<p> THE BOOK OF JAMES #13 TRUE WISDOM</p><p>DATE: 10/11/2009 pm</p><p>READ TEXT: James 3:13-18 </p><p>INTRODUCTION: </p><p>We saw in vs. 1-12 of James chapter 3 God dealing with the need for us to control our tongues </p><p>He specifically addressed the dangers of the improper use of the Tongue and the damage that can result </p><p>Now he deals with the subject of Wisdom </p><p>Just as the Tongue can be used to bless or to destroy, there are two different aspects of Wisdom </p><p>There is Earthly Wisdom and Heavenly Wisdom </p><p>~~~OPENING PRAYER~~~ </p><p>I. THE “WISE” MAN – v.13</p><p>“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom”</p><p>A. This verse connects the two passages</p><p>The first half of Chapter 3 and our text True Wisdom – James 3:13-18</p><p>In v.2 the 'perfect' or mature Christian, is noted to be one who is in control of their tongue </p><p>“For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” </p><p>James now asks the question – </p><p>"Who is a wise man … among you?"</p><p>How many believe themselves to be wise and mature Christians? </p><p>Before we’re too quick to answer … </p><p>James gives us the way to evaluate ourselves in light of True Wisdom (In light of the Scriptures) </p><p>The thought undoubtedly goes back to v.1 of this chapter </p><p>“My brethren, be not many masters,(self promoting) knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation”</p><p>Referring to those who promoted themselves as (wise) teachers </p><p>If they so considered themselves such …</p><p>James’ advise for them is to first demonstrate through their lives whatever wisdom they claimed to possess </p><p>2 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18</p><p>B. True wisdom is revealed by how we live, not by what we know or say </p><p>Within a church, who are the wise teachers and leaders? </p><p>We may think of certain individuals who are ‘highly educated’ </p><p>Maybe people who are 'professionals' </p><p>But that isn't the criteria at all! </p><p>James never tells us to show our credentials to prove who is wise… </p><p>Instead, he tells us to show our wisdom by ‘how we live’ </p><p>The wise man will reveal his wisdom by ‘his actions’ </p><p>V. 13b –“let him shew out of a good conversation…”</p><p>A good conversation is talking about Life Style </p><p>Which includes what we say; but deals more with our overall actions </p><p>“…his works…” </p><p>Reminds us that our Christianity is something that is to be seen by others </p><p>3 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18</p><p>Matthew 5:16 – "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."</p><p>James 2:18 – “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” </p><p>God sees our faith, men see our Works </p><p>Look at the phrase “… with meekness of wisdom”</p><p>The phrase “with meekness” means power or strength under control</p><p>Meekness does not equal weakness! </p><p>Meekness refers to an even natured disposition, control of emotions, and gentleness of spirit </p><p>It is the opposite of being quick to lose one’s temper (swift to wrath)</p><p>James said back in 1:19 – “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” </p><p>Clearly implied is that True Wisdom will be evident in disciplined emotions </p><p>4 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18 Especially the negative ones such as anger, loss of temper, and a sharp tongue </p><p>Godly wisdom (to the degree of being a spiritual leader) requires one to have not only his tongue under control but his emotions and temperament as well </p><p>Moses was called the meekest man ever to live </p><p>Numbers 12:3 – “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)” </p><p>(This is when Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of his marriage to an Ethiopian woman) </p><p>We know that Moses was not a weak man </p><p>He was 80 years old when God called him into ministry </p><p>Acts 7:30 – “And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush” </p><p>Again the picture is of one who is disciplined in his behavior </p><p>THE “WISE” MAN </p><p>Now we see James contrasting Earthly and Heavenly Wisdom </p><p>II. “EARTHLY” WISDOM – vs. 14-16</p><p>5 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18</p><p>A. Notice the identifying ‘traits’ of earthly wisdom – v.14</p><p>“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth”</p><p>‘Bitter’ (piercing) ‘envying’ (jealousy) </p><p>‘Strife’ (fighting and contention) in their hearts </p><p>They “glory” (boast) in these traits and they lie against the truth </p><p>What truth? They claim to be wise, when in reality they are fools </p><p>I Corinthians 3:18-19 –"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."</p><p>“bitter envying and strife” surely reflects neither wisdom nor the meekness as defined in v.13 </p><p>Some who sought to be leaders, very possibly, may have been so inclined </p><p>He admonishes them to not therefore advance themselves</p><p>6 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18 Thus disproving the very truth they claimed to teach </p><p>To live in such a carnal, spiritually immature way is to discredit the very truth to be taught </p><p>As the old adage says – </p><p>‘Our talk talks, and our walk talks; But out walk talks louder than our talk talks’ </p><p>Bitterness and strife contradict and betray supposed wisdom in leadership </p><p>B. Notice the source of earthly wisdom –v.15</p><p>“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish”</p><p>An alleged wisdom (in a preacher or leader) which manifests itself in a sharp tongue, a bitter spirit, and an envious attitude is an oxymoron </p><p>Such wisdom is not from God </p><p>“descendeth not from above”</p><p>Recall how James began the book by noting that true wisdom is always available from God </p><p>James 1:5 – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” </p><p>7 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18 Rather, the false wisdom professed by those advancing themselves as spiritual leaders was “earthly, sensual, devilish”</p><p>It is “earthly” (of this world)… </p><p>It is “sensual” (of the natural or flesh)… </p><p>It is “devilish” (demon-like) </p><p>The world, the flesh, and the devil </p><p>In other words…it didn't come from God! </p><p>C. The proof is in the results – v.16</p><p>“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work”</p><p>‘Confusion’ (disorder and commotion) </p><p>‘Evil work’ (wicked deeds) </p><p>The Source of wisdom is determined by the Fruits of that wisdom </p><p>What comes out tells us exactly where it’s from! </p><p>THE “WISE” MAN </p><p>“EARTHLY” WISDOM</p><p>III. “HEAVENLY” WISDOM – vs.17-18</p><p>8 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18</p><p>James describes briefly the essence of godly wisdom in seven ways</p><p>This result is sharply in contrast with the evil work that results from earthly wisdom </p><p>“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”</p><p>A. First it is Pure (clean or innocent, Holy)</p><p>1. It is pure because the source is pure </p><p>True wisdom does not come from seeking the knowledge and wisdom of men and of this world; it comes from seeking God-from seeking the knowledge and wisdom of God </p><p>The source of His knowledge is His Word </p><p>We have no excuse for not possessing True Wisdom…</p><p>He has promised to give it to us</p><p>Again James 1:5 – "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."</p><p>B. Other descriptive terms used</p><p>2. Peaceable</p><p>9 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18</p><p>At peace with God At peace with others At peace with ourselves</p><p>3. Gentle (equitable and fair, just) </p><p>4. Easy to be intreated ‘easy to obey,’ and has the greater thought of being easy to accept </p><p>5. Full of mercy and good fruits (not giving what one deserves) </p><p>6. Without partiality has the sense of being ‘genuine’ or ‘sincere’ </p><p>7. Without Hypocrisy Godly wisdom is never phony nor of false pretense </p><p>C. These terms describe for us the character of Christ</p><p>If we seek after His wisdom, we will put on His character </p><p>Which is exactly what we are commanded to do!</p><p>John 13:15 – "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you"</p><p>Philippians 2:5 – "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" </p><p>CONCLUSION: </p><p>10 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18</p><p>The summary is found in v.18</p><p>“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”</p><p>This final verse summarizes all that James has been teaching about a truly godly life </p><p>He uses the illustration of sowing and reaping</p><p>Righteous sowing results in righteous reaping </p><p>Note the comparisons made:</p><p>Earthly wisdom results in 'confusion' v.16 </p><p>Earthly wisdom results in 'every evil work' </p><p>But God's wisdom results in “the fruit of righteousness” </p><p>It is sown in peace by those who are 'peace-makers' </p><p>God's people should be characterized as peace-makers</p><p>Matthew 5:9 – "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."</p><p>Proverbs 6:16-19 - "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:” “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,” </p><p>11 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18 “An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,” “A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."</p><p>This is what was going on in the lives of James' readers </p><p>Notice that chapter 4:1 tells us that they were not at peace, but rather they were at war </p><p>“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”</p><p>Why? Because they were relying upon earthly wisdom rather than God's wisdom </p><p>(following the world's way of thinking, rather than the principles of God as revealed in His Word)</p><p>Our wisdom is revealed by our behavior! </p><p>Are we sowing peace or discord?</p><p>At Home, at Work, at Church? </p><p>James 3:13 – "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom" </p><p>INVITATION </p><p>12 True Wisdom – James 3:13-18 I. THE “WISE” MAN II. “EARTHLY” WISDOM III. “HEAVENLY” WISDOM </p><p>13</p>