Welcome to Waymaker Church! We are so excited to have you join us today! We exist to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom of God!

As we continue this morning in our series Faith in Real Life. I want to briefly recap the main principles we have learned so far in the book of James.

• We have looked at how spiritual maturity is developed through patience and perseverance in trial.

• We have looked at how the sum total of our faith is not merely looking for a better tomorrow but living with the understanding that one day we will see him face to face. We must become doers of the word and not hearers only.

• We have learned that to avoid favoritism and express genuine faith we must walk in love without partiality.

• We also looked at how faith was never intended to be lifeless. The inward work of the Holy Spirit and the kingdom of God is seen outwardly in our actions that produce spiritual fruit.

• Last week, we looked at the untamable tongue. Like a bit in the horse’s mouth or a rudder on a ship, the tongue sets the course of our life. James stressed that no man can tame the tongue, but as we discovered the Holy Spirit can. Submission to the Lord is paramount to mastery over the tongue.

In today’s message, we are going to see that James gives further insight into the root source of the issues we have studied.

Remember that James is addressing the early church in his writing. You can certainly see underlying issues he is correcting. Double-mindedness has led to immaturity and deception. The outward effects are a lack of patient perseverance, no evident faith displayed through action, showing favoritism, and unrestrained speech.

In this portion of scripture, James dives deeper into the root issue of these outward displays. The subtitle of this section reveals the root: Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom.

The primary issue of life is the source of wisdom that we draw from.

James is addressing the fact that the early church is pulling from the wrong source.

The question introducing this section— Who is wise and understanding among you? is in fact a challenge. Essentially, if you claim to be wise, demonstrate your wisdom in the works that true wisdom produces.

They prided themselves on having wisdom and understanding when in reality James is demonstrating that they are lacking and in deception.
James aims to instruct them by contrasting the two types of wisdom.

1. Earthly Carnal Wisdom.
This wisdom finds it origination in tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and it is characterized by envy and selfish ambition. Adam and Eve saw the goodness of God and desired it. Through selfish ambition they sought to find a way in their own strength to accomplish what only God give them.

The outflow of their decision plunged the rest of humanity into sin. Sin is rooted in earthly wisdom because it is void of any divine seed. The seed of God’s word not planted and cultivated in our lives leads to the spiritual pollution of our actions, speech, and mind.

James describes this alternate wisdom as earthly, sensual, and demonic. At its core this type of wisdom is limited, finite, and fallen. It is rooted in the same spirit of rebellion towards God that Lucifer carried.

James 3:14–15 “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.”

This wisdom is outwardly seen through bitterness resulting in animosity and hostility towards one another. It is seen in jealousy by greedily or pridefully longing for something that belongs to another. A hallmark of carnal wisdom is selfish ambition which is characterized by a strong drive for personal success at all costs without moral restraint. It is rooted in a prideful spirit of competition.

James 3:16 “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

The result of envy and self-seeking is confusion and every evil work. The Greek word used for rebellion denotes disorderly insurrection with violence, while evil speaks of not adhering to any ethical or moral principles.

The following definition of wisdom from above reveals the opposite nature of carnal wisdom. James 3:17 “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.”

Carnal wisdom is polluted, disorderly, unyielding, without mercy or good fruit, full of partiality, and hypocrisy.

2. Wisdom from above.
We understand from previous studies that wisdom originates from God.
Proverbs 2:6–7 “For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;”

James says, James 3:17–18 “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.”

As we look at wisdom from above remember that James is addressing the church. The carnal source of wisdom they were operating in was not of God. It had shifted their attitude and disposition toward others. Their selfish ambition had resulted in boasting, confusion, disordered relationships, backbiting and strife.

Divine wisdom from above is hallmarked by meekness and yields peaceful relationships. When it comes to relationships a key to right talk and action is right thought. Wisdom from above keeps the lock on the cage of the untamable tongue.

Let’s look at the characteristics of wisdom from above.

1. It is first pure. Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”

The wisdom of God is pure because His word and promises are tested, tried, and proven to be true. In the original Hebrew, the term translated as “pure” means “proven to be true or trustworthy, flawless.”

2. It is peaceable. Godly wisdom is peaceable or peace-loving, putting a high value on easing conflict. Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”

Those who walk in carnal wisdom are readily looking for a fight to defend their way. Conflict is the norm when selfish ambition is the primary driver of life. When someone gets in the way of what I want, conflict is the result.

3. It is gentle or considerate, not ready to fight, but ready to serve. There is a meekness that arises from godly wisdom.
Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;”

Remember, meekness is not weakness, but power under control. The essence of control in godly wisdom is knowing that you were or are just a guilty and in need before God as the next person.

4. It is willing to yield. Godly wisdom is reasonable or submissive, ready to see things from another point of view and do it someone else's way. This speaks of humility. Pride puffs up, needing its own way when in reality, there are often many ways to accomplish the same things in life.

The wisdom of God knows when to stand firm and when to submit. Inability to yield often comes down to misplaced identity. If your identity is rooted in what you do, or you place high priority on having what you do valued by others you will struggle with humility and submissiveness.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”

5. It is merciful and full of good fruits. Mercy shows compassion through kind actions and forgiveness toward someone when it is within one’s power to punish or harm. Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”

When we lack mercy, we hold grudges against people not letting their mistakes go. We can even end up using their mistakes as leverage against them when they have asked for forgiveness. This is earthly wisdom because the aim is who will come out on top? Who will be superior in the end? That is not what Jesus called us to.

6. It is without partiality and hypocrisy. Matthew 18:21-35.
Like the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18 stresses the potential hypocrisy of the Christian life in that we are forgiven of much, and yet potentially unwilling to forgive. Once again, this wisdom does not come from above.

What are we to do with the revelation of James?

Repent of any selfish ambition and forsake the wisdom of this world, and in turn seek the wisdom that is from above.

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Walk in the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Read the word and pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the wisdom of God to you as you read the word.

John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

1 Corinthians 2:16, “For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

Mediate on the word. Psalm 119:15–16 “I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”

Be led by the Spirit, putting into practice what He has revealed to you.