Christian Free-Lutheran Church -- Sermons and Services -- James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18
Pastor Eric Swenson
Christian Free Lutheran Church Wheatland, IA

June 6, 2010

Where Does Your Wisdom Come From?

I. What is the origin of your wisdom?
  A. False Wisdom comes from man
    Tower of Babel Genesis 11:1-9
    Abraham to Egypt Genesis 12:10-20
    Disciples went to send the crowed a way John 6:1-14
    1. False wisdom comes from World, earthly vs. 15
      1 Corinthians 1:18-21; For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is he power of God. For it is written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” 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? 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.
    2. False wisdom comes from the Flesh, natural
      1 Corinthians 2:14; 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.
      Ephesians 2:3; Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
    3. False wisdom comes from the Devil, demonic
      Eve deceived by Satan Genesis 3
  B. True Wisdom comes from God vs. 17
    1. From above
      James 1:17; every good things comes from above
      John 14:1-6 Believer’s home is in heaven
      Colossians 3:1-4; Set you mind on the things above
    2. From Jesus Christ
      Colossians 2:1-3; In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
      1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Christ became to us wisdom from God
    3. From the Word of God
      Ephesians 1:17; Revelation in the knowledge of Him
      2 Timothy 3:15; Sacred writing which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus
      James 1:5; Ask God for Wisdom

II. What type of operation does your wisdom reveal?
  A. Evidence of False Wisdom
    1. Envy, Selfish ambition and Jealousy vs.14
      Mark 10:35-45, Apostle argued as to how was the best
      1 Corinthians 1:17; Zealous for the things of God
    Philippians 2:3; Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves
    2. Boasting, Arrogant
      Matthew 6:1-3; “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that men may honor them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
      1 John 2:16; For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
    3. Deceit, Lie against the truth
  B. Evidence of spiritual wisdom vs. 13.17
    1. Pure; not mixed with any other substance
    2. Peaceable,
    3. Gentleness
    4. Reasonable
      James 1:19; quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger
    5. Mercy
      Luke 6:36; “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
      Luke 10:25-37; The Good Samaritan
    6. Good Fruits
      John 15:1-16; Abiding in the vine of Christ to produce good fruits
    7. Unwavering
      James 1:6, 8; without doubting, or double minded
    8. Sincerity, without hypocrisy
      1 Corinthians 2:12-13; Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words

III. What will be your outcome?
  A. Worldly wisdom produces trouble vs. 16
    1. Disorder, comes from instability
      James 1:8; 3:8
    2. Every evil work, worthless, of no account
      1 Corinthians 3:12
  B. God’s wisdom produces peace vs. 18