James 3:13-18 ESV
13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:14 ESV
14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
James 3:16 ESV
16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
Deuteronomy 5:21 NIV
21“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
“This is the first and only commandment that directly addresses itself to the internal life, reaching the intention of the heart.” Mohler
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We Love the Stuff in our lives and We Use Our People
Matthew 15:18 ISV
18”But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and it is those things that make a person ‘unclean’.”
Matthew 15:19-20a NIV
19”For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make a man `unclean’.”
Colossians 3:5a NIV
5“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:”
2 Corinthians 13:5a NIV
5“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”
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James 3:15 ESV
15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
Colossians 2:8 ESV
8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
“When a person does not know the doctrines of the Christian faith, he can easily be captured by false religions.” Warren Weirsbe
“The important thing about any teaching is its origin: Did it come from God or from man?”
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1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Hebrews 13:5 NIV
5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
”Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
Contentment is the Antidote for Coveting
“There are at least two ways to live rich.”
1. Have a lot of possessions
2. Have few needs
“To win the battle over coveting is to put our needs in the proper perspective, and diminish our wants to a manageable level.”
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James 3:17 ESV
17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Colossians 3:2 ESV
2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
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James 3:17 ESV
17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Proverbs 1:7 ESV
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Terror, Dread, Horror, Panic, Alarm, Phobia, Paralyzing Fear
Reverence for God
Respect for God’s Word
Willing to Listen
Prompt Obedience
Beginning
The First Part or an early stage
I Want to Move Beyond the Beginning
of Knowledge about God.
See Daniel 2:22-23
Daniel 2:22-23 NIV
22He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
Obeying God is the Ceiling as well as the Foundation of Life.
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Proverbs 1:7 ESV
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Fool: Someone who acts contrary to sound wisdom
– Someone who follows his own will & plans who prefers temporary pleasure to the service of God & eternal joy
Despise:
Regard with Loathing and Contempt; even Hatred
– Intense Dislike, Disrespect & Utter Disgust or Scorn
The Truly Wise Person will
– Hear the Word of God (Prov 1:5)
– and Obey it (Prov 12:15)
– Store up what is learned (Prov 9:9, 10:14)
– Win the Lost (Prov 11:30)
– Turn from sin (Prov 14:16)
– Control his Tongue (Prov 10:19; 16:23)
– He will be Diligent (Prov 10:5)
– He will inherit Glory (Prov 3:35)
– He’ll Bring Joy to Others (Prov 10:1; 15:20)
– Have his or her needs met (Prov 21:20)
– Have strength for waging war (Prov 24:5-6)
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1 Corinthians 1:23-24 ESV
23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Acts 4:12 NIV
12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Colossians 1:19-20 ESV
19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
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The Power of God & the Wisdom of God come only through the
Son of God
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“Won’t Let Me Down” – Matt Maher
“O Praise the Name” – Hillsong Worship
“How Great Is Our God” – Chris Tomlin
“Good Good Father” – Chris Tomlin
“Is He Worthy” – Shane & Shane
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