Embracing Divine Wisdom in Spiritual Leadership
Summary
In today's reflection, we delved into the profound teachings of James, particularly focusing on the theme of wisdom as outlined in James chapter 3. We began by revisiting the mission of our church, which is to share God's story from Norfolk to the nations with passion. This mission is not just a statement but a call to action, as evidenced by our outreach efforts, such as the donation of microphones to Africa. As we navigate through life's ebbs and flows, it's crucial to remember the importance of wisdom, especially for those in spiritual leadership.
James emphasizes that wisdom is a divine gift, not something we can achieve on our own. It requires us to ask God for it, acknowledging that true wisdom is characterized by good conduct and gentleness. This is particularly important for spiritual leaders, who must demonstrate a life surrendered to God's wisdom. James warns against the dangers of bitter envy and selfish ambition, which can lead to disorder and evil practices. Instead, he calls us to focus on developing our character, emphasizing that wisdom is about knowing God's will and conforming our lives to it.
The essence of wisdom, as James describes, is not about intellect or knowledge but about living a life that reflects God's will. This involves embracing humility, gentleness, and peace, even when it goes against our natural inclinations. James challenges us to evaluate our lives and leadership through the lens of God's wisdom, which is pure, peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy, and unwavering. By doing so, we cultivate a community that reflects the righteousness and peace of God.
As we strive to live out these principles, we are reminded that wisdom is not about what we accomplish but about who we are becoming in Christ. It's about allowing God's character to be formed in us, leading to a life that bears the fruit of righteousness. This journey requires patience and trust, knowing that the seeds of wisdom we plant today will bear fruit in God's perfect timing.
Key Takeaways:
- Wisdom as a Divine Gift: True wisdom is a supernatural gift from God, not something we can achieve on our own. It requires us to ask God for it, acknowledging our dependence on Him. This wisdom is characterized by good conduct and gentleness, reflecting a life surrendered to God's will. [45:03]
- Character Over Competency: In spiritual leadership, character development is paramount. Before focusing on skills and training, we must cultivate a heart that loves God and practices simple obedience. This foundation of character is essential for effective leadership in the community of faith. [50:31]
- Dangers of Bitter Envy and Selfish Ambition: James warns against the destructive nature of bitter envy and selfish ambition, which can lead to disorder and evil practices. These attitudes are contrary to God's wisdom and must be rooted out of our hearts and communities. [01:05:42]
- Living Out God's Will: Wisdom is about knowing God's will and conforming our lives to it. This involves embracing humility, gentleness, and peace, even when it goes against our natural inclinations. By doing so, we reflect God's character and cultivate a community of righteousness and peace. [01:09:42]
- The Fruit of Righteousness: As we live into God's wisdom, we experience the fruit of righteousness, which is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. This journey requires patience and trust, knowing that the seeds of wisdom we plant today will bear fruit in God's perfect timing. [01:16:41]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction and Mission Statement
[02:15] - Gratitude for the Church Staff
[04:00] - Overview of James Chapter 1
[06:45] - The Supernatural Gift of Wisdom
[09:30] - Accountability in Spiritual Leadership
[12:00] - Character Development in Leadership
[15:45] - The Importance of Simple Obedience
[18:30] - Wisdom and Good Conduct
[21:00] - The Dangers of Bitter Envy
[24:15] - Selfish Ambition in the Church
[27:00] - The Essence of Wisdom
[30:45] - Living Out God's Will
[34:00] - The Fruit of Righteousness
[37:15] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- James 3:13-18
- Matthew 5:5
- Romans 12:2
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Observation Questions:
1. According to James 3:13-18, what are the characteristics of wisdom that comes from above? How does James describe the opposite of this wisdom? [01:16:41]
2. In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate the importance of character over competency in spiritual leadership? [50:31]
3. How does the sermon describe the dangers of bitter envy and selfish ambition within a community of faith? [01:05:42]
4. What does the pastor say about the role of gentleness in spiritual leadership, and why might this be challenging in today's culture? [55:27]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of wisdom in James 3:13-18 challenge the typical understanding of wisdom as mere intellect or knowledge? [01:01:54]
2. Why does the sermon emphasize the need for spiritual leaders to develop character before focusing on skills and training? How does this align with the teachings in James? [50:31]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that selfish ambition can manifest in a church setting, and why is it considered contrary to God's wisdom? [01:09:42]
4. How does the pastor's reference to Matthew 5:5 ("Blessed are the humble") relate to the overall message of the sermon about living out God's will? [55:27]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be relying more on your skills and competencies rather than developing your character? How can you shift your focus to align more with God's wisdom? [50:31]
2. Consider a situation where you might have experienced or witnessed bitter envy or selfish ambition. How did it affect the community, and what steps can you take to address or prevent such attitudes in your own circles? [01:05:42]
3. The sermon highlights the importance of gentleness and humility. Identify a relationship or situation in your life where you can practice these traits more intentionally. What specific actions can you take this week? [55:27]
4. How can you cultivate a heart that is peace-loving and full of mercy, as described in James 3:17? What practical steps can you take to sow seeds of peace in your community? [01:16:41]
5. Reflect on Romans 12:2 and consider how you can avoid conforming to the patterns of this world. What specific changes can you make in your daily life to renew your mind and align with God's will? [01:01:54]
6. Think about a time when you felt the need to justify ungodly behavior to achieve a "good" end. How can you ensure that your actions align with God's wisdom, even when the outcome seems uncertain? [01:09:42]
7. Identify one person in your life who might benefit from experiencing God's peace through you. What is one intentional act of kindness or courtesy you can extend to them this week? [01:22:59]
Devotional
Day 1: Wisdom as a Divine Gift
True wisdom is a supernatural gift from God, not something we can achieve on our own. It requires us to ask God for it, acknowledging our dependence on Him. This wisdom is characterized by good conduct and gentleness, reflecting a life surrendered to God's will. James emphasizes that wisdom is not about intellect or knowledge but about living a life that reflects God's will. This involves embracing humility, gentleness, and peace, even when it goes against our natural inclinations. By doing so, we reflect God's character and cultivate a community of righteousness and peace. [45:03]
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to ask God for wisdom today? How can you practice humility and gentleness in these areas?
Day 2: Character Over Competency
In spiritual leadership, character development is paramount. Before focusing on skills and training, we must cultivate a heart that loves God and practices simple obedience. This foundation of character is essential for effective leadership in the community of faith. James warns against the dangers of bitter envy and selfish ambition, which can lead to disorder and evil practices. Instead, he calls us to focus on developing our character, emphasizing that wisdom is about knowing God's will and conforming our lives to it. [50:31]
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out." (Proverbs 10:9, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to prioritize character development over skill acquisition in your spiritual journey?
Day 3: Dangers of Bitter Envy and Selfish Ambition
James warns against the destructive nature of bitter envy and selfish ambition, which can lead to disorder and evil practices. These attitudes are contrary to God's wisdom and must be rooted out of our hearts and communities. By focusing on developing our character and embracing humility, gentleness, and peace, we can reflect God's character and cultivate a community of righteousness and peace. [01:05:42]
"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." (James 3:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: Identify any areas in your life where envy or selfish ambition may be present. How can you actively work to replace these attitudes with peace and humility?
Day 4: Living Out God's Will
Wisdom is about knowing God's will and conforming our lives to it. This involves embracing humility, gentleness, and peace, even when it goes against our natural inclinations. By doing so, we reflect God's character and cultivate a community of righteousness and peace. As we strive to live out these principles, we are reminded that wisdom is not about what we accomplish but about who we are becoming in Christ. [01:09:42]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself resisting God's will? What steps can you take to align your actions with His desires?
Day 5: The Fruit of Righteousness
As we live into God's wisdom, we experience the fruit of righteousness, which is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. This journey requires patience and trust, knowing that the seeds of wisdom we plant today will bear fruit in God's perfect timing. It's about allowing God's character to be formed in us, leading to a life that bears the fruit of righteousness. [01:16:41]
"And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:18, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively sow seeds of peace in your relationships and community today, trusting that God will bring about a harvest of righteousness in His timing?
Quotes
You start with character first. You start with a proven track record of a heart that loves God and, and doesn't have to know everything, but it has that simple obedience. You start there and then out of that, you develop the competency and you develop the, the skills required to contribute to the, to the church and to the kingdom of God. [00:47:01] (28 seconds)
Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct, he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and deny the truth, such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [00:49:12] (39 seconds)
And there's a long tradition there that when it comes to the spiritual leaders that are over the community of faith, wisdom is not a secondary thing. This is the primary thing by which we should evaluate. And here, going back, I'll just read these real quick. But 1 Kings 4 .29, speaking of Solomon, God gave Solomon very great wisdom, discernment, and breadth of understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore. [00:52:14] (34 seconds)
And James is saying, man, we, you, you've got to, you can't forget about the brokenhearted. You can't forget about those that can offer nothing to you in, in return, because there is a way to set up organizationally the community of faith. There's a way to, to operate and to do things that can appear really good on the, on the surface. [00:59:07] (25 seconds)
And when they do, James, James says, you know that bitter enviness has set in. You know that selfishness has set in. And he just goes straight to the things that do come, do come to life. To light. And he said it, he's, he, he mentions this word, uh, boast. And he mentions this word, deny the truth. [01:12:14] (26 seconds)
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. James 3, 17 through 18. So James gives seven definitions there. He gives seven characteristics of what wisdom is or how you know you're operating in, in the wisdom that comes from above. [01:17:20] (25 seconds)
And if we have that attitude with everybody that we see or everybody we pass on the, on the road, we begin to live in the wisdom of God. Peace loving. Peace loving. Here James goes again with this word gentle. He loves this word gentle and I just don't like it. Gentle. [01:23:50] (23 seconds)
And this is the wisdom of God. When we can have this spirit of impartiality of, I'm going to treat everybody as the image of God that they're created in. Without pretense, without hypocrisy, you might, you might say. What is, why is that important? And how do we live into the wisdom of God in a way that is without pretense or without hypocrisy? [01:28:02] (31 seconds)
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