1. SHOW ME WISDOM BY HOW YOU LIVE JAMES 3:13-18

2. "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

3. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

4. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:13-18 ESV

5. THE BOTTOM LINE: WISDOM IS SHOWN THROUGH A LIFE THAT FEARS GOD. --SHOW ME WISDOM BY HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE.

6. What is spiritual maturity? Spiritual maturity is the ongoing process of learning to live and act like Christ.

7. –Rick Warren "God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ."

8. What does living and acting like Christ mean?

9. If I had to break it down in simple terms: Living and acting like Christ means to love what He loves and to hate what he hates. When you love what Christ loves and hate what Christ hates, you will do what Christ did. When you do what Christ did, you live like Christ.

10. "Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom.

11. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats. James 3:13-16. MSG

12. Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” James 3:17-18 MSG

13. Which wisdom do you prefer?

14. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 ESV

15. What is the biblical definition of wisdom? Wisdom is the ability to live in a manner pleasing to God because you understand His truth and you live in constant submission to His Spirit, applying that truth to your life.

16. How do we get this wisdom that keeps us in God's will, that allows us to do what God wants us to do,and empowers us to become the people that God wants us to become?

17. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10 ESV

18. What is the fear of the Lord? To fear God is to desire to live in harmony with His righteous standards and to honor Him in all that you do. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe.

19. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. ” Proverbs 8:13 ESV *"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:27 ESV

20. "The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. ” Proverbs 19:23 ESV*" Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:17-18 ESV

21. APPLICATION: Are you growing in wisdom? If not, what is keeping you from growing in wisdom? Does your wisdom reflect good fruit and good works? If not, what is keeping it from reflecting good fruit and good works?

22. What wisdom are you desiring? The wisdom of the world or the wisdom of God. Are you walking in the fear of the Lord? If not, what is keeping you from walking in the fear of the Lord? (Walking in the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom). “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. " Psalm 86:11 ESV

23. CLOSING: "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ” James 3:13 ESV THE BOTTOM LINE: WISDOM IS SHOWN THROUGH A LIFE THAT FEARS GOD.-- SHOW ME WISDOM BY HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE.

24. SHOW ME WISDOM BY HOW YOU LIVE JAMES 3:13-18