April 26, 2009
Sermon #781
True Wisdom
Introduction: There are two kinds of wisdom. True and False. James, half brother of Jesus and Pastor to the Jerusalem church has defined the difference in the 3rd Chapter of his little letter to the Church. I believe it is the greatest work written on the subject. Today I would like to break it down for you because it has great relevance to our lives.
James 3:1 - 18 (NKJV) 1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17But 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. 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
The Teacher’s Peril
James 3:1 (NKJV) 1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Teachers are of first rate importance
Acts 13:1 - 3 (NKJV) 1Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
The teachers are included with the prophets and “Saul” was a teacher before being an Apostle.
1 Corinthians 12:27 - 31 (NKJV) 27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Some try to teach before they know anything
1 Timothy 1:5 - 7 (NKJV) 5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
ILL: I am constantly amazed by people who having no education in the Bible, nor any experience who attempt to argue religion with me.
No profession is more liable to beget spiritual and intellectual pride
ILL: The problem is that we are not to teach our own opinions or prejudices but what does the Word say in it’s context.
The Comdemnation does not come from Christ but from other Christians.
ILL: It would be foolish for me to pay for a course of instruction and believe that I know more than the instructor who has sold a million books.
The universal danger
James 3:2 (NKJV) 2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body
There is no one in the world that does not sin about something
Romans 3:10 - 18 (NKJV) 10As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13“Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15“Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17And the way of peace they have not known.” 18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
1 John 1:8 - 10 (NKJV) 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
ILL: The woman who challenged me after church and was angry because I pointed out that she still sinned. Did not know she was proving my point. While the Holy Spirit in us cannot sin the flesh can.
There is no sin in which it is easer to fall or more dangerous than the tongue.
Matthew 7:1 - 5 (NKJV) 1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
ILL: Two problems with judging others:
You take the place of God
You do not have the entire picture
Matthew 12:36 - 37 (NKJV) 36But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Proverbs 15:1 - 4 (NKJV) 1A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
The Destructive fire of gossip
James 3:5 - 6 (NKJV) 5Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
It is far ranging
Psalm 73:8 - 9 (NKJV) 8They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. 9They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth.
It is impossible to stop
“Three things come not back – the spent arrow, the spoken word, the lost opportunity.”
The same mouth that blesses you will curse you
James 3:9 - 12 (NKJV) 9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Matthew 26:33 (NKJV) 33Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
Matthew 26:69 - 74 (NKJV) 69Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” 70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” 71And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” 73And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” 74Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.
1 John 4:7 - 11 (NKJV) 7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Luke 9:51 - 56 (NKJV) 51Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” 55But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.
Same John!
One who should never instruct the church
James 3:13 - 16 (NKJV) 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
Fanatical – Holding their own truth without unbalanced violence
It is Bitter – Regards those who disagree as enemies to be annihilated
It is Arrogant – pride in their knowledge rather than in humility in their ignorance
Conclusion: How to recognize false wisdom.
James 3:17 - 18 (NKJV) 17But 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. 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
It’s goal is worldly
It creates disorder, it drives people apart
True Wisdom.
Always is filled with peace and mercy
“A group, A Church, where men are in bitterness and strife is a barren and sterile soil in which the seeds of righteousness can never grow. The man who disturbs personal relationships, the man who is responsible for strife and bitterness has cut himself off from the reward which God gives to those who live His life. Without right relationships between man and man righteousness cannot exist, and all of man’s striving for righteousness is rendered ineffective.” William Barclay – Trinity College 1960
