SNBS Wisdom from above, James 3, 13-18

Good evening, and welcome to Sunday Night Bible Study with Pastor Josiah Shipley of Wynton Baptist Church. And today we continue our study of the book of James.

We are in chapter 3, verse 13, through the end of the chapter, talking about the wisdom that is from above.

Last week we talked about taming the tongue, and now we're talking about the wisdom that is from above. So let's read the rest of the chapter.

James chapter 3, verse 13. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Again, show his works. We've talked about that in chapter 2. Verse 14. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast or be false to the truth.

This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but it is earthly spiritual demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there will be disorder in every vile practice.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Amazing. Okay. Um Who is wise and understanding among you?

By his good conduct, let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Meekness is not weakness. It is a gentleness of spirit. It is a humility and mercy that you have towards others that is not based on you or their current circumstance, but all the time.

It is an attitude of humility. Remember, humility is putting yourself below someone that is your equal.

Putting yourself under their authority or worth or value. Consider others as more important than yourselves.

Philippians chapter 2. That is meekness. It is that state of being.

That is where wisdom and understanding comes from. This comes from your works of meekness.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

That is not the wisdom that comes down from above. That is earthly, spiritual and demonic wisdom. So we have two types of wisdom here.

Wisdom from above and worldly wisdom. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there will be disorder in every vile practice.

Just stop and think about verse 16 for a minute. What are the only two ingredients the

Bible mentions here that says are the recipe for disorder in every vile practice?

The two ingredients are jealousy and selfish ambition.

Selfishness and jealousy. Those are the only two ingredients for every vile practice.

A very badly translated and poorly quoted verse.

You know, if you ever heard someone say money is the root of all evil, that's not what the Bible says. Then we make it a little better by correcting and saying what says the love of money is the root of all evil.

But it actually says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. In other words, not every single type of evil is actually from the love of money.

But the love of the money is the root of all types of evil. But here it does say where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there will be disorder in every vile practice.

The only ingredients for every pond right there for every vile practice is jealousy and selfish ambition.

Ask yourself how present are those in your life as compared to the wisdom from above which is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason church, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

And a harvest, a whole harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

So again, the Bible gives us two lists. One list is of worldly wisdom.

One list is of wisdom from above. I want you to compare yourself and see where you fit in these lists.

Worldly wisdom, let's count how many of these apply to you. Bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting in self, false, earthly, not from the

Holy Spirit, demonic. Wisdom from above, meekness, pure, peaceable and gentle, sincere, open to reason church, full of mercy and good fruits, not just every now and then, full of them, impartial.

Treat everyone the same. I want you to really focus this week on verse 16.

Jealousy and selfish ambition, we've got to put those in check. We've got to put those in check.

Remember I gave you a challenge. Diminish the negative influences, worldly, music, show,

TV, movie, whatever it is for you. I don't know. Increase the godly influence and see if it doesn't make a difference in your mind, in your heart, and then in your speech.

I want to focus on verse 18 for just a moment. A harvest of righteousness, a whole harvest of righteousness is sown in peace.

Irene or here Irene. By those who make peace, the peacemakers, as Matthew 5 9 calls them.

I got a question for you. How hard do you seek to make peace?

As we end chapter 3 of James, I want to go to one other passage talking about seeking peace, and I want to ask you how well you do this.

This is Romans chapter 12, and I'm gonna read verse 9 through 21.

Verse 9 through 21. Let love be genuine.

Abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection.

Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, but fervent in spirit.

Serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who curse you.

Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Repay no one, evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Verse 18.

Pay attention. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

11. Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God. For it is written, vengeance is mine.

I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give him something to drink.

For by doing so, you will heat burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

When possible, seek peace, as far as it depends on you, with all. Guys, we are called to be peacemakers.

Peacemakers. Again, the wisdom from above is gentle, meek, and open to reason.

Wisdom that is of this world that is demonic, not rape or murder.

Selflessness and bitter jealousy. I hope this was of some benefit to you. Next week, we go back and we start on James chapter 4.

We are going to talk about murder in some regards. Love you guys very much. Pray for us on the mission trip, and I will talk to you guys next week.