Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
‘A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.’ Gentleness will disarm the most furious, but angry words will produce wrath.
The Holy Spirit can be recognized in one’s life by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Gal. 5:22-23). It will lead to freedom from faultfinding, surmising, whispering, and slander; and freedom from all the works of the flesh listed in Mark 7:19-21; Romans 1:24-32; 1Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21 and Colossians 3:5-10. A Christ-like spirit of love, patience, and faith in God. Soberness and keenness of spirit vision. Deep humility of heart and meekness of spirit, with lion-like courage against sin, sickness, poverty, disease, discouragement, failure, and everything else causing defeat in the Christian life. Absolute clearness of the mental faculties and intelligent action in carrying out Biblical instructions concerning known duty and personal life as a Christian.
‘Soft answer turns away wrath.’ Five examples of turning away wrath: Aaron (Lev. 10:16-20); Reubenites (Jos. 22:15-34); Gideon (Jdg. 8:1-3; Pro. 15:18); Hannah (1Sam. 1:15-17); and Abigail (1Sam. 25:23).
‘But grievous words stir up anger.’ Five examples of grievous words: The Ephraimites (Jdg. 12:1-4); Men of Israel and Judah (2Sam. 19:41); Saul and Jonathan (1Sam. 20:30-34); Rehoboam (2Chr. 10:13-16); and Eliphaz (Job 22:5).
Living the Word 