Adult Bible Study Guide

Oct Nov Dec 2014

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Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide

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The Book of James

Contents
1 James, the Lords Brother
2 The Perfection of Our Faith
3 Enduring Temptation
4 Being and Doing
5 Love and the Law
6 Faith That Works
7 Taming the Tongue
8 The Humanity of Heavenly Wisdom
9 One Lawgiver and Judge
10 Weep and Howl!
11 Getting Ready for the Harvest
12 Prayer, Healing and Restoration
13 The Everlasting Gospel

The Book of James

Our Goal

Our journey this quarter spans the

entire Christian era, as it includes
some of the earliest preaching, as
well as special insights for these
last days.
Let us not miss these insights.

The Book of James

Lesson 8, Nov 22

The Humility of

Heavenly Wisdom

The Humility of Heavenly Wisdom

Key Text

James 4:10 NASB 1995

Humble yourselves in the

presence of the Lord, and He will
exalt you.

The Humility of Heavenly Wisdom

Initial Words

It would be nice to think that selfish

rivalry is confined to secular
organizations and that the church
operates quite differently.
Unfortunately, Scripture indicates
that all too often worldly wisdom
also operates among believers.

The Humility of Heavenly Wisdom

Quick Look

1. Faith Produces Wisdom

(James 3:13-17)
2. Faith Produces Humility1
(James 4:1-4)
3. Faith Produces Humility2
(James 4:7-10)

The Humility of Heavenly Wisdom

1. Faith Produces Wisdom

James 3:13-17 NKJV

Who is wise among and

understanding you? Let him show by
good conduct that his works are done
in meekness of wisdom. ...
[T]he wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good
fruits, without partiality

1. Faith Produces Wisdom

The Meekness of Wisdom

The wisdom here and throughout

the epistle is not primarily the
intellectual variety so esteemed by
the ancient Greeks and many today.
Wisdom is seen in ones conduct and
lifestyle, as indicated by the Greek
word for it, anastrophe, translated
conduct. Our actions and conduct
testify as to how wise we are.

1. Faith Produces Wisdom

The Meekness of Wisdom

The only place in the Old Testament

where the phrase translated wise
and understanding is found is in
Moses admonition to Israel to
observe all the laws that God had
commanded:

1. Faith Produces Wisdom

The Meekness of Wisdom

Keep them and do them, for that

will be your wisdom and your
understanding in the sight of the
peoples, who, when they hear all
these statutes, will say, Surely this
great nation is a wise and
understanding people (Deut. 4:6,
ESV; emphasis added).

1. Faith Produces Wisdom

Two Kinds of Wisdom

The wisdom that we have naturally is

earthly, even demonic or
devilish, and devoid of the Spirit.
This wisdom is destructive to its
core. If jealousy and selfish ambition
are cultivated and expressed, the
natural result will be disorder and
dissension.

1. Faith Produces Wisdom

Two Kinds of Wisdom

Heavenly wisdom is full of mercy,

as well as good fruits.
In other words, the truly wise will
not only be meek and humble like
Jesus but also peaceable, gentle,
merciful, and forgiving, willing to
overlook the faults of others, not
critical or judgmental of them.

The Humility of Heavenly Wisdom

2. Faith Produces Humility1

James 4:1-4 NKJV

Where do wars and fights come from

among you? Do they not come from
your desires for pleasure...? ... Do you
not know that friendship with the
world is enmity against God?
Whoever therefore wants to be a
friend of the world makes himself an
enemy of God.

2. Faith Produces Humility1

Cause of Conflict and Quarrels

The Christian life involves a

protracted battle which, if not
governed by the wisdom from
above (James 3:17), spills out to
the church itself and causes spiritual
trauma among believers.

2. Faith Produces Humility1

Cause of Conflict and Quarrels

The repeated references to the

problem of envy, coveting, and
cravings or passions (compare James
3:14, 16) reflect a perspective in
which the inner motivations, not
just outward actions, are in view.
Therefore, the reference to
murder is probably meant, in this
broader sense, to include anger.

2. Faith Produces Humility1

Friendship With the World

Alluding to the biblical concept of

Israel as Gods bride, James likens
believers going along with worldly
customs and being influenced by
worldly attitudes to spiritual
adultery.
In reality, they are choosing a
different master and lord.

2. Faith Produces Humility1

Friendship With the World

The human spirit (or heart) is

permeated with desires that, while
not originally or in themselves evil,
have been twisted by sin into wicked
pathways. Grace is the only real
solution to our plight.
The proud, however, have placed
themselves in a position where
they cant easily receive that grace.

2. Faith Produces Humility1

Friendship With the World

Only a person humble, meek, and

aware of his or her utter need and
dependency is open to grace, to the
unmerited favor bestowed upon
those who are, in every way,
unworthy.

The Humility of Heavenly Wisdom

3. Faith Produces Humility2

James 4:7-10 NKJV

Therefore submit to God. Resist the

devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw
near to you. ...
Humble yourselves in the sight of
the Lord, and He will lift you up.

3. Faith Produces Humility2

Submission to God

If we try to resist the devil in our

own strength, what chance of
success do we have? We need to
submit to Gods will in order to resist
the devil. In fact, by taking that very
step, we are resisting the devil.
We need to submit ourselves to God
daily and resisting the devil
whenever his temptations assert

3. Faith Produces Humility2

Submission to God

The call to submit to God is calling

sinners to repentance.
How should one repent? (1) draw
near to God; (2) cleanse your hands
and purify your hearts (actions as
well as thoughts); (3) lament, mourn,
and weep for your shortcomings,
realizing again that your need is your
only claim to Gods grace.

Final Words
The Desire of Ages 330

In order to gratify ambition and

worldly desires, they wound the conscience, and bring upon themselves
an additional burden of remorse.
The continual worry is wearing out
the life forces. Our Lord...bids them
seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness...that all things needful
to them for this life shall be added.