[0:00] James has challenged us in many ways in what it looks like to live out our faith and how it should affect those that are around us.
[0:24] Because an act of faith should have an effect on the world that's around us. And we've talked about caring for the orphans and the widows. We've talked about how our faith should be accompanied with works.
[0:36] We've seen how our faith should manifest in how we use our tongue to glorify God rather than curse those that have been made in God's image. Today, though, we're going to look at a different topic.
[0:48] We're going to look at wisdom. Now, when a lot of people hear the word wisdom, the first book they normally go to is Proverbs. Proverbs is a book of wisdom. It's a great book. But James is painting a picture of what good wisdom looks like and the good source of wisdom.
[1:05] Because there's two wisdoms that he's going to be looking at here. There's earthly wisdom and there's heavenly wisdom. And we're going to see a very distinct line in the sand between those two natures of wisdom.
[1:18] But just so we can have a really running definition of what wisdom is, wisdom is not merely just acquiring knowledge or having life experience.
[1:29] It's the application of those two things that makes wisdom. It's acting on that knowledge and that experience to produce a fruitful life.
[1:39] Now, the issue, though, that we run into with wisdom in trying to determine, you know, what the right course of action is, is that not everyone has the same experience. People may have the same knowledge base, but they don't necessarily have the same life experience that interprets how they're going to use that knowledge.
[1:59] That's why we have a political system that's just rife with contention and divisiveness. And wisdom has almost become a relative term in today's society.
[2:12] What's wise for somebody else may not be wise for for you. And society would seek to teach you that. But in the church, we need to be operating on wisdom that stems from the same source.
[2:27] From the new spirit that God has placed within us through Christ. We aren't just drawing wisdom from our own experiences anymore, but wisdom that has been provided to us by a completely different source.
[2:41] That's why it's called wisdom from above in the text that we're going to be looking at today. Now, as a church, that doesn't mean that we're never going to disagree. I mean, we're going to have disagreements just as part of being in a group full of humans.
[2:56] It's how we handle those disagreements that determines, you know, church health. That doesn't mean it's an unhealthy church to have disagreement. But all that to say, in our text today, there's three truths that I want to point out about wisdom.
[3:12] The first is that true wisdom is going to be seen in our deeds. The next is that wisdom of this earth that we're going to talk about is self-seeking in nature.
[3:24] And then the third thing is that wisdom from above promotes peace. And it also promotes unity. This is foundational to everything that we've talked about to this point.
[3:38] We've talked about a lot of great stuff in the book of James. But operating from a stance of heavenly wisdom is going to determine how we view people. Are we going to view them as God's image bearers rather than viewing them through the lens of partiality, where we try to assign worldly worth to them?
[3:58] Through heavenly wisdom, how are we going to use our tongue? Are we going to use it to voice our frustrations and use it out of anger? Or are we going to use it to glorify Christ?
[4:09] In our text today, we're going to examine all of these things. I want to start in verse 13. I'm going to read through 18 in chapter 3. Who among you is wise and understanding?
[4:24] By his good conduct, he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and deny the truth.
[4:39] Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder in every evil practice.
[4:53] But the wisdom from above is for us pure than peace loving. Gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits.
[5:03] Unwavering without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
[5:14] This is the word of the Lord, church. In verse 13, we come to our first point that wisdom is always going to be seen in our deeds. You know, this verse follows a crucial theme in the book of James.
[5:28] James is basically saying, if you have wisdom, it's time to stop talking about it and show it in your deeds. Show it in the lifestyle that wisdom is supposed to produce.
[5:40] You know, I had a friend that his favorite saying was, the proof is in the pudding. You want to hear that? I don't like that saying. As someone that depends a lot on texture, if I enjoy food, that just sounds like a texture nightmare.
[5:55] I don't want anything in my pudding. But I understand the saying. And in a sense, we see James trying to make the same point. If we have wisdom, then it's time to see it in our lifestyle that wisdom produces.
[6:11] And again, we see this theme all throughout the book of James. James is all about practical living for Christ in the midst of a lost and broken world and in the midst of trials. And the same thing is true of wisdom.
[6:22] If there is wisdom in us, if we have spiritual wisdom, then we will see it in the lifestyle that wisdom produces. Now, this passage says, by good conduct. Now, when I hear the word good conduct or the phrase good conduct, the first thing that comes to mind is maybe a rigid adherence or a rigid obedience to an expected line of conduct, right?
[6:47] But when we see this word good, it's really not talking about just our actions. It's not talking about just this outward expression of rigid obedience.
[7:02] And I do want to say that there is an element of obedience to the Christian life. I mean, that much is plain in Scripture. In Matthew 7, 24, I believe Pastor Mike quoted this passage last week, says that if everyone hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
[7:22] So there is an element of obedience to the Christian faith. But this word good that's used in the original text in the Greek, the word is callous. Now, what this word is referring to is not just the outward actions, but it's referring to the inward condition of a person's heart.
[7:42] It's not talking about actions that are just heartless and fruitless. He's talking about actions that stem from what's going on inside, from good character.
[7:54] Almost like being instinctive. Has anything ever just been instinctive to anyone? Like, you don't have to think about it to do it. It just comes naturally to you. Anyone? Some of you may know my brother-in-law.
[8:05] He's here somewhere in the church. He is that way when it comes to fixing things. He doesn't have to think about it. He can see a pile of gadgets and gizmos and assemble it into whatever he wants.
[8:19] And it just comes natural to him. It's not a burden. And even more than that, he enjoys it. It's like it's instinctive to him that he can just do these things. Now, me, on the other hand, I am a handyman's bread and butter when it comes to making a living.
[8:34] I can't fix anything. As a matter of fact, if I'm changing the light bulb, Nicole has to supervise me sometimes. It's just not a good thing whenever you put a tool in my hand. But, you know, TJ, on the other hand, it just comes naturally to him.
[8:48] In the same way, I think James is trying to describe the same thing with our actions here. It's good living that stems from good character. Luke 6.45, Jesus said this, The good person out of the good treasures of his heart produces good, but the evil person out of his evil treasures produces evil.
[9:13] One of the things that I think we have to notice about James, and as we continue our study through James, is that he is always rooting his teaching in the teachings of Christ.
[9:25] You see a lot of the same principles, the same concepts in James, that Jesus is teaching as well. So he is looking for something here that is a product.
[9:36] James is looking for something that is a product of the new creation that Christ has made us into. Our natural flesh does not desire the things of the Lord. That's why Jesus had to give us a new nature that longs to please him.
[9:49] And we're going to get more into that in a minute. We're going to read out of Galatians a lot this morning as well. But again, that's why it's called wisdom from above, not wisdom from within. And the next thing that James says that we are supposed to display through godly wisdom is meekness.
[10:07] A lot of translations use this word to show his works in the meekness of wisdom. Meekness is something that comes with humility.
[10:19] It's not self-serving. It doesn't seek fame and recognition for itself. But it seeks peace. From my experience, I've seen a lot of people that would qualify as wise by earthly standards.
[10:34] You know, maybe they're highly educated. Maybe they've got the credentials or they've just got more living under their belts. I don't know. But a true indicator of earthly wisdom is how they apply these things.
[10:46] One, the context of church. I've seen this happen where people try to use these earthly measures of wisdom to gain authority or a place of influence within the body of believers.
[10:58] It doesn't lead them to a place of service, but it leads them to a place of self-exaltation. You know, I was at a church where every business meeting, and I'm so grateful for this church as far as how business meetings go here, but I was at a church where every business meeting was just a fight.
[11:16] There was a line in the sand between the younger and the older. And neither one of them were willing to budge on their issues or on their convictions or what they thought was right because they both thought they were operating from a stance of heavenly wisdom.
[11:31] But there was no peace in the church. There was no unity. Heavenly wisdom is always going to bring peace.
[11:42] It should never create conflict within the church. And as people who are seeking heavenly wisdom, we should be determined that our actions will bring peace and unity to the body.
[11:53] In verse 18, we read that, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. And I think if James were still alive today, he would probably have written a similar letter to that church.
[12:10] The meekness of wisdom is always going to be peace seeking. That requires a transformation in our lives because, again, our flesh, the world tells us to look out for ourselves, to pursue all that we can for ourselves.
[12:24] But Romans says that salvation is going to lead to transformation by the renewing of our minds. As our minds are renewed to desire the things that God desires, we can begin to discern things from a heavenly perspective, heavenly wisdom.
[12:40] We're going to get more into that in a bit. We're going to go into our second thing here where James really starts talking about the difference between earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. So the second point here is that wisdom of this earth is self-seeking.
[12:54] Going back to verses 14 through 16. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
[13:11] Or where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder in every evil practice. The drive in this life that you see culture just trying to push on us is to be in constant comparison with those that are around us.
[13:30] That you don't have enough. That there is more that you can gain. And even more than that, a lot of the advertisements tell you that you deserve more. And that's what your life should be about.
[13:41] Obtaining as much as you can for your greatest good. Your life is your own private manifest destiny to get as much good as you can for yourself. But the question I have for this, for those of you that are Christians seeking to operate from a stance of heavenly wisdom, that whose expense?
[13:59] At whose expense are you seeking your greatest good? Who is it that you're going to sacrifice on the altar of self-gratification to live your best life now?
[14:13] Is it going to be at the expense of someone that you can step on to get to the top of your career field? Fathers and husbands, is it going to be at the expense of much needed time with your spouse and children?
[14:26] Or is it going to be at the expense of your Christian testimony? Pursuing all that you can for your benefit may seem right in the world's eyes.
[14:38] But Christ calls us to something different. In Mark 8.36, Jesus says, What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
[14:52] Earthly wisdom leads to such destruction. It's important for us to understand some of the characteristics. And James does a great job of, again, just outlining some of these traits that we can be looking for.
[15:05] That's what I love about James. He doesn't leave a lot up to question whenever you're reading his letter. He wants his readers to understand this without any amount of head scratching. In the text that we just read, earthly wisdom has bitter envy, selfish ambition.
[15:26] Denying of the truth produces disorder in every kind of evil practice. Catch that last one.
[15:39] Every kind of evil practice. That's a pretty bold statement. But when you get right down to the bedrock of evil practices or of sin.
[15:49] I mean, that's the term for it. Sin. Sin. It's a denial of the truth. It's a denial of the absolute authority of God's word.
[16:00] And when we remove that authority from our lives. The authority of God's word. The absolute standard of righteousness. What we have done is we have left it up to our own corrupt hearts and minds.
[16:12] To create morality. To create what's right and wrong. According to earthly wisdom. Some of the worst atrocities have been committed.
[16:25] By those that thought they were operating from a stance of earthly wisdom. That thought they were in the moral right with the things that they were doing. Church, sin has no boundaries.
[16:41] That's why Proverbs says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all ways. For wisdom to be built on anything else. Is folly and will only lead to whatever the human imagination can conjure.
[16:56] Again, when the absolute standard of God's righteousness. Is removed from determining wisdom. It's always going to be left up. To the sinful desires of your heart. Again, sin has no boundaries.
[17:09] And it will be the helpless. And those that are around you. That suffer the most because of it. That's why Paul in his letter to the church at Galatia. He writes a clear distinction of what earthly wisdom looks like.
[17:23] What the deeds of the flesh are. And again, what the deeds of the spirit are. I want to go to Galatians chapter 5. Keep your finger here in James. We're going to go back to that. But Galatians 5.
[17:33] 16 through 21. I say then. Walk by the spirit. And you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
[17:46] For the flesh desires what is against the spirit. And the spirit desires what is against the flesh. They are opposed to each other. So that you don't do what you want.
[17:57] But if you are led by the spirit. You are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious. Sexual immorality. Moral impurity.
[18:10] Promiscuity. Idolatry. Sorcery. Hatreds. Strife. Jealousy. Outbursts of anger.
[18:21] Selfish ambition. Dissensions. Factions. Envy. Drunkenness. Carousing. And anything similar. I am warning you about these things.
[18:32] As I warned you before. That those who practice such things. Will not inherit the kingdom of God. But a life that is led by the spirit.
[18:43] Again Paul is kind of like James in a lot of things. He doesn't like to leave things up to question. But a life led by the spirit. Where heavenly wisdom is allowed to flourish. And grow us more into the image of Christ.
[18:55] Looks remarkably different. Starting in verse 22. Same passage. But the fruit of the spirit. Is love. Joy. Peace. Patience.
[19:07] Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. And self-control. The law. Is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus.
[19:18] Have crucified the flesh. With its passions and desires. If we live by the spirit. Let us also keep in step with the spirit. Let us not become conceited. Provoking one another.
[19:31] Envying one another. Wisdom. Wisdom. From above. Wisdom from heaven. Is always. Going to promote peace.
[19:43] This leads us into our third point. In verse 17 and 18. In the book of James. We just read this passage from Galatians. You're going to see James. Mirror some of these same qualities.
[19:54] In his passage. Starting in verse 17. Back in James chapter 3. But the wisdom. From above. Is first pure. Then peace loving. Gentle. Compliant.
[20:06] Full of mercy and good fruits. Unwavering. Without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness. Is sown in peace. By those who cultivate.
[20:17] Peace. I want to remind everyone that. Knowledge. Experience. That does not equal wisdom. Okay. From a ministerial perspective.
[20:27] I've seen pastors. That have had all the credentials. They've had all the theological training. That you could think of. But none of these things.
[20:39] Were applied through heavenly wisdom. They saw their education. They saw their experience. As a means to gain authority. They thought it entitled them.
[20:51] To a certain amount of reverence. Within the body of believers. And when they didn't get it. They were content to watch their church burn. And their ministry. End. As you read through these attributes.
[21:05] You'll see exactly what Paul. And James were talking about. The deeds of the spirit and flesh. Are completely opposed to each other. The attributes of heavenly wisdom. Meek.
[21:18] Gentle. Pure. Peace loving. Peace loving. Peace loving. Compliant. Full of mercy. And good fruits.
[21:31] Unwavering. And without pretense. In your handouts. You'll see some of those. Attributes listed. And you can use that for your discussion times tonight.
[21:43] But. One of the implications. That we need to draw from these two types of wisdom. That I think that we can see. Very clearly. Earthly wisdom. Will always demand.
[21:53] Sacrifice. From others. For your personal gratification. But heavenly wisdom. Calls for personal sacrifice. To promote the unity of the body.
[22:05] And edification of others. This is really what. Bearing the image of Christ.
[22:17] Looks like. Because in Jesus. The very embodiment of heavenly wisdom. The word that became flesh. He completely gave of himself.
[22:28] To bring the greatest unity. That we can never bring ourselves. Unity between God. And man. Jesus gave completely of himself. He emptied himself.
[22:39] So that he could create this unity. And for us. As his children. Those that are longing to follow him. Wholeheartedly. We are called to give of ourselves. To bring unity. In the body of Christ.
[22:52] As a church. When I talk about unity. One of my favorite passages. To go to. Is Philippians. Chapter 2. If you have your Bibles.
[23:03] You can go there. It's chapter 2. Verses 1 through 4. A lot of Paul's letters. And even in James. We see this theme of unity. These were new churches.
[23:14] That were starting up. There were a lot of differences. A lot of tension. In these churches. Jews and Gentiles. Were being thrown together. In worship. For the first time. So you see this theme of unity. In a lot of Paul's letters.
[23:26] And in the book of James. As well. But in Philippians. Chapter 2. Verses 1 through 4. If then. There is any encouragement. In Christ. If any consolation.
[23:37] Of love. If any fellowship. With the spirit. If any affection. And mercy. Make my joy. Complete. By thinking. The same way.
[23:48] Having the same. Love. United in the spirit. Intent. On one purpose. So what is. What is heavenly wisdom. Practically look like. Fleshed out in the church.
[23:59] Well Paul is about to describe it here. In verse 3. Do nothing. Out of selfish ambition. Or conceit. The deeds of the flesh. That we saw earlier. But in humility. Consider others.
[24:10] As more important. Than yourselves. Everyone should not. Look. To his own interest. Only. But rather. The interest of others. In the body of Christ.
[24:23] Heavenly wisdom. Is going to bring us. To a place. Of self-sacrifice. As God's children. We are called. To a life. With each other. I do not believe.
[24:34] That a Christian. Can live out. The faith. The way that they are supposed to. Apart from the body of Christ. But we are called. To a life. With each other. That beckons us. To look out. For the needs.
[24:44] Of our brothers and sisters. In Christ. Even. If it is at our own expense. Remember how James. Described wisdom. That is from above. Peace loving. Meek. Gentle.
[24:55] Without pretense. Now this is without pretense. This is where a lot of people get hung up. And this is an important thing to remember. Heavenly wisdom. Does not allow for any exceptions. When pursuing peace.
[25:07] And unity. Romans 12. 18 says. If possible. So far. As it depends. On you. Live peaceably. With all. You know.
[25:18] There were certainly no exceptions. Or presuppositions. That Christ made. When he came to the cross. For us. He didn't wait for us. To get our life right. He didn't wait for us. To love him first.
[25:29] Bible says. Well. We were still sinners. He died for us. Heavenly wisdom. Within. Within the church. Is always going to lead. To peace.
[25:40] Through giving of yourself. Rather than taking. For yourself. Now most things. In the kingdom of God. Work that way. As far as. Work for the kingdom of God.
[25:51] The only thing. That Christ has commanded us. To take up for ourselves. Is our cross. Kingdom work. Is not a job. For someone.
[26:01] That is self. Seeking. And people might say. Well. You know. Why should I never get. What I want. I've. I've heard that before. Well. My question is. What do you want?
[26:12] What is your greatest. Desire. In this church. Is it for unity? Is it for kingdom growth? Because I'll tell you.
[26:23] I've heard a lot of reasons. Why people. The church. And very rarely. There are some exceptions. And we will get into those. But very rarely. Is there a time. When somebody.
[26:33] Leaves a church. Or fractures a church. For reasons. That are guided. By heavenly wisdom. You know.
[26:44] The music. Isn't edgy in us. Why doesn't the pastor. Wear normal clothes. Instead of a suit. Why can't I have. The job. Or position. Of authority. That I want. In the church. Some sermons.
[26:56] They need to be more topical. Than expository. That's. That's one of my favorite ones. I'd like to say. I think I've heard them all. But honestly. There's something. That always comes up. That surprises me. But I want to.
[27:07] Reiterate this. Because if you can take. One thing away. From this sermon. As far as the difference. Between earthly wisdom. And heavenly wisdom. It is always going.
[27:18] To lead you. To a place. Where you are longing. To serve. And give to the kingdom. Of God. Rather than take from it. For yourself. Even more than that. It's always going.
[27:28] To lead you. To a place. Where you will become. More like Christ. Because that is God's desire. For us in this life. Is to become more like. His son Jesus. Jesus. So as we're concluding.
[27:40] I wanted to answer this question though. We talked a lot about heavenly wisdom. What it looks like. How it's lived out. Within the context of the church. I want to ask you this though. How do we obtain heavenly wisdom?
[27:53] Where does it come from? There's four. Areas I want to hit on today. Where heavenly wisdom comes from. First one is the fear of God. The word of God.
[28:06] The spirit of God. Last one is our prayers. To God. The first one. The fear of the Lord. Proverbs 9.10 says.
[28:17] The fear of the Lord. Is the beginning of wisdom. And knowledge of the Holy One. Is understanding. You know. We mentioned earlier. That this is where true. Heavenly wisdom. Has to start. Because again.
[28:28] Without God. There is the absolute. Standard of right and wrong. We're left up to our own devices. To determine what's right and wrong. And that never ends well. Alright. So how could we have an understanding.
[28:41] Of what righteous living looks like. Without the perfect standard. Of righteousness. Again. The world is going to tell you. That morality is relative. That good judgment. Is going to be different.
[28:51] From person to person. But because. There is an absolute God. That means that there is. A perfect source. Of truth. That we can place. Our full assurance in. Jesus himself.
[29:04] Said that I am the way. The truth. And the life. This goes into our next. Point. The word of God. Being our second source.
[29:15] Of obtaining. Heavenly wisdom. Hebrews 4.12. Says. For the word of God. Is living and active. Sharper. Than any two-edged sword. Piercing. To the division of soul.
[29:26] And of spirit. Of joints. And of marrow. And discerning the thoughts. And intentions. Of the heart. And I want to restate. Something that we established earlier.
[29:37] Heavenly wisdom. Cannot come from within. It has to come down to us. And that's why. Our perfect God. Has given us.
[29:47] His perfect. And infallible. Word. The complete. Revelation. Of an eternally. Holy. And perfect. God. Has given us. His complete.
[29:59] Infallible. Word. To equip us. To sanctify us. You know. My theology professor. Whenever we were starting.
[30:09] Our first class. One of the things. He. Said. In his first lesson. That if somebody. Wants to gain. A deeper knowledge. Of doctrine. And sound theology. You have to start.
[30:21] With your Bible. With your own. Personal time. In God's word. Yeah. There's a lot of. Great books out there. There's a lot of. Great authors. That I think. Should be read. But never.
[30:32] In place. As a substitute. For your own time. In God's word. God's word. Is our absolute. Authority. Of heavenly wisdom. Of right and wrong. Of how to be pleasing.
[30:42] To God. We cannot. Over commit. Ourselves. To this book. A lot of. Big name. Authors. And preachers. Now. I won't. Go into names. Currently.
[30:53] But. They say. That some of the Bible. Is no longer. Culturally relevant. That this isn't. The absolute. Source. Of God's wisdom.
[31:03] And his authority. That we need. To look. To other sources. To determine. How to live. The best life. For God. Okay. I told you. This earlier. I've heard. A lot of claims. Of why people.
[31:14] Leave the church. And very few. Of them. Are grounded. In heavenly wisdom. But I will say this. Even in this church. If you ever get. To a point. Where your leader.
[31:25] Says that this. Is no longer. Our final authority. One of two things. Needs to happen. New leadership. Needs to take hold. Or you need. To find the new church. This is the absolute.
[31:37] Authority. Of God. That everything else. Is built on. Now the third. The spirit of God. So that we can.
[31:48] Fear God properly. So that we can. Discern. And properly. Apply. His perfect word. God has given us. His Holy Spirit. John 14.
[31:58] 26. Says. But the counselor. The Holy Spirit. Whom the Father. Will send in my name. Will teach you. All things. And remind you. Of everything. That I have told you. Jesus said again.
[32:09] Later. In John chapter 16. Verse 8. When he comes. Holy Spirit. He will convict. The world about sin. Righteousness. And judgment.
[32:20] The Holy Spirit. It's not just. A warm feeling. That we get. During worship. Some of these new songs. That have been coming out. About the Holy Spirit. They just kind of. Make me raise an eyebrow. The Holy Spirit. It's not some.
[32:32] Scared kitten. That you have to. Coax out of a corner. And invite into the place. Okay. That's not it. The Holy Spirit. Is God's. Very. Presence. In our lives. He is placed in us.
[32:43] He is the new nature. That we have been given. So that we can live a life. That's pleasing to God. So that we can begin to desire. The things that God desires. That's why Galatians.
[32:54] Calls godly living. The fruits of the spirit. And the other side of it. The works of the flesh. The last thing.
[33:04] That we talked about. As far as our source. Of heavenly wisdom. Is our prayers. To God. James 1. Chapter 5. Said now. If any one of you.
[33:14] Lacks wisdom. He should ask God. Who gives to all. Generously. And ungrudgingly. And it will be given to him. Church. We do not serve a God. Of disorder.
[33:25] And chaos. He wants us. To know his will. And to live according. To his wisdom. Now prayer. Is often one of the most. Neglected spiritual disciplines.
[33:36] In a Christian's life. And I will tell you. It is a discipline. That I need to spend more time in. As well. You can never spend. Too much time in prayer. But many times. We kind of degrade prayer.
[33:48] To just us. Offering our request. To God. Now I will say. That is an element of prayer. God has told us. To cast all of our burdens. On him. Because he cares for us. But prayer.
[33:59] Is not just. Submitting our request. To God. We are to seek his wisdom. We are to seek his counsel. Yes. We should come to God. With our request.
[34:09] But even more than that. We should come to him. For wisdom. Seeking his insight. On what is going on. In our lives. Because I will tell you. The way that we present. Our request.
[34:21] Does not always get answered. The way that we think it will. Or the way that we ask it. Prayer is first and foremost. An act of faith. Knowing that when we present.
[34:31] Our request to God. That he is going to answer them. In a way. And work things all. For our glory. Or for our good. And his glory. We are trusting God.
[34:43] With our lives. And our needs. Knowing that he knows. What is best. And he is going to do. What is best. For our good. And first and foremost. For his glory. Again like I said earlier. We are also depending on him.
[34:56] To make our paths straight. As Proverbs 3. Verses 5 through 6 says. So to those who are trying. To discern God's wisdom.
[35:09] Heavenly wisdom. Are you seeking it through his word? Does a fear of God. That you have. Lead you to live a life. For God.
[35:22] You wait for the spirit. To work in your life. Or do you jump to your own. Rash conclusions. I will tell you. I am the worst about that. You know.
[35:33] When I see people straying. When I have caught myself straying. It is usually because. One of these four things. Is not in line. We have to constantly.
[35:44] Be submitting ourselves. To heavenly wisdom. Constantly seeking for it. Because again. We have those two natures. Inside of us. We have the spirit of God. Within us. But we also have. Our fleshly nature. That is not going to be put to death.
[35:55] Until glorification. One day. That is why. Galatians 5. 17. Which we read earlier. Says the desires of the flesh. Are against the spirit. And the desires of the spirit.
[36:06] Are against the flesh. We should pursue. Heavenly wisdom. As it is granted to us. It shouldn't inflate our ego. It shouldn't lead us.
[36:17] To seek. Gratification. For ourselves. The more we gain. Heavenly wisdom. It should only make us. More humble. Because it was according.
[36:28] To heavenly wisdom. Not our own initiative. It was according. To God's wisdom. That he determined. To save us. Lost sinners.
[36:42] Ephesians 1. 7-8. Says in him. We have. Redemption. Through his blood. The forgiveness. Of our trespasses. According to the riches.
[36:53] Of his grace. That he richly. Poured out on us. With all wisdom. And understanding. Why live according.
[37:03] To heavenly wisdom. Because through this wisdom. That God has made available. To us. He determined. To save us. All unworthy sinners.
[37:18] How could we not. Revere. And long. For such wisdom. And understanding. He saw us. In wisdom. And decided.
[37:28] Even as. Lost children. I want you. You are my child now. And I can make you new. To those of you.
[37:40] Who are not believers. I want to say this. And I mean this. With all my heart. I'm glad. That you are here today. If you are not a believer. I am glad.
[37:51] That you have come. To Highland Park Baptist Church. This morning. There's no better place. To be. Than the church. Hearing the gospel preached. So thank you for coming. But I want to say this to you.
[38:02] That the God who has. Called out those. Who are saved already. He is still. Calling today. He is still.
[38:15] Making people. New. You may be wondering. Is God calling me? Well I want to say this. If. He is calling you.
[38:26] He is not calling you. To come. And show yourself. Worthy of his grace. He is calling you. To come just as you are. So he can. Make you worthy. So that he can.
[38:37] Lavish on you. The riches of his grace. Just as he has done. For all those. That have been made new. In Christ. The redemption. Through the blood. Of Jesus Christ.
[38:48] That was spilt. To make a way. For us. To have a relationship. And forgiveness. With God. So if you have not. Made that decision. And you feel that God.
[38:59] Is calling you today. My encouragement. To you is this. Don't wait. Respond in obedience. Today. Pastor Eric. Is going to be up here. At the front. To receive anyone. That wants to talk about that.
[39:10] Or needs counsel. You have your discussion questions. In the handouts. I hope that you will come back. Tonight church. For our discussion time. It truly is a blessing. Let's pray.
[39:24] Father. We thank you. That in heavenly wisdom. In your wisdom. Lord.
[39:35] That you chose. To make a way for us. To come to you. And become your children. Lord. I pray that if there is anyone here.
[39:45] That does not know you. As their savior. Lord. That is not a believer. Lord. I pray that. You would draw them. You would call them by name.
[39:57] Lord. That they would feel your call. In their lives. And that they would come to you. Wholeheartedly. To be made new in Christ. Father. I pray for anyone. That is here. That is a believer.
[40:11] Lord. That maybe is struggling. To live according to heavenly wisdom. Lord. As James has said. If anyone lacks wisdom. And understanding. We should come to you.
[40:21] And ask for it. Because Lord. You give to all. Ungrudgingly. Lord. You want us to be made. More like Christ. So Lord. I pray that. If there is anyone here. That is struggling with that.
[40:33] Lord. That you would convict them. Lord. That you would lead them. Into a deeper relationship. With you. Where they long. To live for you. Where they long. To be more like your son. Jesus. Father.
[40:44] I pray for all these sins. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.