A Message by Student Pastor Scott Hamilton

Given to Green Ridge Baptist Church

December 27, 2009

Godly Vs. Wordly Wisdom

James 3:13-18, 4:13-17

Central Theme: “We need to follow Godly wisdom every day.”

Objective: Every believer should follow Godly wisdom.

Opening:

I work with computers at Northside Middle School and recently a teacher was not able to synch, print, or do internet. She said that she needed immediate help. I knew the problem, so I went and fixed it. Two days later, a whole lab did not work. This problem was beyond my resources so I called Greg Sutphin.

We need to understand where to go for wisdom. All wisdom comes from God, and we need to go to Him for our wisdom. This passage is written specifically to teachers, but we all need to learn from it. (Read James 3:13-18.) Let’s look at this passage and examine where we are getting our wisdom to make all of life’s decisions. Let’s start with the following steps.

I. Releasing our CONDUCT to God. (James 3:13)

A. VS 13 – Wisdom and Knowing go together.

1. You cannot have knowing without wisdom.

2. You cannot have wisdom without knowing.

3. Read James 1:5.

4. Wisdom comes from God and will change our conduct.

B. VS 13 – The criteria for WISDOM.

1. How can we recognize those who are following Godly wisdom?

2. Our WORKS.

3. Story: Dave Helfrich giving up his new job after moving to Raleigh. His job would cause him to compromise. He quit!! God will provide!!

4. Read Judges 10:10-13.

5. Our MEEKNESS.

6. Power under control. How is your self control?

C. VS 13 – The way we talk to OTHERS.

D. Words that inform, and heal, and do good, are the marks of wisdom.

II. Releasing our DESIRES to God. (James 3:14-16)

A. VS 14 – Envy and Strife stand against the TRUTH.

B. Envying and strife are opposed to the meekness of wisdom.

C. The heart is the seat of both; but envy and wisdom cannot dwell together.

D. Story: The guy at the checkout stating “buy everything for yourself.” Don’t songs say that?

E. VS 15 – This WISDOM does not come from above. It is not of God!!

1. It is EARTHLY. Dwells on things of this world.

2. It is SENSUAL. Without the Spirit of God.

3. It is DEMONIC. From Satan himself.

F. Read Psalm 84:10.

G. VS 16 – Envy and Strife produce CONFUSION.

III. Releasing our RESULTS of wisdom. (James 3:17-18)

A. VS 17 – Produces PURITY and MERCY.

B. Free from everything that is earthly, carnal, or sensual, or devilish. The exact opposite of man’s wisdom.

C. Live in peace with the saints, and even with all men. Helps those in need.

D. VS 17 – Produces good FRUIT.

E. Doing all good works and duties, both with respect to God and man, as fruits of grace, and of the Spirit. God’s wisdom makes our life full.

F. VS 18 – Produces RIGHTEOUSNESS.

G. James wants peace for the church because peace is the context in which righteousness can flourish. That human anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Doing the right thing in all circumstances.

IV. Releasing our future PLANS to God. (James 4:13-17)

A. Believers tend to leave God out of our plans. We will follow Him as long as it fits our agenda. What we have planed.

B. VS 15 – We need to follow God’s DIRECTION.

C. We need to follow without reservations. Once we know what God wants us to do, we need to follow whole heartily. Too often we must know all the details and how it will work out before we are even willing to consider God’s direction for us.

D. Read Spurgeon’s book.

E. VS 16 – We must not BOAST about our plans.

F. For men to boast of worldly things, and of their aspiring projects, when they should be attending to the humbling duties before laid down is a very evil thing. It is a great sin in God's account, and it will prove their destruction in the end.

Closing Statement:

Are you choosing to follow God’s wisdom? (Read Luke 13:34.) Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Anywhere God wants me!! We need to choose God’s wisdom, not the wisdom of this world, which is really not wisdom at all!!