Thinking back – I can ‘see’ where envy was a driving force which destroyed peace of mind, working relationships, possible friendships, even to destroying ministries.  Envy and selfish ambition produce disorder, turmoil, and destruction.  Envy and selfish ambition lead to every kind of evil practice.  Envy and selfish ambition tears down in order to have its own way.  Envy and selfish ambition mows down, destroying everyone and everything in its path.  Watch out for people who are on a course with the winds of destruction in the workplace, in politics, and yes, even in churches.

  What is the driving force behind your thoughts, words and actions?  Don’t we need to carefully consider God’s word in our lives?  Honest and forthright in dealing with ourselves is a place to start.  Not in pointing to others who need to do the same thing. 

  The answer which will counteract the Winds of Destruction will be considered tomorrow…in the meantime…let’s wait on our God today.

(NIV) James 3:16 “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

  Not a pretty picture.  Yet how often do we exercise that type of wisdom as we walk through our day?  Whenever you or I are envious of another, for whatever reason…bitterness sends its tentacles into our minds and wreaks havoc with those who would be our friends.                                           

  Whenever we have self at the center of our ambitions, selfishness quickly surfaces to control our thinking.  Wisdom which is earthly is unspiritual, is of the devil, it is self-centered and will always lead away from God in heaven.

  Honest evaluation will hurt our pride if we are harboring anything that is of an earthly wisdom.

  As you go through this day, think about the differences of the wisdom which is from heaven and that which is of the earth.  Evaluate your thinking; where does bitterness rule…or envy predominate…or where is selfish ambition in control?

  This week we will be looking closely at the wisdom which God gives to those who seek such wisdom in contrast to earthly wisdom.

 (NIV) James 3:14-15 “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  ¹⁵Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.”

 Psalm 34:11-18

“Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
¹²Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
¹³keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
¹⁴Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;
¹⁶the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

¹⁷The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

  How honest are you with yourself?  How honest am I with myself?  How do you and I deny the truth of how we choose to think bitter thoughts, nourish envious desires.  Perhaps you think, “I have “reasons” for my thoughts and feelings.  “It isn’t my fault” and then perhaps we point our finger at others.

  And selfishness!  How we love to hug this one: “How can I benefit the most?”  And then there is ambition.  “What do I need to do or say in order to be better than others?”
  Many times we view our bitterness’s, envying, selfishness and/or ambitions as something to be proud of…
  Listen to your words, to the tone of voice with which you speak, it will reveal much to you and it certainly reveals much to others.

  We are ultimately responsible before God.  We will be called to account; therefore we need to be truthful now.
  When we stop denying the truth our lives will show godly wisdom and understanding.  Our deeds, our actions and words, our thoughts and motives will be done in humility because we are submitting to God and His wisdom.

(NIV) James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

When we stop denying truth, we will have

changed perspectives, changed motives, changed thoughts.

  Wisdom which comes from God is filled with humility before Him.  What does the Bible say about an unwise life?  Consider this: when our thoughts and motives are filled with bitter envy and selfish ambition…that is not godly wisdom.

  The dictionary defines Harbor as:  Any protected place; a shelter; a refuge.
To entertain or nourish (a specified thought or feeling).

  Usually we think of a harbor as where ships are sheltered from the open sea and bad weather.  
  So taking that as our ‘picture’, when we harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in our thinking we are protecting and nourishing our bitter envy (grudges) and our selfish ambition (me, me, me!).  We have successfully docked the ships of bitter envy and selfish ambition.

What ships are you harboring?

Bitter envy?  Selfish ambition?
OR
“Humility that comes from wisdom”?

  How does God “see” pride and arrogance?

(NIV) Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.”

  Where does pride lead you?

(NIV) Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.”

  What is a wise choice?

(NASB) Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom.”

  God commends those who fully give themselves to Him.  True humility is in placing yourself under His authority.  Then God is exalted!  Anyone exalting themselves will be humbled! (See (NIV) Matthew 23:12 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”)

  When you are faced with opposition – what is the first thing to do?

Seek God’s guidance.

 When you have a contentious person in your daily life – what is the first thing to do?

Seek God’s guidance.

  What will be the results of seeking God’s guidance, over and over?

(NIV) James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

Your choice –

Pride…or…Humility?

  The best example of humility, other than Christ Jesus, is seen in the personality of Moses, after the burning bush experience in the desert. (See Exodus 3:1-22)

(NIV) Numbers 12:3 “(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)”

  Moses became a man of power and influence.  God gave him the daunting task of leading Israelite slaves out of Egypt and forging them into a nation.

  Over and over in the book of Numbers we read that the Israelites would grumble and complain as they went from campsite to campsite in the wilderness.  And what would Moses do?  He would fall facedown and pray, seeking God’s guidance.  Over and over, Moses cried out to God when the people would complain.  And God would give him specific guidance.  Moses was teachable under God…but stood firm, not wavering before the people.

  Moses’ example is to be our example to follow:
(NIV) Psalm 25:9 “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”

  We are to seek God, to find out what pleases Him!  How teachable are you?  Sometimes I am, and sometimes…not!

(NASB) James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

  How often do you seek God’s counsel before you come to a solution or a conclusion?  Are your “deeds done in humility”?

(NIV) 1 Peter 5:5-7 “…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
     “God opposes the proud
      But gives grace to the humble.”
⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

(NASB) James 3:13 “Who among you is wise and understanding?…”

  What is your life really like?  Are you a fake or a hypocrite, trying to look like you are wise?  Be warned, others will see through your façade.  No one can fool all the people all the time.  Being a fake or a hypocrite will be exposed at some point in time.

  What does God say about the basis on which we are to live a good life?  The Bible states that we are to have wisdom which comes from God in heaven.

(NASB) James 3:13 “…Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”

(NIV) James 3:13 “…Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

  One translation uses “…the gentleness of wisdom.” and another, “…the humility that comes from wisdom.”

  Your behavior, your life, reflects your wisdom.  Is your wisdom based on Godly wisdom, or is it based on earthly, unspiritual, demonic wisdom?  (By the way, that is God’s assessment of wisdom.  See James 3:16 NASB)

  When our wisdom comes from heaven, from God Himself; our actions, our deeds will be done with gentleness, they will show true humility.  [Humility is submitting, yielding to God’s way, pleasing Him.  Then we will begin thinking of others before we think of ourselves.]

  Oh Lord, to be truly wise and a man/woman of understanding – in the name of Jesus I pray…Amen!

(NASB) Proverbs 8:32-36
“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,
For blessed are they who keep my ways.
³³ ‘Heed instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
³⁴‘Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
³⁵‘For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord.
³⁶ ‘But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death.”

“The Voice of the Martyrs” has been given from persecuted Christians in various countries.

  Please pray for these men and women and their families in times of suffering for their belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Voice of the Martyrs:

INDIA — Police Arrest 12 Believers — VOM Contacts 

On Aug. 15, police in Mandya district, Karnataka, India, arrested a pastor and an evangelist with India Campus Crusade for Christ, along with 10 other believers, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Pastor Satish and evangelist Ravi were conducting a service in a believer’s home when about 30 people entered the home and started attacking them and accusing them of forcibly converting locals. Police arrested the 12 Christians after the attack, and at last report they were still in detention. Pray for the pastor, evangelist and other believers in detention. Pray that their testimonies will draw non-believers into fellowship with Christ.

Revelation 2:9-11

USED BY PERMISSION OF The Voice of the Martyrs, www.persecution.com

(NIV) Revelation 2:9-11 “I know your afflictions and your poverty – yet you are rich!…”  “¹⁰Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.  I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.  Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”