Knowing True Wisdom and False Wisdom

STUDY: # 1013-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: JANUARY 8 @ 14, 2019

TOPIC: Knowing True Wisdom and False Wisdom James 3:13-18 It is very important to know the difference between true and false wisdom. We cannot mistake wisdom with the amount of knowledge we have. Wisdom involves the way a person lives; it is how you live your everyday life. Many speak as if they were wise, but their life says and shouts otherwise. It is not the amount of knowledge a person possesses (possessing), but how they apply it to themselves. A wise person manifests the life of Christ; letting everyone see his/her fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23). The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance! Man possesses human wisdom (mundane), acting according to the principles of this world. His conduct gives no evidence of a DIVINE LIFE within him, unless he has converted and consecrated to the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. He who is wise and understanding shows it through his good conduct ("Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in THE MEEKNESS OF WISDOM." Vs.13).

A. The humble spirit comes from wisdom. (Matthew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls...").

1. Jesus had true wisdom.

2. A wise man is not arrogant. He is not proud. He is meek and has a humble heart.

3. If you are truly wise, you will have the mark of genuine humility!

4. The wise are meek = person who does not attack or act aggressively; they are quiet.

5. How a person lives!

6. (Vs.14) MUNDANE WISDOM is compromised with bitter jealousy. It is selfish and has an ambitious heart (The heart is where all evil comes from). A selfish person has an excessive love for himself. He lives centered in His own interest and does not care about others. (Poor thing, his soul will burn in hell!) An ambitious person seeks to conquer something difficult, harming anyone.

7. His passion in life is to promote his own interests; look for what is going to make him stand out.

8. He is jealous of competitors, and is cruel to them. He can be bitterly jealous of others.

9. He is proud of his worldly wisdom.

10. However, this is not wisdom at all. True wisdom is evident in the practice of the truth that says: a truly wise man is truly humble!

11. (Vs.15 "This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.")

12. A leadership in the church composed of the wise men of this world would be a great danger to the church!

13. False earthly, natural, or sensual and demonic wisdom is contrary to that of the Holy Spirit.

14. We must remain constantly on guard against allowing worldly principles guide us in spiritual matters.

15. There is a progression (moving forward or going on) intentionally downwards (no longer from heaven) in these three qualities: a) Earthly: a wisdom that is not from

heaven, but from this earth. b) unspiritual (natural, or sensual): it is not the fruit of the Holy Spirit, but of the lower nature of man. c) demonic: with actions that are more similar to the behavior of demons than to that of men.

16. (Vs.16) It involves jealousy and greed, quarrels and rivalry = enemies that compete with each other. In this false wisdom you will also find disturbance (altering order or stillness), disagreement (lack of agreement) and any other perverse work (work of conscious evil that enjoys it).

17. (Vs.17) WISDOM THAT COMES FROM GOD is first PURE in thought, word and in action. It is clean. It is PEACEFUL: a wise person loves peace and will do everything in his power to maintain peace without "sacrificing purity." It is KIND: it accommodates someone’s taste or will out of kindness. It is not overwhelming (it does not overpower, does not worry others too much); it is courteous and considerate. It is BENIGN: it is compassionate, serene, conciliatory, willing to listen, to reason, willing to give in when the truth demands it.

18. Wisdom from above is FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS.

19. It is full of mercy for those who are in sin and anxious to help them find the right path.

20. True wisdom is NOT HYPOCRITICAL: it is sincere and genuine. It does not pretend to be anything other than what it really is.

21. It does not live for the body, but for the spirit!

22. (Vs.18) "And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

23. True wisdom loves peace.

24. The wise peacemaker has an atmosphere of peace, and harvests justice.

25. It's like a farmer who wants a harvest of justice.

26. Can this be achieved in an atmosphere of fights and altercations? No! Planting must take place under conditions of peace. It has to be done by those who are of a peaceful disposition!

27. There will be a harvest of righteousness in their own lives and in the lives of those they minister to.

28. To know if you have the wisdom of God in you, you must ask yourself: Do I serve the Lord without worrying about who gets the credit for it or sometimes use dubious means to get good results?

29. Am I guilty of flattering myself to influence people?

30. Do I get jealous and have resentment in my heart?

31. Do I resort to sarcasm and disgruntled remarks?

32. Am I pure in my thinking, in my way of speaking, in my morality?

33. If I am wise, it will be evident in my good behavior! Let's show true wisdom and not the false one! Amen.