2 Making Wise Decisions (RC Handout).pages

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8 characteristics of God’s wisdom:

‣ Pure. Church of the Redeemer — Pastor Dale A. O’Shields — July 18 & 19, 2015

‣ Peace-loving.

James 1:5, 6; 3:13-18

‣ Considerate.

#2 Making Wise Decisions

James 1:5, 6 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

‣ Submissive.

James 3:13-18 (NIV) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

‣ Full of good fruit.

1. Go after God’s wisdom. James 1:5, 6 (NLT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  6 But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. To go after God’s wisdom you must:

‣ Recognize your lack of wisdom. ‣ Ask God for guidance. ‣ Believe in the benevolence and generosity of God to supply wisdom.

‣ Full of mercy.

‣ Impartial. ‣ Sincere.

3. Avoid worldly wisdom. James 3:15, 16 (NLT) For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind
 of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 5 characteristics of worldly wisdom: ‣ It’s earthly. ‣ It’s unspiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15 (NIV) The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments.

‣ Walk with a clear conscience before God.

‣ It’s devilish.

‣ Expect God to give you wisdom.

‣ It produces disorder. ‣ It results in the increase of evil.

2. Know what God’s wisdom looks like.