Anchored in Faith: Pursuing God's Wisdom for the New Year
Summary
In a sermon delivered on Sunday, December 31, 2023, the speaker began by emphasizing the importance of faith as an anchor in the face of life's trials, including the inevitability of death. They expressed gratitude for this steadfast faith that provides solace during tumultuous times. The speaker then acknowledged the transition into the new year, urging the congregation to take control of their future by reacting positively to life's circumstances and aligning their plans with God's wisdom, as outlined in the Book of James, chapter 3.
The sermon included a story about a man living a simple life in a hut, illustrating that conflicts with others often stem from not living the life God intends for us. The speaker discussed the importance of taming the tongue and being mindful of our communication, even on social media platforms like Twitter. They concluded this section by reflecting on the wisdom from above, characterized by good conduct, meekness, purity, peace, and mercy.
James, the speaker, highlighted the importance of peace among God's people and the contrast between worldly wisdom, which leads to division, and godly wisdom, which leads to peace and a harvest of righteousness. He urged listeners to be humble, to empty their hearts of jealousy and selfish ambition, and to make the new year about God rather than themselves.
The speaker also addressed the importance of involving God in every decision, particularly in relationships, and warned against blaming others for problems that may actually stem from one's own lack of godly wisdom. They emphasized the significance of turning to Jesus for true fulfillment and purpose, aligning with God's way of doing things, and living in purity. The value of marriage as a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the church was also discussed, along with the importance of unity within the body of Christ.
The sermon continued with an emphasis on impartiality and fairness in our dealings with others, following Christ's example of love. The speaker also explored the concept of wisdom in the Old Testament as skillfulness, contrasting worldly wisdom with wisdom from above and challenging believers to reflect on their own wisdom.
The speaker warned against being influenced by worldly wisdom and encouraged tapping into God's true source of power. They highlighted the dichotomy between walking in the spirit and walking in the flesh, cautioning against living a fleshly life focused on personal achievements. Instead, they urged listeners to seek God's wisdom and power.
The sermon concluded with an invitation for prayer and surrender to Jesus Christ, emphasizing the need for personal repentance and intercession for others. The speaker encouraged the congregation to be careful students of the scriptures, to submit to Jesus as Lord and Savior, and to seek God's wisdom through prayer.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith serves as an unwavering anchor amidst life's storms, providing a sense of calm and salvation. It is through enduring trials that one's faith is fortified, leading to a deeper appreciation of tranquil moments. This steadfast faith is a gift to be cherished, especially as one faces the ultimate trial of death. [24:53]
- Wisdom from above is not merely about knowledge but is demonstrated through a life characterized by purity, peace, and mercy. Such wisdom is essential for cultivating righteous relationships and a peaceful existence. It is through aligning one's actions with godly wisdom that one can experience a truly fruitful and blessed year. [32:34]
- The pursuit of godly wisdom requires humility and the rejection of jealousy and selfish ambition. By following Jesus' example of meekness and focusing on God's plans, individuals can foster peace and righteousness in their lives. This humility is not a sign of weakness but a powerful testament to one's faith and understanding. [01:08:59]
- Relationships are a reflection of one's walk with God. When conflicts arise, it is often a sign to re-evaluate one's own decisions and seek wisdom from above. By doing so, individuals can ensure that their relationships are built on a foundation of godly wisdom and not hindered by personal shortcomings. [27:13]
- True wisdom leads to a life of purity and peace, which is essential for unity within the body of Christ. By living according to God's standards and resisting the temptation to compromise on truth, believers can experience the fullness of God's blessings and reflect the relationship between Christ and the church. [58:05]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. James 3:13-18 (ESV)
> "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the characteristics of wisdom from above as described in James 3:17?
2. According to the sermon, what is the primary cause of conflicts in relationships? ([27:13])
3. How does the speaker describe the difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom? ([31:47])
4. What story did the speaker use to illustrate the importance of living the life God intends for us? ([28:55])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James emphasize purity first when describing wisdom from above? How does this set the tone for the other characteristics? ([52:08])
2. How does the speaker suggest we should handle conflicts in our relationships according to godly wisdom? ([27:13])
3. What does it mean to have "meekness of wisdom," and why is this important in the context of the sermon? ([35:32])
4. How does the speaker relate the concept of wisdom to our daily decisions and plans for the new year? ([26:37])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent conflict you had. How might applying godly wisdom have changed the outcome? ([27:13])
2. The speaker mentioned the importance of taming the tongue and being mindful of our communication, including on social media. How can you practice this in your daily life? ([30:32])
3. In what ways can you seek to align your plans for the new year with God's wisdom? What specific steps will you take? ([26:37])
4. Think about a relationship in your life that is currently strained. How can you apply the principles of peace, gentleness, and mercy to improve it? ([31:47])
5. The sermon emphasized humility and the rejection of jealousy and selfish ambition. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with these issues. What practical steps can you take to cultivate humility? ([36:14])
6. How can you ensure that your decisions and actions reflect the wisdom from above, characterized by purity, peace, and mercy? ([31:47])
7. The speaker encouraged turning to Jesus for true fulfillment and purpose. How can you make this a daily practice in your life? ([55:42])
Devotional
Day 1: Anchored by Unwavering Faith
Faith is the unwavering anchor that steadies one in the tumultuous seas of life. It is a source of comfort and salvation, especially when facing the ultimate trial of death. Through enduring trials, faith is fortified, leading to a deeper appreciation of tranquil moments. This steadfast faith is a gift to be cherished and nurtured. [24:53]
Hebrews 6:19 - "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain."
Reflection: How has your faith served as an anchor during a recent difficult situation in your life?
Day 2: Living Out Wisdom from Above
True wisdom is demonstrated through a life marked by purity, peace, and mercy. It is not just about knowledge but about how one conducts themselves in relationships and daily life. By aligning actions with godly wisdom, one can experience a fruitful and blessed year. [32:34]
James 3:17-18 - "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."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice purity, peace, and mercy in your interactions today?
Day 3: Humility as the Path to Wisdom
The pursuit of godly wisdom requires humility and the rejection of jealousy and selfish ambition. By emulating Jesus' meekness and focusing on God's plans, individuals can foster peace and righteousness in their lives. This humility is a powerful testament to one's faith and understanding. [01:08:59]
Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where jealousy or selfish ambition is present? How can you address this with humility?
Day 4: Godly Wisdom in Relationships
Conflicts in relationships often signal a need to re-evaluate one's decisions and seek wisdom from above. By ensuring that relationships are built on a foundation of godly wisdom, personal shortcomings are addressed, leading to healthier and more fulfilling connections. [27:13]
Proverbs 15:22 - "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."
Reflection: Think of a recent conflict in a relationship. How might seeking godly wisdom have changed the outcome?
Day 5: Purity and Peace as Reflections of Christ
Living according to God's standards and resisting the temptation to compromise on truth allows believers to experience the fullness of God's blessings. This life of purity and peace is essential for unity within the body of Christ and reflects the relationship between Christ and the church. [58:05]
Ephesians 4:2-3 - "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
Reflection: What is one way you can promote unity and peace within your community of believers today?
Quotes
"If God's part of that and he's leading those decisions, then we're going to end up where God wants us to be, doing what God wants us to do." [27:13] (Download)
"Maybe you need to re-evaluate; the problem might not be who you're working for, it might be you." [27:50] (Download)
"A lot of times the problem we think we have with other people, it didn't have anything to do with them, it's because we're not living the life that God's called us to live." [30:00] (Download)
"In our world, it's not just taming the tongue, but some people need to tame their Twitter because it's not what they say, it's what they type, and our communication is the point." [31:04] (Download)
"The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." [31:47] (Download)
"Worldly wisdom leads to division, Godly wisdom leads to peace. Both kinds of wisdom contend for control over your life; that's why it's a war of the wisdoms, but only one of them is going to lead to a harvest of righteousness." [01:07:03] (Download)
"You will never walk in the wisdom from above until your heart is emptied of all jealousy and selfish ambition. You want to have a better year 2024? Get rid of jealousy and selfish ambition, quit making it about me, make it about God through and through." [01:08:59] (Download)
"The relationship between a husband and a wife is supposed to reveal a greater truth to the world around us, that we're supposed to be an example to others of the relationship between Jesus Christ and his bride, the church." [56:53] (Download)
"A wise person is straightforward without prejudice, unwavering, and impartial. To be impartial is to be fair in your dealings at all times, even when nobody's going to know about it, because God sees it." [01:04:22] (Download)
"Wisdom from above will make you a sincere kind of person, an authentically changed Christian in every aspect of the word. If you walk in the wisdom from above, your life will produce and lead to a harvest of righteousness." [01:05:39] (Download)
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