Heavenly Verses Demonic Wisdom (YG)

Controlling the mind:

Last week we discussed controlling the tongue, this week we learn about controlling the mind to understand how to control the tongue

Wisdom in the mind affects one's use of his or her tongue.

You can have knowledge but without application its useless

Most of you have been going to church for years. You have all the stories memorized and remember the details of who, what, when, and why. You have amassed the knowledge, but James brings up a point regarding the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

Without correct application of the knowledge, it’s simply head knowledge, but when you have knowledge and rightly apply it to your life it becomes wisdom.

The second thing we’re going to look at is the difference between heavenly wisdom and demonic or earthly wisdom.

“HEAVENLY VERSUS DEMONIC WISDOM”

1. (V13) Who is wise and understanding among you?

a) We must examine

James ask a question, “Who is wise and understanding among you?

Galatians 6:4 “But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”

Before you can answer the question, we must examine our works or in other words, the way we live our life

Its possible to have a great deal of knowledge, maybe you have gone to a really prestigious school, maybe even say I am fluent in Greek and to not be wise

You can have knowledge and not be wise because by definition, wisdom is knowledge rightly applied

b) Show by good conduct

The Bible describes humility as meekness, lowliness and the absence of self

The Greek word translated humility literally means lowliness of mind, so humility is attitude of the heart

A wise person has understanding of these things and rightly applies it through their good conduct

Illustrations of Jesus’ Humility:

-Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, so we must commit ourselves to serving others, considering their interest above our own

-Jesus not only taught humility, but he is our example of how we ought to conduct ourselves

-Example of Jesus washing the disciples feet

-He was beaten and spit on and yet He didn’t get even

-ultimately He took a punishment that He didn’t deserve

Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering;”

1.2 (V14) Bitter envy and self seeking in your heart

Envy is to want what belongs to someone else, to be resentful, dissatisfied longing for another’s possessions, position fortune, etc

a) Doctor Constable said this in his commentary

Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition" are manifestations of arrogance (Gr. katakauchaomai, boasting), and they result in promoting self rather than the truth

Those who boast of wisdom are not following God, because humility does not mark their lives. This is as true of Christians as it is of non-Christians.

The person who is boasting or self promoting, self seeking, maybe putting others down to promote self, lacks wisdom from the Lord

1.3 (V15) This earthy wisdom of striving at all costs does not come from God

a) Its the idea that I want it so bad and I don’t care what I have to do to get it

Wisdom from God does not say, cause division to get your way, lie or slander someone to promote yourself, thats earthy, sensual, and demonic

Doctor Contstable said this in his commentary,

There is a kind of person who is undoubtedly clever; he has an acute brain and a skilful tongue; but his effect in any committee, in any Church, in any group, is to cause trouble, to drive people apart, to cause strife, to make trouble, to disturb personal relationships.

It is a sobering thing to remember that the wisdom that that man possesses is devilish rather than divine, and that such a man is engaged on Satan's work and not on God's work."

1.4 (V16) Where there is envy and self seeking exist, confusion and every thing are there

a) Satan is the author of confusion

When there there is envy and self seeking you can count on confusion and every evil thing

1.5 (V7) The wisdom from above

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

a) How do we know its wisdom from above

its pure, its peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy

FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: righteousness is the “behavior that is morally justifiable or right.” Such behavior is characterized by accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness.

Warren Wiersbe said, “Knowledge enables us to take things apart, but wisdom enables us to put things together and relate to God’s truth to everyday life”.