Fire in the Mouth
WHO’S REALLY WISE?
James 3:13-18
Intro: Let’s get real for a minute. Isn’t it true that some people sound wise — but after talking with them, we don’t feel helped… we feel bruised? And there are others who may not say a lot, but when they leave a room, the temperature drops, the tension calms, and people feel safe. James has a question for the church: “Who is wise and understanding among you?” He’s not asking, “Who looks wise?” Do you think James would be impressed by our reading lists, our posts online, how many arguments we can win, or how many verses we can quote? No. He wants proof. He isn’t asking who sounds smart. He’s asking: Who leaves fruit that looks like Jesus? Let’s walk through three truths.
- Wisdom Knows God (v.13)
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
James doesn’t say, “Who can explain wisdom?” He says, “Who can show wisdom?”
Wisdom is NOT proven by words — it is proven by actions.
Wisdom doesn’t begin with knowing some things. It begins with knowing Someone.
Prov 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Wisdom starts in worship, not intelligence. If a person doesn’t fear God, they may be sharp, but they’re not wise.
Understanding Isn’t Theory — It’s Engineering
Who is wise and understanding among you?
The Hebrew word for understanding in Proverbs is practical. Think engineering, not philosophy. Understanding is more than thinking; it is always results in doing. Understanding is marked by accomplishment.
It is the ability to read life correctly — to see where pressure will crack character, where temptation will collapse someone’s integrity, and where sin will erode the foundation of a heart.
Wisdom is skill in living life. Understanding means knowing how life works. It’s not information — it’s application.
That’s why Proverbs constantly pairs wisdom and understanding (13 times!).
If your “wisdom” never shapes your relationships or your decisions, then you don’t have wisdom — you just have data. And you are missing understanding.
So how do wise people look in real life?
Proverbs does not describe wise people as talkative, impressive, or sharp. It paints an entirely different portrait:
- “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” (17:27)
They don’t speak just to speak.
- “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding.” (14:29)
They don’t react quickly.
- “A man of understanding holds his peace.” (11:12)
They can disagree respectfully.
- “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” (20:5)
They know how to ask questions and listen.
- “A man of understanding walks uprightly.” (15:21)
They don’t shift character when the audience changes.
Wisdom is not how loudly you speak. Wisdom is how skillfully you live.
Knowing God changes how you see people
Psalm 107 ends with this challenge:
Psalm 107:43 “Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”
What things?
- Wanderers are retrieved by God (107:4–9)
- Prisoners are set free (107:10–16)
- The sick are healed (107:17–22)
- The storm-tossed are rescued (107:23–32)
A wise person sees this… so they don’t write people off. They don’t treat people like lost causes. They don’t assume a person’s worst chapter is their last one.
Those who are wise and understanding are confident in God’s ability to change anyone.
- Fake Wisdom Runs on the Self (vv.14-16)
James 3:14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
Fake wisdom doesn’t start in the mind. It starts in the heart. It’s not about loving truth. It’s about loving the spotlight.
James says ego-driven “wisdom” is fueled by:
- Bitter envy — “I deserve that attention.”
- Self-seeking — “I need that position.”
This is the “wise” person who doesn’t seek truth — they seek a throne. They want influence more than integrity.
James Reveals Its Source
James 3:15 “…this wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”
Not just unspiritual — demonic.
Fake wisdom:
- Doesn’t build people. It uses them.
- Doesn’t sow peace. It seeks leverage.
- Doesn’t serve. It recruits.
illus: Frank Sandford and “The Kingdom” at Shiloh. In the late 1890s and early 1900s, Frank Sandford founded a community at a place called Shiloh (Durham, Maine) in Maine. He presented himself not just as a preacher, but eventually as a prophet-king and a figure like Elijah and David. On New Year’s Day, 1893: Sandford stood before his small group and announced that “God told me: ‘Go.’” He resigned his pastorate and gave away his savings. Several of his followers later recalled how Sandford moved with magnetism: one said, “He could inspire a wooden Indian. There was never a boring meeting.”
- At Shiloh they instituted what was called the Nineveh Fast in January 1903. Sandford declared: “For thirty-six hours, nobody eats. The sick, the infants—all fast.”
- In fact, a 14-year-old boy named Leander Bartlett, who’d confessed trying to escape the community, died of diphtheria during this fast.
- When asked why children must fast, a member later reported Sandford answered: “God gave the word; we obey. Our comfort is in His economy.” (Reported in later testimony)
- Another moment aboard his yacht the Coronet: while supplies were running dangerously low, eyewitnesses recounted hearing Sandford say: “God told us to continue—no port, no extra food. Trust.” Six men died of scurvy.
Sandford was charismatic, clearly gifted, apparently spiritual—but the fruit was control, danger, division, death rather than peace, humility, and righteousness. His “wisdom” looked religious, but it was ruled by self-seeking ambition: claiming prophetic status, demanding absolute loyalty, using crises as control points. The contrast is sharp: This is what ego-driven “wisdom” does—not what true wisdom yields.
Before we shake our heads, James asks us:
- Do we serve so we will be noticed?
- Do we give so we will be appreciated?
- Do we get angry when we are overlooked?
- Do we need to win to feel secure?
You don’t need applause to be ego-driven. You just need to hunger for it.
How do you know self is leading?
James 3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
Want to test your wisdom? Don’t look at what you say. Look at what you leave behind.
- Are relationships stronger or strained?
- Are people encouraged or intimidated?
- Is there unity or quiet tension?
If people feel smaller after being with you, don’t call it wisdom.
- Godly Wisdom Plants Peace (vv.17-18)
After describing ego’s chaos, James shifts from noise to quiet strength:
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure…
Before wisdom speaks, it must be pure. Purity doesn’t mean perfection. It means no hidden agenda. No spotlight grabbing, no platform building, no hunger for control.
Pure wisdom doesn’t need attention to work. It doesn’t use people. It doesn’t have something to prove.
Pure wisdom makes a person safe to be around.
Then the Fruit Appears.
Wisdom from above is:
- Peaceable — it calms storms, it doesn’t start them.
- Gentle — strong enough not to injure people while being right.
- Willing to yield — doesn’t insist on winning every dispute.
- Full of mercy and good fruits — treats people according to God’s ability, not their history.
- Without partiality — doesn’t flatter the powerful or dismiss the overlooked.
- Without hypocrisy — doesn’t fake humility to manipulate.
Heaven’s wisdom doesn’t pressure people. It heals them.
How can we make peace if we always need to win? How can we help someone grow if we need applause for helping them?
Peace Is not the Fruit — It’s the Soil
James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
We think righteousness can grow from pressure, control, or intensity. But Scripture says righteousness grows in peace.
- Can we shout our kids into godliness?
- Can we shame a spouse into holiness?
- Can we strong-arm a congregation into unity?
What Peacemakers Do:
- Peacemakers are not passive — they are patient.
- They don’t ignore sin — they address it without injuring dignity.
- They lead with truth — without crushing people under it.
- Peacemakers don’t win moments. They win people.
Conclusion: So, who is wise?
Don’t look at volume. Don’t measure by vocabulary. Don’t count followers or quotes. Look for fruit. The fruit doesn’t lie.
- Does their presence bring calm or confusion?
- Do people leave helped or harmed?
- Does their leadership turn others into disciples… or disciples of themselves?
Wisdom always leaves tracks. Follow them.
Congregational Declaration Church, let’s proclaim together:
Lord, make us people who know You, not just people who know things.
Clean our motives. Calm our reactions.
Help us treat others the way You’ve treated us.
Give us wisdom that heals, not harms.
Make us peacemakers who plant righteousness in our homes, our church, and our city.
Let our lives show Your character.
Through us, Lord, sow peace. Amen.
-------------------------
Chapter 3 in your Bibles today, whether the Bible's in your lap or on your phone or however, maybe it's maybe You've memorized James 3 and it's in your heart. Before we get there, I want to give you a quick missionary update. We have a missionary team that left yesterday that are that is doing work for the ministry that we support in Mexico led by Pastor Kyle. I believe the team has about nine of our church members. The largest team we've ever taken to Mexico.
They'll be there until next Sunday. They fly back and so in a moment I'm gonna have a special prayer for them and the work they're doing. But sometimes the Lord and remember this double impact missions card. I'm getting ready just to give you some more reasons why you should give to that. Sometimes the Lord waits to the very last minute to give me really good illustrations for my sermon.
And this one came in as an email today while we were doing our run through for the service this morning. But we've got a crack media team up in the booth and they were able to get these photos on the screen. This comes from the ministry that we support in Kenya in East Africa. And one of the pastors there that we one of our overseers named Pastor Harrison, who's one of the coolest cats I've ever met and a man who walks in the power of God. He oversees a church in one of the worst places I've ever seen anybody live.
It's called the Tasia Slum. And he sent this email into all of those in America who are supporting them. He says today by the grace of God, 15 precious souls went through the waters of baptism publicly declaring their faith in Jesus Christ and their decision to follow him. Each one carries a unique story of God's mercy, deliverance and transformation. Below are a few of their testimonies and the rest are shared in attached photos.
I'm going to show you two of these. You want to hear these stories? Here's the first guy. His name is Kevin. Testimony of redemption and restoration of Kevin Medino.
Pastor Harrison's the guy in white on the left. That's Kevin in the middle. That's one of Pastor Harrison's disciples. That's probably going to be a church planter if he already isn't. Kevin Medino once walked through a deep, painful valley.
For years he was trapped in the grip of drug addiction and even involved in selling drugs. What began as a search for relief from life's pressures slowly wrapped around him like chains. Chains that seemed Impossible to break. Yet even in his darkest moments, God's mercy was pursuing him. The same Jesus who came to seek and to save what was lost began to awaken his heart to change.
His struggles were not only spiritual, they were personal. His marriage collapsed under the weight of addiction. His wife left him, taking with her the support that he desperately needed. He was rejected and left alone with only the love for his daughter to cling to. But even in this brokenness, God was working.
Through the prayers of believers and the gentle power of the Holy Spirit, Kevin encountered the love of Christ, real healing and life changing. Now, the guy who's writing this, English is his second language. The cravings that once ruled him began to lose their power. The emptiness that once consumed him was filled with hope. Where shame once lived, God planted purpose.
He experienced the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17. If anyone is in Christ, he's a new creature. The old has passed away. Behold, all things have become new. Today, Kevin is not who he used to be.
He has become one of the most committed members of the church, faithful in fellowship, consistent in worship, and always present in prayer meetings. The same hands that once handled drugs are now lifted and surrendered to God. The same life that was sinking in darkness now shines brightly with the light of Christ. And today, in obedience to the word of God, he's gone through the waters of baptism, buried with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4.
His baptism stands as a declaration that the past no longer defines him. Jesus Christ has made him completely free. What do you think?
Want to see another one? Let's do one more testimony of courageous faith. This is Faiza Josephine. This sister's journey is a profound testimony of God's light breaking through even the most difficult places. For many years, she lived faithfully as a Muslim.
Yet her life was marked by constant struggles of sickness, hardship and battles that seemed unending. In that season, she lived near one of our church members, and she could not ignore the peace, stability and grace that flowed from her neighbor's life. Curiosity led her to ask questions. Her Christian neighbor lovingly shared the Gospel, planting seeds of hope. At first, she resisted, unsure and afraid.
But over time, God softened her heart. She encountered the love of Christ in a personal way, and the Savior she once feared to approach became the anchor of her soul. Now listen. Her decision to receive Christ came with a heavy cost. Her family, including her own children, abandoned her because of her new Christian faith.
Friends and Muslim neighbors who once supported her were withdrew from her life. The loneliness was real. The financial struggle intensified. She now works small, humble jobs just to survive. And yet through all of this, she's held firmly to her faith, like Ruth, who chose the God of Israel despite losing everything familiar.
Ruth 1, 16, 17. This sister has chosen Christ with unwavering courage. And today she went through the waters of baptism declaring that no matter the cost, Jesus Christ is her Lord and Savior. Her life echoes the words of Jesus. Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:25. Though forsaken by many, she's been embraced by God and by the family of believers. Her story reminds us that true faith shines brightest in the midst of sacrifice to God. Be the glory for her unshakable courage and her beautiful new life in Christ. Was that worth hearing this morning?
Listen. Yeah, you ought to give God glory for that.
And you ought to understand that the reason that this lady could hear about Jesus in a Muslim community that she's in and had a humble, faithful believer nearing le living near her is because of our missionary efforts here. Because in that Tassie Islam, it doesn't matter how many people give their life to Christ and see their lives turned around. They're never going to make any money. They're always going to be poor. They're always going to be trusting God every day for daily bread.
And what we do is we support them. And we take those children off the town garbage heap, little babies, and from their dying infancy until they graduate college, we support them. And so this is why. This is an example of why we do missions and why we have this commitment you can make today. And so I just wanted you to see some fruit in that.
And now we can start our sermon. James, chapter three. Let's bow in prayer for our mission team. Father, thank you. That when you named us Great Commission Church and you showed us how to live up to that name, Lord, our reach now goes across the nations and the continents.
And we pray, God, that you would take those nine believers from our church that have taken a week out of their life and cost them money to do it and time off and time away. God, I pray they'd have a fresh filling of your spirit this morning, Lord, as they minister in churches and they go out into the community. God, I pray that you would give their bodies strength, God, protect them from waterborne illnesses and airborne illnesses in a foreign place that we're not used to. And God, I pray that you would give them divine appointments, that they would live to love with Jesus while they're there. And the people that come across Their path will see a great light in Christ through their words and through the compassion and love of our mission team.
God, I pray you'd give Pastor Kyle wisdom as he leads just through the everyday details. And God, I pray you'd bless them with flexibility Lord, so that as you turn the winds of the spirit and they kind of get off what they're planning to do, God, they do your plan and souls will come to Christ, Lord, this is our prayer for them in Jesus name and a faith filled church said Amen. So today is the last installment of Fire in the Mouth, verse by verse through James chapter three. Today's message is who's really wise. And our text is James 3, 13, 18.
I'll read that for us. Now, who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
For where envy and self seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace the word of the Lord. Get real for a minute. Isn't it true that some people sound wise, but after talking with them, we don't feel helped?
It feels more like we've been bruised. And there are some who don't say a whole lot, but when they leave the room, the temperature drops and the tension calms and there's a relief and people feel safe. I wonder if you've had that experience.
James has a question for the church. Who is wise and understanding among you? He's not asking who looks. Wise man looks at the outward appearance. God sees the heart.
For example, did you think James would be impressed by our reading lists in our libraries? Do you think he would be impressed by what we post online on the Internet? Do you think it would make an impact on him? How many arguments we can win or how many verses we can quote? I think the answer to all those questions is no, he wouldn't be impressed.
He wants proof. He isn't asking who sounds smart. He's asking who leaves fruit that looks like Jesus. So let's walk through three truths today in our text of scripture. That's how the outline works.
If you're ready, say yes. Truth number one. James wants you to know that wisdom knows God. Verse 13. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
If you look closely at that verse, James doesn't say who can explain wisdom. Instead he says, who can show it?
Wisdom is not proven by words, it's proven by actions.
Believers. Did you know that wisdom doesn't begin with knowing some things? It begins with knowing someone.
That's what Proverbs 9, 10 says. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. So wisdom starts with worship and not intelligence. Some of you are going, man, that's a relief, right? I can be wise, right?
If a person doesn't fear God, they may be sharp, they may have a high iq, but they're not wise. If you don't fear God and don't believe in him, the Bible says you're the dumbest of the fools.
Wisdom isn't theory. Excuse me? Understanding isn't theory, it's engineering. Look, in our verse we have wisdom and understanding paired. And in Proverbs, understanding shows up 19 times.
And 13 of those 19, it's paired with wisdom. They're two loops of the same set of handcuffs. He says, who is wise and understanding among you? The Hebrew word that's translated here, understanding in proverbs is a very practical term. It wears work boots and it shows up ready to work.
Think engineering, not philosophy. If I'm a person of understanding, like the wisdom literature in the Bible says, I'm not necessarily a great thinker, I'm a problem solver. Understanding is more than thinking. It always results in doing. In other words, understanding is marked by accomplishment.
People who have the Bible's form of understanding, they do things and they produce things. Listen to this. It's the ability to read life correctly. That's what understanding is. What does that mean, Pastor?
Well, the person that has understanding can see where pressure will crack character and they avoid it. The person of understanding can see where temptation will collapse somebody's integrity and so they resist. The person of understanding can see where sin will erode the foundation of the heart, and so they confess and repent.
Let me give you the two best and most simple illustrations I know of wisdom and understanding. You ready? All you note takers, this is for you. Wisdom is skill in living life. Wisdom is skill in living.
Understanding means knowing how life works. I get it. I have a grasp of that. Wisdom is skill in living. Understanding means knowing how life works.
Understanding is not information, it's Application. That's why Proverbs consistently pairs wisdom and understanding. Friends, if your wisdom never shapes your relationships, if it never impacts your immediate decisions, then you don't have wisdom. You have data, and you're missing understanding. So, Pastor, how do wise people look in real life?
The wise people that have understanding? Well, let's rapid fire about five proverbs here and show you. 17:27. He who has knowledge spares his words. This is a verse for the motor mouths.
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Spared words, calm spirit. They don't just speak to speak.
14:29. The one who is slow to wrath has great understanding, slow to get angry. The wise and understanding do not react quickly. They don't fly off the handle. You getting this so far?
Pretty simple, right? Wisdom literature is not hard. You just need to put them all together. 11:12. A man of understanding holds his peace.
If you have wisdom and you have understanding, you can disagree with someone respectfully. You hold your peace. These kind of hurt, don't they? 20 verse 5. Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
So look, the picture is if you have understanding, you go to the well and. And you don't go home dry. You bring the bucket up and it has water in it. They know how to ask questions and listen. That's how you draw it out of people's hearts.
That's what a person of understanding does. They understand how life works. And lastly on this idea, 1521. A man of understanding walks uprightly. Let me tell you something.
A church filled with those who walk uprightly have a great testimony in the community. And they have to add more chairs all the time. They don't shift character when the audience changes.
See, friends, wisdom is not how loudly you speak, it's how skillfully you live. And I just gave you five examples of what God will do with the Holy Spirit indwelling you. If you say God, I want to be like James, the person James is telling us to be. I want wisdom and understanding. I want skill in living life.
I don't want to stumble and fall and mess it up all the time. I want to have different reasons to come to the prayer lines other than I really messed it all up again this week. That's a great reason to come. But let's grow in wisdom. Well, not only that, knowing God changes how you see people.
Now, if you have a Bible, I want you to turn to Psalm 107. I want you to see it on the page It's a long one, so I'm not going to read all the verses. I want you to look at it because it's broken off into these five or six verse sections and I'm going to quickly outline it for you to show you this truth that knowing God changes how you see people. I want you to see it in your Bible however you have it. If you don't have one, look on your neighbors, you need to see this.
We Bible share here, right? Like ride sharing with Bible sharing. We're like the uber of Bibles.
Psalm 107. Now the first verse I'm going to show you is way at the end is verse 43.
In fact it's the last verse. Whoever is wise will observe these things and they will understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Do you see the idea of wisdom and understanding coupled in that verse? You see the word wise in the first phrase and understanding in the second. This is the end of Psalm 107.
It's a wisdom psalm and he says, whoever is wise will observe these things. Everybody say, pastor, what are these things? Thank you for asking. I'm going to give you a quick survey of them, these things. If you read through Psalm 107, here's what you're going to find out.
You're going to find out, number one, that wanderers are retrieved by God. That's verses four through nine. So just look in your Bible and look and see how verses 4 through 9 are a section. They're just kind of indented in mind. Does it look like that in yours?
Alright, you got these little sections. If you read through that section, you'd find out that God goes and gets those who wander away. Number two in verses 10 through 16, prisoners are set free. In my Bible, 10 through 16 is a set apart section. If you read through it, you find out that there are people imprisoned and God goes and he unlocks the doors and he gets them out.
Number three in verses 17 through 22, look at it on the page. See that? It's a section in that section. If you read it, you find out that people are sick and God heals them. We've already heard a testimony of God healing a woman who's been in pain for two years.
And we didn't even tell you the backstory just because it's a little sensitive. But I know the backstory and I know exactly the back story and know that that was an attack of the evil one on on one of our sisters who said, I'm gonna do a great good for you, Lord. And to glorify you and help others. And ever since that started, the enemy said, I'm gonna make you miserable while you do it. She comes from prayer.
And God says, well, I'm gonna take that misery and remove it because of your faith and because of my goodness. Isn't he good? Look, we're just gonna continue to pray for God to heal because he just does it all the time. And God hasn't lost his love and compassion for those who suffer. And in Psalm 107, 17, 22, just another example of God healing sick people.
And here's the fourth thing of these things in verses 23 through 32, in Psalm 107, the storm tossed are rescued. Look, that's literal and figurative. Some of you came in in the last month of your life's been storm tossed. You've just been swayed here and there and rocked over and under and your life is almost queasy, you're about to get seasickness. It's just there's been no stability.
And if you read through those verses, you're going to find out that God sees you, he cares about that and he wants to fix that in your life. So if you go back and you look at those four things that I said. Wanderers are retrieved, prisoners set free, the sick are healed and and the storm tossed or rescued. Remember, knowing God changes how you see people. And a wise person observes this.
And listen to me when you observe it, you don't write people off.
You don't treat anybody like they're a lost cause. Wanderers and prisoners and the sick and the storm tossed, they may feel hopeless, but you better not feel hopeless for them. Amen. They don't assume a person's worst chapter is their last chapter. Look, everybody's life is a movie.
And we can do a still frame on your worst day in your movie. And everybody can look at that still frame and if they don't know you, they'll go, what a terrible person. And if you know them, you go, wait a minute, that's just a snapshot. That's not the whole reel. I know there.
Nobody wants to be judged by their worst moment, right? This is what Psalm 107 teaches. And God says, look, you may be shipwrecked by your worst snapshot, but I see the video and I see the hope I'm about to bring. And I'm getting ready to turn it around for you. This is how the wise and understanding think, those who are wise and understanding are confident think in God's ability to change anyone this our church believes.
I know some of you are praying for your one, you know, somebody that's close to you and far from God. And you may be thinking, man, they're on drugs, they're into crime, they're into atheism, they're into the university knowledge that's humanistic. And they think all Christians are dumb. They're so far from God, they're not even a test of God's strength.
God can change their heart in a moment. You don't stop praying, you don't stop evangelizing. You trust in his ability to change anyone. Hey, do you receive that word? I do too.
All right, that's number one. Number two in our outline truth number two, fake wisdom runs on the self, verses 14 to 16. And I'm just going to give one. I'm going to give each of those verses, give a little commentary under each.
Here's verse 14. But if you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
There's a fake wisdom that people have and if you have enough of it, you can get elected to public office, you can get promoted high in your business and you can make a lot of money. And you and your friends around you may think you're wise, but it's all fake. Fake wisdom doesn't start in the mind, it starts in the heart. And it's not about loving truth, it's about loving the spotlight. James says that ego driven faith is fueled by two things in this verse.
Number one, bitter envy. If there's bitter envy in your heart when somebody else is being praised, your heart says, I deserve that attention. That's bitter envy. The second thing that fuels ego driven wisdom is self seeking. Self seeking sees somebody else being promoted and it says in its heart, I need that position.
That should have been me.
The fake wise person who doesn't seek. The fake wise person doesn't seek truth. They seek a throne. They want influence more than they want integrity.
Fake wisdom runs on the self and James reveals its source in verse 15. You following along here, verse 15, he says this wisdom does not descend from above, it doesn't come from heaven. Instead it's earthly, it's sensual. That's a word that makes decisions by how you feel sensual. And what's the third one?
Demonic. Second time in James so far that he's talked about demons. The first time he said that there are demons out there that have better faith than some Christians. They believe in God better than some Christians do. And here he says not only Is there a demonic faith?
There's a demonic wisdom and it deceives people. Look, fake wisdom doesn't build people, it uses them.
Fake wisdom doesn't sow peace. It seeks leverage. Also, fake wisdom doesn't serve it recruits. It's trying to get people on its team. Let me illustrate this from a story from about 100 years ago.
If you want a picture of self seeking wisdom that looked impressive but produced confusion and tragedy, look at Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Now, the coolest thing about this dude is his name. And it goes downhill from there. He was the leader of the 1910 Terra Nova Expedition trying to get to the South Pole. That just sounds cold to me.
That's a note for me. I don't know about you guys, but there were some people 100 years ago, they wanted to get to the extremes of the earth going to the South Pole. Captain Scott was admired. He was brilliant. He was respected.
He had the resume. He had the charisma. He had the national spotlight. And people assumed that he was the kind of leader that others should follow. In other words, he looked wise.
But the men who knew him best would later say the same thing. Here's what they said of him. Captain Scott needed to be right even more than he needed to be safe.
That's James 3, 14, 16 in real time, by the way. That's leadership fueled by ambition and not wisdom. Let me tell you, three mistakes he made, big ones. Number one, Captain Scott ignored seasoned advice. This is how you know he wasn't wise.
Veteran Arctic explorers told him plainly, dogs are the only reliable way to cross the ice. Ponies and machines won't survive. But Captain Scott brushed that off. And instead he insisted on using motor sledges and Siberian ponies. I'm picking Siberian husky.
I don't know about you guys. Neither of which had ever proven successful in polar conditions. He wasn't interested in understanding. Captain Scott wanted to win. He wanted to be first.
Second, he overloaded his team. Experts warned him, your groups are too large, your sledges are too heavy, and you're pushing too fast. But Captain Scott was determined. He was unfazed. He believed sheer willpower would make up for poor, flawed planning.
He kept adding weight, he kept adding miles. He kept piling on the pressure. To his team, his goal mattered more than the lives carrying his goal.
And number three, his decisions created confusion and eventually collapse. Which is exactly what James says that self seeking wisdom produces. You know what happened? First, the ponies froze to death. Then the motor sledges broke on the first days Supply depots were misplaced, teams got separated and men began to die.
And when searchers found his final journal months later, they found these heartbreaking last lines that he wrote. We are weak. Writing is difficult, but we are determined to keep going. The world in the history books admired his courage. But nearly every historian agrees today.
Captain Scott didn't fail for lack of heart. He failed because he trusted his ego more than wisdom. His self confidence looked heroic. His determination looked noble. But the fruit of his leadership was confusion, division and tragedy.
And that's exactly the outcome that James warns us about. This wisdom does not descend from heaven, but is earthly and sensual and demonic. Captain Robert Falcon Scott's story is a sobering reminder to all of us. Ambition without humility will always leave a trail. And when wisdom is ruled by ego, people always pay the price.
Friends, before we shake our heads at him, James asks us a few questions. Do we serve so we'll be noticed?
Do we give so we will be appreciated? Do we get angry when we're overlooked? Do we need to win to feel secure?
That's the source of fake wisdom. I have a question for the next verse, Pastor. How do you know self is leading? How do you know it's ego? Verse 16.
For where envy and self seeking existence, confusion and every evil thing are there. Hey, do you want to test your wisdom? This one hurts. Don't look at what you say. Look at what you leave behind.
When you look in the rear view mirror, are relationships around you stronger or are they strained?
Are people encouraged or are they intimidated? Is there unity around you or is there quiet tension? People walking on eggshells? Friends, if people feel smaller after being with you, don't call it wisdom.
Well, that's number two. Fake wisdom runs on the self. Last part of the sermon today. Number three. James says that godly wisdom plants peace.
After he describes the chaos of ego, James shifts from that noise to this quiet strength. Verse 17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure.
Friends, before wisdom speaks, it must be pure. But I want to let you off the hook. Purity doesn't mean perfection, or else none of us would have it. Purity means no hidden agenda, no spotlight grabbing, no platform building, no hunger for control. That's what purity means.
Pure wisdom doesn't need attention. It doesn't use people, and it doesn't have something to prove. You know what it does? Pure wisdom makes a person safe to be around.
And then, according to James, the fruit appears. Do you remember this list? In the verse, wisdom from above is peaceable. It calms Storms, it doesn't start them. Wisdom from above is gentle.
It's strong enough not to injure people while being right.
Wisdom from above is willing to yield. It doesn't insist on winning every dispute.
Wisdom from above is full of mercy and good fruits. It treats people according to God's grace, not their history. Wisdom from above is without partiality. It doesn't flatter the powerful or dismiss the overlooked. And wisdom from above is without hypocrisy.
It doesn't fake humility in order to manipulate somebody.
Basically, heaven's wisdom doesn't pressure people, it heals people. Friends, how can we make peace if we always need to win? How can we help somebody grow if we need applause for doing the helping?
The next thing James says in the last verse in our text. He says, peace is not the fruit, it's the soil that's so good. Verse 18. Now, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Look, the world thinks that righteousness can grow with just the right amount of pressure, with just the right amount of control, with just the right intensity.
But Scripture says that righteousness grows in peace. Let me give you examples. Let me ask you three questions, friends. Can we shout our kids into godliness? Have you tried?
Can we shame a spouse into holiness?
Haven't you tried? Can we strong arm a congregation into unity? Isn't the answer to all three of those questions a resounding no.
In conclusion today? So who is wise? Well, if you want to know, don't look at volume. Don't measure by vocabulary. Don't count followers, don't count quotes.
Look for fruit, because fruit doesn't lie. Does their presence bring calm or confusion? If it's confusion, they're not wise. Do people leave helped or harmed? If harmed, not wise, does their leadership turn others into disciples of Christ or disciples of themselves?
If it's of themselves not wise? Pretty simple, right?
You see, wisdom always leads, always leaves godly tracks to follow.
I've been enjoying these congregational declarations we're doing, so I brought another one.
So did you receive this word today? Okay, well, if our prayer ministry team will come to the front now, I'm going to give you a chance to get up here. We're going to declare as we end our James 3 series, something together.
If you're new, we pray for anyone and everyone. And we do so after the service is over. And it gives us time to just spend some time with you and. And pray for you, whatever you may need and whatever God may have for you. So we have these trained prayer ministry teams and they long to pray for you.
If you're a member of our church and you can't think of anything to be prayed for today, you're in the best spot. That means that you get to come forward and say, hey, I don't know exactly how God wants me to be prayed for, so just pray for me. Whatever the Lord lays on your heart and God is going to speak to them and they're going to pray some powerful prayers for you. Alright, now that you know the ground rules, let's stand together. And I'm going to put a declaration on the screen and it's not a responsive reading.
It's a reading that we all read together and try to stay in time with me. And I'm not going to go too quickly, but I mean with passion, I mean with some gusto, I mean with some heartfelt truth. Let's declare this together. A prayer to God.
Start now. Lord, make us people who know you, not just people who know things. Clean our motives, calm our reactions. Help us treat others the way you've treated us. Give us wisdom that heals, not harms.
Make us peacemakers who plant righteousness in in our homes, our church and our city. Let our lives show your character through us, Lord, sow peace. Amen. We are dismissed. And the prayer lines are open.
------------------------------------
Come and join us this Sunday at the Great Commission Church for a truly remarkable and uplifting experience. Great Commission Church is a family-friendly church in Olive Branch, MS. Great Commission Church is not just any ordinary place of worship; it's a vibrant community where faith comes alive, hearts are filled with love, and lives are transformed. Our doors are wide open, ready to welcome you into the warm embrace of our congregation, where you'll discover the true essence of fellowship and spirituality. At Great Commission Church, we are more than just a congregation; we are a family united by a common mission – to follow the teachings of Christ and spread His love to the world. As you step inside Great Commission Church, you'll find a sanctuary that nurtures your faith and encourages you to be part of something greater than yourself.
We believe in the power of coming together as a community to worship, learn, and serve. Whether you're a long-time believer or just starting your spiritual journey, Great Commission Church welcomes people from all walks of life. Our vibrant services are filled with inspiring messages, beautiful music, and heartfelt prayers that will uplift your soul. Every Sunday at Great Commission Church is an opportunity to deepen your relationship with God and connect with others who share your faith and values.
At Great Commission Church, we believe that faith is not just a solitary endeavor but a shared experience that strengthens and enriches us all. Our church is a place where you can find purpose, belonging, and the encouragement to live a life in accordance with Christ's teachings. Join us this Sunday at Great Commission Church and experience the transformative power of faith in action. Be part of a loving and supportive community that is committed to making a positive impact in our world. Together, we strive to fulfill the great commission to go forth and make disciples of all nations. We look forward to having you with us at Great Commission Church this Sunday, where faith, love, and community intersect in a truly amazing way.
Great Commission Church is a non-denominational, family-friendly Christian church located in Olive Branch, Mississippi. We are a short drive from Germantown, Southaven, Collierville, Horn Lake, Memphis, Fairhaven, Mineral Wells, Pleasant Hill, Handy Corner, Lewisburg and Byhalia. Great Commission Church is conveniently located, making it easy to find and attend. Many people have even called it their go-to “church near me” or the "Church nearby" because of how accessible it is and how quickly it feels like home.
See you Sunday at Great Commission Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi!
