Wisdom that Comes from Above

Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Monthly theme: Be Alert and Cautious to Discern Deception
Today’s lesson: Wisdom that Comes from Above

Wisdom Defined: The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

Proverbs 4:5–9 ESV
Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
From the definition and this scripture, we can see wisdom goes beyond just knowing stuff.
Today, I want to show you the contrast between worldly wisdom and heavenly wisdom by looking at:
The Source of both kinds of wisdom
The Nature of both kinds of wisdom
The Result of both kinds of wisdom

The Source

Worldly wisdom originates from human understanding and intellect. It is influenced by worldly values, desires, and selfish ambitions.

Psalm 14:1 ESV
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
Many have and will intellectualized themselves to hell
Most of the foolishness in the world today is coming from the minds of folk who consider themselves intellectuals

The wisdom that comes from above is a divine gift from God Himself.

James 1:5 ESV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

The Nature

The wisdom of the world promotes selfishness, arrogance, and pride. It often leads to division, disorder, and conflicts.

As I have said on numerous occasions, man has removed God from the throne and replaced it with self
Even religiously, it is the height of arrogance to think you can come up with a way to heaven outside of Christ.
Good works or works of merit

The wisdom that comes from above is characterized by purity, peace, gentleness, and humility.

James 3:17 ESV
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
James 1:17 ESV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

The Result

Worldly wisdom focuses on personal gain and temporary pleasures. It prioritizes material possessions and personal achievements.

Luke 12:16–19 ESV
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’
The rich man use the term “my” or “I” 11 times
In the Garden, ask yourself why is that Eve sees good things in the very thing God said would kill her - Selfishness, arrogance, and pride.
Does not matter how good the tree looked - what matters is what God said about it
Many of the things the world calls good today will kill you.
But we live in a culture today that will make you believe you have the right to decide what goodness is.
If it’s fun
If it’s pleasurable
If it doesn’t have any body
But folk never ask the question - How does God feel about it?

The wisdom that comes from above produces spiritual growth and righteousness. It leads to a wholesome and abundant life in accordance with God's will.

Proverbs 3:13–18 ESV
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Conclusion
The wisdom of the world is self-centered, while the wisdom that comes from above is God-centered. It aligns with His divine nature, promotes peace, and leads to a righteous and fruitful life.
As followers of Christ, we should seek the wisdom that comes from above, humbly asking God for it and applying it in our daily lives.
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