Unused Power James 3:13-18 Adapted from a Jeremias Fababier sermon http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/unused-power-jeremias-fababier-sermon-on-christian-witness-126402.asp

1. Unused Power
James 3:13-18
Adapted from a
Jeremias Fababier sermon
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/unused-power-
jeremias-fababier-sermon-on-christian-witness-126402.asp

2. There’s a story about a wealthy man who
was terminally ill. The doctor said, “There’s
only one thing that will save you. A brain
transplant. It’s an experimental operation.
And it’s very expensive.” The wealthy guy
said, “Money is no object. Can you get me a
brain?” The doctor said, “We have three
available right now. The first one is from a
college professor. But it’ll cost you
$10,000.”

3. The guy said, “Don’t worry. I can pay, it will
make me wiser. What about the second
brain?” The doctor said, “It was from a
rocket scientist. It’ll cost you $100,000.” The
man said, “I have the money. And I’d be a
lot smarter too. But tell me about the third
brain.” The doctor said, “The third brain is
from a teenager. But it would set you back a
million dollars.”

4. The man said, “A million dollars? Why so
much for that brain?” The doctor said, “It’s
never really been used & knows
everything.”
We too have unused power in us, above us,
around us, everywhere, not our brain, but it
is called WISDOM!
We always hear the word wisdom; we even
like to become wise like Solomon. But what
really is wisdom and what can wisdom do
to/for a person?

5. Now continuing our study of James epistle.
James 3:13 NET Who is wise and
understanding among you? By his good
conduct he should show his works done in
the gentleness that wisdom brings. 14 But if
you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in
your hearts, do not boast and tell lies
against the truth.

6. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above
but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For
where there is jealousy and selfishness,
there is disorder and every evil practice. 17
But the wisdom from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, accommodating,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and
not hypocritical. 18 And the fruit that
consists of righteousness is planted in
peace among those who make peace.

7. These verses show that wisdom is available
to anyone, so the question here is not do
you have wisdom but which kind of wisdom
do you have, is it really wisdom or wish-
doom? From our text we will see truths
about this topic, wisdom and even the
power that is in it if we tap into the right one
and use it correctly.

8. SOURCE OF WISDOM
1 Corinthians 1:18 NET For the message
about the cross is foolishness to those who
are perishing, but to us who are being
saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is
written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the
wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of
the intelligent." (Isaiah 29:14)

9. 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the
expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the
debater of this age? Has God not made the
wisdom of the world foolish? 21 For since in
the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom
did not know God, God was pleased to
save those who believe by the foolishness
of preaching. 22 For Jews demand
miraculous signs and Greeks ask for
wisdom,

10. 23 but we preach about a crucified Christ, a
stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to
Gentiles. 24 But to those who are called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power
of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the
foolishness of God is wiser than human
wisdom, and the weakness of God is
stronger than human strength.

11. 26 Think about the circumstances of your
call, brothers and sisters. Not many were
wise by human standards, not many were
powerful, not many were born to a
privileged position. 27 But God chose what
the world thinks foolish to shame the wise,
and God chose what the world thinks weak
to shame the strong.

12. 28 God chose what is low and despised in
the world, what is regarded as nothing, to
set aside what is regarded as something,
29 so that no one can boast in his
presence. 30 He is the reason you have a
relationship with Christ Jesus, who became
for us wisdom from God, and righteousness
and sanctification and redemption, 31 so
that, as it is written,

13. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the
Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:24) 2:1 When I came to
you, brothers and sisters, I did not come
with superior eloquence or wisdom as I
proclaimed the testimony of God. 2 For I
decided to be concerned about nothing
among you except Jesus Christ, and him
crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness
and in fear and with much trembling.

14. 4 My conversation and my preaching were
not with persuasive words of wisdom, but
with a demonstration of the Spirit and of
power, 5 so that your faith would not be
based on human wisdom but on the power
of God. 6 Now we do speak wisdom among
the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or
of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.

15. 7 Instead we speak the wisdom of God,
hidden in a mystery, that God determined
before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the
rulers of this age understood it. If they had
known it, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory. 9 But just as it is written,
"Things that no eye has seen, or ear
heard, or mind imagined, are the things
God has prepared for those who love
him." (Isaiah 64:4)

16. 10 God has revealed these to us by the
Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things,
even the deep things of God. 11 For who
among men knows the things of a man
except the man's spirit within him? So too,
no one knows the things of God except the
Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received
the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is
from God, so that we may know the things
that are freely given to us by God.

17. 13 And we speak about these things, not
with words taught us by human wisdom, but
with those taught by the Spirit, explaining
spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 The
unbeliever does not receive the things of
the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to
him. And he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned.

18. 15 The one who is spiritual discerns all
things, yet he himself is understood by no
one. 16 For who has known the mind of
the Lord, so as to advise him? (Isaiah
40:13) But we have the mind of Christ.
Wisdom of this world is foolishness to God,
but the wisdom from God is foolishness to
those who don’t have God in their heart.

19. Genesis 3:6 NET When the woman saw
that the tree produced fruit that was good
for food, was attractive to the eye, and was
desirable for making one wise, she took
some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave
some of it to her husband who was with her,
and he ate it.
She saw the fruit and was thinking to eat it
to gain wisdom. If we go back a little bit we
can see where this notion came from.

20. Genesis 3:4 NET The serpent said to the
woman, "Surely you will not die, 5 for God
knows that when you eat from it your eyes
will open and you will be like divine beings
who know good and evil."
From these verses we can see that there
are surely two sources of wisdom. God and
the devil, heavenly and the earthly wisdom.

21. HEAVENLY WISDOM
comes from God
Proverbs 2:6 NET For the LORD gives
wisdom, and from his mouth comes
knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 1:7 NET Fearing the LORD is the
beginning of moral knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and instruction.
Heavenly wisdom comes from God; He is
the only source of this kind of wisdom. Now
what is this heavenly wisdom?

22. James 1:5 NET But if anyone is deficient in
wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to
all generously and without reprimand, and it
will be given to him.
When James said this he is referring to how
one should live their life. He is talking about
trials, temptation and how to face it. It
means that wisdom is not an acquired
knowledge from our study, or passing an
exam, or having a good career and job, etc.
Heavenly wisdom is way of life, attitude,
and character.

23. Proverbs 1:20 NET Wisdom calls out in the
street, she shouts loudly in the plazas; 21 at
the head of the noisy streets she calls, in
the entrances of the gates in the city she
utters her words:
Solomon is talking as if wisdom is a person
calling, crying, shouting, raising her voice in
the street, everywhere.

24. James said, “if anyone is deficient in
wisdom…” he refers to how we should live
according to God’s Word.
The context of James letter is about being
doer and not just hearer of God’s Word.

25. EARTHLY WISDOM
On the other side earthly wisdom comes
from the prince of this world, the devil.
Genesis 3:4 NET The serpent said to the
woman, "Surely you will not die, 5 for God
knows that when you eat from it your eyes
will open and you will be like divine beings
who know good and evil."

26. 6 When the woman saw that the tree
produced fruit that was good for food, was
attractive to the eye, and was desirable for
making one wise, she took some of its fruit
and ate it. She also gave some of it to her
husband who was with her, and he ate it.
James 3:14 NET But if you have bitter
jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do
not boast and tell lies against the truth. 15
Such wisdom does not come from above
but is earthly, natural, demonic.

27. It is a wisdom relying on what a man and
flesh can do, according to the desire of the
flesh, according to the old nature as James
mentioned. It is actually foolishness before
God. It is living according to man’s plan and
desire.
What is the source of your wisdom? Do you
have a heavenly wisdom or earthly one?

28. EXPRESSION OF WISDOM
Two factory workers were talking. "I know
how to get some time off from work." said
the man. "How do you think you will do
that?" said the other one. He proceeded to
show her...by climbing up to the rafters, and
hanging upside down. The boss walked in,
saw the worker hanging from the ceiling,
and asked him what on earth he was
doing?

29. "I’m a light bulb" answered the guy.
"I think you need some time off," said the
boss. So, the man jumped down and
walked out of the factory. The second
worker began walking out too. The boss
asked her where did she think she was
going?
"Home. I can’t work in the dark."

30. Being wise of this world means jealousy
and selfishness, etc. But is this really what
true wisdom is? What is really the
expression or demonstrations of true
wisdom?
A judge enters the courtroom, strikes the
gavel and says, "Before I begin this trial, I
have an announcement to make. The
lawyer for the defense has paid me
$15, 000 to swing the case his way.

31. The lawyer for the plaintiff has paid me
$10, 000 to swing the case her way. In
order to make this a fair trial, I am returning
$5, 000 to the defense."
We can say that all these are expressions
and demonstrations of wisdom but again
what wisdom do you demonstrate?

32. HEAVENLY WISDOM
good conduct…works done in…gentleness.
Jesus is the best example of this kind of
wisdom. Philippians 2:1 NET Therefore, if
there is any encouragement in Christ, any
comfort provided by love, any fellowship in
the Spirit, any affection or mercy, 2
complete my joy and be of the same mind,
by having the same love, being united in
spirit, and having one purpose.

33. 3 Instead of being motivated by selfish
ambition or vanity, each of you should, in
humility, be moved to treat one another as
more important than yourself. 4 Each of you
should be concerned not only about your
own interests, but about the interests of
others as well. 5 You should have the same
attitude toward one another that Christ
Jesus had,

34. 6 who though he existed in the form of God
did not regard equality with God as
something to be grasped, 7 but emptied
himself by taking on the form of a slave, by
looking like other men, and by sharing in
human nature. 8 He humbled himself, by
becoming obedient to the point of death —
even death on a cross!

35. EARTHLY WISDOM
jealousy & selfishness
(boasting & denying the truth)
President Woodrow Wilson is reported to
have had a very sharp wit. It seems that
while he was Governor of New Jersey, the
chairman of the New Jersey Bar
Association called him late one evening to
tell him that the Chief Justice of the New
Jersey Supreme Court had just died.

36. After the usual kind words regarding the
deceased, the head of the Bar Association
was trying to find an appropriate way to
suggest that he be named to replace him on
the bench. He said that he would be
interested in "taking the deceased's place."
"Well," said Wilson, "If is all right with the
undertaker, it is all right with me."
That has to be selfish, earthly, wisdom!

37. James wrote that heavenly wisdom is
expressed by having good conduct…works
done in…gentleness. Compare that to the
expression of earthly wisdom, which is
jealousy and selfishness.
Earthly wisdom is selfish, self-centered, just
thinking of oneself interests rather than God
and other centered which is the mark of
heavenly wisdom.

38. Matthew 5:38 NET "You have heard that it
was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth.' (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus
24:20) 39 But I say to you, do not resist the
evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the
right cheek, turn the other to him as well.
How are the expressions, the
demonstrations of your wisdom? Is it God
centered and looking for others welfare
rather than being selfish or self-centered?

39. FRUIT OF WISDOM
James 3:16 NET For where there is
jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder
and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom
from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and
good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. 18
And the fruit that consists of righteousness
is planted in peace among those who make
peace.

40. HEAVENLY WISDOM
good conduct…works done in…gentleness,
(fruit that consists of righteousness pure,
then peaceable, gentle, accommodating,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and
not hypocritical.)
EARTHLY WISDOM
jealousy and selfishness
(disorder and every evil practice)

41. Solomon in his wisdom examines human
life & the results of all that people do.
Ecclesiastes 1:12 NET I, the Teacher, have
been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I
decided to carefully and thoroughly
examine all that has been accomplished on
earth. I concluded: God has given people a
burdensome task that keeps them
occupied.

42. 14 I reflected on everything that is
accomplished by man on earth, and I
concluded: Everything he has accomplished
is futile — like chasing the wind! 15 What is
bent cannot be straightened, and what is
missing cannot be supplied. 16 I thought to
myself, "I have become much wiser than
any of my predecessors who ruled over
Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom
and knowledge."

43. 17 So I decided to discern the benefit of
wisdom and knowledge over foolish
behavior and ideas; however, I concluded
that even this endeavor is like trying to
chase the wind! 18 For with great wisdom
comes great frustration; whoever increases
his knowledge merely increases his
heartache.

44. Ecclesiastes 2:12 NET Next, I decided to
consider wisdom, as well as foolish
behavior and ideas. For what more can the
king's successor do than what the king has
already done? 13 I realized that wisdom is
preferable to folly, just as light is preferable
to darkness: 14 The wise man can see
where he is going, but the fool walks in
darkness. Yet I also realized that the same
fate happens to them both.

45. 15 So I thought to myself, "The fate of the
fool will happen even to me! Then what did I
gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So
I lamented to myself, "The benefits of
wisdom are ultimately meaningless!" 16 For
the wise man, like the fool, will not be
remembered for very long, because in the
days to come, both will already have been
forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies — just
like the fool!

46. Wisdom is more than being wise as the
world understands, it is more than
knowledge, it is not an ability to answer all
the questions on the test, or passing an
exam, an interview or even having a good
career and job, or being popular and
powerful, being rich and famous. But true
wisdom that comes from God is a way of
living, an attitude of the heart.

47. That is why James said that the
expressions of heavenly wisdom are “good
conduct” & “works done in the gentleness
that wisdom brings.” It is more than head
knowledge but heart knowledge, more than
having big head & brain but big heart. That
is also why Solomon said that wisdom is
calling everywhere, because wisdom is an
everyday life according to how God wants
you to live your life every day.

48. If you do this, then heavenly kingdom, true
kingdom is in you!
Proverbs 4:7 NET Wisdom is supreme —
so acquire wisdom, and whatever you
acquire, acquire understanding!
Solomon in Ecclesiastes writes that wisdom
of this world is futile, like trying to chase the
wind! He is talking here about earthly
wisdom because of his conclusion in
Ecclesiastes 12.

49. Ecclesiastes 12:9 NET Not only was the
Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge
to the people; he carefully evaluated and
arranged many proverbs. 10 The Teacher
sought to find delightful words, and to write
accurately truthful sayings. 11 The words of
the sages are like prods, and the collected
sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are
given by one shepherd.

50. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in
addition to them. There is no end to the
making of many books, and much study is
exhausting to the body. 13 Having heard
everything, I have reached this conclusion:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
because this is the whole duty of man. 14
For God will evaluate every deed, including
every secret thing, whether good or evil.

51. So, where does your wisdom come from? Is
your wisdom displayed by, “good conduct”
& “works done in the gentleness that
wisdom brings?” Or does it lean more
towards jealousy and selfishness?
Remember this: James 1:5 NET But if
anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should
ask God, who gives to all generously and
without reprimand, and it will be given to
him.