WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.280 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.599 We exist to awaken this generation to new life in Christ. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:13.039 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.399 To find out more, go to awakeningchurch.com. 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:23.039 Well, welcome to Awakening Church and Happy Father's Day. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:27.600 My name's Ryan, and we're absolutely thrilled to have you join us today. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.160 And I actually want to give a little special shout out. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:35.280 Um, as today not only is my dad's Father's Day, but it's actually his birthday as well. 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:37.119 So happy birthday, Dad. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:40.880 Uh love you're so grateful for you and happy Father's Day. 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:47.600 Um, incredibly proud to be your son and grateful for your wisdom and impact in my life. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:52.640 Uh well, this morning we're concluding a series called Social Restoration. 00:00:52.799 --> 00:01:00.640 And we've been in this for the last uh few weeks, three weeks, in fact, talking about uh how do we experience social restoration? 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:09.040 Isn't it such a timely question for us as we're in the midst of this global pandemic that's upended our reality? 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:18.319 And we're engaged in racial injustice in our nation, and we just see such social anxiety and unrest. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:22.560 It's like, how do we experience social restoration? 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:29.599 And then I think there's a better question, or maybe a bigger question for us as followers of Jesus. 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:36.159 You see, the church was never intended to be a social club where we gather and we hang out with our buddies and friends. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:40.239 That's fantastic, but it's never intended to be just this social club. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:45.280 Instead, we're called to have a social calling to be the light of the world. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:51.439 And we have to ask this question: how do we bring about social restoration? 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:57.040 Well, we've been looking at the book of James and James chapter two and three over the last few weeks. 00:01:57.200 --> 00:02:11.360 And James, the pastor of the early church in Jerusalem, was helping shepherd these people through their own COVID, world-changing reality where they experienced intense persecution and opposition. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:29.280 They were scattered from their homes, their normal was up-ended, and he's uh bringing God's word to them in truth to help them discover how to once again bring about social restoration, how to navigate these times as followers of Jesus. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:30.319 What does it look like? 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:32.560 And so, week one, we looked at this. 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:35.680 Uh phase one is social distinction. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:43.120 That for social restoration to occur, it begins when followers of Jesus embrace there is no social distinction. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:56.800 There is no place for racism or prejudice or hatred to be among the followers of Jesus, that that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, but all are one in Christ. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:58.639 There is to be no social distinction. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:05.199 And then week two, we said phase two with social action, that social restoration I'll try that again. 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:14.240 Social restoration demands, it demands that followers of Jesus uh put their faith into action. 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:16.879 It can't just be a head knowledge, a private faith. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:20.800 We have to walk the walk, not just simply talk the talk. 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:24.560 And then last week, phase three, we talked about social language. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:28.240 It's powerful, incredibly important in this time. 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:32.719 That social restoration requires followers of Jesus to do the heart work. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:33.360 Why? 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:37.039 Because out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:51.360 We have to do the heartwork to bring about redemptive social language, to bring about the redeeming work that Christ wants to do in our culture through the power of our words that bring either life or death. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:59.120 This morning, as we conclude, I think this is the question, I know this is the question I'm wrestling with. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:05.840 I think this is the question you're wrestling with that we've been wrestling with in the last few weeks. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:15.840 It's how do we navigate these culturally complex, emotionally charged, socially intense times? 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:18.639 Like, how do we navigate this? 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:20.720 Like, when do I post? 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:22.240 When don't I post? 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:23.360 What do I say? 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:24.959 What don't I say? 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:26.879 How should I feel? 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:28.879 How shouldn't I feel? 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:35.839 I mean, we live in incredibly complex times culturally, emotionally charged. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:46.879 Everyone, I think part of the like the reality of shelter in place and quarantine is it's got our emotions fried, and so everyone's at a 10 already all the time. 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:55.040 And then it's socially intense with all that we're navigating with racial injustice and the division in our nation. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:57.040 How do we navigate that? 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:07.519 And then I think as followers of Jesus, we have to go one step further and ask, how do we navigate it to bring about social restoration? 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:15.600 Remember, I just said earlier, we're not called to be a social club, but to bring about a social calling. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:21.360 How do we help navigate these times or how do we navigate in such a way to bring about social restoration? 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:23.920 And James is going to talk about wisdom. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:25.839 And boy, do we need wisdom here. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:33.199 In fact, he's gonna go all the way back to the first theme that he set out when we were first introduced to the book of James. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:36.399 He says, you know, consider all joy when you face trials of many kinds. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:36.720 Why? 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:44.160 Because you know the testing of your faith will produce endurance, and endurance must finish its work to make you mature and complete, not lacking anything. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.000 And we're in that enduring season. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:47.519 We're like, well, how do I do this? 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:48.480 How do I navigate it? 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:53.120 And then he says, if any of you lacks wisdom, man, I'm there. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:56.000 Do you lack wisdom today? 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.160 Do you need wisdom from God? 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:04.639 He says, if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask God who gives generously to all. 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:16.959 And then he's gonna follow back now on this theme as we navigate these culturally complex, socially intense, emotionally charged times of how do we navigate it with wisdom? 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:24.800 We pick it up in James chapter 3, verse 13, and here's what he says: Who is wise and understanding among you? 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:37.199 Now, this question uh is implying that there's a few in their uh tribe, if you will, and in their church that think they're wise, but they're not really all that wise. 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:40.560 They're touting a lot of things with their mouths. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:46.639 Remember last week and talking about many of you should be teachers, but they're not actually living wisely. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:50.000 He says, if you really think you're wise, listen to this. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:53.759 Let them show it by their good deeds. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:07:03.279 Don't just claim to be wise, don't just post it on social media, show it by your life, by deeds done in humility. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:07.600 Circle that word humility that comes down from wisdom. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:14.079 This is the word, actually, when Jesus would be talking about in the Sermon on the Mount, blessed are the meek. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:15.519 Same word here. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:18.959 Meekness is not weakness as we think about it. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:22.319 You maybe some of your translations says gentleness. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:28.800 He says, Wisdom is shown by the deeds done in meekness. 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:32.079 Jesus talked about himself being meek. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:33.519 He was not weak. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:35.920 It's strength under control. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:44.000 It's the quality of not being overly impressed by your sense of one's self-importance. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:58.480 That you're not so focused on yourself, but you you are intentionally restrained in certain areas, making a decision to hold back or withhold to bring about life, to navigate wisely. 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:05.120 He says, Let them show it by their good deeds that comes from out of humility that comes from wisdom. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:07.199 And so here's what James is saying. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:11.839 If we're gonna navigate these culturally complex times, we have to walk in wisdom. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:14.399 It's a command, walk in wisdom. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:16.560 Okay, well, what is wisdom? 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:18.079 Thank you very much. 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:24.079 I'm just gonna give you the definition that I gave at the beginning of our relational intelligence series. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:25.759 I know that feels like a lifetime ago. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:27.680 That was just back in January. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:34.320 Uh, but here's what wisdom is: it is the skill of living life well in God's universe. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:37.120 It's a skill, it's something to be practiced. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:41.200 So it requires coaching and constant application. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:43.200 Wisdom and being smart are different. 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:48.240 There's plenty of smart people who do lots of dumb things or say lots of dumb things. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:54.480 Wisdom is a skill that you learn and develop in how to navigate life well in what? 00:08:54.720 --> 00:09:01.120 God's universe, recognizing it's his universe and so it operates according to his design. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:10.080 One writer said this wisdom is God's fixed order for life, an order opposed to chaos and death. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:15.360 So, if we're gonna navigate these times, we have to walk in wisdom. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:16.559 How do we begin? 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:17.679 What does that really look like? 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:23.840 He's gonna spend the rest of the time unpacking what exactly does walking in wisdom look like? 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:38.080 And here's what he's gonna do: he's gonna tell us what it doesn't look like, what it does, and really what it produces, what wisdom ultimately produces, because this is what we long for in our lives, in our families, and in our city and nation. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.519 Here's what wisdom is not. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:43.679 He's gonna say, watch out for counterfeit wisdom. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:48.799 Watch out, be on guard, be aware for something that is counterfeit. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:51.279 It's posing, it's not the real deal. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:52.399 It's a fraud. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:55.440 It's made to look like wisdom, but it's nothing like it. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:56.480 Notice what he says. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:04.559 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:10.960 Such quote wisdom does not come down from heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:19.360 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:29.679 Walking in wisdom means first that we have to watch out and be aware of counterfeit, pseudo-fraudulent wisdom. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:30.720 Well, what does that look like? 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:35.840 He tells us, he says, first, counterfeit wisdom is fueled by negative emotion. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:40.879 Counterfeit wisdom is fueled by powerful negative emotion. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:41.759 Did you notice that? 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:45.279 Bitter envy, selfish ambition. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.519 Let's define those for us. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:52.960 Bitterness is proceeding from or exhibiting hostility or animosity. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:58.159 There's something in you that that has this hostility or animosity to another person. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:06.159 One writer says it regards its opponents as enemies to be annihilated rather than friends to be persuaded. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:10.320 That there's just, I want to take you out, whatever the cost. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:16.639 Envy, or actually, it's where we get our words zealous, passionate, fanatic. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:21.919 It's an intense negative feeling over another's achievements or success. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:40.399 One writer said this the truth it holds is held with an unbalanced violence, then rather with reason conviction, and then this idea of selfish ambition, a strong drive for personal success with little or no moral inhibition. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:50.799 It's eager to display itself more than to display the truth, more interested in its own victory than open to what the truth has to say. 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:55.039 Counterfeit wisdom is fueled by these negative emotions. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.480 These are powerful. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:05.200 These are things that are easy to see in other people and condemn, and it's easy to justify in ourselves. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:12.480 It's easy to look at it because these motives, when when I feel bitter towards you, I have a reason I'm bitter towards you. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:18.799 When I have this jealousy, I have something in you that I'm condemning or wanting. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:31.600 And so I'm I'm I'm opposing you, and these emotions begin to lead me down a path and where I begin to play games and try to make truth fit my own perception. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:38.480 It says counterfeit wisdom is first fueled by negative emotions, and then it sounds good, but its sources bad. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:39.519 Did you notice he says? 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:41.759 But such wisdom, it sounds wise. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:44.000 We see this in our world all the time. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:49.919 In fact, look at relational intelligence, the series with such wisdom that sounds good, but its sources bad. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:53.039 We had all sorts of things like just follow your heart. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:55.039 It's just physical, all those sort of things. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:13:04.720 They sound good, but have you stopped to take time and look at the philosophical end of what you're saying? 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.639 Where does your presuppositions conclude at? 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.480 What's the source? 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:11.919 Where does it end? 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:19.919 Wisdom, this is wisdom that looks good, but it often says I'm superior to others. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:22.480 It wants to look down on others. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:30.240 It's where you find these clever but cutting words that put others down or put them in their place. 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:36.240 Maybe twist the truth to make your points or tell half truths. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:40.879 It seeks to humiliate or dominate the other. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:47.440 Fueled by negative emotions, it sounds good, and that's the tricky part. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:54.080 It sounds good, but its source, it says it's unspiritual, it's earthly, it's low, it's demonic. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.600 It's actually set on fire by hell itself. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:01.440 And ultimately, you can identify it by its fruit. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:04.320 It produces division, disorder, discord. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:09.039 He said, where there's envy and selfish admission, there you find disorder. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:15.200 That's where we get our word anarchy or political turmoil in every evil practice. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:26.320 It produces division relationally, it produces division ethnically, it produces division politically, disorder, discord. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:31.919 Instead of bringing people together, it is driving them apart. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:39.279 Friends, nothing good can grow in an atmosphere of hatred or discord or bitterness. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:15:02.799 As followers of Jesus, navigating these culturally complex times, we're called to walk in wisdom, and so we have to be aware of the powerful emotions that are able to take control and taint our lenses that we can substitute counterfeit wisdom for. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:05.919 And I would love, I'd love to say it's out there. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:10.720 But I would argue that all of us have this in here. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:16.240 I I would argue that I have it in my own life. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:21.039 I can't say that that all my motives are pure. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:28.480 There's moments of selfish ambition where I long for my success over someone else's success. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:36.000 There's a bitterness in my soul when I see different things and the animosity where I just want to put someone in their place. 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:50.480 In fact, I was driving the other day, or we're going on vacation down south, and I had a guy riding my tail the entire time, and I'm like this close, and then he pulls out in front of me, and then he cuts right back in front of me, and then he flips me the bird. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:58.320 Counterfeit wisdom says put him in his place. 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:12.080 And there's a level inside of me that feels justified and a bitterness that began to rise just in that simple silly moment, but it goes out into all these other areas, doesn't it? 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:18.720 See, friends, if we're gonna walk wisely, we first have to realize it's not out there, it's in here. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.720 We have to own up. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:24.159 That's not a problem for other people, it's a problem for me. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:27.200 And I bet you it's a problem for you. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:29.519 What exactly does walking in wisdom look like? 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.480 He tells us what it's not. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.159 Watch out for counterfeit wisdom. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:35.600 Then he's gonna tell us what wisdom is, and I love this. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.919 And it's challenging. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:51.039 And it's the call for us, church, to be the church, to bring restoration, to be followers of Jesus who follow the ways of Jesus. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:53.759 And here's what he says about wisdom or true wisdom. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.279 So you have counterfeit wisdom. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:17:00.720 True wisdom always takes the high road. 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.360 True wisdom. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.079 God's wisdom. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:09.359 As he would say it, heavenly wisdom. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:12.240 Counterfeit wisdom always takes the low road. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:17.119 It's earthly, it's it's unspiritual. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:24.480 Counterfeit wisdom produces the type of responses that hell delights in. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:30.000 True wisdom always takes the high road. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.039 Notice what he says. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.240 Verse 17. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:44.960 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:47.599 Wisdom that comes from heaven. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:49.759 Wisdom that comes from God. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:54.640 Do you remember that definition I gave a little while ago about wisdom? 00:17:54.720 --> 00:18:02.079 Uh wisdom is God's fixed order for life, an order opposed to chaos and death. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:09.680 Wisdom that comes from heaven is God's order for life that's opposed to chaos and death. 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:17.039 And what James is saying is what I'm unpacking here is for people of God to be opposed to chaos and death. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:18.640 This is what that looks like. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:22.960 And so what I want to do for a few minutes here is unpack those words. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:30.480 Because we can read that list and it just stays this arm distance away from us, and we don't fully understand. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:33.519 Okay, what does the high road really look like? 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.200 What does that mean? 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.960 How do I respond? 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:39.119 He says, first of all, pure. 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:45.039 And he writes this first is this is the thing that everything else hangs on. 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:53.839 The rest of the uh descriptives that he's gonna give, it says it hangs on this internal reality of purity or holiness. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:56.160 It's without moral defect. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:59.519 Originally, it means what awakens awe. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.119 That you're drawn into something that awakens awe. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:09.119 And so when you're in awe of something, you adjust your life to that which you're in awe of. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:11.200 So for let me give you an example. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:16.400 I was recently um at the beach with my family this last week on vacation. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.759 It's one of our favorite places. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:20.400 The beach awakens awe in my life. 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:24.079 I just can't get there and go like, oh wow. 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:39.440 And as you look at the ocean and its power, and you you recognize in being in awe of the ocean, I am going to adjust to the ocean's way of behaving. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:42.160 I'm not asking the ocean to adjust to me. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:46.720 And so when I hop in and I surf, I recognize the currents and the tide. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:50.799 I wasn't actually as good at recognizing all the different sea life. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:53.279 I actually got stung by a stingray this last week. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.880 Ouch! Why? 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:57.599 Because it's the ocean and that's their home. 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:04.000 And I'm entering that presence, and I need to adjust to the presence of the ocean. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.920 It awakens all. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:15.920 And see, what holiness is or purity is a response to the God who awakens all. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:25.680 Proverbs says, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord or the awe of the Lord. 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:39.599 That we wouldn't look at God and ask God to adjust to us, but we would look with awe at who God is, and we would adjust our lives to who God is. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:43.839 That's what it means to be holy, pure. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.839 Whoa. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:48.480 I'm in your territory. 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:57.599 You are God, you are great, you are powerful, you are mighty, you are just, you are righteous. 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:59.759 There is none like you. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:09.359 And in light of who you are and the magnificence of God Almighty, I can't continue to live this way. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:14.000 My life then is going to be adjusted in response to you. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.240 All of wisdom begins there. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:26.880 And everything flows from there when our hearts are awakened in awe to the greatness of God. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:34.640 He says, first of all, this internal quality of purity or moral excellence. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:39.759 And then he goes on to give us six different things that are flowing out from that. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:42.799 He says, then it's peace loving. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:47.839 This is characterized by or prompting a state of wholeness or well being. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:52.640 It's right relationships between individuals and between individuals and God. 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:59.519 That is, there is this desire that wisdom is bringing peace between one another. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:06.400 It's peace-loving, it's it's agents of peace and trying to bring peace with others and God. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:16.240 Then it's just considerate, and actually, our English word here doesn't help us uh understand because this is such a rich and actually very difficult Greek word to translate. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:23.599 This word means not insisting on the right to enforce the strict letter of the law or custom. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:26.400 It's being merciful or lenient. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:34.480 In fact, as you read, uh, if you go back in the the Hebrew scripture translated into Greek, it's called the Septuagint. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:40.160 This word, considerate, is used most often of God's response to humanity. 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:49.119 As the king and the righteous king, he doesn't enforce his rights, but he does give us leniency and mercy and grace. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:57.920 It's the word that you want uh every judge, if you ever did anything wrong, to the way you want them to respond to you. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:04.799 Though they have the right to maybe execute this judgment on you, they give you grace and mercy. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.559 That's what this word is. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:13.759 It says, wise people don't execute according to the law, but they they respond with love, leniency. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:18.480 They give mercy and grace to the other person. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:33.039 Taking the high road means not insisting on my right, but extending the leniency of grace and love to the other person in the way we would want to be extended to us. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:35.279 Then he goes on and says, submissive. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:45.039 This idea is willing and open to adopting another's position, belief or of or course of action with sufficient reason or evidence. 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:49.920 It's it's literally being open to reason, willing to listen. 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:54.160 In fact, you you could just write in your Bible, not being stubborn. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.759 That's what this is. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.279 Don't be stubborn. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:07.279 See, it says, true wisdom's first of all, pure, then it's peace loving, it's about restoration of relationships, it's considering, it's a grace mercy-giving moment. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:20.720 That's what wisdom engages in the midst of hurt and pain, and then it sits down and it's willing to listen, willing to learn, willing to go, okay, what's going on? 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:28.799 And seek to understand and hear, and not necessarily just always try to be heard and have your voice said. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:36.480 Then goes on and says, full of mercy and good fruit. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:40.400 This is compassion move to action. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:49.519 Now, in the ancient Greek uh culture, it was pity for the one who is suffering unjustly. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:25:00.079 Yet in Christianity, this word began to take on new meaning and new depth because it wasn't just pity for the one who suffered unjustly. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:03.200 We can all feel pity for the one who suffered unjustly, right? 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:11.279 He went now, it began for Christians was pity for the one whose suffering was brought on by themselves. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.359 Wow. 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:31.200 Do you see how this brings about social restoration when you lay down your rights, when you're willing to listen, when instead of judging the person who, because of all they've done, deserve to be judged, you have pity and you engage. 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:34.640 This idea of mercy isn't complete until it takes action. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:39.839 It's not just about feeling bad, it's feeling pity or bad for them to doing good. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:41.039 That is what wisdom does. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.720 It takes the high road. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:52.000 And it says impartial, not tending to cause factions or divisions within a group, not being judgmental or divisive, free from prejudice. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:58.319 Saying, I'm I'm not gonna play one side or the other. 00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:01.839 I'm gonna engage in this moment with you. 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:07.759 Uh I'm going to sit and listen and hear and learn. 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:20.240 And I'm not gonna, you know, play favorites, but but I'm going to I'm gonna take like Juneteenth, that was Friday, and really learn. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:26.640 And where other people are gonna take it and either judge it and go, well, why is no, no, no. 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:32.240 Man, we impartiality, we're gonna really learn. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:40.000 And then at the same time, I'm gonna grieve and hurt for the fallen officers who were killed a few weeks ago. 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:43.119 Because their death was injust as well. 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:50.000 And I'm gonna impartiality stand in the middle and hurt and grieve and love. 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:53.119 And it's harder that way. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:27:07.759 In fact, you get more people angry at you that way because you're in the middle of both sides, and where you say, no, no, no, I'm going to simply do my best to love the way Jesus loved without distinction. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:13.279 And then finally he says, sincere, without hypocrisy. 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:19.359 It never pretends to be what it's not, it never acts apart to gain its own end. 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:22.240 What you see is what you get. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:29.359 There's not a secret agenda with wisdom when it takes the high road. 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:32.240 There's not an ulterior motive. 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:37.920 You don't have to question or guess what is going on and what are they up to really? 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:57.440 See, James is saying, wisdom that comes from heaven starts and originates from inside here, where our hearts are so in awe of who God is, we adjust our lives to God, and then it flows out when we're peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:59.359 It's saying, you know what? 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:07.920 I'm going to recognize the counterfeit wisdom where it's fueled by these negative emotions that are powerful. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:11.039 And then I'm going to choose. 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:13.839 I'm going to choose to take the high road. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:18.160 I mean, the low road hell celebrates in. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.440 I'm going to take the high road. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:34.640 I mean, you can just start there and just go, okay, in this moment, in this post, in my response to my wife or my kids or my co-workers, what does the high road require of me? 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:37.759 What does it look to take the high road? 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:46.240 And then he's going to say this true wisdom sow seeds of reconciliation. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:50.480 You want to know what true wisdom does? 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:54.799 It sows seeds of reconciliation, not retaliation. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:58.799 It sows seeds of reconciliation, not retribution. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:03.519 It sows seeds of reconciliation, not revenge. 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:06.319 Notice what he says. 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:12.880 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:15.039 In fact, church, here's what I want you to do. 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.799 Memorize that verse. 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.519 It's very short. 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:18.480 You can do it. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.359 You can do it. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:25.839 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:34.160 Man, we look around at the world and we're seeing the brokenness, the heartache, the pain, the dysfunction, the injustice. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:40.640 I go, what in the world is gonna change this? 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:44.720 Jesus followers. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:58.240 Jesus followers who stop playing games, pretending like, ah, this is just a social club for my personal benefit, but realize you've been placed on this planet for a purpose. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.160 You were deemed for a purpose. 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:06.160 You have been given the ministry of reconciliation to bring hope and life and peace. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.279 You are called. 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:15.039 I am called by how we talk, how we walk, how we act, to be peacemakers in every situation. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.799 Peacemakers. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:18.640 Well, what is reconciliation? 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:23.279 It's the process by which enemies are brought into friendship. 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:27.039 And it's you're like, that can't happen. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:30.799 That's what God did for us in Christ Jesus. 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:36.240 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this, while we're yet sinners. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.640 He was a peacemaker. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:41.519 Christ died for our behalf. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:50.960 See, see, it's what God has done for us when we were enemies with him in Christ Jesus. 00:30:51.279 --> 00:31:00.160 And as a result, he has then entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation to bring peace and hope to those around us. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:15.279 Peacemakers who sow seeds of peace reap a harvest of righteousness, reap a harvest of justice, reach a harvest of equitability. 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:17.279 I can't even say that equability. 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:21.440 No, I will not mean equity or I don't worry about it. 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:23.920 If you guys were with me, we would be laughing together. 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:26.160 Now you're just laughing at me on the screen. 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.359 That's okay. 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:38.400 When you sow seeds of peace, the harvest that you reap is right relationships between God and others. 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:41.759 Living according to God's design. 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:52.319 See, nothing good grows in an atmosphere in a culture of hostility and anger and vitriol. 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:59.920 But when you sow seeds of peace, righteousness can grow out of it. 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:02.240 Restoration comes. 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:12.640 See, social restoration is cultivated by followers of Jesus sowing peace as true social wisdom. 00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:16.319 Now I want you to notice something, and we'll close here. 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:19.039 Social restoration is cultivated. 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:22.720 Do you notice it said peacemakers who sow peace? 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:38.000 We understand when you're reaping and working, you know, with agriculture that you sow a seed and you plant and you water it and you wait on it and you take care of it, and over time it grows. 00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:45.680 And what we want in our instant culture is for everything to happen overnight. 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:50.000 Here's what he's saying: there's a process and there's a cultivation. 00:32:52.160 --> 00:33:00.400 How do we navigate these culturally complex, emotionally charged, socially intense times to bring about social restoration? 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:03.279 We have to cultivate being peacemakers. 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:07.599 We have to cultivate peace in our relationships with one another. 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:11.440 We have to cultivate peace in the way we engage on social media. 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:15.599 We have to cultivate peace in the way we respond to one another. 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:17.839 And he says it's not overnight. 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:20.640 You remember, I think it was week two or uh in this. 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:27.119 I said, it's consistency, not intensity, that produces long-term change or impact. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:31.519 It's when Jesus' followers cultivate peace. 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:36.000 And the question am I a person of peace? 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:46.720 I'd love to say like every time I'm a person of peace, but back to that person that flipped me off driving. 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:50.880 My first response was not to be a person of peace. 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.160 Let's just be honest. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:57.359 My first response was to ride their tail and make sure they knew I was right there and how wrong they were. 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.880 I just convicted. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:04.240 Am I a person of peace? 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:08.880 Is my goal reconciliation or retaliation? 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:13.599 Will you? 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:23.119 Will I take the high road to bring about social restoration? 00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:30.480 This is what it means for us, church, to follow in the ways of Jesus. 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:33.519 Lord Jesus, thank you for my friends. 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:43.360 Thank you for your word that guides us in these incredibly complex, challenging, overwhelming times. 00:34:44.320 --> 00:35:02.960 And God, I ask for each person who has heard these words that you would convict right in the areas where they need to be convicted to know what things in their lives really are counterfeit wisdom, are emotionally charged that aren't of you. 00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:19.280 And would you give us the courage to take the high road to sow seeds of peace, and may we see righteousness bloom all around us in the mighty name of Jesus. 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:20.239 Amen.