JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Sowing Seeds of Peace (James 3:13-18 NIV) 6-1-25

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Sowing Seeds of Peace (James 3:13-18 NIV) 6-1-25

INTRODUCTION

The joy of perseverance to maturity

True religion

Equality in the church

Faith and works

Taming the tongue

James 3:13-18 NIV

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. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 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. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 

James‬ ‭3‬:‭13-18‬ NIV‬‬‬‬

Works come from faith

A tamed tongue comes from a changed source

Peaceful people come from wisdom and understanding

"The proof is in the pudding."

I.  THE OUTCOME OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

Intelligence is not the same as wisdom.

A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, “I should have one of he parachutes because I have a wife and three small children.” So he took one and jumped.

The computer whiz said, “I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me.” So he took one and jumped.

The minister turned to the Boy Scout and with a sad smile said, “You are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute, and I’ll go down with the plane.”

The boy Scout said, “Relax, Reverend, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!

Ted Sutherland, Sermon Central, February 19, 2001.

James 3:13 NIV

“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.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  A good life

B.  Good deeds

1. Done in humility

2. Coming from wisdom

It requires wisdom to understand wisdom; the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.

Walter Lippmann

II.  THE OUTCOME OF “SUCH ‘WISDOM’"

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." 

Socrates

You cannot learn Godly wisdom in a University and get a degree in it. It can only come to a heart in right relationship with God, and seeking it.

Lalachan Abraham, Sermon Central, August 17, 2013.

James 3:14-16 NIV

“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfful to seek other than itself."

Khalil Gibran

A.  Bitter envy

B.  Selfish ambition

C.  Boast about it

D.  Deny the truth

E.  Not from heaven

1.  Earthly

2.  Unspiritual 

3.  Demonic

F.  Effects

1.  Disorder

2.  Every evil practice

III.  A DESCRIPTION OF THE GOOD LIFE

“It is characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things.”

Henry David Thoreau

James 3:17-18 NIV

“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. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Pure

B.  Peace-loving

C.  Considerate

D.  Submissive

E.  Full of mercy

F.  Full of good fruit

G.  Impartial 

H.  Sincere 

Proverbs 4:7 NIV

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

‭‭ Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

CONCLUSION

Peace makers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness!  Good deeds are the outcome of a good life.  Disorder and evil practices are the outcome of a life lived by earthly “wisdom.” Why would anyone choose that life over the good life.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.