Wisdom from Above
Introduction:
1. The wisdom from above is a gift of God.
2. James 1:5 - If any
of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him.
3. This gift as we shall uncover is not endangered by human reasoning.
4. It is not tainted by man's thoughts, desires, and wants.
5. Because this wisdom is from God's infinite mind, then it is truth.
6. This wonderful gift is steadfast and sure regardless of man's intentions he cannot reason away truth.
7. Therefore the wisdom from above gives man the ability to produce peace.
I) The Wisdom From Above Characterizes God's Heart.
A) There is a clear distinction between verse 15 and verse 17 of James 3.
1. "This Wisdom" describes the attitude of the teachers James is rebuking.
2. "This wisdom" is the result of man's reasoning and is earthly, sensual and devilish.
3. "The wisdom" describes the attitude man should have because it comes from the heart of God.
4. "The wisdom" applies itself to the heart of man.
B) The wisdom from above is first Pure
1. Purity describes a characteristic that is uncontaminated, wholly good, and without fault.
2. It is first for logical reasons.
a. If there were no men on earth then none would be peaceable, gentle, open.
b. There would be no one needing mercy.
c. However, the wisdom that is pure needs no men for it is always uncontaminated, wholly good and without fault.
3. Pure wisdom is the kind that shrinks from pollution.
C) Then, peaceable
1. Wisdom is peaceable because it is pure.
a. Sin cannot come from a pure heart.
b. The jealous and strife in the hearts of men produce no peace.
c. Therefore, these men do not have the wisdom from above.
2. Peaceable maybe defined as wholesome or healthy.
a. God's wisdom characterizes the ability to create health.
b. This wholesomeness underlines the benevolent spirit of God.
c. True spiritual health then comes from the wisdom from above.
d. Matthew 13:15 - For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
D) And, gentle
1. This secondary characteristic relates to courage.
a. Gentle is defined as reasonable, fair in dealing.
b. The courageous man considers the views of those opposing him.
c. Many consider this trait to be opposed to manliness, but the courage to be gentle is strength of God.
d. A gentle man holds his position not by a passionate defense but by the security he maintains by the premises formed by revelation and calm, sober study.
2. It is a characteristic of God's wisdom in that God does not demand his right but is willing to suffer wrong for the cause of right.
a. Every man sins and thus must die.
b. But God did not demand an immediate sentence nor did he seek to take the right he had because of our disobedience.
c. His wisdom shows us that we may be gentle like God when we act like He in sacrificing His only Begotten Son for our sins.
d. He suffered death so we could be free.
e. This is the gentleness of wisdom from above.
E) And, easy to be entreated
1. This characteristic describes the openness of God.
a. Wisdom from above is wisdom that allows one to approach it without fear of rebuke.
b. Wisdom from above allows man to be persuaded by compassion, gentleness, and it purity rather from fear.
2. God is ready to hear our prayers.
a. He may not hear the prayers of the ungodly.
b. John 9:31 - Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
c. God may be approached by a fallen saint ready to make confession.
d. It is this acceptance that shows the love of God for man in that he is easy upon our hearts and compassionate toward our sorrow.
II) The Contents of the Wisdom From Above Comes from God's Heart.
A) God's wisdom contains mercy and good works.
1. The content of mercy means the wisdom from above has compassion.
a. Wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, and open contains the desire to help those in distress.
b. This wisdom is active in its search for the hurting and grieving.
c. Wisdom containing mercy provides hope that God giving us wisdom from above actively aids us in our approach towards the pearly gates.
d. God wants to forgive man and the mercy of God's wisdom provides man with that opportunity.
2. The wisdom from above contains the ability to produce good works.
a. Man cannot know the full heart of God but one can see the good fruit contained within His wisdom.
b. The wisdom from above describes the ability of God to bestow goodness to all those who obey his commands.
c. 1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
d. The ease of God's commands directly relate to the wisdom from God able to relieve those who want.
B) God's wisdom contains no partiality
1. This wisdom from above is not drawn by divided opinions.
a. It is stable and without doubt.
b. It does not waver regardless of what man may believe.
c. Sadly, most people will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
d. They will have believed something that God's wisdom does not say.
(i) Maybe they believe that God would not send anyone to hell because He is love.
(ii) Maybe they believe in a lie from the reasoning of man.
(iii) Maybe they believe that God is some mystical experience or many gods.
2. Wisdom from above is firm and full of confidence.
a. Wisdom is open-minded.
b. But demands that man harmonize with it.
c. For wisdom from above is not deflected by worldly acclaim.
d. Wisdom from above is not turned by selfish interests.
e. Wisdom from above is not blinded by current views.
f. Wisdom from above takes one stand - it is the truth and man must meet its standards.
C) The wisdom from above contains no hypocrisy.
1. Wisdom from God is straight-forward.
a. The word hypocrisy describes a play-actor.
b. It is one who plays a part not reflective of his true situation.
c. Wisdom therefore, is not a practitioner of deception in its stance.
d. Man does not need special revelations or experiences from God giving them special insight.
e. 2 Peter 1:20-21 - Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2. God's wisdom does not wear a mask.
a. It appears in its true characteristics of purity, peaceableness, gentleness, and persuadable.
b. Masks hide from other's one's selfish ends of which God has none.
c. Masks present a feigned pity and infested holiness of which God does not have.
d. Therefore, we see that God presents his wisdom without hypocrisy.
III) Man Having the Wisdom From Above Produces Peace of God.
A) The fruits of righteousness describe a man's heart containing the wisdom from above.
1. The word "and" indicates something to be considered besides the characteristic of wisdom from above.
a. It indicates that the move from what is ideological to application.
b. Therefore, wisdom from above has a practical application in the hearts of man.
2. A man having the wisdom from above has that which is pure.
a. Having purity from God's wisdom means that he is doing what is equal in character to God.
b. Purity of doctrine and practice is essential for those that love the Lord.
c. The contrasting wisdom from below and the wisdom from above show true right doing in the lives of men.
d. It is illogical for a man to hold pure wisdom and not have a sincere heart and peaceful disposition.
e. One cannot do right by doing wrong.
3. Wisdom from above instills peace, gentleness, open to reason, fullness of mercy and good works in hearts of men and in his pursuits of life.
a. Men yearn for peace.
b. Thusly, when men have peace it is the arbitrator creating serenity and contentment his one's life.
c. Col 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
d. Man becomes gentle in his dealings with others and in himself.
e. For he makes his position soft to show the strength he has found in the wisdom of God.
f. This wise man is ready to hear the objections of others yielding to what is right.
g. He may be wrong and the man who is easily entreated will immediately abandon his wrong position and accept what is right.
h. As a result he overflows with the desire to provide mercy and good works toward men.
i. He will relieve the pain of those that want and forgive those who offend.
4. This disposition of the man having the wisdom from above is a man who has the fruits of righteousness.
a. The fruits of righteousness are not righteousness but the effect of what flows from the possessor of wisdom from above.
b. Isaiah 32:17 - And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
c. Thus, the fruit coming from the wisdom from above is righteous.
B) The heart of man sows these fruits in peace because he is a peacemaker.
1. The fruits of righteousness, those things which are produced as a result of a man's heart having the wisdom from above cannot prosper except in an atmosphere of peace.
a. Just like a habitat where righteousness grows, peace must exist in the entire life of the godly wise man.
b. Cultivating the fruit from the tree of wisdom from above provides fruit from which seeds may be planted in the world around us.
c. Our fruit, then, is the good deeds resulting from the wisdom obtained from God.
d. From this garden of peace comes the seeds which further fruit springs.
2. These seeds from the fruit of righteousness are sown in peace.
a. This contrasts the seeds of earthly, sensual and devilish wisdom which are strife and contention.
b. The environment of peace each Christian establishes is conducive to the spread of the gospel regardless of environment.
(i) The world is a deadly place full of sin and lust.
(ii) Yet the peacemakers are sowers of the fruit of righteousness in this world.
c. Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
3. Peace is only available through obedience to God's commands.
a. Notice the phrase "of them that make peace."
(i) The peacemakers are the ones sowing the seeds o the fruit which comes from the wisdom from above.
(ii) Eph 2:14 - For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
b. Making peace begins with peaceable wisdom and ends in a state of peace.
Conclusion:
1. How much more precious is the wisdom from above than the wisdom from below?
2. Truly the life of the Christian is a better life.
3. Yet this wisdom is only obtainable by those who submit the commands of God.
4. Don't you want this pure, peaceable, gentle, and open wisdom which is full of mercy and good works?
5. You may have it if you are willing to submit to God's plan for your salvation.
6. For only by believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized is your life capable of such peace.
7. If you want this peace then come now as together we stand and sing.
Posted in: Book of James, Sermon Outlines