Faithful Wisdom

forLife

Mountain Life Church/Life Pack/October 12, 2014

Faithful Wisdom for LifeSermon Notes

October 12, 2014

I. IntroductionA. The Unfolding

1. Wisdom Theme James 1:5-82. Wisdom Again James 1:19-26

B. Context1. Three Themes of James

a) Riches and Poverty James 2:1-26b) Wisdom and Speech James 3:1-4:10c) Trials and Temptations James 4:13-5:18

2. Immediate Contexta) Power of the tongue James 3:1-12b) Wisdom from above James 3:13-18c) Misuse of the tongue James 4:1-10

II. Wisdom in LifeA. Wisdom demonstrated through good conduct -

James 3:13

B. Worldly wisdom - James 3:14-16

C. Godly wisdom - James 3:17-18

III.Worldly Wisdom and the TongueA. Worldly outcome James 4:1-6

B. Submission to God is the answer James 4:7-10

These verses (13-18) show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such wisdom comes not down from above, but springs up from earthly principles, acts on earthly motives, and is intent on serving earthly purposes. Those who are lifted up with such wisdom, described by the apostle James, is near to the Christian love, described by the apostle Paul; and both are so described that every man may fully prove the reality of his attainments in them. It has no disguise or deceit. It cannot fall in with those managements the world counts wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere, and open, and steady, and uniform, and consistent with itself. May the purity, peace, gentleness, teachableness, and mercy shown in all our actions, and the fruits of righteousness abounding in our lives, prove that God has bestowed upon us this excellent gift.

James 4: 1-10: Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. Worldly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. And let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of the heart when prayers are granted When men ask of God prosperity, they often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the things of this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold desires beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the language of lusts than of graces, they will return empty.

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James 3-4By Matthew Henry

We are taught to dread an unruly tongue, as one of the greatest evils. The affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of men. Every age of the world, and every condition of life, private or public, affords examples of this. Hell has more to do in promoting the fire of the tongue than men generally think; and whenever men's tongues are employed in sinful ways, they are set on fire of hell. No man can tame the tongue without Divine grace and assistance. The apostle does not represent it as impossible, but as extremely difficult. Other sins decay with age, this many times gets worse; we grow more froward and fretful, as natural strength decays, and the days come on in which we have no pleasure.

When other sins are tamed and subdued by the infirmities of age, the spirit often grows more tart, nature being drawn down to the dregs, and the words used become more passionate. That man's tongue confutes itself, which at one time pretends to adore the perfections of God, and to refer all things to him; and at another time condemns even good men, if they do not use the same words and expressions. True religion will not admit of contradictions: how many sins would be prevented, if men would always be consistent! Pious and edifying language is the genuine produce of a sanctified heart; and none who understand Christianity, expect to hear curses, lies, boastings, and reviling from a true believer's mouth, any more than they look for the fruit of one tree from another. But facts prove that more professors succeed in bridling their senses and appetites, than in duly restraining their tongues. Then, depending on Divine grace, let us take heed to bless and curse not; and let us aim to be consistent in our words and actions.

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IV.And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtorsA. Acknowledge my sin and thank God for forgiving me

through Jesus’ sacrifice on the crossB. Forgive and release others for their sins against me

1. Acknowledge that someone sinned against me and hurt me

2. Give the memory of the violation to God3. Cut them loose from all debt they owe me4. Acknowledge that bitterness has NO HOLD on me5. Lavish love on them and pray for God to bless them

V. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evilA. Put on the whole armor of God (Put on the Lord Jesus Christ)

1. The belt of truth (Mentally accept God’s truth over lies I have been hearing)

2. Breastplate of righteousness (Thank Jesus for giving me His righteousness which enables me to boldly enter His presence)

3. Shoes of preparation (readiness) of the Gospel of peace (Take time to digest the scriptures - committing them to memory)

4. Shield of faith (Step out on God’s truth for my situation)5. Helmet of salvation (Thank God that He has saved me

and remember that I am different than the world. Satan has no power over me except the power I give him by believing lies.)

6. Sword of the Spirit (Apply the Word to the lies I hear, and the situations I find myself in today.)

B. Run to the Lord for protection (You are my refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust!)1. I set my mind on things above, not on things of the earth2. God has set His love upon me3. He knows my name and will never leave me or forsake

meVI.For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the

glory foreverA. Make your faith declarationsB. Return to praise

This outline inspired by Henry Blackaby & Larry Lea

Life Group Questions for October 12, 2014

Message = Faithful Wisdom for Life

Ice  Breaker:    Tell  about  a  funny  misunderstanding  you’ve  had  with  your  spouse  or  children.

Read  James  3:  13-­‐‑4:  10.

1. What  stands  out  to  you  about  this  passage?

2. Many  times,  we  look  at  the  early  church  as  close  to  perfect.    What  does  James  4:  1-­‐‑10  tell  you  about  the  early  church?

3. Define  the  two  kinds  of  wisdom  in  your  own  words.  Tell  in  your  own  words  what  the  fruits  of  the  two  wisdoms  are  as  well.

4. Besides  conflicts  based  on  misunderstanding,  do  you  think  most  conflicts  have  at  least  a  liJle  earthly  wisdom  involved?    Please  explain.  

5. What  is  something  for  which  you  need  Godly  wisdom?  

6. How  can  you  apply  the  definition  of  these  two  kinds  of  wisdom  to  the  things  you  are  praying  for  at  this  time?

7. Pray  for  one  another.

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Prayer Guide

I. Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your NameA. Picture Calvary and thank God you can call Him

Father by virtue of the blood of JesusB. Hallow (lift Him above everything in your life) the

names of God corresponding with the five benefits in the New Covenant and make your faith declarations

II. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done (God, what are you doing? How can I (others) get in on what You are doing?)A. Myself

• Give me awareness of how to meet others’ needs today• I choose to take the initiative to love others

B. My family (spouse, children, other family members)

C. My church (pastor, other leadership, faithfulness of people, the harvest)

D. My nation (city, state, and national political and spiritual leaders, the harvest)

III.Give us this day our daily breadA. Believe that God desires to provide for meB. Be specificC. Be tenaciousD. Talk openly about my worries and give them to HimE. Today’s needs - Tomorrow will care for itself

This outline inspired by Henry Blackaby & Larry Lea516

Personal Devotion PagesThe following pages are designed to help you enjoy a regular time alone with God. We have divided up the curriculum to help us grow wherever we are at in our relationship with God and in our knowledge of His Kingdom.

LEVELS: Since we are a Colorado church, we use skiing imagery to communicate the different levels of intensity and time involved in relating to God.

BEGINNER: If you are new in your relationship with God, we encourage you to try the exercises under this symbol:

INTERMEDIATE: If you have walked with God for some time and would like a little more challenge and more time involvement, try the exercises under this symbol:

ADVANCED: These exercises are for people who have walked with God for some time and display maturity in their relationship with Him.

These exercises provide a practical way to encounter God and His truth on a regular basis. There are no rules here. Please don’t hurry through the process. Slow meditation and memorization seems to soak in better than cramming.

Enjoy!

Benefit Sanctify

Spirit

Soundness

Success

Security

NameJehovah-TsidkenuJehovah-M’Kaddesh

Jehovah-ShalomJehovah-Shammah

Jehovah-Rophe

Jehovah-Jireh

Jehovah-NissiJehovah-Rohi

MeaningJehovah our righteousnessJehovah who sanctifies

Jehovah is peaceJehovah is there

Jehovah heals

Jehovah provides

Jehovah my bannerJehovah my shepherd

Day One1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.

2. Slowly  read  James  3:  13-­‐‑4:  10.

3. Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  show  you  any  selfish,  greedy,  or  jealous  motivations  within  your  heart.

Memorize  James  3:  17.    Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  give  you  insight  into  the  meaning  of  this  verse.

Memorize  James  3:  16-­‐‑17.  Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  give  you  insight  into  the  meaning  of  these  verses.

Memorize  James  3:  13-­‐‑18.  Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  give  you  insight  into  the  meaning  of  these  verses.

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What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn’t it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it.

~James 4:1, 2, NLT

We thought we Americans were the only people who dealt with greed, jealousy, and covetousness! It looks like the early Jewish believers dealt with these vices as well. When we think of returning to the ideals of the early church, we must understand that there were all the common problems of today’s church in the first century assembly as well.

James now addresses the audience with some of the strongest language in the New Testament. After defining the two kinds of wisdom, both earthly and divine, he points the finger at his audience telling them that they are guilty of practicing earthly wisdom. Such wisdom is born of selfishness and greed, bringing about a harvest of conflict and confusion.

For James, such behavior and heart motive does not represent kingdom citizenry in a positive light. Children of light are not exempt from such attitudes, but they have been freed through the blood of Jesus to walk at a level way above such abased motivation.

Father, show me all materialistic greed, selfishness, jealousy, and evil motivation within my life. I want to lay all of this at Your feet today.

Day Five

Day Five1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.  

2. Meditate  (ruminate  on  it,  ask  questions  of  it,  think  about  it)  on  James  3:  16-­‐‑17.

3. Take  time  to  pray  for  God  to  show  you  what  He  is  doing  today  and  ask  Him  how  you  can  get  in  on  what  He  is  doing.  

4. Finish  your  Bible  memorization  today.

Day OneBut if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.

~James 3:14-16, NLT

James, the half brother of Jesus, and the author of this letter with his name on it, is a practical, straight-forward kind of guy. He doesn’t pull any punches - which is kind of like his half brother and master, Jesus.

James writes to religious folk. These Jewish believers cling tenaciously to the Messiah, Jesus, and are passionate about their culture, their history, and their law. Law based believers are tough to deal with because they think they need to earn everything in the kingdom. They struggle to receive grace for themselves, resulting in a failure to give grace to others.

James wants his readers to understand that there are two kinds of wisdom on this earth. One wisdom bears good fruit, and the other, bad fruit. They have sadly pursued the wisdom that produces bad, rotten fruit.

In order to truly apprehend James’ teaching, one must be introspective. Such introspection will require an objective and honest heart that refuses to defend sin and selfish motives. Sadly, most of us would rather defend our selfishness rather than confess and forsake it.

Father, help me to be brutally honest with you about the motives of my heart.

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Day Two1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.  

2. Slowly  and  carefully  read  all  of  James  3  and  4  today.

3. Ask  the  Lord  to  remind  you  of  how  you  made  a  wise  decision  lately  that  bore  good  fruit  as  in  James  3:  17.

4. Pray  for  your  loved  ones  and  family.    Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  give  you  specific  requests  for  each  one.

5. Continue  memorizing  and  meditating  on  the  scriptures  for  this  week.

Day FourBut the wisdom that comes from heaven 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 good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

~James 3:17, 18, NLT

The two kinds of wisdom portrayed for us by James have immeasurable value. Whenever I think I’ve heard from the Lord, I can put what I’ve heard next to this description and determine if it was the Lord speaking to me, or if it was someone else! What God says to me will always produce good fruit, will be pure, loving, selfless, and gentle. His words will always bring a harvest of goodness. Typically, the peace of God will come quickly to me when I have stepped out on something He has directed me to do.

On the other hand, if I have made a decision that is NOT led by the Holy Spirit, there will be disagreement, no peace, and all sorts of confusion. Remember, God is NOT the author of confusion.

James 3 can be used as a standard for any wisdom I hear from others. I must hide this passage within my heart so that I am quickly able to judge the fruit of what I’ve heard. Once it is safely hidden within my heart, discernment and wisdom will quickly come to us as we hear others give their opinions.

Father, as I meditate on this passage, instill discernment within me based on the fruits of wisdom.

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Day TwoBut if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.

~James 3:14-16, NLT

Basically, earthly wisdom causes bitter conflict. It’s the root of jealous fights and every kind of evil. When I find myself in the midst of conflict, disorder, and all sorts of yucky feelings, I need to examine my fruit. That fruit points to a sick tree. I need to be cleansed by confession and repentance. My tendency is to point at others and defend myself. James recommends we look first to the fellow on the other end of the pointing hand - myself.

This requires maturity and objectivity, something that comes from daily walking honestly with Jesus. It comes from taking time to look daily at His word and letting it convict us of our selfish attitudes. James says it like this, So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls (James 1: 21).

Sometimes, our denial is so strong that even the Word cannot break through our wall of pride. So, God allows miserable conflicts to arise between us and the people we love the most. God, through James, tells us that we can use those very conflicts to tell us that we are not allowing God’s word to transform us into peace loving children of light.

Father, I lay my recent conflicts before You. Through those fights, will You please show me my foolish and evil ways of thinking?

Day Four1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.    

2. Read  slowly  through  James  3:  13-­‐‑4:  10.

3. Take  time  to  thank  God  for  things  you  are  praying  for  -­‐‑  believing  in  advance  that  He  will  provide  an  answer.

4. Continue  meditating  on  and  memorizing  the  scripture  for  this  week.

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Day Three Day Three1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.    

2. Slowly  read  over  James  3:  13-­‐‑18.  Read  it  over  and  over  5  times.

3. Bring  at  least  three  friends  or  loved  ones  to  the  Lord  and  ask  Him  to  bring  them  to  repentance  and  faith.    Ask  Him  to  show  you  how  you  can  boldly  love  them  and  speak  the  words  of  Jesus  into  their  lives.      

 4. Continue  meditating  on  and  memorizing  the  scripture  for  this  

week.

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But the wisdom that comes from heaven 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 good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere.

~James 3:17, NLT

The wisdom from God is, first of all, pure. That means it’s not tainted with selfishness. It’s full of peace, gentleness, and a willingness to yield to others. Yielding to others is the art of seeking to understand. It means, God may have something for me in the message this other person is giving me! It also implies that I am not always right.

For some of us, reading this passage supports what we do naturally. However, some of us love peace at all costs. We even accept false peace. False peace is choosing to lay down truth and justice in favor of having the semblance of no conflict. It’s when I accept blame, when I’m clearly not to blame, in order to stop an argument. False peace is when I remain silent, even though I’m seething inside!

James is NOT referring to this kind of false peace. He is specifically referring to our heart attitude. We can stand up for ourselves and still yield to others! We can be gentle and still stand up for truth and what is right. We do this by seeking first to understand the other person’s perspective. Once I have strived to understand them, they will feel loved and accepted, and they will then seek to understand me.

Remember, this kind of wisdom is first of all pure. That means I must lay down all motives of retribution, punishment, and vengeance. I must come to a conflict with a desire to understand the other person with a kind, gentle attitude that actually has a backbone.

Father, teach me about pure wisdom from above.

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