3 Principles For Growing In Life

Secular -

Historical/Cultural Context -

The book of James was written by the half-brother of Jesus. The Son of Joseph and Mary. Written in the early 40s. He wrote to primarily Jews who were Christians, as at this time it was so early in the spread of Christianity that it had not been widely adopted by non-jews, also known as Gentiles. James encouraged his readers to live consistent Christian lives in the midst of persecution for their faith in Christ.

Biblical Text -

James 3:13–18 NKJV

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - To Live A Truly God Honoring Life You must Seek Godly Wisdom, Get Rid Of Selfishness, And Be A Peacemaker.

Life Point- Seek Godly Wisdom

Exegetical -

James 3:13–14 NKJV

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

James 3:13–14 NLT

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.

Homiletical -

After what James had just written he speaks on wisdom. James is not changing directions here, rather it is a natural flow from what came before.

We have just talked about the Tongue and how it can lead us. Now we are talking about our wisdom in speech with flows to our actions.

How many people will step up and say that they are wise? Not Many.

Why? Because we all have this image of an old white guy with a long beard living in seclusion on a high mountain as a wise man. Or maybe some guy who lives in india in a small village in monks robes constantly meditating, right?

That is not what this is talking about.

The greek word here can be translated as prudent, understanding, and wise.

I do not understand everything. Neither do you.

I am not a mechanic. I know just enough about cars to break one, and possibly get on youtube to try to figure out how to replace a part and then when I mess it up, I call a mechanic who has the understanding, or wisdom, of how this stuff works.

Wisdom is about understanding and then taking that knowledge and putting it into practice.

James 3:13 NLT

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

“If you are wise.” In other words, if you think you have understanding of God’s word and how moral and ethical decisions should be made, go ahead and prove that to us. How? By carrying out what you think you know.

If I am having trouble with my marriage, I am not going to go to the newly weds.

If I am having trouble with my computer, I am not going to the carpenter.

If I have brain cancer that needs removed, I am not going to the tax accountant.

Why? Because they are not wise in the area I need wisdom!

So when I look at people’s lives and how they apply God’s Word. I am not going to anyone outside the faith, anyone who is a novice in the Word or anyone whose life doesn’t line up with God’s Word.

Am I looking for someone who is perfect? No! Because there isn’t anyone who is perfect!

I am looking for the one who seems to be walking pretty close to the Lord.

Is that always the pastor or deacons? No.

It should be, but it isn’t

I have seen some deacons who I wouldn’t trust to watch my food for 5 minutes and don’t understand how they are deacons.

I have seen pastors who were so hypocritical, it scares me.

I heard of a pastor right here in lake county that didn’t just cheat on his wife, but moved the girlfriend into the parsonage unmarried! You know what the saddest part was? The church was OK with it!

That is not a pastor. He is a guy filling a pulpit. He has disqualified himself from ever being a pastor again.

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NLT

This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.

The last phrase in verse 13 is “by doing good works done in humility.”

humility is also translated as meekness.

We said a couple of weeks ago that meekness is not weakness, but power under control.

Romans 12:3 NKJV

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

I have met people who think of themselves way more highly than they should. I have also met people that think of themselves much lower than they should.

How do we make sure that our works, our good deeds are done in meekness and God’s wisdom?

The answer is simple, carrying it out is another matter.

Prayer & study of the Word of God.

John 6:35 NLT

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

This is a promise, so how do we do that. Check out these verses.

First of all Jesus is the word

John 1:1–5 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:14–18 NLT

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ ” From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

We are supposed to be studying the Word

Ephesians 5:26–27 NLT

to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

We are supposed to be in constant prayer

Matthew 7:7–8 NLT

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

So what could stop us from receiving God’s Wisdom. What could possibly get us into a perverse understanding of things?

James 3:14 NKJV

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

If you say that you have understanding of how to live life, of how to do things, but you have bitter envy toward someone then you don’t have God’s wisdom. If you say, “How come God has blessed this person and not me?” In your heart; or if you are envious to the point of bitterness of someone, then you you don’t have God’s Wisdom.

If your actions are self-seeking, self-server and all about you. Then you don’t have God’s wisdom in your life and your actions. You have something twisted in you and you need to repent.

Often times people in this condition may not even know it. You need to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you. If you do, be ready for some harsh truth. But it is better too repent then be a boaster and lier against the truth.

The truth you are not what you claim to be, that you are perverse in your thinking and even in your so-called “good works.”

If this is you, then repent! Turn away from the sin and ask God to cleanse you, and then do works worthy of repentance as was told to the early believers.

Acts 26:20 CSB

Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.

Life Point - Get Rid Of Selfishness

Exegetical -

James 3:15–16 NKJV

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

James 3:15–16 NLT

For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Homiletical -

The wisdom that becomes perverse in a person’s heart does not come from God but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

In America today we have a lot of preachers who think they are right, yet teach and preach heresy. A good example is the name-it-claim-it gospel, which is no gospel at all. It is about selfishness and what can I get. This is why it is so popular today with people. It appeals to flesh, the sin nature that is in us all.

The sin nature must be resisted. It must be submitted to God The Holy Spirit.

How do we do this?

It goes back to prayer and study.

It goes to crucifying the flesh and its’ desires.

Matthew 16:24 NKJV

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Romans 6:6 NKJV

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Galatians 5:24 NKJV

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Ephesians 4:22 NKJV

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

Colossians 3:5 NKJV

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

James 3:16 NLT

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Jealousy, envy, selfishness, confusion, disorder, chaos these are all works and results of walking in things that are contrary to God and His will for us. These kinds of things must not be allowed to happen. They must be put away from us.

Galatians 5:16–26 NLT

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Illustration -

Speaking of self-seeking and selfishness, here’s a story for you.

At two in the morning, the phone rang at the governor's mansion. An aide found himself talking to a local attorney, who insisted that he must speak to the governor immediately.

Despite pleas to postpone his call until morning, the attorney insisted that the call was over a matter of utmost urgency, and that he could not wait. Eventually, the aide reluctantly decided to wake up the governor.

"So, what is it?" grumbled the governor.

"Judge Cassidy just died," announced the attorney, "and I want to take his place."

The Governor shot back, "It's okay with me if it's okay with the undertaker."

Life Point - Be A Peacemaker

Exegetical -

James 3:17–18 NKJV

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:17–18 NLT

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Homiletical -

There is a contrast between earthly selfish wisdom and pure wisdom. Look at list and you will find that is a lot like the fruit of the Spirit.

It is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, and the fruit of good deeds. It does not have favoritism and is always sincere.

These are the things that come from God.

We can only receive this wisdom by submitting to God and letting the fruit of the Spirit grow to fullness within our thoughts, speech, and actions. When we start making God’s kind of decisions, then we will find there will be peace in our thoughts, our speech, and our actions.

Proverbs 12:20 NLT

Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

Proverbs 14:30 NKJV

A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.

I don’t know about you, but I would rather have peace on the inside of me while the world rages outside of me than to be apart of the rage around me.

We find that peacemakers were talked about by Jesus in the Be-Attitudes.

Matthew 5:1–12 NKJV

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You cannot have these attitudes in you apart from Christ. These attitudes, like the fruit of the Spirit, are produced by our close walk with Christ. By our submission to the Word of God and our willingness to do things they way Christ says to do things.

If you want to be a peacemaker and walk in peace, if you’re a Christian, then you have to put to death the flesh and submit to God in your thoughts, speech and actions.

Life Principle– To Live A Truly God Honoring Life You must Seek Godly Wisdom, Get Rid Of Selfishness, And Be A Peacemaker.

Call to Action – altar call….