Contrasting Wisdom: Earthly vs. Heavenly in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Wisdom in Action

True wisdom is not merely about what one knows or claims to understand; it is about how one lives. The essence of wisdom is demonstrated through good conduct, reflecting the meekness of wisdom. This means that wisdom is not just an intellectual exercise but a practical one, where the character of Christ is evident in our actions. The book of James emphasizes that our conduct is the true measure of the wisdom we possess. It challenges believers to live out their faith in a way that reflects the purity, peace, and gentleness of heavenly wisdom. This wisdom is not self-seeking but is marked by humility and a willingness to serve others. [03:18]

James 3:17-18 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Consider a recent situation where you had the opportunity to demonstrate wisdom through your actions. How did your conduct reflect the character of Christ, and what might you do differently next time to better embody heavenly wisdom?

Day 2: The Contrast of Wisdoms

Earthly wisdom is characterized by jealousy and selfish ambition, leading to disorder and vile practices. In contrast, heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy, reflecting the nature of Christ. This contrast highlights the spiritual battle between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom from above. Earthly wisdom is often self-centered and leads to chaos, while heavenly wisdom brings peace and righteousness. Believers are called to reject the former and embrace the latter, allowing their lives to be a testament to the transformative power of God's wisdom. [05:57]

1 Corinthians 3:19 (ESV): "For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness.'"

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where earthly wisdom has influenced your decisions. How can you actively choose to embrace heavenly wisdom in that area today?

Day 3: Christ as the Model of Wisdom

The life of Christ is the ultimate example of heavenly wisdom. His purity, peace, gentleness, and selflessness are the standards by which we measure true wisdom. To be wise is to imitate Christ, to follow His example, and to live a life that reflects His character. This requires a yielding of our own ambitions and desires to His will, embracing the meekness of wisdom. It is a call to live a life of selflessness, humility, and submission to God, allowing His wisdom to guide our actions and decisions. [18:42]

Colossians 2:2-3 (ESV): "That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Reflection: Reflect on a specific aspect of Christ's character that you find challenging to emulate. What practical steps can you take this week to better reflect that aspect of His wisdom in your life?

Day 4: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is necessary to overcome earthly wisdom. By the power of the Holy Spirit, believers must actively put to death the deeds of the flesh, such as jealousy and selfish ambition, to live a life of righteousness. This is not a passive process but an active engagement in spiritual warfare, relying on divine assistance to overcome the sinful tendencies of our hearts. The battle against earthly wisdom is a spiritual one, requiring the power of the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and minds. [39:10]

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you feel the pull of earthly wisdom? How can you engage in spiritual warfare to overcome this influence, relying on the Holy Spirit's power?

Day 5: Transformation Through Beholding Christ

The transformation into Christ's likeness is the true mark of wisdom. As believers behold His glory and live in His Word, the Spirit transforms them, enabling them to live a life that reflects the wisdom from above. This transformation is not instantaneous but a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. It involves a continual submission to His will and a commitment to living according to His Word. The true mark of wisdom is a life that is lived in submission to Christ and in alignment with His will. [45:30]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally behold the glory of Christ this week? How might this practice lead to transformation in a specific area of your life?

Sermon Summary

In James 3:13-18, we are presented with a profound contrast between two types of wisdom: earthly and heavenly. Earthly wisdom is characterized by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, leading to disorder and vile practices. In contrast, heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere. The essence of true wisdom is not in what we claim to know but in how we live our lives. Our conduct is the true measure of the wisdom we possess. James challenges us to demonstrate our wisdom through good conduct, which reflects the meekness of wisdom.

The book of James, much like 1 John, provides tests to determine the genuineness of our faith. These tests are not about achieving a passing grade but about revealing the truth of our spiritual condition. The wisdom from above is a test of our faith, and it is revealed in our actions and attitudes. True wisdom is not merely intellectual knowledge or doctrinal understanding; it is the practical application of God's truth in our lives, transforming us into the likeness of Christ.

Christ is the embodiment of heavenly wisdom. His life exemplifies purity, peace, gentleness, mercy, and sincerity. To possess true wisdom is to imitate Christ, to follow His example, and to live a life that reflects His character. This requires a yielding of our own ambitions and desires to His will, embracing the meekness of wisdom. It is a call to live a life of selflessness, humility, and submission to God.

The battle against earthly wisdom is a spiritual one, requiring the power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to put to death the deeds of the flesh, such as jealousy and selfish ambition, by the Spirit's power. This is not a passive process but an active engagement in spiritual warfare, relying on divine assistance to overcome the sinful tendencies of our hearts.

Ultimately, the wisdom from above is found in Christ. As we behold His glory and live in His Word, we are transformed by the Spirit into His likeness. This transformation is the true mark of wisdom, a life that is lived in submission to Christ and in alignment with His will.

Key Takeaways

1. True wisdom is demonstrated through good conduct, reflecting the meekness of wisdom. It is not about what we claim to know but how we live our lives, showing the character of Christ in our actions. [03:18]
2. Earthly wisdom, characterized by jealousy and selfish ambition, leads to disorder and vile practices. In contrast, heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy, reflecting the nature of Christ. [05:57]
3. The life of Christ is the ultimate example of heavenly wisdom. His purity, peace, gentleness, and selflessness are the standards by which we measure true wisdom. To be wise is to imitate Christ. [18:42]
4. Spiritual warfare is necessary to overcome earthly wisdom. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we must actively put to death the deeds of the flesh, such as jealousy and selfish ambition, to live a life of righteousness. [39:10]
5. The transformation into Christ's likeness is the true mark of wisdom. As we behold His glory and live in His Word, the Spirit transforms us, enabling us to live a life that reflects the wisdom from above. [45:30]
** [45:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to James 3:13-18
[01:36] - Earthly vs. Heavenly Wisdom
[02:43] - Proving Wisdom Through Conduct
[03:52] - Tests of Genuine Faith
[05:28] - The Test of Wisdom
[07:43] - The World's False Wisdom
[09:28] - Wisdom Beyond Knowledge
[10:31] - The Application of Godly Knowledge
[12:21] - Demonstrating Wisdom in Life
[14:22] - The Meekness of Wisdom
[16:14] - Christ as the Embodiment of Wisdom
[19:28] - Wisdom in the Scriptures
[22:57] - The Mind of Christ
[27:02] - Yielding to Christ's Wisdom
[39:10] - Spiritual Warfare Against Earthly Wisdom
[45:30] - Transformation Through Beholding Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- James 3:13-18
- Philippians 2:3-5
- 2 Corinthians 3:18

---

Observation Questions:

What are the characteristics of earthly wisdom as described in James 3:13-18? How do these characteristics manifest in our daily lives? [00:35]
According to the sermon, how does James suggest we prove our wisdom? What is the significance of "good conduct" in this context? [03:00]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between wisdom and the life of Christ? What specific attributes of Christ are highlighted as examples of heavenly wisdom? [18:42]
What role does the Holy Spirit play in overcoming earthly wisdom, according to the sermon? [39:10]

---

Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of "meekness of wisdom" challenge common perceptions of wisdom in today's society? [15:00]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that true wisdom is a test of genuine faith? How does this align with the teachings in the book of James? [05:57]
How does the sermon interpret the phrase "wisdom from above" in relation to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ? [19:28]
What does the sermon imply about the necessity of spiritual warfare in the pursuit of heavenly wisdom? How does this warfare manifest in practical terms? [39:10]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where jealousy or selfish ambition might be influencing your decisions? How can you actively work to replace these with the attributes of heavenly wisdom? [05:57]
Consider a recent situation where you had to make a decision. Did you rely more on earthly wisdom or heavenly wisdom? How might you approach a similar situation differently in the future? [03:18]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of imitating Christ to possess true wisdom. What specific aspect of Christ's character can you focus on imitating this week? [18:42]
How can you engage in spiritual warfare against earthly wisdom in your daily life? Identify one practical step you can take to rely more on the Holy Spirit's power. [39:10]
Think about a time when you felt challenged to yield your own ambitions to God's will. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [27:02]
The sermon suggests that transformation into Christ's likeness is the true mark of wisdom. What is one area of your life where you desire transformation, and how can you seek God's help in this process? [45:30]
How can you create a habit of beholding Christ's glory in your daily routine? What specific changes can you make to ensure you are regularly engaging with His Word? [45:48]

Sermon Clips

- "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." [00:00:23]

- "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." [00:01:01]

- "How you live reveals what wisdom you truly possess that's what we've got there now you think about James James is kind of a unique book in the in our Bibles it's like first John it gives all these tests for whether our faith is genuine James and John when they want to test our faith as whether it's genuine they're hard-hitting can't get around that they're they're they're serious." [00:03:22]

- "If your faith is genuine believing Faith the kind that's going to get you to Glory if you've got that kind you're going to possess the wisdom from above that's Jam's whole point in this section folks demonic wisdom doesn't take anybody to Glory the kind of wisdom you possess and I possess is revealed right here how in the way we live." [00:05:57]

- "Wisdom doesn't mean knowledge it doesn't mean information that you have the wisdom that James is talking about is not whether you've learned the doctrine whether you've learned the doctrines of Grace whether you whether you can articulate the the confession or whe whether you can know all the finer points of of the hypostatic Union Brethren wisdom doesn't equate to knowledge wisdom's not what I know wisdom's how I live." [00:09:28]

- "The life of the Christian is supposed to be that is the good behavior it's it's you just imagine this be I mean if you spell out your life with meekness and Purity and gentleness and mercy and sincerity that's the kind of thing that you have here that's how it's proven now here's the thing." [00:14:06]

- "Christ is from above and that over against that which is Earthly pure everyone who hopes in him they purify themselves as he is pure he is the example he exemplifies it all Peaceable he came and made peace through the blood of his cross or we call him the Prince of Peace you got these words here gentle gentle I mean again that's the same word for Meek but he came riding on this cult and it it he set forth as being this gentle King." [00:16:24]

- "In Christ all the riches all the treasures is what our what our ESV says all the treasures all the treasures here's the thing all there's not one precious valuable thing that James can tell you or me about wisdom about the true Treasure of wisdom that cannot be found in Christ he is he is the living he is living wisdom he is the living example of this who's wise in understanding Among Us I think we can all say the man Christ Jesus is he is whatever can be said about anybody else everything that characterizes the wise life characterizes Jesus life." [00:18:04]

- "Brethren Doctrine and churchgoing coupled with the same kind of ungodly life that lost people live is Earthly unspiritual and demonic you recognize that that's that's exactly the point that's being made here can you hear jesus' Voice learn of me learn of me I am meek learn of me I'm amazed that James can go through all these verses and not mention Jesus but I don't think that he would have us avoid him I'm going to find him there." [00:21:18]

- "The wisdom that comes is first pure Peaceable gentle it is submissive it is willing to yield it is compliant and Brethren yes I'm going over hedge and ditch to get to Christ in in all of this but you know what it's if I'm supposed to be submissive and compliant and yielding to this Christ is Lord I mean as much as anybody I'm going to be submitting to him he is Lord." [00:27:31]

- "If by the spirit you get that if by the Spirit by the spirit you put to death the Deeds of the body you will live now I know these things these things have to do with feelings inside but they the things that come up out of the heart that cause us to do the things with our body if we're going to kill these things what's the solution here I got to kill bitter jealousy I've got to kill selfish ambition I don't want to nurture them I don't want to cultivate them." [00:37:51]

- "Brethren it's when we Behold Him and there's nothing about his life you can behold that isn't glorious but you're going to see all these things that define wisdom you're going to see his Purity you're going to see his Mercy you're going to see his sincerity you're going to see all of that you're going to see his own submission to his father willingness to yield to his father you're going to see a meekness of wisdom in him you're going to behold this he wasn't jealous he he desired the good of other people it's selfish ambition he he put himself on the Altar for us." [00:45:30]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Contrasting Wisdom: Earthly vs. Heavenly in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Wisdom in Action

Day 2: The Contrast of Wisdoms

Day 3: Christ as the Model of Wisdom

Day 4: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare

Day 5: Transformation Through Beholding Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Contrasting Wisdom: Earthly vs. Heavenly in Christ

Share