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2 We return to the book of James. James chapter 3. James chapter 3 we're looking at verse 13 starting with verse 13 to verse 18. We are embarking here if you notice. And I know the section in the Word of God several weeks back actually.
Think it's approximately Over two weeks ago. We finished Going through a series on the taming the tongue that was quite a series cut me to pieces. Thank God for healing as a healing balm and Gilead and I sure needed it after we went through this section about the tongue, but You know after you go through a section so strong and so powerful about the tongue so convicting.
Isn't it isn't it fitting that we need heavenly wisdom from God of how to tame the tongue and how to have self-control. So James brings us right back to wisdom and he speaks of wisdom throughout the whole Entire book, but here he is specifically talking about two kinds of wisdom.
That there is and that's what we're going to be looking at for the next several Lords day. I don't know how many parts it's going to have to it. I'm just going to take it verse by verse and and see how far we can go.
As the Lord wills but. Well the series I'll call two kinds of wisdom and the two kinds of wisdom we're looking at is from Scripture is Earth there's only two kinds. It's earthly worldly wisdom and Heavenly Wisdom and let me some other people's even said that earthly worldly wisdom is demonic wisdom.
And that's very well, so because anything of the world is demonic. So but anything from heaven is from God every good and perfect gift comes from above the Father of light, so that's what we're looking at so We're looking today on part one the test of wisdom the test of wisdom.
We're just gonna look at one verse. Because there's so much the Bible says about wisdom isn't it especially the book of Proverbs and go to Joe. But we're gonna look at some other passage of Scripture and we're gonna talk about.
We're gonna dig a little bit here about wisdom. God's wisdom wisdom that we all need From God so starting with verse 3 here the word that there are three listen to me 13. We could go back to three, but we won't go that far away.
Verse 13 verse 13 reading to verse 18 hear the word of the Living God Who is wise and understanding among you good question. He starts the section with a question. Then he says this he gives the answer.
Let him show it by his good life. Or his manner of life as old King James says his conversation. By deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts do not boast about it or deny the truth.
Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly Unspiritual of the devil so it is demonic. In verse 16 for where you have envy and selfish ambition there you will find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure then peace-loving. Considerate. Submissive full of mercy and good fruit. Impartial and sincere peacemakers who so in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
May God bless the reading of his word from our ears to our hearts this morning. Let's pray Father we need your help as we pray to you recognizing.
That.
We are only trusting the Blessed Holy Spirit to take your word into our hearts and change our lives. Father we all need this word. We need to hear of what you have to say about wisdom heavenly wisdom not earthly wisdom.
Lord help us by your Holy Spirit to discern between the two of what is Almost right and what is truly right. Lord there's a line that is drawn and it's so fine and Lord. We need your Holy Spirit not only on not only to give us eyes to see but give us ears to hear and give us a a Mind to perceive but give us a heart to obey.
That's what really counts and when it comes down to obedience to your commands and to your word and Faith that pleases you so father. It's only in Jesus That you are well pleased so father. Help us this morning as we look into your word.
Lord help me to speak with clarity. Hide me behind the cross Lord. May Jesus be glorified. May you be exalted above the heavens and earth. And may we leave here and say we just didn't hear another sermon, but we received the Word of God in truth and We did not receive it as of man.
But we received it coming from God. Lord we desire to hear of thus says the Lord. That's our hearts desire. So we receive it as as the Thessalonians. Thessalonians Lord is they received it as.
From you.
So Lord.
Be with us within this hour and teach us from your word and by your spirit in Jesus name. Amen, and amen. Well, we have a about us a great text. Chapter 3 here in verses 13 through 18 is an overview. The Apostle James is actually offers wisdom as a Still another test of living faith.
Which is a godly walk. That's really what he's.
Saying.
The kind of wisdom a person possesses will be revealed by the kind of life he lives. That's pretty much said and Summed up in verse 13. Let him show it by his good life his godly life. Those who possess this wisdom man of man.
The wisdom of man Which is just knowledge not the knowledge of the truth Necessarily, but just a great amount of knowledge thinking that otherwise they profess to be wise, but they're fools. The wisdom from below will demonstrate by their lives that they have no risk saving relationship to Jesus Christ whatsoever.
It's that clear. The Lord with the Lord, there's no gray areas.
He's.
Straight down the middle. Black or white and. The people that have this demonic worldly Earthly wisdom I should say had no desire to worship or serve obey God whatsoever. But those on the other hand who possess genuine authentic Real saving faith will manifest the wisdom of God.
That is the wisdom that comes from above. I Don't have many quotes here today, but I do have one for Matthew Henry I I had to write down because Matthew Henry has a way to really say it very clear and clarity with with simplicity of the truth and I desire to hear that don't you?
It's not clouded. It's I'm not wading through muddle. Matthew Henry, I really believe was anointed man of God a commentator a Puritan commentator, by the way. Outside of the Bible itself as being the interpreter.
He's one of the best commentators. You can read He says this on James chapter 3 verses 13 through 18 quote these verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise and They're being really so.
He who thinks well, or he who talks well is not wise in the sense of the scriptures. If he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be known as the meekness of the spirit and temper. So we mean self-control.
Those who live in malice envy and contention live in confusion and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such wisdom comes not down from above but springs up from the earthly principles acts on Acts on earthly motives and is intent on serving earthly purposes.
He's saying it's so clear and he goes on to say those who are lifted up with such wisdom described by the Apostle James is near to the Christian love described by the Apostle Paul and both Are so described that every man may fully prove the reality of his attainments in them.
It has no disguise or deceit. It cannot fall into with those Managements the world counts wise which are crafty and guileful, but is sincere and open and steady and uniform and consistent with itself.
And then he closes with this made the purity the peace Gentleness the teachable nests and the fruits of righteousness abounding in our lives prove that God has bestowed upon us this excellent gift in quote and he says it in definition so clear there, but if you see in script not only in Scripture, but in the world in which we live.
There is a there is a vast contrast or should I say? a vast difference of Those who possess.
Knowledge and.
Those who are truly wise Unto God There is a great difference. You know this as well as I do in the world in which we live. There are very very smart heathens. They are cunning. They are crafty. They possess intellectual knowledge and Scripture basically says knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
It's not the love of the truth that they have. Because Scripture speaks about the love of the truth. There is a vast difference. The love of the truth is having the knowledge of the truth and that knowledge of the truth is those who love the Word of God because we know who the truth is the living truth is the Lord Jesus Christ who says I am the way the truth in the life and the truth of the Word of God and it's almost as people are like Pilate the governor and Jesus stands before Pilate and then he's asking the question.
What is truth and Truth was standing before him. See that's the world in which we live they they attain intellectual knowledge. They again Scripture says they profess to be wise, but they're what fools.
But here James 1 5 now, let me tie this in a little bit the Apostle encourages God's people. Mainly, who is he speaking to his audience was the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. There were Jewish people that was being persecuted but also he speaks to the church the church in general and to the church he speaks and He's he's bringing this word to them and he is given courage to them and it's almost like if you go back to Chapter 1 verse 1 if any of you lack wisdom notice what he says here.
He right there he's talking to people that are in serious persecution and I say serious persecution far more that seeds anything we've seen and He says you lack wisdom. Well, actually he's talking about this is what you should pray for when you're going through a trial.
How should I respond? Yes, we need strength from God. We need grace from God, but we need wisdom from God and how to respond to God and react and Take it through this trial and he says if you like wisdom Let him ask of God that give it to all men liberally bountifully.
It means and a braith it's not that means it does not chide. God does not taunt and it shall be given to him. And then he says in verse 6 let us then he tells us how to ask for this kind of wisdom. These is the wisdom that is from God above and he says this but let him ask in faith.
We are not the waver nothing wavering without doubting. No hesitation whatsoever. For he that wavered hesitates he doubts and he's in James says that person is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind.
And that's tossed.
So.
It's important for us to To see. That is the backdrop in which James is speaking of so He goes a lot. A lot of commentators believe that he in verse 1 he is speaking to teachers.
Verse.
13 James uses two words to catch our attention knowledge and wisdom really understanding. Depends on your translation same thing. Two words to catch our attention knowledge and wisdom and knowledge carries the meaning of a person having the knowledge or an expert wisdom carries.
The definition has to do with the knowledge and the practice of living it out that is required to live a godly life and that means to walk in holiness and godly living being God.
Fearing and.
Holiness basically means not only morally pure which is very important, but also a fear of God and Reverence to God. I like what Warren wears be how he summed up. Puts it this way the difference between knowledge and wisdom.
And this is really wise. This is a good definition. If you got your pen and paper, this would be one worth taking. Knowledge enables us to take things apart. Wisdom enables us to put things together. And that's exactly right.
Yes, sir. He put it very very clear. Knowledge enables us to take it apart, but wisdom enables us to put it back together. And that's a lot of wisdom behind them. Well, who is wise? Sophius. Sophius, I believe I said that right.
Sophius wise it means furnished with Christian wisdom spiritually enlightened. Knowing discrete intelligent experience one having the knowledge of. An expert that speaks of knowledge and understanding among you who is wise among you.
Then he says let him show that word show means to demonstrate it to prove it to give evidence a proof of something. Which is good, which is good that which is good means beautiful by reason a purity of heart and life.
Morally good the old King James uses the word conversation here. Which you don't you know as well as I do if you did a study on that doesn't mean we're having a conversation. With our mouth it's speaking our manner of conduct.
It speaks of our manner of life the way we live the way we demonstrate and that's what James is getting to. He's talking about in this way. Your good works. Demonstrates what's really within you? It's the test of faith so that's what he's talking about and the manner of life is speaking of our behavior the way we act the way we Conduct ourselves and scripture says it time and time again the way we walk.
It's our walk with God. That basically demonstrates whether we're a Christian or not. It's not how we talk. It's not what we say. Notice. James says this if you read the whole book. It's not what you say.
It's how you act it's it's your walk is your conduct. That's measured by the standard of faith and righteousness and then he speaks about meekness. This is a wonderful word in the Greek. It means gentleness kindness mildness humility.
Humility goes right along with meekness not weakness. But strength under control, that's what it's talking about and then he speaks of the wisdom. The sophias. Sophia. Sophia. Can I say I said Sophia?
I'm probably mispronouncing that but it speaks about the Enlightenment the knowledge and the practice. For godly upright living and that's what we need to talk about. Now this is what's so critical and this is what we don't see very much of today.
I got a little story here a little illustration is so true about the honesty of.
Of.
Integrity that concerns about godly living and telling lies and so forth and Out of all things. It's an illustration a story about a pastor. Boy preach it to myself but listen to this a pastor was walking down the street when he came upon a Group of about a dozen boys the small boys.
All of them between 10 and 12 years old of age and the group surrounded a dog. Now, this is interesting. I don't know if it's true now. Okay, but it brings out a point. There's a group surrounded a dog concerned and concerned least the boys were herding the dog.
He went over. The pastor went over and asked. What are you boys doing with that dog? And one of the boys replied, well this dog is just a neighborhood stray and All we really want him. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home.
So all of us can't have him. So we decided that whichever one of us can tell the biggest lie We can get to keep the dog. Oh Wow, here's it. Now. This is a pastor here. That's Hearing these boys tell this.
After they said that to the pastor, of course, the pastor was scandalized. I mean he's appalled by this and he said, you know you boys Shouldn't be having a contest to tell him lies. He exclaimed and being very sanctimonious at the moment and being an older man and experienced pastor.
Then he launched into a big 10-minute sermon. He basically gave him a little sermonette Against lying and what the Bible says about lying and and then he says don't you boys know it's a sin to lie.
And then.
And ending with well, why when I was your age, I never told a lie. And there was just a dead silence there for a few minutes and these kids are not as dumb as they seem to be and They seem to be there's be silence and then just as the pastor began to think he got through to them.
The smallest boy and the youngest Said him with a big sigh. All right, give him the dog. Now is that some wisdom or what? That gets right down to the truth. Pastor was the biggest liar out of all. Saying that he never told a lie.
Even the youngest knew that. Well, well actually that's the heart of what James is telling us here the proof of wisdom. It's in a person's life, isn't it? It's shown when control was gained in their lives and comes out in the gentleness of wisdom when dealing with people.
And if our hearts are right with God, then we he can use our words to produce the right kinds of fruits in our lives. Words are important, but.
Wisdom.
Wisdom tells us how we're to manage our words, right and be skillful and Graceful and Gentle, we're gonna look at that. It's not enough to just talk the talk. Is it we know that we must walk the walk.
So that's important. Proverbs 16 32 says he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that rules his spirit. Than he that takes a city self-control meekness. Proverbs 3 13 happy is the man that finds wisdom and the man that gets Understanding now God wants us to have understanding.
He wants us. But what God and what James I believe and I would say of course the Holy Spirit. The God is looking for in each and every one of us as Christians. And let's bring it down to a practical way in a practical level.
He wants us to have understanding. He doesn't want us to be ignorant. My people perish because of lack of knowledge. He wants us to have the knowledge of the truth. But along with that he wants us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
So that's what we want. You know, do you have some Christians one without the other right? But we got James is basically saying now you need to have this wisdom that comes from God. But you also need to have knowledge and understanding of the truth.
So That's we're going to look at so if you look at Verse 17 James speaks of the wisdom from above in verse in chapter 1. If you go back to chapter 1 and we and I actually preached the whole sermon on that and it's very critical now.
He's talking about every good gift and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the father of lights in whom there is No variableness. No shadow of turning with God. Faith comes from God. The faith that we have is a measure of faith for each and one of us to lay hold of God.
That's a gift from God even the ability to turn from sin and to repent is a gift from God. Isn't that amazing those I believe those are twin gifts their Faith and repentance and if you do a study you always see those together.
Faith and repentance faith. They are twins. Amen, brother Keith. There are twins that is it's like they're they're right together. And so is wisdom the wisdom is a gift from God and you know about Solomon he asked out of all things he asked Of God he asked.
I need wisdom and how and I believe God was pleased with that. And he used that wisdom and how to lead the people of Israel and you can read about that so God is pleased in his Immutable way that he's he doesn't change.
He gives all gifts that come from him and As for his glory, we never ever should worship the gift, right? We should always worship the giver that and Calvin says that's what idolatry is is when we start worshiping the gift.
Above the gift. We always look to the source. It is God himself.
Abound to Philly Lovingly gives us the gifts all the gifts that we have think of that that's awesome in it that the believing in him and faith in him and and Repentance and you and I can do nothing without God this morning.
It's all him and all glory to his name and even if he gives us wisdom and how to make the right decisions in a hard situation and God gives that Heavenly wisdom. Yeah, that is from him and for his glory.
So we always need to keep that in mind right that God is the one is the source of The gift. So chapter 3 he starts right off with a question who among you is wise and understanding. Let him show by good behavior his good deeds and the gentleness of wisdom.
Now again interpreters some public interpreters believe that among you means refers only the teachers, but I would I would be apt to say that it he would be speaking to all Christians here and Yes, most important to teachers that teach the Word of God.
Absolutely. They they need to have a baptism of wisdom. I would I would really say that but I just don't think it's to to the teachers alone he's speaking of it seems more probable that the that the intervening section and the reason I say that like speak of as the Tongue in verses 2 through 12, but this section on wisdom in verses 13 through 18 Applies to everyone to all Christians and to all church churches Alike to whom James was writing not only the teachers now James is writing to true believers, of course, but Kind of like the writer of Hebrews.
You've got mere professed believers among You going to have some unbelievers. It's almost like any church you go to you're gonna have terrors among the wheat. So that's what James is speaking of and then sometimes he gives a strong charge of repentance and but he's really the the letter is to the Christians to the to the believers in Jesus Christ, so He's speaking is he's seeking to identify who is truly skilled in the art of Holy righteous living living a godly life.
So in what way are you wise he asked and he's saying in the fact that in effect that this what we That what way you are? Understanding. The answer to that question will reveal not only our inner character But the spiritual condition of our soul beloved.
Now that's very critical now. If you if you want to get wisdom wisdom all you got to do, you know, you you read the scriptures. So, where do we go to we go to the book of Proverbs? Now this is not the original Time the first the original time the first and foremost time I should say and then you hear about Wisdom, we're gonna go to the book of Job, which is the earliest manuscript.
We'll look at that later but it's very clear right here in chapter 1 that he begins right from off the cuff and Chapter 1 of Proverbs notice who he says the Proverbs of Solomon son of David king of Israel.
I like what brother Keith here. He said that's a sermon right there in itself. Not only this that Solomon was the son of David. We know who the true son of David is and where who is our wisdom? And then he says he at that time Solomon was the king of Israel.
But we know who the true king of Israel is as the Lord Jesus Christ. Here he's introducing himself and notice what he says for attaining wisdom and discipline for understanding words of insight for acquiring a discipline and prudent life.
Doing what is right and just and fair for giving prudence to the simple knowledge and discretion to the young let the wise listen and Add to their learning. That's how you learn and Let the discerning get guidance for understanding proverbs and parables and Sayings and riddles of the wise and then verse 7 is key.
It's really the key to this chapter because right here he says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and Discipline don't do we see this in our age today? They despise Wisdom they don't want to hear it.
They got all the answers. They think and there's no discipline in their life. No, no, there's no order in their life. There's nothing but confusion and look at the way they live. There's laziness abounds.
They don't want to hear you. They don't want to listen to you and You me tell you why because there's no fear of God. There's no fear of the Lord. It's not that they don't respect you. They don't respect God and That's really what it comes down to.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of it. It's the beginning of knowledge and actually they say as in many other Verses of scriptures that is the beginning of wisdom. So wisdom and knowledge is like twins.
So what is the fear of the Lord the reverence all? God's power and majesty and his holiness produced and produces in us a holy fear. That we have transgressed against his holy will we transgressed against his law we have broken his law so that it gives reverence and an essential is essential to gain a heart of wisdom and respect of just reverence in God.
And this is what we need to see now. That's it's so much more. We're gonna we're gonna jump around a little bit. So in essence the Apostle James is speaking about the faith that produces wisdom and both gifts is from above father from the father of lights and Jesus spoke.
Comes from our Heavenly Father God. Jesus always pointed to the father and gave glory to the father. He submitted to the father even though he was God in the flesh but he was God the Son and He submitted to the father's will.
He always said that I do everything those things that pleases the father. If the father says it he says I'm doing it. I'm about my father's business so the he's the father. God the father the father of lights ultimately the father and Jesus came to reveal the father to us and He gave that gave us that great revelation and his works and his deeds and all that he did perfectly.
James 2 18 says yes a man may say and profess you he has faith. He says and I have and and have not works show me your faith without your works. And I will show you my faith my faith by my works. That's what he's saying.
James is saying that he can show you his faith by his life and beloved that should be us. It should you know, we should be able to the only if you think of it. We as born-again Christians are only the only thing is holding back the tide of evil by the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
Because you are the salt of the earth. You're the light of the world and you take away the Christians in this on this planet earth. I mean hell is gonna break loose and everything it has because. By our prayers by our lives and by actually it's not our power.
It's the power of the Holy Spirit That holds the tide back of evil and if you take that away think of it. It's going to all collapse. Paul the Apostle says in Ephesians turn with me close very quickly to Ephesians chapter 5.
Let's jump around a little bit. And now what's he talking about wisdom here. Ephesians 5 speaks a great deal about this Chapter 5 wonderful passage. Chapter 5 look at verse 15. By the way, if you see this it's broken up and how to walk in the light how to walk in wisdom how to know the will of the Lord and Then he says right here In verse 15 be very careful.
Be very very careful. See then that you walk circumspectly. Then how see how you live in other words. Not as unwise. Not as unwise who's the unwise like fools. That's what he's saying. Don't be like the fools.
But be wise be wise and then he says and then and you can ask the question why well Why am I to be wise so he answers that? Because we're to make the most of every opportunity. We are the redeem the time because the days are Evil we know this don't we look at all the shootings that's going on.
The days are very evil. Violence is filling the earth. People don't care about human life anymore. There's no respect for God. There's that they they they have and get this there's more there's more sources ever resources I should say of Knowledge that's then we ever have had but we have intellectual fools.
We have cunning fools and then you have thieves on the internet you've got you got murders and how people they and then what they're doing they're thinking about how they can get away with this stuff and Usually it's for the love of money or just her just or people are just absolutely insane and that's that's exactly what they they are in many respects because they're fools and for what purpose.
Well. Going back to the question of what Paul's saying for what purpose the days are evil. Well, but he says verse 17. Verse 17 says therefore do not be foolish but understand What the will of the Lord Lord is now that's very critical.
What's he saying when he said not be not to be unwise the Greek word for unwise? Means don't be mindless. Don't be stupid. Actually, that's what the Greek says. Don't be mindless. Don't be stupid. Don't be ignorant.
And also it says don't be egotistical. Don't be morally Unbelieving and that's what a fool is. He's morally unbelieving but then he goes.
Understand.
What the will of the Lord is that's key right there. So what is the will of the Lord? That's another sermon. But let me tell you just in short Romans 12 to. And be not conformed to this world. But be you transformed a metamorphosis must take place.
There's a transformation what transforms us the gospel. The power of the gospel through the Holy Spirit be transformed by. And then what are we to do to renew our mind? We got it. We got to reprogram this thing because it's depraved.
You may have a new heart that's been born again, but your mind's got all that cluttered. It's got all that junk. What's the old saying about a computer? Geo, what's it been. Geo and Geo a GI the garbage in and garbage out.
GI and Geo? I'm sorry. I've heard that I don't know how popular that is. But it's what you put into it's what you're going to get out of it. You program it like that your brain socket computer, but what does God say you got to renew your mind?
So he gets to what the will of God is that ye may prove. What is that good? Acceptable. Perfect will of God. Now what's the will of God. God is God's good pleasure? It's the thing it's it's that one thing that pleases God.
What pleases God Colossians 4 5? Walk in wisdom. This is the parallel verse of Ephesians 5 16. Walk in wisdom. Toward them that are without that's the heathens. Then he says redeeming the time again. He says the same thing, but he says it in in a kind of a different way, but same thing.
Now again, what's the will of God? Very clear. We know this 1st Thessalonians. Paul says in chapter 4 verse 3, but this is the will of God. Even your sanctification. What sanctification? How can I be purified?
How can I be cleansed? How can I be holy? Yeah, mention this to the world today mention this and see what kind of opposition you get. Hey, you mentioned this to so-called Christians today and you get opposition.
Amen that you should abstain. What's that abstain means to hold oneself off. Away from it you divide you separate yourself.
From.
Fornication.
That means perlina idolatry. Sexual immorality, that's what it says right there in the scriptures. So we are to abstain. That's God's will for you and me. God says you are to be sanctified. This is the will of God.
I like what Spurgeon says and he was talking to preachers young preachers when he said he said I don't know what you're called. What you think you're called to but if you're not called to holiness, you're not called.
Hey, I'm telling that needs to be preached. Because there's people out there calling themselves to the ministry. To be somebody to make a name for themselves. Yeah, I don't care how good they are intellectually and knowledge if they're not called to be holy in Jesus.
They're not called. Well that includes myself as you know as well I mean and any of us because if we're not called that's what God's called us into is to be holy. To reflect the image of Jesus Christ.
If you want to know what holiness is look at the life of Jesus. That is holiness God because he is that he is the last Adam. He's the second Adam. He is the Adam that was perfect and Jesus is saying this is the way man is ought to be it should be.
He perfectly demonstrated imperfection. Well first Thessalonians 5 18. Here's another one. That's the concrete. Gives us what God's will is and everything give thanks and everything and everything. Now I say it doesn't say for everything, but it says in everything.
There's a difference you see not for everything because in if you're in it.
You give God things.
Now that changes my perspective of everything and everything you give thanks God. I'm going to thank you For this trial because you're teaching me something if there's suffering that I'm going through you teaching me to be more like Jesus.
This suffering is the hurt it's painful. Yes, it hurts, but I go to God and it's helping me to trust you more and not lean on that arm of flesh. Hey, it becomes personal doesn't it? Amen sister sister Lillian knows and miss Linda knows and all y 'all pretty much know but.
That's what suffering. Suffering is a gift from God. A lot of people says hey. Deliver me. Hey deliver me from suffering. Hey a lot of times when a godly Saints and suffering said let me suffer more. Give me grace to make it through it.
Now God will deliver you. Eventually to put your trust in and it's only for a season because look at the sufferings of Job. It was only for a season. God was testing him. And why was he testing him if he would trust God?
We know that he didn't see the other end of the revelation did but he believed in God. It's personal, isn't it? Was I have a holy heart to having a thankful heart and all this wise. Living is all about our conduct.
We're whatever happened to this. That's the way we conduct ourselves. The way we behave ourselves the way we live in righteous living. That's being wise. You had the opposite. Unwise is living like a fool.
You know what the with the Greek word for fool is moron. That's right. It means moron. You ever heard the word moron. Yeah. Well, that means fool. Well, that's exactly what it means. It's hard to find a self-perceptive professed fool, isn't it?
Most people have an elevated and unrealistically high opinion of their own wisdom. Although they might not say so. They believe they're just as savvy as the next person and if you notice everybody's. Every time I meet people even the lowest of the low and and people on the streets that are raging.
They everybody has a story that's better than you. They got something they've been they've been through something worse than you and they always have a high opinion of themselves. Now once you start hearing a person that they're broken and they're nothing.
Those are the people that will take the seeds of the gospel beloved. They've been destitute and they come down to nothing. They're bankrupt. That's that's the people. Jesus went after the broken-hearted.
Come on. He did he hey, and he blasted hard to hide the the the so-called wise Pharisees and the scribes see. Everybody has a higher opinion than everybody else. So in this day of relativism. Always relating to somebody.
Yeah. Such perception is virtually universal. You see it everywhere. Psalm 14 1 what did God say? The fool has said in his heart. There is no God. Now there's another Translation to that and it says the fool has said in his heart.
No to God. He says no God. And that's that's basically atheism to the core. But God knows how to deal with him. That's out of our hands, but God can take them. He knows how to humble them. See, this is corruption.
They've committed abominable deeds. There's none who does good. That's what scripture says. Abominable deeds they do not they morally corrupt. They've corrupt through and through and we know that this corruption is in the heart.
It's a depravity problem. All he professes to be wise. Right. He thinks he's smart. He's a fool. God calls him a fool. Verse 13. Back to James, although two terms seem to be used synonymously here wise and understanding.
They carry a shade of difference in the meaning. The wise Sophists is in the general word often used by the Greeks to designate or speculate knowledge theory and philosophy. But for the Jews, it was another another situation.
To the Jewish people and this is why James knew exactly what he was doing. He carried the Jewish people would carry this word in a deeper a deeper level. It had a deeper meaning of careful application of knowledge and personal living.
It was more than just head knowledge. It's the way you lived it out. That's in the Jewish the Jewish people had it, right? They they learned this down through the years through the law through the scriptures through the word of the testimony.
Understanding appears only here in the New Testament the word understanding and carries the idea of specialized knowledge. Such as that of a highly skilled Tradesman or a professional someone that was endured and dude with knowledge knowledge of the truth now in verse 13.
He says let me show let me. I don't you love that. Let me show it. Let me demonstrate it. This translates the imperative making the verb a command.
Me show.
If you claim wisdom and Understanding he is saying show it first by your behavior. Show it first by your godly conduct. That's what he's saying. So this means in conversation and I and I kind of like the old King James word here because If you if you just add the definition of conversation your manner of living to it Demonstrated this means your exemplary Lifestyle is with faith wisdom and understanding there are not.
If.
It's not demonstrated and righteous and holy and God to live in it's to be it's one that is completely devoid of the truth.
Second let's look at. What more specifically James is modest is here his readers to show their wisdom and understanding by their good deeds by all the particular activities and endeavors. That they are involved in.
What are you involved in today. See what kind of company do you keep? How do you act? For I like what Paul says in first second. I'm sorry second Corinthians 112. Second Corinthians 112 he says is for our rejoicing.
Is this. Notice what he rejoices about and this is the Apostle Paul. The testimony of our conscience. I Could stop right there and Go all day. Do you have a clear conscience before God and before men?
The test. He's talking about the testimony of our conscience and what does he say. It is that it that in simplicity and Godly.
Sincerity.
Simplicity.
Godly sincerity and notice what he says not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation our manner of living. The way we conducted ourselves among you. Paul was saying that he and he said in many respects.
He said I did not come to just take money from the church. I Wasn't that I was there to give to impart a spiritual gift. I was there to give he was the father of many of these churches that he planted greatest missionary the world's ever known and He says it's the testimony of our conscience that we're clear.
That everything that I've done and everything that I said, I'm clear before God. That's what he was saying. And that's when he said in acts Chapter 20 there. He says I've not held back to Preach to you the whole Council of God the whole plan of God and in simple and they said he speaks about the simplicity that's in the truth.
There's a purity about the gospel and that's why you know, if we add or subtract anything to it, we pollute it. That's why Paul said to Timothy you preach the word you let it go out in its purity. You let the gospel out.
Yeah, you let the lion do its work. It doesn't need our help. I mean, I mean praise God it has a purity to it of itself. And then and he said we don't need in other words. We said I don't need fleshly wisdom over here I don't need the help and he even says even in my weakest points God can work.
The matter of fact he says in them and when I'm weaker God is stronger. He says but I lift myself up. Yeah, the gospel is not going to have the power to it. Said because it's too much arrogance and too much so much flesh.
Oh It's it's beautiful the way the gospel. So a lot of times when you think you're not getting across in your weakness or if you're you think you haven't done anything. You know, it's just a small word of God.
The Holy Spirit can drive it to the heart.
Oh, it's beautiful.
Well, there's so much more to be said, but it's our godly manner of conduct that counts in the world more than. And then he says and it's more abundantly to you ward. Godliness was demonstrated in the life of the Apostle Paul.
Well next would be. Believers are to demonstrate wisdom and understanding by an attitude of meekness and gentleness. People who are wise in their own eyes are generally arrogant. They're full of pride.
They're haughty. They're leaning upon their ingenuity. They're leaning upon their intelligence. Now God doesn't want us ignorant. I'm not saying that. But what about having wisdom and letting God work in simplicity of the truth?
Oh, I long to see that. To see the simplicity of the purity of the gospel do its work. Remove our all our gimmicks and all our. Practice pragmatic ways. Say we we don't need that. It's made clear in the following verses.
Sell selfish ambition. He speaks of is a very common companion of Arrogance. But the Greek word here used for gentleness is the same word for meekness. Gentleness and meekness and I like what one minister said meekness is not weakness.
It's actually it's actually strength under control. Amen. That's what it is. It's almost like a you have an illustration of a strong horse. Where we get the word horsepower. You've got a strong animal now you take that strong animal.
That's like a Mustang out there running wild. He has to be tamed. But you take that animal that's thousands of pounds and tame him. Yeah. Now you got something. You got strength under control. That's what Jesus is what he was strength under control.
Look you and I know this he had the power to speak the word and He could and he even said this he said don't you know, you have no power over me. He even told pilot that now there was times when pilot was speaking.
Jesus wouldn't speak back a word. Because he knew better to throw truth that at a swine. But he also said this you had no power over me when he says when pilot Opened his mouth like a fool and unwise.
He said don't you know I had the power to release you and Jesus spoke right then he said you had no power over me unless it's given from above and Then what did he say? He says and Jesus basically says I had the power to lay my life down.
I had the power to take it back up again.
That's power.
You put it you put a person you crucify him and put him in the grave and he has the power. To come out of that grave, that's right. I don't know anyone else that's done that. But in an amazing in an amazing you even see the Trinity in that the father by the father's power raised him up.
And he also says by his own power. He raised up the Holy Spirit rose him up. It shows you God was working right there. So he has all power. Jesus said that all authority all power is given unto me. That's power.
Well.
Strength under control. It was an adjective often. Yeah, actually it was adjective right here used of a wild horse that was broken and made useful to his owner. That's what it is for believers. Gentleness is to be willingly under the sovereign control of Almighty God.
Now I tell you what I can sit right there and drive that home. That's the way we are to be under submissive and meekness under the authority of God. Numbers 12 3 says described Moses was a very meek man.
Above all the men which were upon the face of the earth at that time. Yet if you think of it, that's saying Moses could act decisively and he flared up in anger when provoked and he and he was not a he was not allowed to enter into the promised land because of that and he had great patience, but his patient say he he wore was worn out that day and He you know the story he hit the rock and Paul says that rock was Christ.
He said you don't do that. Moses the man of God was not allowed into the promised land all that time. That shows you God shows no partiality in that sense. Well human frailty no doubt is depraved and we definitely need the Spirit of God and by the way meekness gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit of God.
Galatians 5 23. It's it's never bitter malice. Self-seeking is it's never self-promoting is never arrogant. It's never vengeful, but it is the fruit of the Spirit. Well I'm gonna have to stop right there.
And I need to drive home some application very quickly. And I don't have time to get all this application in but I do want to say one of the applications of that it's important for us to to get a hold of in this is Humility and meekness.
Now I want to say more about this later on because it's so important. It's so critical for us to understand that this is one of the basic tenets of being conformed into Christ. Likeness.
I.
Is to be like Christ and by the way It's God's goal for you to be like his son the Lord Jesus Christ. And Jesus says you come unto me all your labor and heavy laden and he says I am meek and lowly in heart.
He said learn of me now. Don't you know that we would learn more about meekness. The one that says I am meek and lowly in heart. He is the one that is meekness personified. It is that trait that which makes us teachable and allows us to be more like our Lord Jesus Christ.
To acknowledge our sins our faults our failures our shortcomings and through this we can then come before our Lord Jesus and submission. So that the Holy Spirit may work in us in this area in our lives.
And I'm personally convinced that this is one of the most lacking Characteristics that you see the Christian churches today and the beloved I tell you I'm pointing the finger to me, too. I need more meekness.
I need more humility because so many times we could get on a platform and think we're something. We better take heed least we think we stand we want to fall. We have to stay on our faces before God and be transparent.
Lord bring me down. I want to be meek. Like he's me so our lack of humility and our lack of submission in other words is our pride. We find division we find conflict and we must be willing to set ourselves aside for the sake of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who said come unto me all you weary and Heavy laden and I'll give you rest from your souls.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me and then he says it I am gentle. In other words meek and humble in heart and what did he say you will find rest for your souls for your souls. It's inner strength folks.
For my yoke is easy and my burdens light we need to yoke up with the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Well, this you know, Jesus said that the greatest among you will be your servant and and brother Keith quoted this earlier for whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted and.
And what in that context? There's so many different contexts, but in that context he The disciples actually ask him who's the greatest in the kingdom of God and what does Jesus do? He brings a child and I picture this in my mind probably about Claire's age or Felicity's age.
He brings a child before them and says for such as the kingdom of God. For such as the kingdom of God, what do you see in a child you see sweet pure innocence. You see yes, they accept and they are so trusting there and that's the way Jesus is saying.
That's the way you're to be like You to be like that child. He says whoever exalts himself Can be brought down be humbled, but whoever humbles himself Will be how exalted God said and and Peter takes up on that, too.
He says humble yourself before the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time in God's time. So, you know, there's so much that could be said about that. If you look at Luke 14 1 through 11 Jesus ends that.
That I think it's pretty much a parable. I believe but he speaks of that in Luke chapter 14. I like what first Samuel 2 6 and 7 says the Lord brings death. You don't hear a lot of people Quoting that do you the Lord's brings death and makes alive?
I mean, he's that he's sovereign. You know, you don't hear in the prosperity Gospels Quoting that one. He brings down to the grave. Hey, and he raises up. Now God's sovereign overall the Lord sends poverty and wealth He and then he says this he humbles and he absolves Isaiah 26 5 he humbles those who dwell on high and he lays the lofty city low and he levels it to the ground.
And cast it down to the dust. Can God do that? Absolutely. Jokes is God can do all things. You know Psalm 45 for in your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of the truth. Humility and righteousness.
Let your right hand display your awesome deeds. Proverbs 11 to when pride comes then comes disgrace but with humility comes Wisdom. Hey, there you go. Well very quickly. I just want to speak about.
Won't pick up on this more but the the fear of the Lord. That's another Point that I believe that we should take a hold of. Look at this whole chapter in your devotional time, but joke 28 Verses 12 through 28.
I want to close with this behold the fear of the Lord that that is wisdom and To turn away from evil is understanding you notice that wisdom and understanding wisdom and understanding wisdom and understanding.
I wish I had time to go into that a little bit more. But I'm gonna pick up on that Lord willing next week but we need to take a hold of that don't we and I really believe the application here is believers in the Lord Jesus Christ that each of everyone as we are believers.
We claim to have true wisdom. And by the way, our wisdom is Jesus Christ. So what does it say in 1st Corinthians 130 but of him? Are you in Jesus Christ who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness.
Sanctification and redemption. You look at all that. You have grace upon grace. You have the doctrines of grace there. The challenge for us is to live out the true wisdom in our everyday living, right?
You know what? I'm talking about. You are faced with all kinds of opposition. You're faced with the world of fools but we can claim. We can claim as James says to have outlined true wisdom and what it looks like in a person's life but it's how we put that into practice that matters and Again humility is one of the great virtues we need to have but the fear of the Lord's the other.
The fear of the Lord is key. To have that I Got it wrote down my notes. We don't have it. Look look in Genesis chapter 22 in your your time Abraham feared God. Because he offered up his son Isaac. He feared God.
That's what it said. He knows now that he feared God in chapter 22. Genesis chapter 39 Speaks about young Joseph. He was a good-looking man. The Bible even says he was. You know about the story of Potiphar's wife.
And she actually went after him took a hold of him and Tempted him and Scripture says the literally the lie with her. But he refused and you what did he say? How can I do this this wicked sin against God?
Why did he say that because he feared God? Oh He went to prison for it. But hey, look at what God did in that man's life. God did something. Wish I had more time on that. Maybe I pick it up Lord willing next week, but you know Solomon By the Holy Spirit gives us instruction to how to be wise.
Let me close with this go to Proverbs chapter 2. Chapter chapter 2 verses 1 through 5. There is so much here beloved. This is a sermon in itself. But 1 through 5 basically gives the moral benefits of wisdom.
He says this my son if you accept my words that's receiving the Word of God. Store up my commands within you that is hide and treasure God's Word in your heart. Turn your ear to wisdom if you listen to God be slow to speak and quick to listen.
Notice what he's saying. Turn your ear to wisdom apply your heart to understanding that means to practice God's Word be doers of the word. And if you call out for insight that's calling on God in prayer.
Cry aloud for understanding that's calling on God and if you look for it as for and.
As.
For silver and Search for it as a hidden gold. In other words you go for it like a pearl the great price. In other words you must be hungry and thirsty for the fear of the Lord. You got a hunger for you got to be thirsty for it and the knowledge of God and this is in Jesus Christ With a pursue and to go after him with all of our heart and then he goes on then Notice what he says in verse 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
You can grant it right there if you do what that Word of God says you will Understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. May it be so with us. Amen. Let's pray father. We thank you so much Lord.
I wish I had more time to To lay this out, but Lord if you give us another day, we'll we'll look right to it. But Lord what's most important is we look to you. Lord we need to fear you in reverence and humility.
Lord, this is so much lacking in the church and may we look in ourselves as well. This is lacking in us. This is Lord how Only by your help and grace can we have wisdom from above. Lord may we search for it light as a silver Pearl of great price.
Lord, which is only in Jesus Christ who is our wisdom? Our righteousness our salvation our sanctification our redemption. Heavenly wisdom from above God help us and our daily conduct our lives the way we live.
Father, I pray as your word says you do not delight in the sacrifice just mere religion performance. Matter of fact. Father you're through your son on the Sermon on the Mount even before we come to worship.
He even said lay down the gift and get it, right with the one we may have strife against or envy against or Unforgiveness, then we come altar then we come to the altar and offer the gift. But Lord, we need we must be right with our brothers and sisters and ultimately be right within we must be right with you.
My father we as as the psalmist said if you if you did you do not delight in the sacrifice or he Would bring it. You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. But what do you? What do you delight in father?
Sacrifices of God over a broken spirit. Break us. Oh God a broken in a contrite heart. Oh God, you will not despise this. So father humble us or should we. I say we need to humble ourselves before your mighty hand.
As your word says in Isaiah 57 15 for this is what the high and lofty one says He who lives forever. Whose name is holy? Lord you live in a high and a holy place, but also with him who is a contrite lowly in spirit.
And then you promise to revive the spirit of the lowly the lowly and To revive the heart of the contrite father. Revive us again Lord bring this back alive to us make it real to us in our everyday living that we may glorify you and everything that we.
Do.
Lord because you're pleased with this kind of living a life that glorifies you and and that's a life that lives godly Lord we may mean we may have to separate ourselves from bad company. Lord give us the courage to do that and and we should do it for your gladly for your namesake.
But Lord help us in all that we have before us. There's so much that says in your word about the wonderful benefits of wisdom Lord granted so granted so in Jesus name. Amen.