WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.919 All right, we're going to read from James chapter 3, verses 13 through James chapter 4, verse 1. 00:00:07.640 --> 00:00:09.060 This is God's holy word. 00:00:09.939 --> 00:00:12.019 Who is wise and understanding among you? 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:17.039 By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:21.140 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:23.719 do not boast and be false to the truth. 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:26.740 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, 00:00:26.740 --> 00:00:29.339 but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.439 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder in every vile practice. 00:00:36.060 --> 00:00:42.899 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:47.539 full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere, 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:52.400 and a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 00:00:53.019 --> 00:00:56.159 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:00.139 Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:02.739 This is God's holy word. 00:01:03.379 --> 00:01:07.420 We're walking through the letter of James, piece by piece, week by week. 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:13.199 And Philip Melanchthon, the great reformer, Lutheran reformer, 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:16.199 he gives us a really great summary, a helpful summary, 00:01:16.199 --> 00:01:19.039 of everything that we've said so far in the book of James, 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:20.280 so we don't have to walk back through it all. 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:21.879 He says, 00:01:22.540 --> 00:01:26.739 Faith alone saves, but saving faith never remains alone. 00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:29.680 So James has told us that faith alone saves you. 00:01:29.799 --> 00:01:33.780 You're justified by faith alone, but your faith never remains alone. 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:37.099 Instead, a life of faith always shows up. 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:40.079 It always becomes visible through good works, through conduct, 00:01:40.219 --> 00:01:41.500 through the way you live life. 00:01:41.579 --> 00:01:44.760 And so last time we were in James 3, we talked about words. 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:49.340 So when you become a Christian, your speech patterns should change. 00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:52.400 And James talked to us about something so scary, really, 00:01:52.859 --> 00:01:55.020 and that's that our words have such power, 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:58.740 power to give life, power to break people's lives. 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:02.160 And so we have this power made in God's image. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:05.140 And he said that you will know someone's faith. 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:07.439 You will know that they're growing in faith by the way they speak. 00:02:07.540 --> 00:02:09.040 Our patterns of speech have to change. 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:11.560 And so here today, he carries on the same logic, 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:14.020 but turns towards a broader concept of wisdom. 00:02:14.020 --> 00:02:17.180 So you'll know wisdom by conduct. 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:18.280 You'll be able to see wisdom. 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:21.660 So if you walk up to somebody, you can't just say, 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:24.219 you can't just look at somebody you've never met before and say, 00:02:24.320 --> 00:02:27.340 I think that this is a person of great faith, of great wisdom, 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:29.100 of really healthy speech patterns. 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:31.219 No, that's not something you can see. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:33.300 It's an invisible quality that has to come out. 00:02:33.860 --> 00:02:35.900 So James says here, who is wise? 00:02:36.020 --> 00:02:37.280 Who is understanding among you? 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:40.200 Well, they will be known by their good conduct, 00:02:40.200 --> 00:02:41.260 by the way they live their life. 00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:42.340 Wisdom shows up. 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:46.020 Our faith shows up in the way we speak and the way we live. 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:47.560 And so that's the big question today. 00:02:47.879 --> 00:02:49.219 Verse 13, who is wise? 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:52.420 And then he says, and understanding among you. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:55.199 So that word understanding, who is knowledgeable among you? 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:57.819 One of the, some of the commentators, I should say, 00:02:58.180 --> 00:03:01.439 think that that little phrase, wise and understanding among you, 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:06.020 is a way of saying who is able to be a teacher in the church. 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:09.879 They must have both wisdom and knowledge, wisdom and understanding. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:12.199 So he's saying knowledge is not enough. 00:03:12.539 --> 00:03:15.159 The person in the room who has great theological knowledge, 00:03:15.299 --> 00:03:18.840 it's not sufficient that they become a teacher in the church. 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:20.740 Instead, there also has to be wisdom. 00:03:21.379 --> 00:03:22.680 And he tells us what that is. 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:25.979 It's when faith actually manifests in your visible life, 00:03:26.099 --> 00:03:28.019 what you actually do and how you actually live. 00:03:28.099 --> 00:03:28.919 Talk is not enough. 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:30.319 Knowledge is not enough. 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:34.639 But wisdom shows up in good works and the way we live. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:37.699 Now, that's the same thing that he said in chapter 1. 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:42.939 So I've said most weeks that everything in this book shows up in chapter 1. 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:46.000 So I'm probably being very repetitive. 00:03:46.939 --> 00:03:48.039 So sorry about that. 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:49.479 But what is wisdom? 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:50.579 Wisdom is just maturity. 00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:51.400 And what is maturity? 00:03:51.539 --> 00:03:53.979 Maturity is just what James means in James 1-4, 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:56.280 that when you come to faith and you follow Jesus, 00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:57.599 you start to become like him. 00:03:57.860 --> 00:04:02.599 And he says, and you become perfect, James 1-4, teleos, perfected, 00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:04.719 or really the word is maturing, mature. 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:07.120 And so wisdom is just maturity. 00:04:07.699 --> 00:04:10.219 It's just that you've been growing in Christ-like maturity. 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:12.819 You follow Jesus, you become like him. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:15.180 And it shows up in the way you live your life. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.699 So let's think about that very carefully 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:19.959 so that we can grow into it this morning. 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:22.819 Number one, what is wisdom from above? 00:04:22.939 --> 00:04:24.480 Wisdom from above, that's what he calls it. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:27.400 Secondly, the war within, the problem we have. 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:30.180 And then finally, wisdom from above revisited. 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:32.740 So first, wisdom from above. 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:37.340 Now he gives us here in this passage a real portrait of a wise person. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:39.819 And you can see the list down in verse 17. 00:04:40.640 --> 00:04:43.120 But wisdom from above, and then he gives you these virtues, 00:04:43.860 --> 00:04:47.740 visible virtues, pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:51.200 full of mercy, full of good fruits, impartial, and sincere. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:55.659 Every one of those deserves for us to linger for a while. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:56.879 But we won't do that today. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:04:59.240 But there's a logic to it. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:00.199 There's an order to it. 00:05:00.219 --> 00:05:03.459 The first thing he says is the wise life shows up as pure. 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:08.639 And that is being contrasted with selfish ambition and envy or jealousy 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:10.699 that he just talked about in the verse before. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:16.120 And he's saying that purity is when you are uncontaminated by self-interest. 00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:20.340 You are not curved in on yourself, pointing at yourself all the time. 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:24.540 Instead, you are other-centric, ecclesiocentric, church-centered, and other-centered. 00:05:25.420 --> 00:05:26.819 He said that's a pure heart. 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:28.259 That's a heart that's like Christ. 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:29.600 And that's the first thing. 00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:33.579 If you have that, if you have a heart that is turned away from self, 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:35.000 then everything else can follow. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:36.399 So that's why it's first. 00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:38.439 And so he gives this list, peaceable. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:41.759 The Greek word there carries the weight of the Hebrew shalom. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:47.980 So not just a person who avoids conflict, but actually makes peace between people. 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:50.519 So a wise person is a peacemaker. 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:53.579 You are bringing people together when they're in conflict, 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:56.699 especially in the local church, and you're producing shalom, 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:58.879 flourishing for people in a culture. 00:05:59.039 --> 00:06:02.920 And then gentle, willing not to insist on your own rights. 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:05.459 That's the Greek word that's used here for gentle. 00:06:05.599 --> 00:06:08.920 You're choosing grace instead of revenge. 00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:10.759 That's the word gentle. 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:12.839 And then open to reason. 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:16.139 A wise person is genuinely persuadable. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:19.180 So you don't come into a conversation with an agenda. 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:21.060 Instead, you're truth-driven. 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:25.139 So you are genuinely able to change your mind when you're wise. 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:25.980 You're open to reason. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:28.000 And then sincere, impartial. 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:31.459 Sincere means not hypocritical. 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:35.920 What's true on the outside in your life is actually manifesting your heart. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:38.560 So you don't live one way on the outside, 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:40.879 but there's something very different going on on the inside. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:41.879 So that's wisdom. 00:06:42.780 --> 00:06:45.860 All the commentators basically say that when James talks about wisdom, 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:48.540 there's a single word you can use, wholeness. 00:06:48.740 --> 00:06:50.040 Wisdom is just wholeness. 00:06:50.579 --> 00:06:53.639 It's where your outer life matches your inner life. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:54.259 You're whole. 00:06:54.420 --> 00:06:55.019 You're complete. 00:06:55.420 --> 00:06:57.160 You're lacking in nothing, as James says. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:57.620 Wholeness. 00:06:57.620 --> 00:07:00.139 It's knowledge of God lived out. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:02.459 It's understanding and wisdom. 00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:06.560 Wisdom is actually living out the knowledge of God you have in your heart. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:09.300 It's a selfless heart united with a selfless life. 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:10.819 It's interested in good relationships. 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:12.699 It's your relationship maker. 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:15.019 Not in the sense of dating necessarily, 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:17.840 but in the sense of you bring people together, 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:18.980 and you want to seek peace, 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:20.660 and you want to create a great community. 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:23.020 That's this idea of wholeness. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:26.740 You care about the whole body, the church, the whole body. 00:07:26.820 --> 00:07:28.660 You're ecclesiocentric in that way. 00:07:30.020 --> 00:07:32.260 I spend a decent amount of time in my life right now 00:07:32.260 --> 00:07:36.000 watching kids and young teens play football. 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:39.620 And one of the things I've noticed 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:42.980 that many of you who are better football knowledge people than me 00:07:42.980 --> 00:07:46.300 already know is that you can have a really great player, 00:07:46.460 --> 00:07:48.120 the best player, an academy player, 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:51.379 a 13-year-old academy player that's already been recruited 00:07:51.379 --> 00:07:54.079 by Hibs and Harts and Rangers and so on. 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:55.620 But they get out on the pitch, 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:58.019 and they become the worst player. 00:07:58.220 --> 00:08:00.180 And the way that they are the worst player is they don't pass. 00:08:00.899 --> 00:08:02.519 They're not interested in assists. 00:08:02.840 --> 00:08:05.720 They are only interested in owning the ball. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:09.459 They have great understanding and knowledge with their feet. 00:08:09.620 --> 00:08:10.899 And you watch it, and it's beautiful. 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:12.319 But they don't have any wisdom. 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:14.680 See, wisdom is wholeness. 00:08:14.840 --> 00:08:16.699 Wisdom brings people together. 00:08:16.699 --> 00:08:19.539 And on the pitch, if you're going to be a wise footballer, 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:21.159 you have to be a team baller. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:22.139 You have to play team ball. 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:25.360 You have to be interested in assists more than scoring. 00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:27.420 That's what he means by wisdom. 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:28.680 It brings people together. 00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:29.459 It's holistic. 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:32.080 It's concerned about the whole group, 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:33.980 every single one of us in this room, 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.879 all together at the same time. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.659 Wise people reconcile with others. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:38.240 They make peace. 00:08:38.319 --> 00:08:39.679 They say the right things at the right time. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:40.460 They build community. 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:43.819 They're driven by truth and by gentleness and grace 00:08:43.820 --> 00:08:44.620 at the same time. 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:48.680 Now, James gives us a summary word here 00:08:48.680 --> 00:08:50.640 to summarize this whole person. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.460 And he says it's called the meekness of wisdom. 00:08:53.940 --> 00:08:55.720 So the one word he gives you in this passage 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:57.540 to say what does this look like, 00:08:57.560 --> 00:08:58.640 it's the word meekness. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:03.320 I looked up in our modern dictionaries, 00:09:03.460 --> 00:09:05.420 Oxford, Cambridge, dictionary.com, 00:09:05.900 --> 00:09:07.680 the way that people use the word meekness. 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:10.540 Modern English has, in the dictionary writers, 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:12.699 have ruined the word. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:14.959 They've made a terrible mess of it. 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:18.219 So what some of the descriptions in the dictionaries are, 00:09:18.699 --> 00:09:22.319 meekness is docile, spiritless, submissive. 00:09:22.379 --> 00:09:23.360 One dictionary even said, 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:25.579 when you let others run over you. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:29.360 And that's not at all what the biblical word meekness means. 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:31.539 And so the modern word has really messed it up. 00:09:32.659 --> 00:09:34.059 This word pruitas, meekness, 00:09:34.099 --> 00:09:36.539 it shows up in Socrates and Aristotle. 00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:38.599 What they meant by it was a person 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:41.540 who argues their case without losing their temper. 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.519 That's how Socrates used it. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:44.399 Or Aristotle said, 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:47.540 one who cares about justice but never seeks revenge. 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:50.759 So the Bible here says that meekness 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:53.519 is the great single word that captures 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:55.779 the whole of what a wise person is like. 00:09:56.139 --> 00:09:57.080 And we could say it like this, 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:59.320 meekness is not the absence of strength. 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:03.340 It's a strength that is found somewhere else to rest 00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:06.180 besides revenge, besides violence, 00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:08.339 besides harsh words of insult. 00:10:08.899 --> 00:10:11.319 And instead, it's found a place to rest 00:10:11.319 --> 00:10:15.479 its convictions in God for everything. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:18.319 So a meek person is a person who's so secure 00:10:18.319 --> 00:10:20.959 in all that God says about them 00:10:20.959 --> 00:10:22.179 and all that God's given them 00:10:22.179 --> 00:10:24.439 that they are able to be gentle on the outside. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:27.019 So meekness is when you are lion-like 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:28.759 with your convictions in your heart, 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:30.459 yet you look like a lamb 00:10:30.459 --> 00:10:32.319 in the way you relate to everyone. 00:10:32.939 --> 00:10:34.039 Lion-like on the inside, 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:36.360 so gentle, lamb-like on the outside. 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:38.980 It's when you have understanding, 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:40.120 knowledge of God, 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.939 and security in God. 00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:43.860 Therefore, you become wise. 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:46.519 You become lion-like, yet so gentle. 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:51.139 I remember back in my high school years, 00:10:51.839 --> 00:10:53.360 and I wonder if it was the same here, 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:56.039 there was always in every year, 00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:56.819 every class, 00:10:56.980 --> 00:10:58.240 that one guy, 00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:59.740 that one girl 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:04.519 who everybody was afraid to cross. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:07.120 Some of those people, 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:07.980 everybody was afraid of 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:08.820 because they were bullies. 00:11:09.560 --> 00:11:11.799 And so you were afraid of getting beat up by them. 00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:13.399 But there was always that other person. 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:14.940 I wonder if you had that other person. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:16.039 Maybe you were that other person. 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:17.639 The person that you don't cross, 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:17.960 you don't, 00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:19.740 nobody ever insults. 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:20.000 Why? 00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:21.360 And it's because 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:24.259 they were so secure in themselves 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:26.399 that anything, 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:28.320 any darts that had ever been thrown at them 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:29.659 in the past just never stuck. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.560 And so people stopped trying to rile them up. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.940 People stopped trying to mess with them. 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:36.519 They never needed to win. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:38.840 Their gentleness was so real, 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:40.779 but you knew that on the inside, 00:11:41.060 --> 00:11:42.659 if there was an issue of injustice, 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:44.759 the bully was the one person 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:45.620 who was scared of them. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.620 That's meekness. 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:50.419 Meekness is when you've got such security 00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:52.840 that the darts don't stick. 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:55.659 And so you're able to be 00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:56.679 so strong on the inside 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.659 that you can actually be 00:11:57.659 --> 00:12:00.060 incredibly gentle on the outside, 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:02.360 incredibly lamb-like on the outside. 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:06.060 We, Christians in this room, 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:10.039 we've got so much knowledge about God, 00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:11.799 but when we look at this list, 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:13.159 pure, peaceable, gentle, 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:14.340 able to be persuaded, 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:16.120 sincere, impartial, 00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:17.519 we can look at ourselves 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.559 and see the gap 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:20.299 between the knowledge of God 00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:20.960 that we have 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.579 and the people we actually want to be. 00:12:23.319 --> 00:12:25.879 And this is the person we want to be, 00:12:26.319 --> 00:12:27.579 but we feel, 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:28.720 we recognize in our lives 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.519 that we're not there yet. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:32.360 And so often that's because 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:33.340 we look up and we say, 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:34.220 I know, 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:35.539 I can say I'm a sinner. 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:37.620 I can say Jesus Christ died for my sins, 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:41.179 but it's not helping me in this moment. 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.039 We feel that gap in our lives. 00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:43.960 And the difference here 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.019 is the difference between 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:47.660 knowledge and experiential knowledge, 00:12:48.060 --> 00:12:50.280 tacit knowledge and experiential knowledge. 00:12:50.900 --> 00:12:51.400 You know, we can say, 00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:52.940 I know I'm a sinner, 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:55.180 but have you yet come to a place 00:12:55.180 --> 00:12:57.980 where you experience that reality? 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:00.259 I'm a sinner. 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:01.220 It brings you to tears. 00:13:01.420 --> 00:13:02.240 It moves you. 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.280 It destroys you. 00:13:03.660 --> 00:13:04.560 Have you come to a place 00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:06.500 where you can move from mere knowledge 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.780 to experiential knowledge, 00:13:07.780 --> 00:13:08.340 where you say, 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:10.500 I know I can say Jesus died for me, 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.500 and there's a difference 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.179 in coming and saying, 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:14.159 I know Jesus died for me. 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:15.799 That's how you move 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:17.539 from mere understanding 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:19.379 to meekness, 00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:19.940 to wisdom. 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:21.100 You see here, 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.740 the way it really works, 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.759 Aristotle said, 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:25.200 you've got to train yourself 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:27.320 into this through discipline. 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:28.679 But here in this passage, 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:31.059 you'll see what James writes. 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:31.960 He says, 00:13:32.059 --> 00:13:34.279 seek the meekness of wisdom. 00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:36.120 And then later on, 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:37.360 he calls it the wisdom 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:38.820 that comes from above. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:40.360 That's a language from the gospels. 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:41.820 Wisdom from above, 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:42.940 from above, 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.460 wisdom of heaven. 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:46.139 That's how Jesus talks 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.720 to Nicodemus in John 3 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:48.419 and says, 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:49.000 what do you need 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.940 to change in your life? 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:50.299 What do you need? 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:51.059 You need the spirit. 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:53.019 This is a subtle reference 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:53.860 to the Holy Spirit. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:55.259 Wisdom from above. 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:57.259 Who is the Sophia from above? 00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:58.320 It's the Holy Spirit. 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.259 And Aristotle said, 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:01.120 you've got to train yourself 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:01.500 into this, 00:14:01.580 --> 00:14:02.179 but the truth is, 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.039 you need the Holy Spirit. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.200 It's a gift. 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:05.500 It has to be given to you. 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.759 The Spirit gives it to you 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.360 by grace, 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:09.779 and then you seek it simultaneously. 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:10.939 It's both and. 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:12.659 It's never one or the other. 00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:14.279 You really can become 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:16.059 a lion on the inside 00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:18.559 and lamb-like on the outside, 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.939 as gentle as Jesus Christ, 00:14:20.339 --> 00:14:21.399 and it's a gift of the Spirit. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.000 Now, secondly, 00:14:22.939 --> 00:14:24.220 why haven't we become 00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:25.240 this person so far? 00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:26.879 And we're told here, 00:14:26.959 --> 00:14:28.720 this is why I wanted to read 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.360 just one verse of chapter 4. 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:32.419 It seemed like an odd place to end, 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.459 but pretend that 00:14:33.459 --> 00:14:34.899 there are no chapter divisions. 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:37.500 There aren't in the original text. 00:14:37.579 --> 00:14:38.819 There's no headings in your Bible. 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:39.759 You've got to take that, 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:41.019 cover that up with your finger. 00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:43.639 And see, notice in verse 13, 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.419 there's a question, 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.699 who is wise and understanding among you? 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:48.519 Then down in chapter 4, verse 1, 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.259 there's a question, 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:50.899 well, what causes quarrels 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:51.799 and fights among you? 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.279 See, that's a frame. 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.539 On one hand, 00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:56.120 who is wise among you? 00:14:56.199 --> 00:14:56.559 On the other, 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:58.199 who amongst you are causing fights? 00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.320 So he's saying, 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.440 we will know by good conduct 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:04.320 who is growing in wisdom. 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.480 He's talking to Christians. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.580 And then on the other hand, 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.820 we'll know by conduct 00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:10.320 who is not growing in wisdom, 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:11.000 who is foolish, 00:15:11.160 --> 00:15:12.060 who's causing the fights 00:15:12.060 --> 00:15:13.280 and the quarrels among you. 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:14.340 You see, these two questions 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:15.120 are the bookends 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:17.460 between wisdom and foolishness 00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:18.160 in this passage. 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:20.180 And he tells us really plainly 00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:21.100 the difference. 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:24.040 And he tells it in chapter 4, verse 1, 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:26.280 is the answer not this, 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:27.759 that your passions 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.159 are at war within you. 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:30.659 So what's the answer? 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.379 The answer is, 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.100 if you're a believer today 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:33.679 in this room, 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:36.220 there is a war raging 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.100 inside of you. 00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:39.679 And the war is between 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:40.740 life and the Spirit, 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:42.679 the Spirit who is with you right now, 00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:43.539 present with you, 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:46.740 and the reality that you are born 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:48.100 into this world fleshly. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:48.980 What does he say? 00:15:49.699 --> 00:15:51.519 Unspiritual, earthly, demonic. 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:53.500 And he said, 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:54.259 that is the war 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.620 that is raging in your life 00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.580 at this very moment 00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:57.320 in this room 00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:58.820 as we sit here. 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.639 I just have a question for you 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.419 as we think about it. 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:03.399 Are you engaging in that war? 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.720 Are you aware of that war? 00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:06.700 One of the things Paul tells us 00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:08.080 is if you're not actively 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.100 in that war, 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:10.000 in that fight, 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.580 listening to the Spirit 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:13.379 versus listening to your flesh, 00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:14.139 you're losing. 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.460 If you're not aware, 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.000 if you're passive, 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:16.740 you're losing. 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.279 And so that's why he says, 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.720 who is wise among you, 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:20.379 we can see. 00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:21.440 We can see who's growing. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:23.580 Who is causing fights 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.460 and quarrels among you? 00:16:24.540 --> 00:16:25.460 It's because you're letting 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.220 your passions, 00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:27.400 you're a believer, 00:16:27.540 --> 00:16:28.660 but you're letting your passions 00:16:28.660 --> 00:16:30.180 win the war 00:16:30.180 --> 00:16:31.759 when the Spirit's gently 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.520 whispering to you 00:16:32.520 --> 00:16:33.040 all the time 00:16:33.040 --> 00:16:34.160 to kill those desires. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.180 And so he's telling us here, 00:16:35.560 --> 00:16:37.520 you really do have to engage 00:16:37.520 --> 00:16:38.139 the fight 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.139 to put on wisdom 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:40.520 by fighting, 00:16:40.660 --> 00:16:42.040 by putting away your desires. 00:16:42.160 --> 00:16:43.000 You've got to do things 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.000 you don't want to do 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.660 because your desires 00:16:45.660 --> 00:16:46.720 are earthly, 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:47.780 unspiritual, 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.480 demonic, 00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.080 he says. 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:50.379 And so he gives you 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:52.580 two qualities 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:54.139 of what it looks like 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:55.460 to not be growing, 00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:56.700 to be walking 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:57.720 instead of foolishness, 00:16:58.060 --> 00:16:59.340 and they are bitter jealousy, 00:16:59.660 --> 00:17:00.320 he lists them, 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.480 and selfish ambition. 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.620 The Greek word there 00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:03.900 is bitter zeal, 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.860 but the word bitter 00:17:04.860 --> 00:17:05.640 makes it into 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:07.079 the word jealousy 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.059 or envy 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.440 or covetousness. 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.000 And so he says 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.940 the opposite 00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:12.640 of growing in wisdom 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:14.000 is to embrace 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.480 envy and covetousness, 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:17.519 which is in us all. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:19.339 It's to let it grow. 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:21.279 It's to let it take hold. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.980 There's a good kind of jealousy 00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:25.400 when you are jealous 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.180 for a spouse 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.960 that they would be faithful. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:29.279 That's a good kind of jealousy. 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:29.980 That's the jealousy 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:31.539 God has for the church. 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:33.180 But there is an evil 00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:33.859 kind of jealousy, 00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:36.460 and it's really discontentment. 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.639 It's feeling resentful 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:39.059 about the advantages, 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:39.879 the possessions, 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:42.420 the life that other people have. 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.799 So bitter jealousy 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.440 or envy 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.440 or covetousness 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:47.160 is when you say 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:47.740 effectively, 00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:49.140 I just want my life 00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:49.740 to be different 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.420 than the providence 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:51.279 God has given me. 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.120 And I really want 00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:54.400 the life of the other person. 00:17:54.540 --> 00:17:56.400 And it's a quiet reality 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.920 that rots the soul 00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.759 from the inside out. 00:17:58.820 --> 00:18:00.160 It sucks away all joy 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.440 when you're walking 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.180 through a season 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:03.060 of bitter jealousy 00:18:03.060 --> 00:18:03.540 and envy 00:18:03.540 --> 00:18:04.400 and covetousness. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.460 And so he's telling us here, 00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.480 we all, 00:18:08.120 --> 00:18:09.060 it's not that some of us, 00:18:09.080 --> 00:18:09.340 he's saying, 00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:10.759 we all have this in us. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.880 And if we're not 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:13.900 listening to the Spirit 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:15.220 and fighting bitter jealousy 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.660 and envy, 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.700 it will be growing. 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:18.160 Covetousness will be growing. 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.480 The second one he says 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.700 is really just a clarification 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.740 of the first, 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.160 selfish ambition. 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.480 This is what Aristotle said 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.400 about this word 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:26.819 that's used. 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:27.440 It's one word 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:29.140 in the original text. 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:30.600 Aristotle said, 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.480 selfish ambition 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:33.819 is the self-seeking pursuit 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:35.019 of political office 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.460 by unfair means. 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:37.680 What it means 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.360 in the Bible 00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:39.720 is when you say, 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:41.380 quietly maybe, 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.160 not too loud, 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.540 but my life is about me, 00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:45.180 my pursuits are for me. 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:47.340 Every relationship you have 00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:48.160 is what am I getting 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:48.840 from this? 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.140 So it's a life 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:51.360 that's curved in on itself, 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.140 self-centric 00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:53.440 instead of theocentric, 00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:54.180 God-centered, 00:18:54.320 --> 00:18:55.120 or church-centered, 00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:56.279 other-centered. 00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:57.680 And it's exactly the thing 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.940 that life in the Spirit 00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:00.100 is meant to free us from. 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:00.620 So you know 00:19:00.620 --> 00:19:01.940 you're becoming wise 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:03.019 when you can feel 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:04.400 that you are forgetting 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.800 about yourself more often 00:19:05.800 --> 00:19:06.700 and more concerned 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.420 with other people 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.200 and their problems 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:08.880 and their issues 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.720 and the things 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.400 that are going on 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.259 in their lives. 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.960 And so James 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:14.559 pulls no punches. 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.839 He tells us what this is. 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:18.420 He says it's earthly, 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:21.299 meaning it's living life 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.460 as if there is nothing 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.180 above the sun. 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.700 There is no God above you. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.799 Then he says 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:26.879 it's unspiritual, 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:28.359 living according 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:30.220 to the mere human reasons, 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:31.019 human desires. 00:19:31.140 --> 00:19:31.819 It's actually a word 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:33.200 that says it's living 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.079 like an animal, 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:36.359 merely with animalistic desires. 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.839 And then the third thing 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.160 he says is it's demonic. 00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:40.799 Now he's not saying 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.319 that believer 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:42.259 you are demon possessed. 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.039 He's saying 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:44.960 our natural desires 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.119 are demon like. 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.720 He's saying Satan 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.799 taught us to be like this. 00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:49.480 This comes from 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:50.379 the corruption 00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.200 of the Garden of Eden. 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.180 This is who we've been 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.220 ever since. 00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:54.940 And he's calling us today 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.619 to see that 00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.579 if you're not, 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.379 if you're in a place 00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:58.539 where you're not growing, 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:00.240 it's not because 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.980 you're not justified 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.559 by faith. 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.599 It's because you're not 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:03.980 walking in step 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.720 with the Spirit. 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.319 You're not listening 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.180 to the Holy Spirit. 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.480 When you feel 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.200 the prompt 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.840 of the Spirit 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:11.120 saying don't go there, 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.940 don't do that, 00:20:12.060 --> 00:20:13.120 don't look at that, 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:14.920 you're losing those battles 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:16.380 and so you're not growing, 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.259 you're diminishing, 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:17.840 you're becoming 00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:19.120 more self-centered, 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:20.140 more curved in on self 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.799 instead of growing 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.759 in quote, 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:23.700 good conduct. 00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.080 I'll move on 00:20:25.080 --> 00:20:25.700 to the final point 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:26.440 but the word 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:27.240 good conduct, 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.019 he says wisdom 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.680 will show up 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.620 in good conduct, 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.920 verse 13 and 14. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.580 We've got two words 00:20:34.580 --> 00:20:35.300 for good 00:20:35.300 --> 00:20:36.140 in the New Testament 00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:38.480 and this is not the one 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.660 that is the opposite 00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:40.240 of bad. 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.620 This is not the one 00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.380 that is the opposite 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:43.019 of evil. 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.620 This is the one 00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:45.240 that is opposite 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:45.960 of ugly. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.600 And so the word 00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:47.980 he uses, 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.019 you will be known, 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.720 the life of meekness 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.160 and wisdom, 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.320 you will be known 00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:53.860 by your beautiful conduct, 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.940 not your ugly conduct. 00:20:55.080 --> 00:20:55.580 So he's saying 00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:56.800 that when you put 00:20:56.800 --> 00:20:57.700 on the Spirit 00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.740 and you seek the Spirit, 00:20:59.140 --> 00:21:00.220 your life grows 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.420 into a life of beauty. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.220 Beautiful conduct, 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.480 beautiful wisdom 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.840 is because of how 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:06.500 it all comes out. 00:21:07.340 --> 00:21:08.320 The meek person 00:21:08.320 --> 00:21:11.580 is the most dangerous person 00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:12.279 in the room in a way. 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.680 Not because they will hurt you, 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.320 no they won't. 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:18.120 Not because they'll seek revenge, 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.660 they won't. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.340 But because they do not 00:21:20.340 --> 00:21:21.759 need anything from anybody. 00:21:23.360 --> 00:21:24.279 And in that, 00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:25.259 that kind of freedom 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:27.120 is almost incomprehensible 00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:27.880 to a world 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.800 that is run 00:21:28.800 --> 00:21:29.759 on selfish ambition. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:32.119 almost incomprehensible. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.700 How to change, 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.220 lastly. 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.599 How do we change? 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.379 How do we grow 00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.000 into this person? 00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.140 Paul says, 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.379 our natural instincts 00:21:40.379 --> 00:21:41.299 are demon-like. 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.079 You do not need 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:42.779 an exorcist. 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.799 You need a Savior. 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.319 You need a Redeemer. 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:47.879 And so, 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.200 the wisdom from above, 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.059 thirdly and finally, 00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.359 revisited once more. 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.299 Let's look at it once more. 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.799 How do we change? 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.440 Now, 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.579 we've already been told 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.379 about meekness 00:21:56.379 --> 00:21:57.740 in the beginning of the book, 00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:58.579 chapter 1, 00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.819 verse 21. 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.659 And here's what James says, 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.059 therefore, 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:04.359 put away all filthiness 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:05.519 and rampant wickedness. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.099 Sounds almost identical 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.839 to this passage. 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:10.379 And receive with meekness 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:12.579 the implanted word, 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.299 which will save your soul. 00:22:15.139 --> 00:22:15.279 So, 00:22:15.639 --> 00:22:15.720 Paul, 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.059 James gave us 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.879 exactly what we're supposed 00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:19.079 to do back in chapter 1. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.099 Put away 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.740 the desires of the flesh 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.980 and instead receive 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:24.180 with meekness, 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.660 gentleness of spirit, 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.279 the implanted word. 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:27.680 And so, 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.200 he tells you, 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.819 how do you change? 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.660 You've got to receive 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:31.220 the implanted word today. 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.400 And receiving 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.339 the implanted word 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.940 means that either 00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:36.579 the word has already 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.839 been implanted in you 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.120 and you need to re-receive it 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:39.960 over and over again. 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.039 Or today, 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.279 you might sit here today 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.460 and you need to receive 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.160 the word. 00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:46.980 What is the word? 00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.779 What is the word 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.720 that you need to receive? 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:51.440 And when you read this list 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.180 in verse 17, 00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:53.400 just think about it 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:53.779 for a second. 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.820 What is the word? 00:22:56.100 --> 00:22:58.120 One who is pure, 00:22:59.299 --> 00:22:59.840 peaceable, 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:00.880 gentle, 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.580 open to reason, 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.580 full of mercy 00:23:03.580 --> 00:23:04.299 and good fruits, 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:06.500 impartial and sincere. 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:08.740 The word is Jesus Christ. 00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:10.460 You need to receive 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:12.860 the one who is this list. 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.019 This list is a person 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:15.200 and that person 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.120 is Jesus Christ. 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.940 Jesus Christ, 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:21.440 we read it 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.120 in our call to worship. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:24.000 He has one moment 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.580 in the Gospels 00:23:24.580 --> 00:23:25.420 where he gives 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.400 an autobiography, 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.080 one moment 00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:28.660 where he talks 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.259 about himself 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.880 so clearly 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.720 in his own virtues 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.380 and it's in Matthew 11. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.360 It was our call 00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:34.059 to worship today. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.320 He says, 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:34.900 come to me, 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:35.960 all you today 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.660 who are weary, 00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:38.559 I will give you rest 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:40.940 for I am meek 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:42.580 and lowly in heart 00:23:42.580 --> 00:23:43.259 and in me 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:43.900 you can find rest 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.420 for your souls. 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.259 On the night 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.039 that he was betrayed, 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.099 Jesus was standing 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.700 before Pontius Pilate, 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:51.500 you'll remember this, 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.740 and he says to Pilate, 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.339 if I desired, 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.619 I could call down 00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.619 twelve legions 00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.359 of angels 00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:59.899 right now 00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:01.839 to do away 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.480 with all of this, 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.019 to do away 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.559 with the cross, 00:24:03.659 --> 00:24:04.139 to do away 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:05.139 with my being 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:06.079 brutally beaten 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:06.559 and murdered 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.519 by my own creation. 00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:08.639 He said that to Pilate 00:24:08.639 --> 00:24:10.480 and he was telling 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:10.940 Pilate that 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:12.119 but he didn't do it. 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.079 That is not weakness. 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:15.319 That is the most astonishing 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.319 kind of restraint 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.099 in world history. 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.839 It is meekness. 00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:20.799 It is the lion 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:22.000 of the tribe of Judah 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:23.159 choosing to become 00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:24.099 the lamb of God 00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:25.199 who took away 00:24:25.199 --> 00:24:25.879 the sins of the world. 00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.500 And when he was 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.059 on the cross, 00:24:28.179 --> 00:24:28.960 you'll remember, 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:30.960 he looked up 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.500 and he did something 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:31.899 unbelievable. 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:32.319 He said, 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:32.759 Father, 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.119 forgive them 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:35.259 for they do not know 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.939 what they are doing. 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:36.619 Father, 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.720 my murderers 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:39.059 do not understand 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.339 what they are doing. 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.419 That is not weakness. 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:43.039 That is unbelievable. 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.980 meekness. 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.939 Such restraint. 00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:46.980 Such gentleness. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:47.879 Such tenderness 00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:49.179 to the person 00:24:49.179 --> 00:24:50.199 that has hung him 00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:50.720 upon the cross 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.919 to every single one 00:24:51.919 --> 00:24:53.279 of us in this room today. 00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:53.599 And so, 00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.859 the cross of Christ 00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.980 does two things 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.659 for you this morning. 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.039 First, 00:24:57.399 --> 00:24:58.240 it shows you 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.399 when Jesus hung on the cross, 00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.819 you can look at him 00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.359 and realize 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:02.740 how sinful you are. 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:05.599 How full of selfish ambition 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.419 and envy 00:25:06.419 --> 00:25:07.159 and jealousy 00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.240 every one of us 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.079 really is. 00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.319 How much fleshliness, 00:25:10.899 --> 00:25:12.519 demonic-like longings 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.059 we have. 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.200 But then secondly, 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:16.259 when he looked up 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.720 at the cross 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.139 and said, 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:17.700 Father, 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:18.660 forgive them. 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.180 They do not know 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:19.779 what they are doing. 00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:21.160 That tells you something. 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:23.059 He came to rescue you 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:24.000 from yourself. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.599 He came to forgive you. 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:27.039 He came to turn you 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.019 outside of yourself 00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:29.220 and focus you 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.259 in the way you were made 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:30.859 on others 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.500 and on him 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.900 and on the local church 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:33.879 and on the body. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.879 He rescues you 00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.559 from yourself 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.960 and he can today 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.720 gift you 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.379 with the meekness 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:38.799 of wisdom, 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.460 with peace 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.359 and purity 00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:41.839 and impartiality 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.480 and sincerity. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.259 He can do that. 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.500 Let me finish 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:46.159 by giving you 00:25:46.159 --> 00:25:47.059 three things to do 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:48.639 to grow in this way. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.159 Number one, 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.859 it's straight out 00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:50.399 of the text. 00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:52.359 He tells us first, 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.919 receive the implanted 00:25:53.919 --> 00:25:54.619 word this morning. 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.859 So if you're a Christian, 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.859 you already have 00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:59.379 the word of Christ 00:25:59.379 --> 00:25:59.759 in you, 00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.399 the Holy Spirit. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.159 Today, 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.940 you need to come 00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:03.519 and receive that word again 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.819 and look for the spirit 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.440 in your life 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.779 and re-receive 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.839 the implanted word. 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.539 Look to Christ 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.039 through the word. 00:26:10.139 --> 00:26:11.139 Let me read this sentence 00:26:11.139 --> 00:26:12.200 because I want to say it correctly. 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.319 Meekness is the fruit 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:16.000 of a particular 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.160 kind of security. 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.799 If you do not 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.799 trust God today, 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:21.359 you need to fight. 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.299 You have to fight 00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:23.000 for everything 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.559 in your life 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.099 for yourself. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.799 Your reputation, 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.420 your comfort, 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:27.960 your place 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.759 in the pecking order. 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.359 But if you are 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:30.379 genuinely convinced 00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:30.879 that the God 00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.319 of the universe 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.240 is your father, 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:33.339 is your defender, 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:35.039 and your deepest satisfaction, 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.879 you today can afford 00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:37.639 to be gentle. 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:40.099 You don't have to fight 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:40.599 for everything 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:41.379 in your life anymore. 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.680 You don't have to 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.879 climb up the pecking order. 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.700 If you are in Christ, 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.379 you can afford 00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:46.960 to be gentle. 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.319 You can afford 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:49.440 not to treat conversations 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.299 as transactional. 00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.279 I got a letter 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:54.119 in the post yesterday 00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:55.900 from an elder 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.839 in Mississippi 00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:58.019 from where we're from. 00:26:58.579 --> 00:27:00.720 And he had mailed it 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.379 on January 2nd. 00:27:02.380 --> 00:27:03.700 And I got it 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.820 on March 20th. 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.460 Now that's because 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.140 he mailed it 00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:07.980 to our old house 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.680 in Murrayfield 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:10.060 and it went back to him. 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.800 And then I think 00:27:10.800 --> 00:27:11.640 from I'm looking 00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.340 at all the stamps 00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:12.840 on the envelope, 00:27:13.060 --> 00:27:13.900 it looks like he tried it 00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.780 twice and then 00:27:14.780 --> 00:27:15.480 it came back again. 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:16.960 And then he mailed it 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.680 to my parents 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.820 and then they mailed it. 00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:22.020 So I finally got it. 00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:23.560 So it was all 00:27:23.560 --> 00:27:24.640 about the new year. 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.680 So he wrote me 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.220 a new year letter. 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:28.900 But I was prepping 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:29.900 this passage yesterday 00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.380 at the house 00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:31.140 and got the letter. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:31.680 And this is what 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.200 the letter said. 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.579 As you enter a new year, 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.240 take heart. 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.220 The same God 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:36.880 is with you 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.860 and goes before you 00:27:37.860 --> 00:27:38.819 to demonstrate 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.940 his redemptive power 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.600 in your life. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.640 The instructions 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.600 are still the same. 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:44.440 You must keep your focus 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.460 on the word of God. 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:47.019 You must believe it. 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.100 You must obey it. 00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:49.220 The surging, 00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:50.400 swirling waters of doubt, 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:52.440 the impregnable fortresses 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:54.079 of satanic distraction, 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:55.419 the dismays 00:27:55.419 --> 00:27:57.539 of sudden unexpected trials, 00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:59.059 the fears wrought 00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:00.179 by past failure 00:28:00.179 --> 00:28:01.559 and present danger, 00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:03.059 they are very real. 00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:04.879 But if you have been 00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:06.079 redeemed by grace 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.279 and seated 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.579 with the presence 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.139 of the Spirit, 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:09.939 sorry, excuse me, 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.980 sealed with the presence 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.460 of the Spirit, 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.919 so the Lord your God 00:28:13.919 --> 00:28:15.519 comes with and before you. 00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:16.679 Keep your eyes 00:28:16.679 --> 00:28:18.079 this year on his word. 00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.679 Read it. 00:28:21.199 --> 00:28:21.720 Obey it. 00:28:22.179 --> 00:28:22.720 Follow it. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.940 In 2026, 00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:25.539 you have never been 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.299 this way before. 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:28.140 You will need it. 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.839 Signed out. 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.120 Listen to the Spirit. 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:34.420 Receive the implanted word 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:35.079 day by day. 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:35.900 You have never been 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.559 this way before. 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.980 Tomorrow is a new day 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.660 and you've never been 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.380 to tomorrow yet. 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.480 You need the word. 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.640 It's the only way 00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:42.339 to grow in the meekness 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:42.740 of wisdom. 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.240 Secondly, 00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:45.259 verse 14, 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:46.279 if you have bitter jealousy 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.120 and selfish ambition, 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.920 don't boast. 00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:50.680 What is he telling us there? 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.240 He's saying, 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.820 remember last time 00:28:52.820 --> 00:28:53.740 was all about words. 00:28:53.820 --> 00:28:54.060 He's saying, 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.120 if you know that you're 00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:55.779 in a place right now 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.720 where you are particularly 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:58.240 walking in the flesh, 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:58.980 not the Spirit, 00:28:59.440 --> 00:28:59.720 he says, 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.200 don't boast. 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:00.680 In other words, 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.620 practice silence 00:29:01.620 --> 00:29:02.560 with your speech, 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.320 which is a way of saying 00:29:04.320 --> 00:29:05.940 that you have to make 00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.880 a conscious decision 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:08.019 to step forward 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.340 with new disciplines, 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.860 new practices 00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:13.680 to address the sins 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.259 of the flesh 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.279 that you are walking in 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:17.259 at the minute. 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.500 So he's saying, 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.879 in order to practice weakness, 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:21.819 you have to decide today 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.799 to put away 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.660 the sins of the flesh 00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:25.140 and to make practical steps. 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:25.839 So he's saying, 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:27.160 if you struggle with boasting, 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.099 then be silent. 00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:28.900 Just say, 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.400 this week I'm going to talk, 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.279 not very much at all, 00:29:31.379 --> 00:29:32.339 because every time 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:32.900 I open my mouth, 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.640 I tend to brag. 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:34.879 You see, 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.500 he's saying habits matter, 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.299 disciplines matter, 00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.299 taking steps matter. 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:40.319 Let me paint a quick picture 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.460 for you between two people. 00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.180 Person A, 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.480 someone struggling 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.440 like we all have, 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.240 like I certainly have, 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.119 with selfish ambition. 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:47.899 every conversation 00:29:47.899 --> 00:29:49.119 is subtly about 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.839 establishing where we stand. 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.539 When we listen 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.139 to somebody talk, 00:29:53.199 --> 00:29:53.719 we're actually just 00:29:53.719 --> 00:29:54.500 waiting to talk. 00:29:55.139 --> 00:29:56.419 When we praise somebody, 00:29:56.639 --> 00:29:57.979 it's in order to get 00:29:57.979 --> 00:29:58.599 something back. 00:29:59.139 --> 00:30:00.339 When we're talking to people, 00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.179 we're calculating 00:30:01.179 --> 00:30:02.159 what it is that we can 00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:02.839 get from them, 00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.779 and if this conversation 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.959 will provide anything 00:30:04.959 --> 00:30:06.000 of fruit at all. 00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:09.919 People are background noise. 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.579 When we feel threatened, 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.839 our words get sharper 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.379 and colder. 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:16.140 We need something 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:17.340 from every person we meet 00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:18.380 because life is about me. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.660 Person B, 00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:21.200 walking in the meekness 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.600 of wisdom. 00:30:22.020 --> 00:30:23.760 They're genuinely curious 00:30:23.760 --> 00:30:24.740 about the person 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.420 in front of them, 00:30:26.100 --> 00:30:27.380 and so they truly listen. 00:30:27.520 --> 00:30:28.060 They're not running 00:30:28.060 --> 00:30:29.320 an internal calculation 00:30:29.320 --> 00:30:30.580 of what they're getting 00:30:30.580 --> 00:30:31.480 from this conversation. 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:33.040 When someone else wins, 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:33.880 they celebrate it 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:35.440 because they're truly glad. 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.580 They're truly happy about it. 00:30:37.060 --> 00:30:37.840 Their identity 00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:39.040 is not built on being right. 00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:39.540 It's not built 00:30:39.540 --> 00:30:40.200 on being better. 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:42.620 Their words build up others 00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:43.319 because they don't need 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.100 to tear people down. 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:44.940 They don't need anything 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.960 from the people they meet. 00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:46.860 They have everything 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:47.700 they need in Christ. 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.480 The difference is not personality. 00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:51.519 The difference is not the past. 00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:53.000 The difference is simply 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:55.319 what source are you running 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.200 to day after day. 00:30:56.340 --> 00:30:57.100 That's the difference. 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.720 Thirdly and finally, 00:30:58.840 --> 00:30:59.259 at the very end 00:30:59.259 --> 00:30:59.920 of this passage, 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.500 verse 18, 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.799 when you put on 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.759 the meekness of wisdom, 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:05.180 a harvest of righteousness 00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:07.000 is sown in peace 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:08.740 by those who make peace. 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:10.539 So here at the very end, 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:13.160 he turns this to the community 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:15.620 and says a harvest of shalom, 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.599 a harvest of peace, 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.900 a harvest of flourishing 00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:20.240 is sown by all of us 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.160 when we together 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:22.500 seek this kind of life, 00:31:22.620 --> 00:31:23.460 seek this kind of peace. 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.299 What is he saying? 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:26.099 He's saying that the farmer 00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:27.140 does not reap 00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:28.559 on the same day that he sows. 00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:32.259 And to build a community of peace, 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.680 purity, sincerity, 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:37.019 impartiality, wisdom, 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:39.039 wisdom takes a long time. 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.900 That's what he's saying. 00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.279 And in other words, 00:31:41.379 --> 00:31:42.519 it's that a community, 00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.500 a beautiful church, 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.579 a beautiful community 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.940 is built on the thousands 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.960 of small moments, 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.480 thousands, millions 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.700 of small moments 00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:51.039 of years of interactions 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.680 with one another 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:53.619 where we're seeking 00:31:53.619 --> 00:31:56.420 to genuinely be for each other. 00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.579 Ecclesiocentric, 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.259 theocentric, 00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.119 not self-centered, 00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.779 the meekness of wisdom. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.900 With Christ, 00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:03.980 you can afford 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:05.180 to be other-centered. 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:07.380 Let us pray. 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.680 Father, 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:10.700 we want to get away 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:12.120 from our self-interest 00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:14.200 and we struggle so much 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.100 with selfish ambition 00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:16.519 and bitter jealousy 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.160 and envy 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:19.420 and we are curved in on ourself 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.180 as it's been said 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:20.980 throughout church history 00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.560 so often. 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:22.820 Turn us around, 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.039 flip us upside down, 00:32:24.560 --> 00:32:25.900 give us a different sense 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:26.900 of what we were made for. 00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.880 Lord, renew us 00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.960 to be the people 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.240 you made us to be. 00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.160 Imago Dei, 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:32.060 the image of God 00:32:32.060 --> 00:32:32.560 in the world. 00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:34.160 So teach us today 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:34.940 as we sing 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.960 in this final hymn 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:37.300 to be other-centered 00:32:37.300 --> 00:32:39.040 all because we are putting 00:32:39.040 --> 00:32:40.620 on the meekness of Christ 00:32:40.620 --> 00:32:41.880 through the implanted word. 00:32:42.380 --> 00:32:43.660 So speak the implanted word, 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.240 O Lord, 00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:45.019 into our hearts. 00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:46.660 I pray for those 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:47.240 in this room 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.519 who may need 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.920 to meet with you 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.860 the word himself 00:32:50.860 --> 00:32:51.840 for the first time, 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:52.600 the logos, 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:54.019 the word who gives life. 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:54.660 Lord, 00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.380 by the Spirit, 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.259 would you give life 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.519 to someone here today 00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:59.500 who does not yet know hope 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.480 through the word, 00:33:00.580 --> 00:33:01.040 through Jesus. 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.960 So I pray for that. 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.380 And then I pray 00:33:02.380 --> 00:33:03.220 for the rest of us 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.660 that are believers today 00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:06.299 that you would teach us 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:07.440 wisdom, 00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:08.480 meekness, 00:33:08.640 --> 00:33:09.980 through the word sung. 00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.400 And so we pray for that. 00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:11.940 In Christ's name, 00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:12.860 Amen.