If I Only Had a Brain (Knowledge/Wisdom)

Introduction

Back Before Norah and I Got Married, When I Still Lived with My Mom…

We would have a Church Get-Together Every Halloween at Our House

We’d have a Chili Supper, Corn Hole, Campfire, Activities for Kids…

At the End of the Night We’d have a Spooky Hayride

On More than One Occasion…

Norah and I would Dress Up as Dorothy & Scarecrow…

To Talk to/Goof Around with the Kids

It Made Sense for Me Because…

It Just So Happens that Scarecrow and Me Lack the Same Thing

Who can Tell Me the Name of the Song Scarecrow Sang?

“If I Only had a Brain”

That’s What We’re Going to Be Looking at Tonight

Not a Brain, Specifically…

But 2 Important Ideas that are Connected to the Brain:

Knowledge

Wisdom

We’re Going to Focus on the Importance of Knowledge & Wisdom…

To Our Lives as Followers of Jesus

Primarily, We’re Going to Focus on Wisdom

I Think it Might Be Helpful to Start with Understanding the Difference…

Difference Between Knowledge & Wisdom

Knowledge = Acquired Facts/Information

Knowing Things

Is Knowledge Important to Being a Christian?

Absolutely!

God Wants Us to Know Him

Know Who He is, What He’s Like, and What He Expects of Us

We Need to Know the Scriptures

We Need to Know the Gospel

What Jesus has Done, is Doing, Will Do for His People

There is No Salvation Outside of Knowing God and the Gospel

But We Can’t Stop with Knowledge, Right?

We Need to Add Wisdom to Our Knowledge

If Knowledge is Having/Knowing Information…

Then Wisdom is Understanding What to Do with that Information

We Don’t Just Need to Know God/Scriptures/Gospel…

We Need to Understand How to Apply that Knowledge to Our Lives

We Need to Move from “Knowing” to “Practicing”

What Good is Knowledge if it isn’t Put to Use?

In James’ Letter, He Talks a Lot About the Importance of…

Turning Knowledge into Action…

And Faith into Works

James 1:22 (LSB)

22 But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

I Like the Plain Language of the NLT

James 1:22 (NLT)

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Being a Follower of Jesus is More Than Just…

Knowing Who God is and What He Expects of Us

We’ve Got to Be Doers

We’ve Got to Live it

James 2:14–16 (NASB95)

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

What Good Does it Do…

To Know What Jesus Teaches About Loving One Another…

If We Don’t Put that Knowledge into Practice?

When a Sibling in Christ has a Need that We’re Able to Meet…

But All We Offer Them is Our Sympathy and a Prayer…

We’ve Proven that Our Faith is Dead

We’ve Proven Ourselves to Be No Wiser Than the Demons…

Who Know God, But Don’t Obey Him

To Know What’s Right But Not Do it…

James Calls Sin

James 4:17 (NASB95)

17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

This is a Textbook Definition of What it is to have Knowledge…

But Not Wisdom

The Wisdom Literature of Proverbs Gives Us the Same Example as James:

Proverbs 3:27–28 (NASB95)

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.

This is What Wisdom is All About:

Knowing What God Wants…

And Putting that Knowledge into Practice

You can have the Scriptures Memorized from Front to Back…

But that’s Worth Nothing if You Don’t Put that Knowledge to Use

Wisdom is Extremely Important to the Life of a Christian

It’s Crucial

But Not All Wisdom is Worth Having

James Says There’s Earthly/Heavenly Wisdom

And He Tells Us the Difference

James 3:13 (NASB95)

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

Wisdom is Like Faith in that…

Without Outward Proof, it’s Useless/Dead

Wisdom is Shown Through Good Behavior/Deeds

But That’s Not All

There’s a Very Important Addition that James Tacks on

Wisdom is Practicing Good Behavior “In the Gentleness of Wisdom”

In Order to Be Truly Wise…

You Must Practice 2 Things Simultaneously

They Must Coexist:

Good Works

Gentleness/Humility

One Lexicon Defined “Gentleness” this Way

“Not Being Overly Impressed by a Sense of One’s Self-Importance”

Good Works Combined with Humility = Wisdom

Good Works with Self-Righteousness/Pride is Not Wisdom

Humility Without Good Works is Not Wisdom

Wisdom = Doing What Jesus Teaches/Shows Us to Do…

While Remaining Humble/Unimpressed with Our Self-Importance

True/Heavenly Wisdom is Humbly Doing What is Good/Right

But What About Earthly Wisdom?

James 3:14–16 (NASB95)

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

The Wisdom that Comes from Earth/Our Natural Fallen State/Demons…

Is Bitter Jealousy and Selfish Ambition

That’s the Kind of Wisdom that Comes from the World…

Because it Suits Out Natural Inclinations

Bitter Jealousy Comes Natural to Us

You Don’t have to Try to Be Bitterly Jealous of Others

Selfishness Comes Natural to Us

You Don’t have to Put Any Effort into Thinking Only About Yourself

Worldly Wisdom is Doing What Comes Naturally to Fallen Humanity

“Go with Your Gut”

“Trust Your Heart”

“Follow Your Instincts”

But You Know What Your Gut, Heart, and Instincts Often Lead You to?

Things like Bitter Jealousy and Selfish Ambition

Wisdom From Above is the Very Opposite:

James 3:17–18 (NASB95)

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Someone Who has Heavenly Wisdom is:

Pure, Holy, Not Defiled By Sin

Peaceful

Considerate, Tolerant, Not Insisting on One’s Own Rights

Submissive, Compliant, Obedient

Thoroughly Characterized by Mercy/Compassion

Thoroughly Characterized by Good Fruits/Works

Not Judgmental or Doubting

Not Hypocritical But Sincere

Then James Says:

Righteousness is Produced by the Peacemakers

This is What Heavenly Wisdom is All About

It’s About Being Pure Peacemakers

Not a Single Ounce of it Comes Natural to Us

Our Flesh Desires the Very Opposite of All These Things

But in Christ, Our Inner Person/Spirit has Been Transformed

Our Outer Person Desires Worldly Wisdom…

But Our Spirits Desire Heavenly Wisdom

According to James, Heavenly Wisdom Looks like Being…

Humble, Holy, and Peaceful

Jesus is the Embodiment of Heavenly Wisdom

As Followers/Disciples of Jesus…

He is Who We Aspire to Be

So, in Order to Grow in Heavenly Wisdom…

Our Focus Needs to Be Entirely on Jesus

Paul Told the Colossian Christians that…

“In Jesus are Hidden All the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge”

Speaking of Jesus, Paul Said:

Colossians 1:28 (NIV)

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

In Order to Bring People to Wisdom and Maturity…

The Focus of Paul’s Teaching/Preaching was Jesus

That’s Where Our Focus Must Be Too

But the Colossians were Focused on Everything But Jesus

And Because of that…

There was a Lot of Worldly Wisdom Spreading in the Colossian Church

Colossians 2:8 (NASB95)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

These False Teachers Were Trying to Take the Colossians Captive Through Philosophy

Philosophy is a Compound Word

It Means “Love of Wisdom”

Paul Described this Philosophical Teaching as:

“Empty Deception”

It was Deceiving

What They Were Teaching Sounded Good/Wise

It Promised Deeper Spirituality/Righteousness

But it was Empty

It Couldn’t Offer Any Spirituality/Righteousness to Those Who Followed it

“According to the Tradition of Men”

The Wisdom They Taught was Based on…

Man-Made Traditions/Ideas

“According to the Elementary Principles of the World”

The Wisdom They Taught…

Was a Worldly Understanding of Righteousness/Spirituality

Not “According to Christ”

The Philosophy/Wisdom They were Teaching…

Didn’t Come From Jesus

And had Nothing to Do with Jesus

It was Worldly, Not Heavenly

Paul Tells Us Some of the “Philosophy” Being that was Being Taught:

Colossians 2:16–23 (NASB95)

16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

They were Teaching Jewish Legalism…

When the Focus of Their Teaching should’ve Been on Jesus

18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

They were Teaching a Type of Mysticism…

When the Focus of Their Teaching should’ve Been on Their Head

20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

They were Teaching the Practice of Asceticism (Denying Any & All Pleasure)…

When They should have Remembered that…

They Died with Christ to Such Worldly Principles

Asceticism Looks Like Wisdom, Humility, Self-Control, and Devotion…

But Paul Called it “Self-Made Religion”

Religion Made My Way

The King James Version Translates it “Will-Worship”

It’s a Religion Based Off of What I Want/Think is Best

Practicing Christianity the Way I Think Christianity Should Be Practiced

But This Type of Worldly Wisdom is “of No Value Against Fleshly Indulgence”

Or as the NLT Puts it:

Colossians 2:23 (NLT)

These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

It Looks Wise/Devout, But it Doesn’t Fix the Problem

It Doesn’t Take Away Our Desires to Do Evil

It’s All Outward/Fleshly Focused, Not Inward/Spiritually Focused

It’s All Focused On Changing Actions, But Not the Heart

The Focus is Entirely on Us, Instead of on Jesus

That’s Why Paul then Tells Them to Bring Their Focus Back to Jesus:

Colossians 3:1–4 (NASB95)

1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Paul Teaches Us that Heavenly Wisdom Comes From:

First, Being Raised Up with Jesus (Baptism)

Then, Seeking/Setting Our Minds on the Things Above/of Jesus

Making Jesus Our Life

Heavenly Wisdom Comes from Forming Our Lives Around Jesus

Practically Speaking, Here’s What Making Jesus Your Life Looks Like:

Colossians 3:5–17 (NASB95)

5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

Making Jesus My Life Consists of:

Dying to Myself and My Fleshly Desires

8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

Making Jesus My Life Consists of:

Putting Away Everything that Doesn’t Meet the Standard of Jesus’ Kingdom

No Longer Saying or Doing the Things I Used to Say and Do

Being Renewed to a True Knowledge of Jesus

No Longer Believing the Lies I Used to Believe

Being Born Again After the Image/Likeness of Jesus

No Longer Seeing Myself Apart From Jesus

He is All to Me

He is in Me

Like Paul Said to the Galatians:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Making Jesus My Life Consists of:

Putting on a New Heart of Love

Love has Become My Primary Motivator/Goal

Everything I Think, Say, and Do is Out of the Love I’ve Found in Jesus

16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

That Last Statement Perfectly Sums Up What it Means to:

Make Jesus My Life

Have Heavenly Wisdom

Every Word and Did is Because of/for Jesus

Heavenly Wisdom is All About Jesus

“If I Only had a Brain”

If I Only had Knowledge/Wisdom

All the Knowledge/Wisdom We Need is Found in Jesus

The Knowledge We Need is:

Knowledge of Who He is

Knowledge of What He’s Done/is Doing/Will Do

Knowledge of What He Expects of Us

The Wisdom We Need is:

Putting that Knowledge to Use

Living Like/For Jesus

Invitation

We Need Both Knowledge and Wisdom

We Need to Know the Gospel

And We Need the Wisdom to Live the Gospel

The Gospel is the Good News…

That Through the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus…

Evil, Sin, and Death have Been Defeated…

And God’s Anointed One has Become King

And He’s Going to Return to Rescue Us Through Resurrection to Eternal Life…

And Deal the Final Death Blow to All Evil, Sin, and Death

That’s a Nutshell Knowledge of the Gospel

Wisdom is Responding to that Knowledge in the Proper Way

If Jesus Really is King…

And He Really is Coming Back…

To Enact Justice and Destroy All that is Opposed to Him/His Kingdom…

Then the Wise Response would Be to Join Him/His Kingdom

Pledge Allegiance to King Jesus…

By Repenting of Rebellious Living and Being Baptized

Then Commit Yourself to Living a Life that is Loyal to Him

A Life that is in Imitation of Him

A Life that Honors/Glorifies Him

A Life of Knowledge/Wisdom that’s Found in Him