JESUS CHRIST THE LIVING WORD TO A DYING WORLD

2 Timothy 4:1-8

by: Sis. Melle Permejo

Introduction:

Do you know that there are 4 kinds of soldiers (of the Lord). They are:

1. Active Duty:  Serving the Lord faithfully, daily, and on duty 24-7-365.
2. Reserve Status: Serving only when called upon, or twice a year: Christmas and Easter.
3. Guard Status: Backing up the Active Duty group.
4. AWOL: Absent without the Lord
   
   

Where do you find yourself best fit in? I hope not the last part. 

The title of my exhortation this Monday evening is “JESUS CHRIST THE LIVING WORD TO A DYING WORLD”. The passage we are going to read is from THE BOOK OF 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-8 (NEW KING JAMES VERSION).

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Where are we? (Historical back ground)

The book of 2nd Timothy is a Pastoral Epistle (letter from Paul to Timothy). The author is Apostle Paul who wrote it about 66 or 67 A.D. from prison in Rome. After a year or two of freedom, Paul was arrested again and executed under Emperor Nero Paul was virtually alone in prison; only Luke was with him. He wrote this letter to pass the torch to the new generation of church leaders.

He also asked for visits from his friends, for his books and especially the parchments – possibly parts of the Old Testament, the gospels and other biblical manuscripts. Ever since Rome had burned in July of A.D. 64 and Nero had blamed the Christians, it had become dangerous to be a Christian. It was also dangerous to have contact with leaders of the church such as Paul.1 Consequently many believers, including some of Paul's coworkers, had chosen to seek a much lower profile and become less aggressive in their ministries. Timothy faced temptation to do the same. Paul wrote this epistle to urge him to remain faithful to his calling and loyal to his father in the faith. Timothy needed to stand shoulder to shoulder with Paul and the other believers and to continue to "preach the Word" as he had done.

POINT 1: THE EDICT (2 Tim. 4:1-2). WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 

CHARGE in the Greek word means to attest or protest earnestly, or (by implication) hortatively: charge, testify (unto) witness.

Paul's point was this. Jesus Christ will judge Christians at the judgment seat of Christ and then appear again at the Second Coming (cf. 1:10) and set up His millennial kingdom on the earth. Consequently Timothy needed to herald the Word of God (v. 2) and faithfully carry out the ministry that God had given him (v. 5).93

Truth: Do your work (faithfully) in such a way that all things will be ready whenever He appears. We will give our report to God in due time.

This is not a petty request from a person who is about to die. It has weight. It requires obedience. This is a command, a demand to follow. And what is the charge?

In verse 2 his message is to

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 

Preach means Herald the Word of God! That is the primary responsibility of every leader of God's people. "kerysso ["preach"] is the verbal cognate of kerych, the 'herald' whose duty it was to make public proclamation. The verb thus means 'proclaim aloud, publicly' and is used in the NT of public proclamation or 'preaching' of the message that God has given.

As Francis De Assisi also says, “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words”

The edict is to preach the Word. When?

Be ready in season and out of season Whether it is not popular, whether we see the need or not we must stick to our task. We must abide on it. We must do it.

Dr. Warren Wendel Wiersbe is an American pastor, Bible teacher, conference speaker and a prolific writer of Christian literature and theological works. He is perhaps best known for his series of 50 books in the "BE" series: Be Real, Be Rich, Be Obedient, Be Mature, Be Joyful, etc. and other theological works. “Preaching must be marked by three elements: conviction, warning and appeal. To quote an old rule of preachers, he should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. If there is conviction but no remedy, we add to people’s burden. And if we encourage those we ought to be rebuked, we are assisting them to sin. Biblical preaching must be balanced.

POINT 2: THE EVENT – Why do you have to do it? Verses 3-4

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

What was the event? What was the situation during Timothy’s time? This is exactly what is happening in the world today. Have you find similarities? Look around you. Isn’t it amazing how Apostle Paul exactly visualizes what I looks like in the last days.

Truth: Whether you like it or not, ready or not, accept it or not, believe it or not we are on the last days. Either way the message is clearly stated. We have to preach the Word.

We are in the world where everything is acceptable to everybody. There’s no more absolute truth to them. We have to proclaim the word with all the doctrine. We are not to simply encourage everyone and improve their lives. We must also proclaim the doctrines such as: the nature of Jesus Christ, the sinfulness of man, salvation, the last days and other fundamental doctrines. So that the people would  how to handle the truth otherwise they will wander. As the song from the children’s ministry sang last time. “A HEART TO CHANGE THE WORLD” “How would the people know? Unless we show them, unless we tell them! You and I, got to have the heart to change the world Let the song start to sing in every boy and girl, By God's grace, in God's reign We can change the world, Let the world know that Jesus loves them.

And lastly,

POINT 3: THE ENDORSEMENT – How you should do it? Verses 5-8

5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 

Not Satisfied by -D.C.E. Our Daily Bread, January 13

Sometimes we are not satisfied with the responsibilities God has given us, thinking we are fitted for a larger ministry. Looking enviously at the size or scope of a fellow believer’s calling, we think less of our own work and begin to neglect it.

In his book Be Faithful, Warren W. Wiersbe illustrated how one Christian leader handled that problem. “A young preacher once complained to C. H. Spurgeon, the famous Baptist preacher, that he did not have as big a church as he deserved. ‘How many do you preach to?’ Spurgeon asked. ‘Oh, about a hundred,’ the man replied. Solemnly, Spurgeon said, ‘That will be enough to give account for on the day of judgment.’”

The truth of Spurgeon’s Statement is borne out in Paul’s reminder to “make full proof of thy ministry,” which means, “fulfill your ministry.” The apostle was telling his young friend in the faith to do all that God has called him to do. But this did not mean that Timothy was required to do the same things Paul was called to do. Nor did it mean that he would accomplish as much as the apostle would. Rather, it meant that whether Timothy’s task was large or small, in the limelight or behind the scenes, he was to fulfill his ministry in a diligent and commendable manner.

The same is true of us. Whether we are teaching three unruly boys in a Sunday school class, directing a girls club of hundreds, or preaching to thousands, we’re to do the job faithfully. That’s what God expects. And as we do, we will be fulfilling our ministry.

 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Paul revealed that he was about to die to impress on Timothy further the importance of remaining faithful to the Lord.Another view is that the first figure is military, the second athletic, and the third religious. Paul had lived the Christian life and served the Lord as He had commanded.

Paul had accomplish might things for the Lord and had endured many trials yet remained faithful. As a result, he had great confidence that he has a crown of righteousness reserved fro him in heaven.

In summary: JESUS CHRIST THE LIVING WORD TO A DYING WORLD

1. What should you do? - Edict
2. Why do you have to do it? - Event
3. How you can do it? – Endorsement/ Encouragement
   
   

IF by J. Wilbur Chapman

• If to be a Christian is worthwhile, then the most ordinary interest in those with whom we come in contact would prompt us to speak to them of Christ.
• If the New Testament be true—and we know that it is—who has given us the right to place the responsibility for soul-winning on other shoulders than our own’
• If they who reject Christ are in danger, is it not strange that we, who are so sympathetic when the difficulties are physical or temporal, should apparently be so lacking of interest as to allow our friends and neighbors and kindred to come into our lives and pass out again without a word of invitation to accept Christ, to say nothing of sounding a note of warning because of their peril’
• If today is the day of salvation, if tomorrow may never come and if life is equally uncertain, how can we eat, drink and be merry when those who live with us, work with us, walk with us and love us are unprepared for eternity because they are unprepared for time‘
• If Jesus called his disciples to be fishers of men, who gave us the right to be satisfied with making fishing tackle or pointing the way to the fishing banks instead of going ourselves to cast out the net until it be filled‘
• If Jesus himself went seeking the lost, if Paul the Apostle was in agony because his kinsmen, according to the flesh, knew not Christ, why should we not consider it worthwhile to go out after the lost until they are found‘
• If I am to stand at the judgment seat of Christ to render an account for the deeds done in the Body, what shall I say to him if my children are missing, if my friends are not saved or if my employer or employee should miss the way because I have been faithless‘

Jesus Christ is returning soon, are you ready to give your report to Him?

PREACH THE WORD AT ALL TIMES AND IF POSSIBLE USE WORDS. AS WE PROCLAIM JESUS CHRIST THE LIVING WORD TO A DYING WORLD.

GOD BLESS US ALL.  

The Thankful Leper

By: Sis. Liezl Magno Francisco

Sermon from Dr. Tom Walker
Zion Hill Baptist--Marion, NC-USA

Introduction:

    From the time we are small children, our parents are constantly reminding us to have good manners. When you ask for something, what do your parents always tell you to say? PLEASE. And when you receive something, what are you supposed to say? THANK YOU.

    When your parents remind you to say “please” and “thank you” they are helping you to understand thankfulness. Let’s say you receive a gift you really wanted for Christmas, you’re not just happy that you have a gift, you are filled with thankfulness to the giver as well. And because you are so amazed by the giver’s generosity and love, you freely show your thankfulness by giving them a hug or saying “thank you” over and over.

    Thanksgiving should be a way of life for the child of God and so we give thanks to God, today, tomorrow and every day.

    Today we are going to look at a story in Luke 17 about a time that Jesus gave an amazing gift to ten men. And while all ten of them may have been happy that they received a gift, only one of them chose to show his thankfulness to Jesus.

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Title:    THE THANKFUL LEPER

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Luke 17:11-19

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 

12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 

13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 

14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 

16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 

17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 

18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 

19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

   

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Point no. 1 (Luke 17:11-13)

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We should be truly thankful for Gods’ love

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12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 

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13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”    

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Notice 2 things: (1) Jesus is just outside a village and (2) he meets a group of lepers. It wasn’t uncommon for lepers to group together. They can’t have much social contact with the “clean” members of society, so they form their own society of the “unclean”, the “untouchables.” Being just outside a village would be common, since they probably obtain food from family members or those in the village who have pity on them. Since they have no land to till, no livestock to look after, they are dependent upon others. (17:12a)

    When Jesus and His band of disciples draw near, the ten lepers who stood at a distance from Jesus immediately recognize Him and called out His name. They knew that they could not go near anyone because they had contagious illness. When they saw Jesus crossing the border between Samaria and Galilee, they yelled, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

    The lepers cry miserably. It was a desperate cry for no one could help them. It was a definite cry for mercy. It was a dependent cry for he was their only resort for healing.

    The lepers ask for pity, a familiar cry that they have been uttering ever since they were diagnosed with leprosy and cast out of the village. The word falls easily from their lips, they are used to voicing it.

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    Have pity – the Greek word is eleeo meaning to be greatly concerned about someone in need, have compassion/mercy/pity for someone.

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    They don’t ask for healing, but for mercy, for whatever Jesus might give them – food, clothing, shelter, whatever he decides to offer. They know Jesus’ reputation for compassion.

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Point no. 2

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We should be truly thankful for the cleansing power of Christ.

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As the lepers went to do what Jesus told them, they noticed that their leprosy was gone. They had been healed. Literally, in the going, they were cleansed. There came a point – as they had begun to obey Jesus, their healing took place all of a sudden. They believed Him, that is had faith and received healing as a result, because these lepers believe, they begin to obey and go to the village where the priests live.

Leprosy is much like the HIV virus of our day – there is no known cure. Sin is much the same way. There is no cure for it in anything that man can do. Not by works of righteous which we have done, but according to His Mercy He saved us. Jesus healed the lepers. Only Jesus can make the leper (sinner) clean. Faith made them recover. Following Jesus make them recover. Jesus Christ brought about their healing.

All ten lepers realized they are healed, but only one comes all the way back to Jesus, praising God on his mercy in healing him. Only one returned to give thanks to Jesus: Ten lepers received the gift of healing but only one came to thank the healer. Ten lepers were blessed but only one bowed at Jesus feet.

    Notice the “loud voice” in verse 15. The lepers have called out loudly to ask for mercy; but only one leper offers loud thanksgiving and praise.

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Point no. 3 (Luke 17:17-18)

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We should be truly thankful for Christ desire for fellowship.

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    Why did Jesus say that what he did, the nine did not come back?

Jesus could have asked many events but he chooses to reveal the longing of his heart. What did he long for? For all the men to come back and fellowship with him by giving thanks, One of the best ways to fellowship with Christ is to give thanks for the things that he has done for us.

Though these nine other men were so, so happy to be healed, they didn’t return to Jesus to publicly GIVE THANKS. They didn’t “praise God with a loud voice and throw themselves at His feet” like the leper who did return to give thanks to Jesus.

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    Thanksgiving is the point of faith which many people never consider. It is at the feet of Jesus where true thanksgiving to God is rendered, for it is through Jesus sacrifice, and not our own, that our own thanksgiving is made holy and pleasing to God.

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Point no. 4

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We should be truly thankful for the change he has made us

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Made you well is Greek word sozo meaning to save, sozo in this context means to preserve or rescue from dangers and applications specifically safe or free from diseases.

This passage hints at the fact that Jesus offers this leper more than others. They receive the healing, but this Samaritan receives a deeper salvation in addition. His faith has prompted him to return to the feet of Jesus in thanks and that personal contact, that personal submission signifies a soul healing that is more than skin deep.

    Faith that healed the lepers was by acting in Jesus words. If they had done quick physical check to see if they were healed before they headed off the priests’ village they would have never started. The healing didn’t take place until after they obeyed. We sometimes want instantaneous healing before we’ll believe that Jesus heals us. But the faith is shown in the going. “Your faith has made you well.”   

    Wonderful change in the lives of the lepers has been wrought, since Jesus came into their hearts.

1. The lepers looked different – no longer repulsive
2. They smelled different – no more festering sores
3. They walked different – because they were healthy
4. They talked different – not having to cry “unclean” any longer

IN CONCLUSION:

    Some things that we can be thankful in our lives

1. We should be truly thankful for God’s love
2. We should be truly thankful for the cleansing power of Christ
3. We should be truly thankful for Christ’s desire for fellowship
4. We should be truly thankful for the change He has made in us

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    As we express our thankfulness with words, we must live a thankful life and speak thankful words as an act of humble submission to God, whether we are prospering or suffering, because being thankful for adversity is never easy, but it is always right. And it’s right because of who God is and what He has done for us. It’s right because He sent His son to die on the cross for our sins and its right because one day we will be with Jesus in Eternity. And so may we do what is right and may we be thankful people – continually speaking words of gratitude and thanksgiving to God and to others.

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 “THREE THINGS FOR A NEW BEGINNING”

Colossians  3: 1 – 17

by: Bro. PJ Jalosjos

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^{[b] 7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Ø  Point # 1. Things must be MAINTAINED in our life: (verses 3-4)

Ø  3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Ø  What would be our Focus?

-          We must focus our spiritual thoughts on heavenly things.

-          We need to set our minds on the things of God and on the things that give glory to Him.

1.    To know deeper in the Word of God

2.    To live a holy life

3.    To obtain Godly qualities

Ø  We are to live the way Jesus lived. We are allowing heavenly perspective to move in our earthly walk. Every decision, plans and purpose we make must considered in the light of eternity. As we give our attention to these spiritual and heavenly things, we are exhorted to live a  holy, God-honoring life.

In verse 3-4 Paul says:

·         ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Ø  All of these things are possible because of the Lord’s presence. If we set our hearts and mind on things above, rest assured God will give us all that we need to live for Him in this world.

Ø  Point # 2. Things must be MOVED OUT in our life: (verses 5-10)

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^{[b] 7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.

The, Apostle Paul mentioned some dangers and warned his readers of these sinful ways. These examples such as: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips or even pride, boasting of one’s self, make for an ungodly life and will affect our walk in Christ.

  

In verse 10 Apostle Paul says;

¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Ø  Point # 3. Things must  be MANIFESTED in our life: (verses 12-14)

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

As a child of God, and followers of Christ, these things should be manifested in our lives. 

We must put on compassion and kindness; not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well; not only not do hurt to any, but do what good we can to all.

In conclusion:

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

And lastly TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

THE FACES OF WISDOM

TEXT:  James 3:13-18(NIV)

By: Genesis Leonor Fernandez

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

The above  scripture is a comparison between wisdom which is godly and one that is earthly--mentioned in verse 17—the wisdom from heaven is pure, peaceable, gentle and so forth and in verse 15— the wisdom which is earthly, natural and demonic.  Let’s note that what James is saying is what the Old Testament wisdom literature refers as divided into two kinds, the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. Men might claim they have wisdom. But what kind, is it the wisdom of men or the wisdom of God? There's a great difference. In fact, in verse 13 James says, "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him prove it by his good behavior manifest through his deeds with an attitude of meekness." So if you claim to have wisdom and you claim that that wisdom is from above, the burden of proof is by the behavior manifested in you.


Notice again back at verse 13, he says, "Who is wise and understanding?"
I think basically these two words are  synonymous and put there for emphasis. But they do have a shade of difference in their meaning. This is the only time in the whole New Testament these two words appear together. The simple distinction is that wisdom probably relates to the application of principles whereas understanding relates to the understanding of those principles or the knowledge of those principles. One would have more impact on the mind and one might have more impact on the conduct.
Three Ways to Show Wisdom. v.13  

1. Good Life  ( Generally)

It's a general statement, good conduct. We could even translate anastrophes as lifestyle . And then the word "good.” means lovely, beautiful, winsome, attractive, noble, excellent, a very common New Testament word.
You claim to have the wisdom of God? Then show it by your good behavior, by your excellent lifestyle, by your attractive action. That's general. In other words, if you have the wisdom of God, it's going to come out by the way you live.

2.: Good Deeds (Specifically)

And now he goes from the general to the specific. And he identifies the specifics of daily life, those individual behaviors, those separate acts that he calls works, deeds. Here James focuses on the minutiae of life.

3. Humility and Meekness (Attitudinally)

We could say he says you must demonstrate that you have the wisdom of God not only generally and specifically, but attitudinally, because at the end of verse 13 he says, "All of this will be done in the meekness of wisdom." In other words, true wisdom has a meekness. What James is saying is if you have the wisdom of God, far from arrogant, you'll be meek. This is wisdom's meekness. Beautiful thought. It isn't arrogant at all.

Where did James get this? I mean, what's the basis of all of this? What foundation underlies it? Here, James  is a Jew writing to Jews so he assumes their Old Testament understanding. And since we can't assume that for ourselves as Gentiles far removed from the Jewish context, we needed to fill up a little bit of our understanding. Remember that the wisdom of the Old Testament was basically initiated by the fear of the Lord. Do you remember that? The fear of the Lord is the..beginning of wisdom. Wisdom begins in fearing the Lord.  To fear the Lord is to have a reverential trust in Him. When the Old Testament says "fear God, fear the Lord," it is a call to salvation, it is a call to reverential trust, to commitment in which a person turns from sin in faith to God and has a hatred of evil and a love of obedience. 

So, when a person put his faith in God, he was ushered into the sphere of wisdom. And then became really the student of divine wisdom who lived that wisdom out. True wisdom, we saw, comes from God. It is given to one who comes into relationship with Him. And all of us who know God in a personal intimate way have received from Him that wisdom. Now let me say that again. All of us who know God through Christ in a personal way have received the wisdom of God. And that wisdom of God is manifest in the life of a true believer. Every true believer will manifest the wisdom of God.

James brings us to the text. First of all, let's look at false wisdom, verses 14 to 16. He begins by analyzing the worldly wisdom that is not of God. It has no relationship to God. It has no obedience to God. It has no knowledge of God's truth. He goes under the surface of this worldly wisdom to tell us several things about it.
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

I.FALSE WISDOM:

A.) MOTIVATION  of False Wisdom v14

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.V.14
Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with diligence for out of it are the issues of life." So he's looking into the heart and as he looks into the heart, he sees what motivates the person. And there are two things that motivate.

1.Bitter envying

A better translation would be "bitter jealousy.“ Pikron” in the Greek means harsh or bitter. It is used of bitter undrinkable water. The word "envying" or the word "jealousy" is zelos. It is used here in a bad sense and it means an evil jealousy. It is the idea of a harsh bitter self-centeredness that produces a resentful attitude toward everybody else. 

2.Selfish ambition

A personal ambition that creates rivalry or a party spirit or antagonism. First you start with bitter jealousy and that creates the attitude of competition and conflict. And selfish ambition generates a party spirit and a bitterness toward others. In  politics it is used with people who in selfish ambition tried to seek high political office, attaining their person goals at any cost no matter what they had to do to other people to get there.

B). CHARACTERISTICS of False Wisdom V.15

15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
What wisdom that doesn't come from heaven? The wisdom that is bitter, jealous, selfishly ambitious, self-centered, self-focused, without humility, without love,  just consumes on its own desire...that wisdom is not from above

Now he gives us three words to describe the wisdom that is false.  Earthly, Sensual, Demoniacal.

C).RESULTS of False Wisdom  v.16

16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

1.Disorder

Gk word,akatastasia, it means confusion coming out of instability, chaos. Earthly wisdom will never produce harmony, it will never produce love because earthly wisdom is, first of all, proud, self-seeking, self-serving, self-indulgent, it destroys intimacy, it destroys love, it destroys unity, it destroys fellowship, it brings discord, it brings chaos.

2. Evil work. 

Every worthless and vile thing. It contemplates evil. R.C. Trench has a good word on this...it contemplates evil not from the aspect of its active or passive malignity but rather from its good for nothingness the utter impossibility of any true gain ever coming from it. Did you get that? So out of human wisdom comes disorder, chaos, confusion and absolutely no good at all.

II. TRUE WISDOM

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

1. MOTIVATION of True Wisdom V17

1. Pure.
The word implies sincere moral spiritual character.  It has more to do with the spiritual integrity moral sincerity-- free from bitter jealousy, free from selfish ambition, free from arrogant self-promotion. So the basic pure heartedness is the motive of the believer. It's not a heart of pride, it's a heart of purity.
 

B.)CHARACTERISTICS of True Wisdom

The motive, purity.. here are the qualities that will be characteristic of true wisdom. 

1. Peaceable -Gk.eirenikos, peace loving, peace promoting. 

The wisdom from God is not creating confusion. It is not creating disorder. It is not self-promoting. It is peace loving, peace making. It doesn't come to a compromise with truth, but it makes peace.

2.Considerate- gentle

That is steadfastly gentle, with an attitude of humility, an attitude of courteousness, an attitude of kindness, an attitude of patience, an attitude of consideration without hatred, without malice, without revenge. 

3.Submissive-easy to be entreated 

Gk.Eupeithes means they're willing to yield, willing to yield, not stubborn, easily persuaded, teachable, compliant. 

4.Full of mercy 

This really means a concern for people who suffer manifested not only in forgiving people who have wronged you but in reaching out to people with compassion who are in suffering.

5. Without partiality. 

That's the only place in the New Testament this term is used. It means it's unwavering, it's undivided in its commitment. There's no vacillating. There's no shifting. There's no turning one way and then turning another way. It's consistent, no partiality.

6.Without hypocrisy

Utterly sincere, genuine, not phony, not fake, no pretense, no mask.

C.)RESULTS of Godly Wisdom  v18

The fruit of righteousness.

True wisdom here is equated with Righteousness. The fruit of righteousness. Righteousness is equated with true wisdom because wisdom is righteous living. "And the fruit of this righteousness is sown..." Now that's a strange picture...fruit is sown. Usually seed is sown. But on the other hand, fruit harvested becomes seed for the next crop, doesn't it? The fruit of righteousness is resown in peace by them that are making peace. 

And let me just summarize in closing thought...wisdom equals life style. The entry into wisdom is through faith in God through Jesus Christ. We are saved into wisdom. Once we come into wisdom, then Scripture becomes the source of wisdom, the Holy Spirit becomes the teacher of wisdom. What a wonderful thought. What a wonderful truth. And if we lack any wisdom, we can ask of God. So we have entered the sphere of wisdom. We possess the revelation of wisdom. We are indwelt by the teacher of wisdom. And whatever application of wisdom we lack, we may ask God who gives and holds back nothing.