Godly Wisdom
I. Introduction
A. We would like to do a study this morning and answer this question B a personal one. Am I wise? Am I really wise?
B. Wisdom B the understanding of that which is true, correct and enduring
1. The capability to think and to judge with prudence and justice
2. It is very different from knowledge
a. Our world is full of knowledge B one marvels at all man has been able to learn and do
b. But more and more it seems to lack wisdom
C. 13b B the second part of the verse identifies two marks of the wise person
1. Right conduct - in the eyes of Scripture the truly wise and knowledgeable person is not a person who has all kinds of facts and theories, speculations and notions in his mind. Rather he is a person who is a good personCa moral and just person, a loving and caring personCa person who lives what he knows and teachesCwho shows a good behavior in all his works.
a. His actions are the measure of his wisdom
b. The difference between the wise man and the foolish man in the parable Jesus told B they both heard, they both had knowledge B but only one was wise B only one responded to the knowledge in a right way
2. Meekness B The word means to be gentle, tender, humble, mild, considerate, but strongly so. Meekness has the strength to control and discipline, and it does so at the right time.
a. It is the Greek word used to refer to a horse that had been broken so that it=s power was under control
b. It does not mean weakness B it is power under control
D. The phrase, Ameekness of wisdom,@ is an interesting one. Meekness is the right use of power, and wisdom is the right use of knowledge. They go together. Attitude and action go together.
1. The marks of a wise man are his attitudes and his actions
II. V. 15 -there is a wisdom which is not from above
A. Three things
a. Earthly, sensual, devilish
1. There are three enemies whom the Christian faces
a. The world, the flesh, the devil
(1) I think these three enemies are suggested by these terms
2. The wisdom that comes from this world, our flesh, and Satan himself is not true wisdom
3. V. 17 - the Christian desires true wisdom, heavenly wisdom
a. It is first pure
(1) pure -- free from the wisdom of this world, of our flesh -- that springs from within us, free of the devil=s wisdom
(2) It begins there. It is only then that it can be what it continues to describe here
III. Chapter 4
A. It seems in chapter 4 James go on to address further these three aspects of the wisdom which is not from above.
B. 1-3 B the flesh, sensual
1. He talks about lusts B desires B especially desires for pleasure
2. I think we could use the word Apassions@ - strong desires, strong emotions, strong feelings. They can become so strong they gain control over reason and the will -- anger
3. They are not all bad in themselves o when they are controlled But they become evil when they are allowed to be expressed in ways that are not according to the wll of God.
4. I see in these verses
a. Envy - a feeling of disgust or resentment toward another for his accomplishments, possesions, or advantages
(1) his work, his abilities, his success, his friends
b. Covetousness - desire to have what belongs to another
c. Anger
(1) uncontrolled anger -- things said or done that we really didn=t want to do; that are not right
5. There are desires within us that long to e satisfied. Each one of us has feelings which at times want to dictate our actions -- but brethren and sisters -- the wisdom that comes from our flesh -- is not God=s wisdom
6. Meekness B the ability to control our feelings and passions
7. When we think of lusts we often think of moral purity
a. AFlee youthful lusts!@
b. We are thinking about the word Asensual@
(1) There is so much corruptness around us that appeals to the sensual desires of man
(2) God calls us to purity
(a) in our thought life
(b) in all of life
c. AWisdom which is from above is first PURE@
(1) The wise man gives no room to the satisfying of the sensual appetites of the flesh
he avoids places of temptation
sunbathing, public places where there is much undress, where there are indecent pictures, where there is indecent talk
he guards his eyes
what he reads B there is so much garbage even in so called Christian bookstore B romance novels B feed the sensual appetites of young sisters.
(1) a sign of wisdom is an appreciation for the Ahands-off policy@ in courtship.
8. Are you a wise man?
a. That is evidenced by crucifying the flesh with it=s desires and lusts and feelings that do not honor God.
C. Earthly B the world B v. 4
1. We are in the world. Jesus prayed that His Father would not take us out of the world, but He would keep us from the evil that is in the world. We are in the world, but not of the world.
2. There is no question here:
a. We either love Him or love the world
b. To love the world is to be God=s enemy
3. Who or what controls our appearance B
a. The way your hair is cut or combed
b. The material you consider acceptable for a dress
(1) the way you make it
c. The type of shirt or trousers you wear
4. Who has influenced your values B what you consider important or necessary or acceptable; Is it God and the principles of his Word
a. separación del mundo; la crianza de los hijos; el trrabajo – consejos de los familiars y vecinos
5. What about the music you listen to
1. What does it mean to be a friend of the world?
a. Adulter=s B a love problem
b. 1 Juan 2: 15-17 B I see two factors in these verses
(1) loss of a love for God
(2) disobedience
(3) When you put these two factors together, you have a practical definition of worldliness: anything in a Christian=s life that causes him to lose his enjoyment of the Father=s love or his desire to do the Father=s will is worldly and must be avoided. Responding to the Father=s love (your personal devotional life), and doing the Father=s will (your daily conduct)Cthese are two tests of worldliness.
2. Godly wisdom is not found in the world B in their philosophies, their styles, their music, their values B that wisdom is not from above
D. Devilish B v. 7
1. He is the tempter, he is behind the world, he awakens the passions within us
2. We must say NO to him B flee from him B there is no wisdom in him
IV. The expressions of godly wisdom
A. We have looked mostly at what it isn=t B what are some positive evidences of wisdom?
B. 7, 8 Unconditional surrender is the only way to complete victory. Drawing near means to draw ever so near, to get as close as possible to God. Get right next to Him. Begin to talk and share with Him. How do we do this?
a. By reading the Word of God and prayer
b. A desire to know Him better, a hunger and a thirst for righteousness
C. A hatred for sin
1. When the great Chrysostom was arrested by the Roman emperor he sought to make the Greek Christian deny his faith. But he was unsuccessful. So the emperor discussed with his advisors what they could do to this prisoner.
"Shall I put him in a dungeon?" the emperor asked. "No," one of his counselors replied, "For he'll be glad to go. He longs for the quietness where he can delight in the mercies of his God."
"Then he shall be executed!" said the emperor. "No," came the answer, "For he'll be glad to die. He declares that in the event of death, he will be in the presence of the Lord."
"Well, what shall we do then?" the ruler asked. The counselor replied, "There's only one thing that will cause him pain. Make him sin. He's afraid of nothing but sin." THAT IS HEAVENLY WISDOM.
V. V. 9-- afflicted and mourn and weep
A. Our attitude toward sin causes us sorrow when we see inconsistencies in our lives; expressions of the flesh yet in our life
1. ABlessed are they that mourn
2. The thought nof confession; repenteance, a turning from sin
VI. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness
A. We do not deny that there is a certain happiness in the world. There is a certain pleasure in sin
1. But for the Christian these things no longer are enjoyable
a. That which we enjoy is an evidence of our nature
(1) The worldly man enjoys the things of the world, the sinner enjoys sin, and the fact that he enjoys sin is a proof that he is a sinner and of the world
(2) but for the Christian, the things that he may have enjoyed or laughed about, now cause him to weep
b. He can not enjoy sin or laugh about sin and worldliness
c. Not only that, but he can not enjoy being with those who do things that do not please God
(1) he does not laugh when the people of the world laugh B their pleasure seeking is not enjoyable to him, he cannot laugh at foul language or unwholesome talk
(2) he will not enjoy the corrupt things of the world, the television, the ungodly music
(3) disrespect for the church, disobedience to parents
d. We feel a burden, a sadness, a heaviness
e. That is an evidence of wisdom from above
2. "Heaviness"
a. heaviness -- means - shame, a fallen countenance
b. In common language B a long face
c. The Christian should be joyful -- but never in the presence of sin. In the presence of sin, he will show his disapproval, not only inside, but it will show on his face.
d. We should not be ashamed to be different, nor for others to see on our face that we cannot approve of their speech or their actions
B. To be born again is to receive a new nature
1. 2 Peter 1:4 -- Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
a. Nature determines appetite. The pig wants slop and the dog will even eat its own vomit (2 Peter 2:22), but the sheep desires green pastures.
(1) we have God=s nature within, then we ought to have an appetite for that which is pure and holy.
b. Nature also determines behavior. An eagle flies because it has an eagle=s nature and a dolphin swims because that is the nature of the dolphin.
(1) Our behavior will be godly -- like our Father
2. Nature determines environment: squirrels climb trees, las tusas burrow underground, and trout swim in the water.
a. We will desire a spiritual environment. We will not feel comfortable or relaxed where there is sin and worldliness
family reunions
worldly weddings
1. Nature also determines association: lions travel in prides, sheep in flocks, and fish in schools.
Conclusión
A. )Por qué es tan importante seguir la sabiduría de lo alto?
1. Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die
a. There=s no wisdom in that, is there?
2. 1 Juan 2:17 - And the world passeth away and the lusts thereof
a. There=s no wisdom in that either, is there
3. Mt 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels
a. Now that is really foolish, isn=t it
ABut he that doeth the will of God abideth forever!@
There is wisdom
James 3:13 -- Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.