Let's seek God again in prayer and ask for his presence with us. Father, we come to you and we thank you for this opportunity to sing hymns of praise to you, to hear your word read, and now to hear your word proclaimed. And we come as beggars, we come as sinners, we come as creatures, we come as needy people, Some are genuine believers and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and some here are not. But we come and ask that you would pour out your Holy Spirit upon each and every one of us, and that you would use your truth for the good of sinners, for the salvation of sinners, and for the good of your people, the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please use your word to this end and magnify Jesus Christ in our midst. In his name we pray, amen. Well, the Bible has much to say about folly or foolishness. According to the Bible, folly is tied to and rooted in moral realities. Moral realities and sins such as sexual immorality, covetousness, idolatry, imprudence, pride, atheism, and deception. Consider, for example, these Bible passages. You don't need to turn there. These Bible passages that reveal this connection between folly and foolishness and various sins. In Genesis 34 we read that the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it and the men were grieved and they were very angry because Hamor of Shechem had wrought folly in Israel, lying with Jacob's daughter. Or Joshua 7. And it shall be that he that is taken, this is Joshua speaking, he that is taken with the devoted thing, the wedge of gold, shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of Jehovah, and because he has wrought folly in Israel. Or in 1 Samuel 25, Abigail speaking to David, let not my Lord, I pray you, Regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. Or in Psalm 14, the fool has said in his heart, there's no God. Or Jeremiah 23, And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria. They prophesied by Baal and caused my people Israel to err. So those are just some examples that show us that the Bible has much to say about folly, and the Bible ties folly and foolishness to a variety of sins. And in the light of these biblical depictions of folly, no one should regard it with indifference. Folly is not a morally neutral matter. Instead of choosing folly and being foolish, whether you're young or old, it does not matter. You should choose wisdom, God's wisdom. in order to be truly wise. And the Bible has much to say also about this matter of true wisdom. Wisdom is explained, illustrated, and applied in numerous passages throughout the Bible. And we do well to pay attention to the Bible's teachings, God's Word regarding wisdom, and acquire that wisdom. And in the passage which we will study this morning, as we continue in our studies in the book of James, this is exactly what the Apostle James would have us do. Understand what true wisdom is according to God's Word, and acquire that wisdom. So turn now in your Bibles to James chapter 3, and we'll begin reading at verse 13. James chapter 3, and beginning at verse 13. James 3, verse 13. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. This wisdom is not a wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace." And there we end our reading. I'd like you to look at this passage in James 3, verse 13 and following, and notice, first of all, a pointed, relevant question. A pointed, relevant question. You see it right there in verse 13. Who is wise and understanding among you? And with this question, James, as a pastor, was addressing all of his readers and all who had listened to this letter being read. He was not just addressing pastors or teachers, for all Christians should be wise and understanding. If James had been present when his letter was read in some congregation, would he have expected an immediate show of hands to be raised by numerous individuals in the church in response to that question, who is wise and understanding among you? Would James have expected to see a whole host of people raising their hand? Yes, I'm wise. Probably not. He probably would not have expected that because James understood that there is a paradox associated with true wisdom. The interesting paradox is this. The Christian who believes that God has given him some wisdom is usually the last person to assert that he has any wisdom. because one who is truly wise, according to the Bible, is also one who is truly humble and thinks soberly about himself or herself. But James did ask this question in order to cause his readers and all of us here this morning to examine our hearts, our words, and our lives in order to answer this very relevant, very vital and pointed question. By asking this question, James did not intend to depress anyone through such self-examination as we realize how little genuine wisdom we do possess. He was not intending to discourage or depress anyone with his question, and neither did James pen the question of verse 13 with a goal of discouraging anyone from seeking acquiring and then using biblical wisdom. No, James understood that when each of us comes to grips with the reality that in myself I lack true wisdom, then and only then will I seek the wisdom that comes from God himself. In other words, Humility is absolutely essential if anyone is to acquire genuine wisdom. Furthermore, James tells us in verse 13 that true wisdom is manifested in one's life and works, not primarily in his words. Now, James has been dealing extensively in the earlier part of chapter 3, as all of you who have been attending here know, the whole matter of the use of our tongues, the whole matter of the use of our words. But in verse 13, James tells us that true wisdom is manifested in one's life and works, not primarily in his words. It is at this point that the world around us is so completely confused and wrong in their understanding regarding wisdom, so-called wisdom for the world. The world believes that wisdom is found in the acquisition of knowledge, in the proclamation of that knowledge, in a lecture hall in a university, or in writing blogs and articles on the internet, or in speaking as an expert upon a specific topic on a news channel. Seeking, acquiring, and speaking knowledge of any particular subject is not a bad thing, of course. We should be teaching our children. We should be teaching them to study, to study many subjects, to acquire knowledge. It's good and necessary to study specific subjects to be well informed. But having massive amounts of knowledge about any particular matter does not make someone wise. With an unexpected jolt to our minds, as you read through James 13 and following, James tells us that true wisdom is manifested in the works and deeds of a wholesome life which is saturated with the grace of meekness. True wisdom is manifested in the works and deeds of a wholesome life, I would say a godly life, which is saturated with the grace of meekness. But now, perhaps, James' words about a life of works, a life of works and good deeds, might cause another jolt to your mind. emphasizing works, the works and deeds of a wholesome life, was James manifesting that he was actually a closet, works-righteous Pharisee? Was he manifesting that he was a Judaizer who subverted the gospel of God's grace? Was James, by emphasizing the works and deeds of a wholesome life, was he a Roman Catholic prior to the advent of Roman Catholicism? No, no, no. James was correct in his understanding that true wisdom, godly wisdom, Biblical wisdom is manifested in a life of righteous works done in meekness. Think of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as he spoke the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. The priest and the Levite did not help the severely wounded man on the roadside, But the Samaritan manifested meekness of wisdom by his work of assisting that very, very needy man. We're told there in Luke 10 that the Samaritan bound up his wounds, poured oil and wine on them. You see, there was true wisdom. The oil to cleanse away the dirt of the wounds, the wine with its alcohol to actually kill bacteria, There was wisdom, working wisdom, you see, and then the same Samaritan set this man on his own beast, brought him to an end, took care of him. You see, there is a vivid picture of wisdom. James would declare this Samaritan man manifested by his good life, his works in meekness of wisdom. You see, what did that Samaritan understand about himself? The passage doesn't tell us, but bringing Bible truth together, I think it's safe to assume he saw that wounded man as just like himself. He understood, first of all, his position, the Samaritan did, that he was a creature. that he was a sinner, that he was an ignorant man in himself, that before the living God who sees everything, he was nothing, you see, that he was not better than or superior to this wounded man on the road. And consequently, he humbly and wisely helped his fellow creature. So the question comes to all of us this morning from God through the Apostle James in verse 13. Who is wise and understanding among you? You, the people sitting here this morning in this building. Who is wise and understanding among you? If you believe you are wise by God's grace, you will show forth that wisdom Not so much by what you say, but by how you live. And not only how you live here in public in this church building, but especially how you live when you're all alone. And how you live with your spouse and your children. How you live when you're at your place of work. You see, who is wise and understanding among you? You must show it by a life of good works in righteousness and meekness. You will never be able to be that kind of a person if you are not a genuine Christian, someone whom God has given spiritual life, cause to be born again, someone who is turning away from his or her sins of the heart, the mind, the life totally, disgusted by your own sins, grieved by your own sins, hating them, turning away from them, and calling upon the living Lord Jesus Christ for pardon, cleansing, forgiveness, salvation, transformation, asking Him, the living, almighty Jesus Christ, to make you a man, woman, boy or girl of true biblical wisdom. So that's the pointed, relevant question. But now notice, secondly, a pointed, relevant warning. Look at verse 14 in your Bibles. James chapter 3, verse 14. A pointed, relevant warning. But if you have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not or boast not and lie not against the truth. James warns us in this verse to reject and abandon and repent of all self-deception. But you see, this is the problem. Usually, people who are self-deceived don't realize that they're self-deceived. They actually think things are really wonderful for them. But James still is calling all of us, as you hear these words of verse 14, to cry out to God and say, Lord, show me. Show me. Forget about my spouse. Forget about my children. Forget about my friends. Show me, Lord. Am I self-deceived? Mere talk of being wise. However orthodox your words may be, however lofty in tone your words may be, however well-meant your words may be, mere talk of being wise proves absolutely nothing if your life is characterized by the evil fruit which James now identifies. Talk is cheap. Actions prove reality. But notice the evil fruit that James speaks of here. First of all, the evil fruit of bitter jealousy. What is he referring to? It is a sour discontentment with your station in life when compared to others around you. That's the meaning here. A bitter jealousy, an envy, a bitter envy, a sour discontentment with your station in life when compared with others around you. Your marriage state, whether single or married, You're discontent. Your spouse, you're not happy with your spouse, whether it's the him or the her. Your children, their spiritual condition. You look at others around you, and their family life seems so good and so wholesome, and you look at your family situation, it's not so great. And instead of dealing with the root sin issues in the family situation with your children, you become discontent and sour and jealous and envious of others. Or your finances, or your prominence or lack of prominence in this world, or at the office, or in the place of work, or in the church. If your heart, James, wants you to understand, and your life is marked by bitter jealousy, then do not be deceived. Do not boast that all is well with your soul in life. Do not think that you are wise. Rather, go home and be depressed. No. Right where you are, cry out to the living God. Say, Lord, Forgive me for my wretched sins of bitterness and jealousy and envy and sourness and discontentment. Wash me in the blood of your Son right now where I sit. You can do that supernatural work of washing me in the blood of Christ right now, Lord. You have said, ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you. Lord, I'm asking, I'm seeking, I'm knocking now. I cannot undo this mess in my heart. I cannot untangle the bitterness and the discontentment and the sourness. I can't sort it out. I can't wash it away. I can't do it. But you can, because you are gracious, kind, and almighty. Lord, do that for me now." Notice the second evil fruit that James highlights. Bitter jealousy is the first, but he highlights the evil fruit of faction. Now that word means contention, strife, rivalry with others in your life. Whether it is strife and contention with people in your own family, or others in the local church, or people in your workplace, or in the world about you, When there is arguing and strife and tension in your human relationships, James says, don't lie to yourself. Don't say, all is well. Don't put on the happy face and pretend all is well. No. Face up to the sad truth about these sins. Don't be deceived. It's not a manifestation of wisdom. Instead, again, confess such sins of contention, strife, rivalry that's there in your heart, there in your life to God through Christ. Ask for forgiveness, cleansing. Call upon the Lord Jesus Christ now. But notice what James tells us here. These evil fruits of bitter jealousy and faction come from your heart. The heart, according to the Bible, is the seat of everything that makes you, you. And James says that that's where these sins reside. And therefore, in verse 14, we must not boast. We must not be proud and deceive ourselves. Instead, we need to remember truths such as we find in Jeremiah chapter 9. Thus says the Lord Jehovah, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glories glory in this, that he has understanding and knows me, that I am Jehovah, who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth. So this is what we are to do, not be self-deceived, not be boastful, but boast in the living God. So if you have bitter jealousy, faction in your heart, do not boast, do not lie against the truth. Verse 14. But notice now thirdly in James' words here in verse 15, worldly and heavenly wisdom contrasted. Worldly and heavenly wisdom contrasted in verse 15. This wisdom is not a wisdom that comes down from above, this bitter jealousy, etc., but is earthly, sensual, devilish. You see, worldly wisdom's characteristics begin with earthliness. The world's wisdom arises from the mind of the creature. without any reference whatsoever to the Creator and His revelation given in creation and given especially in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and given in His infallible Word, the Bible. Such worldly wisdom views material things, money and possessions, the here and now, as all important and ultimate in this life. Eternity is not important for the worldly wise individual, the earthly so-called wise individual, because that individual thinks everything's going to work out for good at the end anyway. And only the very horrible, most wicked people of the world go to a place like hell, if there even is such a place as hell. You know, the Hitlers of the world. You see, that's earthly. worldly wisdom. No reference to God. James continues, worldly wisdom is sensual. It's natural. Worldly wisdom asserts that human feelings and senses and reasonings, they reign supreme in this life. not that which God tells us and not that which is truly spiritual. Worldly wisdom does not and cannot receive spiritual realities, but regards them as total foolishness. James continues, worldly wisdom is demonic. At its root, This so-called wisdom of the world is derived from the prince of the power of the air, the devil, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience. And such worldly wisdom rejects God's word, the Bible, rejects it as man's final authority for what to believe about life and eternity, how to live in preparation for eternity. This demonic wisdom It rejects God's truth totally as the starting point for understanding and interpreting everything, and even as the concluding point. With worldly wisdom, the devil's lies are embraced, and death is the result. And James wants us to see to understand how worthless and evil the world's wisdom is, which produces such sins as jealousy, contention, strife, and disorder. Every vile deed, James tells us in verse 16, every vile deed is the result. And he tells us this so that we will turn away from worldly wisdom and turn to the Lord's Heavenly wisdom. And we see that next in verse 17. Heavenly wisdom's characteristics, and James gives us quite a few. He begins with what is probably the most logical thing to begin with. Heavenly wisdom, he says, is pure. It's rooted in God's word. It is perfectly and completely holy. Heavenly wisdom is free from defect because it's rooted in God's infallible Word. Heavenly wisdom is peaceable. It's not contentious. It doesn't start quarrels. It doesn't start arguments. Christians will not insist on peace at any price. Hear me clearly. James is not saying that there's never a place for a Christian to stand firmly and to engage in a debate with someone else like an unbeliever or someone else who says he is a Christian but is teaching things that are wrong. He's not saying that. But such folks with heavenly wisdom will want to be peaceable and they will ask the question prior to speaking or debating Will these words that I'm planning to speak promote biblical truth and promote biblical peace? Heavenly wisdom is gentle. It is willing to yield to others. Not compromising biblical truth, not compromising biblical holiness, but heavenly wisdom shows a willingness to yield to others. See how contrary this is to the world's wisdom. People demand their rights. I have my rights, and I'm going to get my rights, and I don't care about you. If I have to walk over you to get what I want, I will do it. That is not heavenly wisdom. As Paul said to the Corinthians, who were fighting like cats and dogs, You're going to a court of law, brother against brother, the court of law before unbelieving judges. What are you doing? Why not rather take the wrong? Isn't that very interesting, dear brethren? There are times when you as a Christian can righteously say, I am not going to make sure this all gets sorted out and I am exonerated. I'm willing to take the wrong for the sake of the glory of Jesus Christ in the church. That's heavenly wisdom. But it follows on, it is easily entreated Heavenly wisdom is not gullible, but it shows deference and respect to others as long as God's truth is not violated. It does not seek its own. It does not stand on its own rights. It is full of mercy and good fruits. It is compassionate and seeks to do practical good for others whenever possible. It is without partiality. Heavenly wisdom is applied to all life's situations with all people without favoritism. Remembering that God's eye is in every place, beholding the good and the evil, remembering that God does not show favoritism. Heavenly wisdom is, lastly, sincere or without hypocrisy. The word that James uses here is a word that does mean a hypocrite. It's the idea of what happened in Greek tragedies and plays. where the actors would have a mask that they'd put up in front of their face. That mask might be a happy mask because they're playing a happy character. But then they put that mask aside, pick up another mask, and that mask may have a face that's angry because they're playing a character who's angry. You see, it's just a mask. And what James wants us to understand is that heavenly wisdom is not hypocritical. It's sincere. It's not acting and playing a part. So when you as Christians come into this church building, are you acting a part or are you the real deal? a real Christian, a true disciple of Jesus Christ? Are you wearing the mask of smiling because you don't want anyone to know that actually in your heart of hearts you have turmoil and trouble and you know you need help but you don't want anybody to know it because you're embarrassed that you have such trouble and turmoil. You don't want to let the mask down and let others know, I am a sinner who has a lot of problems and I need help. Heavenly wisdom doesn't put up the mask. That does not mean, James does not mean that you should just let it all out to the first person you see in the church building on Sunday morning. He doesn't mean you should say everything to everyone. But still, heavenly wisdom is sincere. The Christian who uses heavenly wisdom is never an actor playing a part on a stage wearing a mask. So what describes each of you? I want each of you here, the youngest to the oldest. Are you manifesting heavenly wisdom in your life? Or are you manifesting earthly wisdom in your life? And again, where you see sin and failure, don't go off being depressed. Cry out to Jesus Christ. Say, Lord, I need you to show forth your power in my needy soul and life. That's what you're to do. So we've seen a pointed, relevant question, a pointed, relevant warning about self-deception, and thirdly, worldly and heavenly wisdom contrasted. Let me give some lessons now. It should be clear from what I've already said, but whenever the gospel has a saving hold on the mind and the heart, the gospel always, always transforms the life from the inside out. Always. Such an individual who has truly been saved by Jesus Christ will show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. So are you sowing seeds in your life and those around you, words and actions and reactions of peace by speaking and living heavenly wisdom in your various relationships, starting with your own families? Is your profession of faith consistent with the heavenly wisdom that James describes here? Or are you sowing seeds of bitter jealousy, strife, selfishness, division, and confusion in your relationships? Which are you doing? And if you're doing that which is wrong and sinful, again, I urge you, stop today. and call upon the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you are living according to heavenly wisdom, stop and bless God for his mercy and his grace and his patience and his love that he has shown and still shows to you. Worship your Savior for his faithful love to you. a disciple, but still a sinner. But notice also from James' teaching, he highlights meekness or gentleness or humility. Meekness is not weakness. Now, I'm not the one who came up with that little phrase. I've heard it before. Meekness is not weakness. Our president would have you think, I think he probably would, I'm not sure, of course, I don't know him personally, but when you listen to our president, I don't think he would think that meekness is a good character trait. But that's what the Bible teaches. And that's who the Lord Jesus Christ was. That's what he is here on earth in heaven still. He said, come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, learn of me. Why? Because I am meek and lowly in heart. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness should be a grace that clothes every true disciple of Jesus Christ. Humility, you see, is paramount if we are to be truly wise. But now I would like you to turn to 1 Timothy 1. 1st Timothy chapter 1, beginning at verse 12. Consider Saul of Tarsus, who is transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ into the Apostle Paul. 1st Timothy 1 and verse 12. I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service. Though I was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious, albeit I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of whom I am chief, albeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his long-suffering for an example of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life. Consider Saul of Tarsus. When you read of Saul of Tarsus and what he has revealed about himself in his testimonies of salvation in the book of Acts as an example, you realize that with his words he was a murderer, and with his hands he was a murderer. And he tells us that he took delight, he actually took perverse delight in inflicting pain on others. That's his description of himself. What a wretched man in his words. He had earthly wisdom at that point in his life, not heavenly wisdom. and his words and his life just proclaim very loudly pride, boasting, self-centered, murderous Saul of Tarsus. But he tells us here in 1 Timothy 1 that God showed mercy upon him. God abounded exceedingly with faith and love in Christ Jesus toward him. that God saved him for many purposes, but one of them he tells us here in this passage, that he would be an example to anyone who would afterwards believe in Jesus Christ. You might be sitting here today as an unconverted, lost sinner, not a disciple of Jesus Christ. And God may be showing you that your heart is pretty ugly. Think of Saul of Tarsus, who was saved by Jesus Christ and transformed into the Apostle Paul. Jesus Christ can do that with you and your heart, even now, right where you sit here in this auditorium. But you must cry out to him and say, Lord, have mercy upon me, the sinner. Save me. Cleanse me. Do for me what you did for Saul of Tarsus, so that I will not be worldly wise. but be truly wise because I have heavenly wisdom, because you have had mercy upon me. May God do so for all of us this day. Let's close in prayer. Father, we come to you and we thank you for your holy word. We thank you that it reveals your gracious salvation in Jesus Christ. We thank you that you sent your only son into this world to take on human flesh and blood to become the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to save sinful sinners like we are. We thank you that in him we can indeed know the reality of heavenly wisdom in our hearts, in our lives. We pray that you would so work amongst your people here at Trinity Baptist Church, that we would show forth your glory by being clothed with heavenly wisdom in our speech, in our behavior, not only in church, but in our homes and in our places of work, Lord, make us your people to be bright, shining lights in this dark day in which we live. And come and save sinners. And come, Lord, and glorify your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you, we bless you for your love and grace in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.