Cultivating Right Thinking
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Wise words applied = right words spoken
Wise words applied = right words spoken
Wisdom is knowledge that has been applied, but the type of wisdom matters too. Be careful what input you put in for what you put in will be what comes out.
_______________________________________________
Wisdom is important, so seek wisdom, ask for it (Pro4:7; Jm1:5)
Wisdom’s origin (Jm3:17; Jm3:15)
Wisdom of world vs. wisdom of God (1Cor1:19-21; 1Cor2:14; Pro9:10; Rom3:18)
_________________________________________________
Wisdom is important, so seek wisdom, ask for it (Pro4:7; Jm1:5)
Anyone who has read or knows much about the Old Testament can attest to the fact that wisdom is important, there is entire section of scripture devoted to, or called wisdom literature such as Psalms, Proverbs and Job. It is not enough to have knowledge you have to have wisdom to now that to do with the knowledge and to apply it properly. So seek wisdom
7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
James had be exhorting those who wanted to be teachers to be careful of their words (Jm3:1-12) - it is not enough to get up and talk, you need to have something to say. Knowledge helps us dissect things, wisdom helps up put those things back together for proper use.
If worried about wisdom or lack there of, scripture gives us instructions on that
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.
Wisdom is important, so seek wisdom, ask for it (Pro4:7; Jm1:5)
Wisdom’s origin (Jm3:17; Jm3:15)
There is true wisdom, wisdom that comes from above or there is the wisdom of this world, man-made wisdom that does not come from God. You can see many examples in scripture of such.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
I will get into breaking this verse down more later, so this is just a tease to you, but evidence of true wisdom and it’s origin
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
For where there is heavenly wisdom, there is earthly, natural or as James says it, demonic wisdom too, so input, source, origin matter.
Wisdom is important, so seek wisdom, ask for it (Pro4:7; Jm1:5)
Wisdom’s origin (Jm3:17; Jm3:15)
Wisdom of world vs. wisdom of God (1Cor1:19-21); 1Cor2:14; Pro9:10; Rom3:18)
19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Let those words sink in, input matters, origin matters for input will impact output.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Don’t be spiritually appraised, see true wisdom, the wisdom from above
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Knowledge of the Holy One!
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
For wisdom from the world that is applied means no fear of God and no help from God for they are spiritually appraised.
A few more things about the origin of wisdom from above.
We are told its origin, from above (Jm1:17)
It is the place where our citizenship is (Php3:20)
It is the place we are to store up treasures (Mt6:19ff)
It comes from where our Father dwells (Mt6:9)
Wisdom from above, looks like Christ (1Cor1:24, 30; Col2:3)
24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
And have to add this one, that in Christ we have everything
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The origin of true wisdom, that is from above, is God. To get the wisdom we get through His Word and prayer, any other way is not from God or of God.
Tonight we are looking at
Right thinking
Right thinking proofs
Right thinking results
Right Thinking?
Right Thinking?
Controlling our tongue starts with our thinking, doesn’t it? Right thinking leads to right actions, wrong thinking to wrong actions. Knowing God comes from the Wisdom of God and knowledge of God that leads to the heart of the man to be sold out to God and transformed by God and to have right thinking and right results.
“Knowing God is the necessary means to delight in and enjoying God as the ultimate end of our soul.” - John Piper
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.
Wise wisdom is moral insight and application
Wise wisdom from the Greek describes moral insight and the skill in application in the practical issues of life.True wisdom comes from above (v.17) as we looked at before. It is more than education.
Understanding is intellectual perception
Understanding refers to intellectual perception, insight, comprehension, but it is more than knowledge, isn’t it?
Right thinking that has true wisdom and understanding are shown in good conduct (deeds) that are done in meekness (v.13; Jm3:2; Jm2:18)
2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
Can you see the tie back to this, (3:2)? right thinking, gets right results, so not to stumble by bridling the tongue
18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
It also goes right along with works of faith doesn’t it?
The wisdom from above, the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world operate in different ways. They come from different sources and have different outcomes and operate in different directions.
Contrast in operations (False, worldly wisdom vs. Godly wisdom)
Envious (3:13; Mt6:1-18; Mk9:31-37) vs. pure and peaceable (3:17)
Self-seeking (3:13; Php2:3; Rom12:3) vs. willing to yield (3:17)
Boastful (3:13) vs. without hypocrisy (3:17; 1Cor4:5)
Earthly, sensual, demonic (3:13) vs, is from above (3:17)
Brings confusion (3:16) vs. brings righteousness and peace (3:18)
Worldly wisdom may not always seem bad, but remember we cannot think our way into faith, we cannot work our way into heaven. True wisdom is found in Christ and His Word and when we have that then our deeds will show it. But we must look more at some of these evidences of false wisdom.
ENVY - desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else).
So, selfish ambition and zeal. The world says promote yourself, God says humble yourself and serve others. Even in Christianity we can be envious.
Example of envy in Bible (Mt6:1-18; Mk9:31-37) - Pharisees, even the Apostles
Is our zeal for the Lord spiritual or carnal? Do we rejoice when others succeed, or do we have secret envy and criticism? Do we feel burdened when others fail, or are we glad? Ouch, hard sayings there aren’t they? When the wisdom of the world gets into the church there is a great deal of fleshly promotion and human glorification vs. giving the glory to God.
STRIFE -angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict.
Strife comes from the self-seeking spirit, that creates rivalry and division, in the world and can even bring strife into the church. We need to be careful to watch for it and to counter it.
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
and then look what Paul wrote to the Romans
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Strife is a church killer, may we we be united in spirit always.
BOASTING -exhibiting or characterized by excessive pride or self-satisfaction.
Pride loves to boast, that comes from the wisdom of man, for the wisdom of God is lowly and humble. Boasting promotes man, humility promotes God. Even when we boast of something we may accomplish may we boast that it is only possible because of the Lord and that He get the glory.
Gods work, God’s wisdom is at work when there is a sense of humility and submission and your desire is to give all the glory to God.
DECEIT - the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth
Deceit, which is lying (v.14)
From selfish ambition to envy, that results in vain glory (boasting) usually will involve lies, deceit, deception, mis-truth.
Remember we will be judged not by what man says about us, but what God says about us and what is in our heart.
5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
I know that items are hard to look at, finally we can get to right thinking proofs, or the evidences of true spiritual wisdom that comes from above.
Right Thinking Proofs
Right Thinking Proofs
Right thinking helps us to get direction; right direction gets us to right destination. Right thinking has some proofs. As Christians we should be able to:
Stand confidently - chapter 1
Serve compassionately - chapter 2
Speak carefully - chapter 3
Live showing the evidence of our belief - Jm3:16-18)
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.
God wants us to live to be all He wants us to be, and that is more than we can think or ask. He came to give us life full (Jn10:10; Eph3:20-21) and you can find more of these qualities found in the Beatitudes (Mt5:3-10)
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
and then add to that
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Want to draw some comparisons with the sermon on the mount for the most part from the Beatitudes and a little Romans thrown in for good measure.
First, it is pure (Jm3:17; Mt5:8)
Pure, in other words sacred, holy, and will be evident in how we live. and in Matthew you see that and the results.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Second, it is peaceable (Jm3:17; Mt5:9)
Peaceable, or peace-loving, looking for ways to live and make peace with other people.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Third, it is gentle (Jm3:17; Mt5:5)
This is being considerate, caring, compassionate and fair, it is having concern for other people.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew Arnold says this is “sweet reasonableness” it is moderation without compromise, gentleness without weakness. Does not promote fights or division, but does not compromise the truth.
Forth, it is submissive (Jm3:17; Mt5:3)
submissive, compliant, God makes believers agreeable and easy to live with and easy to work with (for the most part)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Submissive because knows own brokenness, knows own shortfalls
Submissive but still not compromising the truth or own personal convictions (spoken sin in the word, personal sin to you, i.e. cigarettes)
This is the person who is swift to hear, slow to speak (Jm1:19)
When God’s wisdom is at work, there is a willingness to listen, think, pray, and obey what God says.
Maybe in short I should have just submitting to God’s authority and doing this God’s way and doing it for God’s glory.
Fifth, it is merciful (Jm3:17; Jm2:13; Jm2:1; Mt5:7)
This is someone who is full of mercy
13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Showing no favortism
1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
Jesus showed mercy, set an example of mercy so that we may be merciful.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Sixth, it results in good fruit (Jm3:17; Gal5:22-26) Mt5:12)
Wisdom that comes from right thinking will result in good fruit, not just some fruit but full, think about this, are these fruits evident in my life
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
And look at the what Jesus said
12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
While you may suffer in your cultivating right thinking, you are in good company and the pay is out of this world!
Seventh, it is impartial (Jm3:17; Mt7:12)
Impartial, it treats everyone the same regardless, it is being partial to impartiality it is like Jesus said in Mt7:12
12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Eighth, it is sincere (Jm3:17; Rom12:9)
This is sincere, truthful, without hypocrisy. This is a heart matter
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
The results are out of this world, but they are in this world too, for they are for kingdom living now with a heavenly kingdom promised.
Right Thinking Results
Right Thinking Results
Input brings about output, so input matters. You want to cultivate right thinking, cultivate what you allow into your thinking, into your heart which then turns into your actions or reactions.
Wrong input, worldly wisdom produces trouble (Jm3:16)
Wrong thinking produces wrong living.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
Wisdom from above is pure and . . . (Jm3:17)
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
Measure our work, our ministry not on the words of man but by the Word of God.
Right thinking, God’s wisdom produces blessings (Jm3:18)
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Blessings (fruit) will produce more fruit
Seed is sown from the fruit, and creates more more from the seed.
What we are is what we live, what we live is what we sow, and what we sow is what we reap, so sow the right things with wisdom from above.
(encouragement slide- what are you sowing) prayer (exit slide)