Proverbs
4:7
Wisdom
is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get
understanding.
James
1:5-6
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally
and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But
let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the
sea driven and tossed by the wind
Wisdom,
the thing Solomon asked for above all.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good
conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and
lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above,
but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking
exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom
that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield,
full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Who is wise among you?
Those with gray hair? Success? Education? The most
letters after their name?
None of those things give wisdom.
James was leader of the Jerusalem Church.
A leader of leaders, among leaders. Jerusalem was full
of high nosed, fancy robed, Pharisees and Sadducees... and look at mes.
I’m soooo wise.
Why are you so wise?
Well, I’m a Pharisee, can’t you see? I have degrees,
in theology. I can quote the Torah front to back... and back to front.
Nonsense! Says the Sadducees. Don’t listen to foolish
Pharisees. Listen to sage Sadducees, we are truly the wise ones, with the
wealth and position and power to prove it. We’re the ones who really fund and
run what happens with the temple. Roman soldiers, under our thumb, politicians,
in our pocket. (Think Deep State).
That is the
environment in which James asked the disciples of Christ to discern who was wise
and understanding among them.
They could’ve confused popular, politically correct, earthly
wisdom with wisdom from above.
They should’ve been able to tell the difference, but
if we sit in an environment too long, we become desensitized. The prodigal son could
no longer tell that he smell like a pig. If we sit too long with sin, we no
longer see or smell its stench.
Assassin’s bullets fly in a society desensitized to
sin.
Who is wise and understanding among you...
Did you know that back in the day, the phrase “wise
and understanding” may have been a reference to teachers.
Remember, James started this chapter saying, “Let
there be not many teachers among you...” James 3:1.
So, when he asked who is wise and understanding
among you? They might’ve heard, who is able to teach among you.
Perhaps, thinking he was offering a teaching position.
Many hands may have shot up. “Pick me! Pick me!”
“Okay, wise guys, if you’re wise and understanding,
show it...
No prob. You want me to quote the Law of Moses?
No. Nothing like that.
Okay. How about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?
Impressive, but no.
The Beatitudes?
Nope.
Oh, I know, Ol’ Camel Knees, prayer warrior, you
want to hear the Lord’s Prayer recited and explained. Right? That’ll certainly show
my wisdom.
That’d be nice, but no.
Well then, what?
Show by good conduct with works
done in the meekness of wisdom.
Okay. Fine. Umm, what does that mean exactly?
Do the dishes.
Huh?
Wait on tables. Feed the widows. Help the needy. Oh,
and do it discreetly, humbly, in the meekness of wisdom, to not bring
shame on them or glory to you.
Show
your faith by works and your wisdom by shoe leather.
That doesn’t sound like a wise and understanding
teacher—it sounds more like a, a, a servant.
Exactly.
Jesus tells us, the greatest among you must be servant of all. The servant is not above his Master. He came not to be served but to serve. Matthew 20:25-28, Mark 10:45, John 13:1-17.
That’s exactly how ministry training began for me. Serving.
Many start that way.
All should.
Not only start that way but stay that way, all the way
to the end.
Before my first preaching position as a youth pastor
(no pay by the way) I was a janitor.
No pay. No title. No spotlight. It just needed doing.
Most didn’t even notice I was doing it. Jesus knew and let me know.
How?
Early one Sunday morning long before the service, I
was vacuuming floors, straightening chairs, praying for the preacher and the
people like usual. But on that particular morning I just so happened to pray specifically
for His Presence to saturate the atmosphere.
I finished up, locked up, went home to get cleaned up and
return for Church.
Kit Johnson, our praise and worship leader, started
the service. I’ll never forget how his face lit up when he told how that very
morning when he unlocked the door and stepped inside, boom, he felt the Lord’s
Presence already there saturating the atmosphere.
Only me and Jesus knew about that prayer. Perhaps, in that
moment, He smiled. I sure did.
He
wants you to know, He sees you, and what you do for Him does not go unnoticed.
Well done.
Okay, so James says if you’re wise and
understanding don’t talk about it, show it by works
saturated in the meekness of wisdom.
Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, through James, prepared us to
understand the meaning of the meekness of wisdom, when he said: “Indeed, we
put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their
whole body.” James 3:3.
He was talking about taming the tongue, while painting
a picture of Biblical meekness.
Meekness: Strength under
control.
Meekness: one of the
fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:23.
Meekness of Wisdom:
Controlled Strength of Wisdom.
 |
| Horse & Owl by Sevenroses |
Examples of the meekness of wisdom, Acts 6-8,
Stephen and Philip.
Stephen got stoned. Philip became Billy Graham.
The early Church was growing fast. Lots of needs.
Folks to feed, spiritually and physically.
There’s only so much time in a day, they needed help,
so they choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and
wisdom, to handle the ministry of feeding the needy. Acts 6:3-4.
Stephen and Philip are the first two on the list.
They were wise and understanding, willing and able, to
show by good conduct their works in the meekness of wisdom.
So, they got busy. Waiting tables. Feeding widows.
Helping the needy. Oh, and doing it discreetly, humbly, in the meekness of
wisdom.
No pay. No title. No spotlight. It just needed doing.
Most didn’t even notice they were doing it. Jesus knew and let them know.
Stephen was more than a waiter, full of faith and
power and the Lord worked through him mightily.
But whenever God is on the move the serpent rattles.
Some with earthly wisdom tried to debate Stephen, but they
were unable to resist the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke. Acts 6:10.
They were as successful as those who tried to debate
Charlie Kirk.
So, they did what they did to Charlie. What the
devil’s folks do, lie, cheat, steal, kill, destroy...
They falsely accused Stephen, stirred up the mob
against him, compelled corrupt leaders to arrest him. Acts 6:9-14.
When Stephen stood before the crooked council, they
looked and saw his face lit up as the face of an angel. Acts 6:15.
Then, Stephen delivered the longest sermon in all of
Acts, the HIStory of Israel from Abraham to killing Jesus.
Then, when he was done, he looked up into heaven and
saw the glory of God, and Jesus giving him a standing ovation, letting him
know, I see you, Stephen, all you’ve done for Me has not gone unnoticed,
well done.
Then, Stephen said, “Look I see the heavens
opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
The mob couldn’t take it. They dragged him out of the
city for stoning.
While the stones were pummeling, Stephen was praying,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then, with Strength under control, that must’ve
made the stoners shutter, he knelt and said with a loud voice for all stone
throwers to hear, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”
In that meekness of wisdom, he laid down and fell
asleep. Acts 7:60.
The spotlight shifts to Philip.
After that great persecution broke out against the
Church and they were scattered.
Scattered, not silenced. They went everywhere
preaching the Word.
In the meekness of wisdom, Philip went where most
Jews avoid. The despised Samaritans in the village of Samaria. Acts 8:5.
Jesus didn’t despise them and as Philip preached to
them, the Lord confirmed His Word through him, with healings and miracles, and
deliverances from demons.
Peter and John showed up and the Holy Spirit too, saturating
the city with the joy of the Lord.
It was awesome.
But then, the Lord told Philip to get up and go. Leave the
joy filled revival and take the lonely dusty desert road toward Gaza.
Philip heard the still small voice of the Lord over
the call of the congregation and in the meekness of wisdom, he got up
and went.
And lo and behold there just so happened to be on
the road in a chariot an Ethiopian of great authority.
The Lord said, “Go near the chariot.”
So, he went.
The man just happened to be reading Scripture.
“Do you understand what you’re reading?”
“How can I unless someone explain it.”
He invited Philip into the chariot.
The place he just happened to be reading was the
most awesome, powerful picture of the meekness of wisdom—the Controlled
Strength of Wisdom.
Isaiah
53:7-8
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”
From that Scripture Philip preached Jesus.
Then, they just happened to be passing by water
and the Ethiopian asked, “What hinders me from being baptized?” Acts 8:36.
“If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!”
So, Philip baptized him.
No pay. No title. No spotlight. It just needed doing.
Most didn’t even notice he was doing it. Jesus knew and let him know.
As Philip raised up the man from the water, the Lord caught
up Philip, transporting him some 25 miles away. Acts 8:39.
The Ethiopian went his way praising the Lord. That
Seed planted in the middle of nowhere, was perhaps the Seed that birthed the Gospel
of Jesus Christ to the continent of Africa.
Philip went on his way preaching from city to city, like
Billy Graham, the evangelist. Acts 8:40, 21:8.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, in the faith just deposited in
our souls from hearing Your Word, we ask for Your wisdom. That we may be wise
and understanding among all those You’ve given us, so in the meekness of wisdom
we lead many to You.
Thank You.
We trust and love You, forever.
Amen.
Prayer Requests:
Call or text: 612-554-2522
Email: pray4measap@aol.com
Facebook: Church at WPV
Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling
Watch online:
Facebook: Meekness of Wisdom, James
3:13-18
You Tube: Meekness of Wisdom,
James 3:13-18
This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you
to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
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