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Proverbs 2:9-22
9 Then you
will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.
10 When wisdom
enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11 Discretion
will preserve you; Understanding will keep you,
12 To deliver
you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things,
13 From those
who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who rejoice
in doing evil, And delight in
the perversity of the wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths;
16 To deliver
you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words,
17 Who
forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.
18 For her
house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead;
19 None who go
to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life—
20 So you may
walk in the way of goodness, And keep to
the paths of righteousness.
21 For the
upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth,
And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
Father God, enhance our wisdom when it
comes to discerning right from wrong. Our flesh gets in the way so many times,
help us to heed your voice through the Holy Spirit to always walk on the path
of righteousness. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Book of James 3:10-18 NKJV
Last week’s lesson was all about our
tongues and what damage it can do. Verses 10, 11, and 12 this week conclude
James teaching on our tongue and the rest of the chapter is on Wisdom. James
used several analogies in the damage our tongue can and does do. He likened it
to a little spark in a forest that can destroy the entire forest if that little
flame isn’t controlled. Without control out tongue runs rampant like an
unbridled horse or a ship without someone at the helm. Our tongue can give
praise one minute and curse the next. Out of all the members of our body it is
one of the smallest members, but the most difficult to control due to the fall
of mankind. Hmm, I wonder what kind of conversations Adam and Eve had before
they ate the forbidden fruit compared to afterwards???
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and
cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
We ended last week with
verse nine which stated this; Our tongue sometimes praises our Lord and Father,
and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. This
verse goes hand in hand with verse 9.
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing
and cursing; What
comes out of our mouth often times is contradictory speech. We can say things
that are so kind and pleasing it must please God greatly, but we can also say
horrible things that can hurt someone deeply, or be words of a violent nature.
Two things come to mind as examples; one a person can be the kindest, sweetest,
most compassionate person in public to portray a good person, but at home in
the seclusion of their home be a very uncaring person to their spouse. This
behavior revolves around self centeredness, and what comes out of their mouth
disclosed their true nature. The second thought is what is going on in Baltimore
now with the rioting. By human standards there are many “good” people that are
participating in the riots, but what is coming out of their mouths and their
actions does not portray “good” compared to God’s standards.
So
you see our speech reflects our true identity. If you listen carefully you will
know them by their fruit. We are made in God’s image, but our tongue reveals
our character.
My brethren, these things ought not to
be so; James tells
his listener and us that if we are calling ourselves Christians, then what comes
forth from our heart through our lips should reflect the light of Jesus Christ
not the sin nature from the Devil.
This is why we need to
repent of our sinful lifestyle that is induced by the sin nature and accept
Jesus into our life so that the Holy Spirit can come into our heart to change
us through the process of sanctification. The Holy Spirit purifies the heart
and helps us to have control of what proceeds from the mouth. The speech will
change because the Holy Spirit replaced the sin nature that is in a person’s
heart, although that old nature will still flare up at times. The great Apostle
Paul attested to that in Romans. Romans
7:19-20 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I
will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I
do what I will not to do, it is
no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same
opening?
James
refers to nature as an example for us. If we claim to be Born Again, a true Christian
by heart and not by words, then what come out of our mouth had better be good
and not gossip, slander, guile, deception, covetousness, hate, stealing, lying,
killing, etc. We know that salt water and fresh water cannot come out of the
same spring, therefore we must conduct our lives as a spring, so what type of
water comes out of your mouth?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a
grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
This
example of nature has the same connotation as verse 11. Have you ever thought
about nature and that is produces things of the same nature like; apple trees
produce apples and if the seed is planted it produces an apple tree, other
plant life is the same way. But we are different due to the sin nature because
our character can be good and bad. We are in God’s likeness but have two
natures, divine and sinful. Being born in God’s likeness we need to submit to
Jesus as our Saviour and allow the Holy Spirit to deal with our sinful nature
so that a divine nature will shine forth to all around us and the only way this
can happen is through a Spiritual Birth known as being Born Again John
3:3-7.
13 Who is
wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you; Who is wise? What does wisdom consist
of? Does a person’s behavior reflect their wisdom? Many people, or should I say
most people gain their wisdom from an education system. The wisdom obtained
from education systems is totally different from Godly wisdom. Education
systems teach us worldly things, wants, and desires while God teaches through
the Holy Spirit things of divine nature like obedience, kindness, spiritual
wisdom, loving God with all our heart and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Here again I ask does rioting and destroying innocent people’s property display
love? So who is wise among you? What kind of wisdom do you have worldly or
Godly?
Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom;
A
child of God will be meek and his/her wisdom will be displayed by their actions
and what proceeds from their mouth. True wisdom can be identified by the
knowledge in ones heart just like you can identify a tree by the fruit it
bears. Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness.
When you are around other people do you chime in with a bad conversation, talk
about other people, are you like a fan blowing on a fire, or do you throw water
on the fire of the conversation in order to put it out? The next time you are
with a group of people stop and think about your participation, are you sowing
worldly seeds or Jesus seeds!
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in
your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
But
if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts; Bitter envy (jealousy/ covetousness)
and self-seeking (pride of life/ambition to be better than others) are sin
nature characteristics. They are from the Devil! Jesus tells us to be humble
and meek. Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are
the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Do you have bitter envy and
self-seeking in your heart, if you do, then you have an unholy zeal; a spirit
of ambition and contention against others.
We can be drawn into
worldly wants and desires so fast all of a sudden we stop and think about what
we may be doing or thinking an say to ourselves, how did this happen? This can
happen via society and even sometimes by other Christians that mean well, but
don’t realize what they are doing or promoting. How many times have you heard
people say, “if it feels good or right then go for it, or climb the corporate
ladder, or set your goals high”? Here is another phrase you hear quite often
that can be misinterpreted, “living the dream”. You have to ask yourself what
dream are they living, worldly or Godly. You surely don’t want to take the
worldly path or let someone think you agree with their statement. This is why
we need to seek Godly wisdom, wisdom that will lead us to that Heavenly Kingdom
of God; wisdom that will deliver us from comparing our lifestyle to others;
wisdom that will show us what we need and not what we want.
If a believer doesn’t
understand why and what Jesus did on the Cross for them, whether through
unbelief or ignorance, then they formulate their own strategies to live by.
When this happens they will be passionate in promoting their beliefs, resulting
in practicing plain religion and not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their mind
will close and result in their destruction unless something happens in their
life to draw them to the Cross in repentance. This type of thinking or belief
is induced by the world, and bitter envy and self-seeking is the result
compared to meekness and wisdom found in the Cross.
Do
not boast; Paul even
tells us not to boast in Galatians
6:14 But God forbid that I should
boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world. It
is quite possible that James audience was boasting about being teachers based
on verse one of this chapter and therefore he touches on, “do not boast”.
Boasting as mentioned previously is not something that portrays the light of
Jesus within us. Boasters do not belong to the Kingdom of God.
And lie against the truth; Going back to the first part of this
verse, “if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts”, whether a
proclaimed believer, teacher, or minister then what would be taught could and
most probably be lies about the Gospel because of not understanding the Cross
of Christ. Believing, boasting, and lying about the Gospel is a dangerous thing
for a person’s eternal life.
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
This wisdom does not descend from
above; This wisdom
referred to, is carnal or worldly wisdom. This type of wisdom produces strife
and contentions that leads to self conceit and promotes a person to defend
their opinions at times with heated zeal. We can see this type of wisdom almost
everywhere we look whether in church and state, in neighborhoods and families,
at the bar, in political life, and in theological disputes. When this kind of
wisdom is displayed it isn’t from above. Can you think of times in your life
where you have experienced this earthly wisdom? What actually was driving the
contention; pride, boasting, envy, self seeking…..?
But is earthly; This earthly wisdom is due to the fall
of Adam, therefore is exhibit by mankind who are governed only by worldly views
and principles. This is why we need Jesus in our life!
Sensual; Sensual, meaning wisdom has its origin in our DNA
rather than in our intellectual and moral nature. It takes control of our
natural appetites and propensities, and not of high and spiritual influences.
Demonic; Behavior
that drives contention,
pride, boasting, envy, self seeking is of the Devil.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing
are there.
This
verse is plain and simple, any actions whether in thought or deed if evil
nature, is not from our Heavenly Father.
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.
This
type of wisdom is found in repenting and yielding our lives to Jesus Christ in
all that we do. We as human beings cannot display what this verse states, probably
not even 50% of the time due to the inherited sin nature. We need the blood of
Jesus to cover us so that when the Father looks at us He sees us in His Sons
image, Jesus. It is only through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we
might achieve the attributes list in this verse. These are godly attributes
which true Christians should display. This verse states a lot to think about. A
person could write several pages on what it says.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
by those who make peace.
This
verse presents the law of sowing and reaping. If we believe and live according
to worldly precepts then judgment will be according to worldly ways and the
sentence will be eternal death. Blessed are
the peacemakers, or they shall be called sons of God.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All
things were created through Him and for Him.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Bill
Wiesbrock https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn
The
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church
Sinners
Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!
“Lord Jesus I know I am a
sinner. I confess my sins to you; I am
sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful
lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness. I believe that only you can forgive sin. I commit my life to you and ask you to come
into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life. I believe that you died to set me free from my
sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and right
now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are the Son
of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my Savior.” I believe this and have faith you will make a
new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart and lead
me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”
(John 3:16,17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1
John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom.
1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)
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