contempt is a poison that paralyses our deepest longing for love and meaning, stripping us of hope. It mocks our desirability.” “This is the unholy leverage of contempt: It renders our desire foolish, and painful, leaving the soul susceptible to the influence and control of others.”

Well… have you ever been treated with contempt? Of course you have! How did you feel? Have you ever been treated contemptuously by someone you have every reason to believe is a Christian or am I the only one? I personally have been a victim of contempt more times than I care to remember. Imagine how a drug addict must feel whenever he or she is treated with contempt. As I said a moment ago, King David certainly knew what it felt like to be treated in this despicable manner. Let’s continue looking at how he describes his painful experience:

⁶ But I am a worm, not a man, scorned and despised by my own people and by all mankind. ⁷ Everyone who sees me mocks and sneers and shrugs. ⁸ “Is this the one who rolled his burden on the Lord?” they laugh. “Is this the one who claims the Lord delights in him? We’ll believe it when we see God rescue him!” Psalm 22:6-8 (TLB)

¹³ The neighboring nations laugh and mock at us because of all the evil you have sent. ¹⁴ You have made the word Jew a byword of contempt and shame among the nations, disliked by all. ¹⁵ I am constantly despised, mocked, taunted, and cursed by my vengeful enemies. ¹⁶ Psalm 44:13-16 (TLB)

“Under the exposure of scorn, the psalmist does not even feel human—he is a lowly worm. Others shake their heads in derision at his name; he is a bad joke. The psalmist covers his face in the horror of shame.” “Where is your God? Will he rescue you?” laughs contempt. Am I a fool to trust God? We wonder. It seems that not only has God allowed us to be reviled, but He may even be the one behind the assault. When we are exposed as trusting in a god that is unable or unwilling to save us, it gives rise to shame.”

“Contempt mocks the goodness of God. The haughty eyes of the arrogant seem to imply that God’s eyes don’t see; otherwise why would He permit the mocker to make fun of God with impunity? What am I to hope in if God is unwilling to shut the mouth of the contemptuous? “How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the foe insult your name forever?” (Psalm 74:10). What will life hold if they can mock God and apparently get away with it?”

“The arrogant usurp the throne of God and secure service with contempt. Power is only a small part of their desire, however. They enjoy the opportunity to see the weak crawl like a worm. One client commented, “I enjoy putting people down. I love to see a person speechless because they don’t know what to say. I like to play with you until I know I am going to win; then I can walk away.”

“Even for those who are not so practiced at contempt, it is obvious that an air of indifference or nonchalance has the power to cut to the heart. One woman said, “At times I will do anything to get my husband in a fight, but when he responds with his nose in the air, indifferent to my attack, I go crazy.” She was reflecting the cry, “Love me or hate me, but just don’t contemptuously ignore me.” To be ignored, treated with indifference, or haughtily patronized cuts to the quick and provokes strong fury. And in the protestation of fury, the contemptuous watch with wicked satisfaction as their victim grovels in rage and shame. There is a malevolent joy in perpetrating harm that strengthens the allusion: “God does not see, therefore I am a god. And I can make others do more that serve me; I can make them pay for my pain.” The contemptuous person will never be satisfied until he has humiliated his prey.”

There are all kinds of offshoots of sinful anger. For instance, being quick to get angry, and unwilling to forgive someone who has wronged them. They delight in keeping a record of your wrongs. It enables them to control and manipulate you. And don’t forget the cowardly back-stabbers who wouldn’t dare tell you what they really think of you to your face. They are addicted to slandering people through gossip.

Let’s take a look at what God has to say about this kind of evil behavior.

¹⁰ Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan. ¹² For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world. Ephesians 6:10-12 (TLB)

²⁶ If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry—get over it quickly; ²⁷ for when you are angry, you give a mighty foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 (TLB)

³¹ Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Ephesians 4:31 (TLB)

⁴ And now a word to you parents. Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord himself approves, with suggestions and godly advice. Ephesians 6:4 (TLB)

Unless the chronically angry person gets rid of his or her anger before he or she dies and leaves this world they will never enter into the Kingdom of God.

I’ll close with these words from the Great Apostle Paul.

¹⁹ But when you follow your own wrong inclinations, your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, ²⁰ idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group—and there will be wrong doctrine, ²¹ envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 (TLB)

At this point you may be wondering if what I’m saying is that it’s a sin to get angry. Rest easy my friends Lord willing, next week I plan to deliver a message that I have already given a title to. I named it “The Gift of Holy Hatred”. I still can’t think of a better title for today’s message. That’s the reason I call it “THE UNNAMED SERMON.)” I’m open to suggestions though.

I can’t praise The Cry of the Soul highly enough and strongly encourage you to get a copy for yourselves. It costs $11.27 from Amazon and I can arrange to have it delivered to your home in two business days. Just let me know after the service.