The Rest of the Story
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Remind about the fractured church.
The new Pastor, Dan, Sandy and Fred…
Now we are going to find out the rest of the story because of what today’s passage says about this problem.
James 3:13–18 (NASB95)
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
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.
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.
Transitional Sentence: Even when there is a great deal of unrighteousness going on around us we can still find righteousness when we sow peace.
So why is there so much unrighteousness?
Jealousy - a feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone that you want:
b. Selfish ambition - a strong wish to achieve something for yourself
c.Earthly, unnatural, demonic 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
2 Corinthians 11:14–15 (NASB95)
14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
d. All of this unrighteousness brings disorder and evil (easy to see in this story). The disorder opens the door for evil to walk in.
So what can we do about it?
2. Be wise and understanding.
a. Good Behavior - satisfactory, proper, or polite conduct.
b. Deeds in the gentleness of wisdom
c. These things bring peace (shalom - wholeness)
How do we get this wisdom which is needed to combat unrighteousness?
3. We get the wisdom from Above!
a. James 3:17-18
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.
Now you might be thinking that’s all well and good but I don’t have that kind of wisdom… Yes you do!!
Go back a few weeks to the first message from James.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
So if you don’t have the wisdom - or think you don’t have it then ask God for it! That’s what some of the church members in our story did. They asked for the wisdom and God provided all they needed.
b. Be a Peacemaker Matthew 5:9
Matthew 5:9 (NASB95)
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
What is a peacemaker?
Peacemakers are people who step between two warring parties. The peacemaker initiates reconciliation between people and God, or people when someone has been wronged. The peacemaker is quick to repent when they have wronged others. In a world, where we have been discipled to avoid conflict, peacemaking takes a commitment to move toward conflict.
c. The Rest of the Story
Bertha and Dan… Turns out that Bertha wanted to be the Sunday School Superintendent - Selfish ambition!
Veronica and Sandy… Sandy was dating the man Veronica wanted - Jealousy!
Dennis and Fred… Turns out Dennis was hiding his own drinking problem, so he used Fred to look righteous in other peoples eyes… Fear of being found out!
Now you know the rest of the story!
Exit: This happened in the church, but if you look around there is a lot of strife every where. We should endeavor to be peacemakers wherever we can whenever we can.
We should especially be trying to reconcile people to God!
We are children of God. Things will only get better when Jesus is on the throne. He can be on the throne of each of our hearts which will allow us to be peacemakers, but if others don’t have Jesus there will be no peace in their hearts.
Share Jesus, share the wisdom from above that brings peace.