1. LISTEN TO WISDOM’S INVITATION
Proverbs 8-9 & James 3:13-18
March 16, 2014
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
USA
MARCH MEMORY VERSE
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me.”
John 14:6
REFERENCES
• Knowing God by James I. Packer
• Seeking Wisdom-Finding Gold by Dr. David Jeremiah
• Slaying The Giants In Your Life by Dr. David Jeremiah
WISDOM LITERATURE
10th CENTURY B.C.
Egyptian Literature “Wisdom of Amenemope”
‐ Accumulation of human observations & experiences
Hebrew Proverbs – All wisdom is seen flowing from the true God
‐ Solomon was known throughout the world as the wisest man
‐ Solomon’s wisdom was a gift from God
ANALYSIS OF A PROVERB
ACTION OBJECT OUTCOME
(If you………..then………….)
Example: The Benefits of Wisdom in Proverbs 3
Proverbs 3:1-2
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
Action: Do not forget, keep
Object: Teaching, my commands
Outcome: Prolong life, peace & prosperity

2. Proverbs 3:3-4
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Action: Let ……..never leave you
Object: love and faithfulness (for God)
Outcome: favor, good name,
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Action: Trust, not lean on self, submit
Object: Lord, own understanding, ways
Outcome: straight paths
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the first fruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Action: Honor
Object: wealth, first fruits
Outcome: overflowing harvest
Contrasts in the Bible
• Good vs. Evil
• Right vs. Wrong
• Spirit vs. Flesh
• Heaven vs. World
• Light vs. Darkness
• Wisdom vs. Folly – Proverbs 9

3. PROVERBS 9
Invitations of Wisdom and Folly
• Front porch invitations to come and feast
• “Let all who are simple come in here.”
– Hebrew word for “simple” in Proverbs denotes one without moral
direction and inclined to evil
– Implies someone who is at a crossroads in life
– Must make a choice
Wisdom vs. Folly
• What is wisdom?
– “The right use of knowledge” – Spurgeon
– “Common sense in an uncommon degree”.
– “Wisdom is knowledge using its head.” Twain
• What is folly?
– A lack of good sense, understanding or foresight
– Stupidity
– Acts committed by a “fool”
WISDOM’S INVITATION
Proverbs 9:2-6
2 She (Wisdom) has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls
from the highest point of the city,
4 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who lack judgment she says,
5 “Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of insight.”
• Invitation is spiritual in nature
• Invitation is public, in broad daylight
– Sent out servants
• Promise is life that brings truth, noble things and salvation

4. FOLLY’S INVITATION
Proverbs 9:13-18
13 Folly is an unruly (loud) woman;
she is simple (undisciplined) and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way,
16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have lack judgment she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
• Invitation is sensual and sexual in nature
– “Stolen water is sweet”
• Invitation is to lure you into a life of gullibility
• This path leads to eternal death
OLD TESTAMENT APPLICATION OF WISDOM
Proverbs 5:15
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.
Proverbs 14:12
12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 16:25
12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
NEW TESTAMENT APPLICATION OF WISDOM
• The Letter of James
– Written by the Brother of Jesus (James)
– Leader of the Jerusalem Church
– James appears regularly in early church history (Acts)
DEALING WITH TRIALS OF LIFE
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many
kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

5. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.
Look at next verse!!
James 1:5
5 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.
 How do you get wisdom?
 Ask God.
 God will give you His wisdom to deal with the trials of life.
ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
• INCOMMUNICABLE –Characteristics of God alone; man cannot share in
any of these
– Independence: self-existence, self-sufficiency
– Immutability: entire freedom from change
– Infinity: freedom from all limits of time and space
– Simplicity: No elements that can conflict
• COMMUNICABLE – Attributes of God that are shared with man
Genesis 1:26 KJV
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
– Knowledge
– Mercy
– Love
– Wisdom
HOW CAN WE GET WISDOM?
1. Prayer –
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,
2. Learn to “reverence” God –
Proverbs 9:10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
3. Learn to “receive” God’s Word –
Psalms 119:98
98 Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies.

6. EFFECT OF GOD’S WISDOM ON MAN
• God’s Wisdom Does Not:
– Provide divine insights on meanings about all things in our life
– Answer all the WHY’S of life
• God’s wisdom Does:
– Provide direction, appropriate actions & reactions
– Example: Learning to drive a car
TWO KINDS OF WISDOM
1. The Wisdom of the World
– Folly in Proverbs
2. The Wisdom from Above
WHO IS WISE AMONG YOU?
James 3:13
13 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.
Good life of deeds: Our actions show wisdom
Deeds done in humility: Marked by meekness, modesty; not prideful or arrogant
Humility that comes from wisdom:
“HUMILITY COMES FROM WISDOM”
Proverbs 11:2
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 15:33
33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 22:4
4 Humility is the fear of the Lord;
its wages are riches and honor and life.
Matthew 23:12
12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble
themselves will be exalted.
Philippians 2:3-4
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to
the interests of the others.

7. WISDOM OF THE WORLD
James 3:14-16
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.
• Characteristics of World’s Wisdom:
– Bitter envy & Selfish ambition
“If you harbor bitter envy…”
James 3:14
• Envy – a feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by the desire for
the possession or qualities of another.
• Envy is a combination of covetousness and hatred for the person who has
what you want
• Envy – you are willing to seek to injure the person you believe is standing
in your way:
– “That should be mine! They have no right to it.”
Envy Quotes
• Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.
H. Coffin
• Envy shoots at others and wounds itself.
• As iron is eaten away by rust, so the envious are consumed by their own
passion.
WISDOM OF THE WORLD
“If you harbor…selfish ambition”
• Selfish Ambition
– Concern only for self.
– Willing to do anything to get ahead.
– Prideful…”If it is to be, it is up to me.”
– Sense of entitlement – “I deserve it.”
– Sees others as competition or object to use to their advantage.
Boasting and Bragging
James 3:14
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast
about it or deny the truth.
- Bragging and lying are companions of envy and selfish ambition

8. WISDOM OF THE WORLD
James 3:15-16
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.
- The wisdom of the world is from Satan
- Satan is the author of confusion and disorder
- Evil practice: lying, cheating, stealing, gossip
NOW, A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!
WISDOM FROM ABOVE
James 3:17-18
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.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HEAVENLY WISDOM
1. PURE – Based upon God’s attribute of holiness
Psalms 19:8b
8b The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes
– With God’s wisdom there are no ulterior motives or secret desires
– The wisdom of God is absolutely pure
2. PEACEABLE – True peace is an outgrowth of purity
Isaiah 57:20-21
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
Which cannot rest,
Whose waves cast up mire and mud.
21 “There is no peace,”
Says my God, “for the wicked.”

9. Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
3. GENTLE – considerate, sweet reasonableness
2 Timothy 2:24
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to
everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
James 1:19-20
19 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become
angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that
God desires.
4. SUBMISSIVE – Willing to yield, willing to listen to reason
Ephesians 5:21
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
5. FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS – Our wisdom is demonstrated by our
behavior
James 3:13
13 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.
James 2:20
20 Faith without works is dead.
6. IMPARTIAL – not judgmental; sees everyone as God’s creation
James 2:8-9
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as
yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are
convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
7. SINCERE – without hypocrisy; real
Romans 12:9
9 Love must be sincere.

10. CONSEQUENCE OF HEAVENLY WISDOM
James 3:18 NIV2011
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
• Using heavenly wisdom brings peace and multiplied righteousness to
every situation.
– PRAY FOR GOD TO GIVE YOU WISDOM