Unused Power

James 3:13-18Adapted from a

Jeremias Fababier sermonhttp://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/unused-power-jeremias-fababier-sermon-on-christian-witness-126402.asp

There’s a story about a wealthy man who was terminally ill. The doctor said, “There’s

only one thing that will save you. A brain transplant. It’s an experimental operation. And it’s very expensive.” The wealthy guy

said, “Money is no object. Can you get me a brain?” The doctor said, “We have three

available right now. The first one is from a college professor. But it’ll cost you

$10,000.”

The guy said, “Don’t worry. I can pay, it will make me wiser. What about the second brain?” The doctor said, “It was from a

rocket scientist. It’ll cost you $100,000.” The man said, “I have the money. And I’d be a lot smarter too. But tell me about the third brain.” The doctor said, “The third brain is

from a teenager. But it would set you back a million dollars.”

The man said, “A million dollars? Why so much for that brain?” The doctor said, “It’s

never really been used & knows everything.”

We too have unused power in us, above us, around us, everywhere, not our brain, but it

is called WISDOM!We always hear the word wisdom; we even like to become wise like Solomon. But what really is wisdom and what can wisdom do

to/for a person?

Now continuing our study of James epistle. James 3:13 NET Who is wise and

understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in

the gentleness that wisdom brings. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in

your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.

15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For

where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and

not hypocritical. 18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.

These verses show that wisdom is available to anyone, so the question here is not do

you have wisdom but which kind of wisdom do you have, is it really wisdom or wish-doom? From our text we will see truths about this topic, wisdom and even the

power that is in it if we tap into the right one and use it correctly.

SOURCE OF WISDOM 1 Corinthians 1:18 NET For the message

about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being

saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of

the intelligent." (Isaiah 29:14)

20 Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the

debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom

did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness

of preaching. 22 For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for

wisdom,

23 but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. 24 But to those who are called,

both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the

foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is

stronger than human strength.

26 Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were

powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak

to shame the strong.

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something,

29 so that no one can boast in his presence. 30 He is the reason you have a

relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness

and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written,

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:24) 2:1 When I came to

you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I

proclaimed the testimony of God. 2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing

among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness

and in fear and with much trembling.

4 My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not be

based on human wisdom but on the power of God. 6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.

7 Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined

before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the

Lord of glory. 9 But just as it is written, "Things that no eye has seen, or ear

heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love

him." (Isaiah 64:4)

10 God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things,

even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the things of a man

except the man's spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things

that are freely given to us by God.

13 And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but

with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 The unbeliever does not receive the things of

the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? (Isaiah 40:13) But we have the mind of Christ.

Wisdom of this world is foolishness to God, but the wisdom from God is foolishness to those who don’t have God in their heart.

Genesis 3:6 NET When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good

for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave

some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

She saw the fruit and was thinking to eat it to gain wisdom. If we go back a little bit we

can see where this notion came from.

Genesis 3:4 NET The serpent said to the woman, "Surely you will not die, 5 for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine beings

who know good and evil."From these verses we can see that there

are surely two sources of wisdom. God and the devil, heavenly and the earthly wisdom.

HEAVENLY WISDOM comes from God

Proverbs 2:6 NET For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes

knowledge and understanding.Proverbs 1:7 NET Fearing the LORD is the

beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Heavenly wisdom comes from God; He is the only source of this kind of wisdom. Now

what is this heavenly wisdom?

James 1:5 NET But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to

all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

When James said this he is referring to how one should live their life. He is talking about

trials, temptation and how to face it. It means that wisdom is not an acquired

knowledge from our study, or passing an exam, or having a good career and job, etc.

Heavenly wisdom is way of life, attitude, and character.

Proverbs 1:20 NET Wisdom calls out in the street, she shouts loudly in the plazas; 21 at

the head of the noisy streets she calls, in the entrances of the gates in the city she

utters her words:

Solomon is talking as if wisdom is a person calling, crying, shouting, raising her voice in

the street, everywhere.

James said, “if anyone is deficient in wisdom…” he refers to how we should live

according to God’s Word.

The context of James letter is about being doer and not just hearer of God’s Word.

EARTHLY WISDOMOn the other side earthly wisdom comes from the prince of this world, the devil.

Genesis 3:4 NET The serpent said to the woman, "Surely you will not die, 5 for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine beings

who know good and evil."

6 When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

James 3:14 NET But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above

but is earthly, natural, demonic.

It is a wisdom relying on what a man and flesh can do, according to the desire of the flesh, according to the old nature as James mentioned. It is actually foolishness before God. It is living according to man’s plan and

desire.What is the source of your wisdom? Do you

have a heavenly wisdom or earthly one?

EXPRESSION OF WISDOMTwo factory workers were talking. "I know how to get some time off from work." said

the man. "How do you think you will do that?" said the other one. He proceeded to show her...by climbing up to the rafters, and hanging upside down. The boss walked in, saw the worker hanging from the ceiling,

and asked him what on earth he was doing?

"I’m a light bulb" answered the guy. "I think you need some time off," said the

boss. So, the man jumped down and walked out of the factory. The second

worker began walking out too. The boss asked her where did she think she was

going? "Home. I can’t work in the dark."

Being wise of this world means jealousy and selfishness, etc. But is this really what

true wisdom is? What is really the expression or demonstrations of true

wisdom? A judge enters the courtroom, strikes the gavel and says, "Before I begin this trial, I

have an announcement to make. The lawyer for the defense has paid me $15, 000 to swing the case his way.

The lawyer for the plaintiff has paid me $10, 000 to swing the case her way. In

order to make this a fair trial, I am returning $5, 000 to the defense."

We can say that all these are expressions and demonstrations of wisdom but again

what wisdom do you demonstrate?

HEAVENLY WISDOMgood conduct…works done in…gentleness.

Jesus is the best example of this kind of wisdom. Philippians 2:1 NET Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in

the Spirit, any affection or mercy, 2 complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in

spirit, and having one purpose.

3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as

more important than yourself. 4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of

others as well. 5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ

Jesus had,

6 who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as

something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. 8 He humbled himself, by

becoming obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross!

EARTHLY WISDOMjealousy & selfishness

(boasting & denying the truth)President Woodrow Wilson is reported to have had a very sharp wit. It seems that

while he was Governor of New Jersey, the chairman of the New Jersey Bar

Association called him late one evening to tell him that the Chief Justice of the New

Jersey Supreme Court had just died.

After the usual kind words regarding the deceased, the head of the Bar Association

was trying to find an appropriate way to suggest that he be named to replace him on

the bench. He said that he would be interested in "taking the deceased's place.""Well," said Wilson, "If is all right with the

undertaker, it is all right with me."

That has to be selfish, earthly, wisdom!

James wrote that heavenly wisdom is expressed by having good conduct…works done in…gentleness. Compare that to the

expression of earthly wisdom, which is jealousy and selfishness.

Earthly wisdom is selfish, self-centered, just thinking of oneself interests rather than God

and other centered which is the mark of heavenly wisdom.

Matthew 5:38 NET "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth

for a tooth.' (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20) 39 But I say to you, do not resist the

evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

How are the expressions, the demonstrations of your wisdom? Is it God

centered and looking for others welfare rather than being selfish or self-centered?

FRUIT OF WISDOMJames 3:16 NET For where there is

jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and

good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. 18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make

peace.

HEAVENLY WISDOMgood conduct…works done in…gentleness,

(fruit that consists of righteousness pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and

not hypocritical.)EARTHLY WISDOMjealousy and selfishness

(disorder and every evil practice)

Solomon in his wisdom examines human life & the results of all that people do.

Ecclesiastes 1:12 NET I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I

decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a

burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I

concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile — like chasing the wind! 15 What is

bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied. 16 I thought to myself, "I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over

Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge."

17 So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish

behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to

chase the wind! 18 For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases

his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 NET Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish

behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done? 13 I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable

to darkness: 14 The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in

darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

15 So I thought to myself, "The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So

I lamented to myself, "The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!" 16 For

the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies — just

like the fool!

Wisdom is more than being wise as the world understands, it is more than

knowledge, it is not an ability to answer all the questions on the test, or passing an

exam, an interview or even having a good career and job, or being popular and

powerful, being rich and famous. But true wisdom that comes from God is a way of

living, an attitude of the heart.

That is why James said that the expressions of heavenly wisdom are “good conduct” & “works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.” It is more than head

knowledge but heart knowledge, more than having big head & brain but big heart. That is also why Solomon said that wisdom is

calling everywhere, because wisdom is an everyday life according to how God wants

you to live your life every day.

If you do this, then heavenly kingdom, true kingdom is in you!

Proverbs 4:7 NET Wisdom is supreme — so acquire wisdom, and whatever you

acquire, acquire understanding!Solomon in Ecclesiastes writes that wisdom of this world is futile, like trying to chase the

wind! He is talking here about earthly wisdom because of his conclusion in

Ecclesiastes 12.

Ecclesiastes 12:9 NET Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge

to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs. 10 The Teacher

sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings. 11 The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are

given by one shepherd.

12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the

making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body. 13 Having heard

everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. 14

For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

So, where does your wisdom come from? Is your wisdom displayed by, “good conduct”

& “works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings?” Or does it lean more

towards jealousy and selfishness?Remember this: James 1:5 NET But if

anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to

him.