Truth Baptist Church
Mark 1:21-34

      • Mark 1:27ESV

  • Open The Eyes Of My Heart / Holy Holy Holy
  • Whom Shall I Fear
  • Jesus Only Jesus
  • There Is Power In The Blood

      • Mark 1:21–34ESV

  • Embracing Jesus’ Authority

    Bible Passage: Mark 1:21–34

    Summary: So far, we have read about John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus, the temptations of Jesus, and Jesus calling His first disciples. In today’s passage, we learn about Jesus’ authority through His teaching in a synagogue, His casting out an unclean spirit, and His healing Simon's mother-in-law. This passage shows Jesus has the authority and power of God Himself and reveals His role as the ultimate healer and deliverer.
    Mark 1:21–34 (ESV)
    21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. 29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

    Introduction

    What is authority? It is the right to control, command or govern. Who has authority? There are different levels of authority.
    A police officer has authority to arrest you, but he does not have authority to sentence you for a crime.
    A judge has authority to determine the outcome of your court case, but he does not have authority to make war with another nation.
    What authority does Jesus have? Jesus is Lord of all creation. He has all authority over all creation.
    But, do we embrace Jesus’ authority? Or, do we run from it like someone trying to outrun a police officer? Do we embrace Jesus’ authority in all aspects of our lives, or do we want to only surrender to Jesus those parts of our lives that we choose?
    The passage teaches us that Jesus possesses ultimate authority over all aspects of life, including our spiritual and physical struggles. It encourages us to rely on Him.
    It reveals three truths about the authority of Jesus.
    Jesus Taught With Astonishing Authority
    Jesus Commanded Spiritual Authority
    Jesus Healed With Compassionate Authority

    Jesus Taught With Astonishing Authority

    Mark 1:21–22
    This passage finds Jesus in a town called Capernaum where something astonishing happened.
    Mark 1:21–22 21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
    According to the ESV Expository Commentary, Capernaum was a Galilean fishing town, consisting of an about 1,500 inhabitants. Due to its location, it served as a commercial center in Galilee at the time of Jesus. During the bulk of His public ministry in Galilee, Jesus was based—and lived—in Capernaum (Matt. 4:13; 9:1; Mark 2:1; 9:33). Jesus frequently taught in the newly built synagogue, there and he performed many miraculous deeds in and around Capernaum.
    According to Mark, the central activity of Jesus was “teaching” His disciples and others. It was not primarily to perform miracles or cast out demons. Jesus did perform miracles, and He did it even in this passage, but those miraculous actions accompanied His teaching and attested to God’s presence with Him.
    The importance of Jesus’ teaching is highlighted by the fact that twelve times Mark refers to Jesus as a “teacher” and not once as a miracle worker or exorcist.
    But, Jesus was not just any teacher. Jesus taught with authority. He entered a synagogue on the Sabbath and began teaching. Those who were accustomed to teaching in the synagogue were astonished. These “scribes” were most likely theologians and lawyers who passed on the traditions of their predecessors (Mark 7:5, 8). Perhaps, they were just repeating the traditions of men, but not speaking with divine authority or divine calling. Maybe they were filling a role, a job, or a function in the synagogue but they did not really believe what they taught. They did not really lead the people to faithfully follow God.
    In contrast, Jesus taught (and acted) with direct, divine “authority”. He was not simply repeating the traditions of men, but He was speaking the words of God.
    Application: This passage invites us to trust in Jesus’ wisdom and direction. His words, not man’s, offer us a solid foundation and guidance amidst confusion or uncertainty in life. When you need an answer, when you need the truth, go to Jesus. Go to God’s Word.

    Jesus Commanded Spiritual Authority

    Mark 1:23–28
    Jesus taught with authority, but that was not the only authority He expressed. Jesus performed many miraculous things, and one of those miraculous things was exorcising demons. Have you ever met a demon-possessed person? Gena’s brother may have just experienced it this past week.
    Illustration: Bobby’s encounter with demon possessed person. He asked this person if he could pray for her and cast the demon out. No, “I cast them in!”
    In this passage, we read about one of the many encounters Jesus had with a demon.
    Mark 1:23–26 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
    While Jesus was literally teaching the “Word of God” (because that is Who Jesus is!), an “unclean spirit”, that is a demon, tried to resist Jesus’ teaching. The unholy demon asked, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (Mark 1:24)
    Before we go any further, I think it is worth mentioning that demons do exist and they can be amongst the people of God. They can even be in a church service. We should not think that because we are worshipping God together on Sunday morning, that Satan is not here trying to distract, disrupt or destroy the things of God. Satan would love to send his minions amongst us. So, we must focus on the things of Christ and resist the things of Satan (James 4:7) with the Word of Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
    Now, back to the synagogue in Capernaum, this demon tried to resist the unparalleled power and authority of Jesus. It correctly feared Jesus had come to “destroy” them. Jesus, the true Light had come to destroy the darkness and to establish the kingdom of God. The Apostle John would later affirm,
    “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
    The demon recognized Jesus as “the Holy One of God”. It is true that Jesus is the “Holy One of God” (John 6:69, Acts 3:14), but Jesus did not have a conservation with the demon. Jesus said to the demon, “Be silent and come out of him”. And the demon did just that! The Son of God, the very Word of God, spoke and the demon obeyed. Jesus did not tolerate the demon’s attempt to exercise any kind of control over Him or detracting Him from His mission. Jesus rebuked anything that opposed the purposes of God.
    We should take note of how Jesus handled this demon. Jesus did not give the demon any room to control the situation or negotiate with Him. We should do likewise. Do not give the Devil any foothold in your life. As Paul reminds us,
    Ephesians 4:27…give no opportunity to the devil.
    But, could this person Jesus encountered in the synagogue in Capernaum had just suffered from some form of physical or psychological problem, such as epilepsy or schizophrenia? Some people claim this was no “spiritual” issue. No doubt, there were forms of physical or mental illnesses at the times of Jesus. However, the passage does not reveal it that way. Mark reveals an independent consciousness and will that harms the man it possessed, and it spoke and responded to Jesus. It “cried out with a loud voice, [and] came out of him” (Mark 1:26).
    The exorcism Jesus performed demonstrated His authority. It showed the kingdom of God advancing and God driving back the power of the enemy over people’s lives.
    How would you have responded to what Jesus did?
    Would it surprise you?
    Would you be amazed?
    The people in the synagogue were amazed.
    Mark 1:27-28 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
    The people who saw this miracle were amazed. This amazement (like Luke 4:36) indicates that Jesus’ authoritative casting out a demon “with a word” (Matt. 8:16) was unprecedented. Evil spirits had left people before, but not like this. The “harmful spirit” that vexed King Saul departed Saul when David played music (1 Sam. 16:14–23). But, this wasn’t an exorcism where someone cast out a demon through a command or confrontation—rather, music provided relief from the spirit’s influence. There are no examples in the Old Testament of people casting out demons by their word. But here, Jesus spoke with authority and the demon had to obey.
    Application: This demonstrates Jesus’ supreme authority over spiritual forces. Perhaps, we can reflect on the spiritual battles we face and find assurance in Jesus’ power to deliver us and restore us. Whatever problem Satan throws at you, know that it is powerless against the authority of Christ.

    Jesus Healed With Compassionate Authority

    Mark 1:29–34
    Jesus did not only exercise authority in teaching and in spiritual matters. Jesus also showed authority over physical issues. He has the power and authority to heal people.
    Mark 1:29–31 29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
    And “immediately” Jesus left the synagogue and entered Peter and Andrew’s house. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. We do not know what type of sickness she had, only that it caused her to have a fever.
    Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law, which shows His compassion and power to heal. It emphasizes His authoritative power to restore the health of others and His deep care for humanity. Once healed, Peter’s mother-in-law began to serve them. Jesus first served Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 10:45), and then she served them.
    But, the day of ministry was not over. Jesus was not done healing those in Capernaum on that day.
    Mark 1:32–34 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
    Sundown marked the end of the Sabbath when “no work” was allowed. The people were then allowed to move about and to come to Jesus with their needs. Jesus healed compassionately and demonstrated His authority over His fallen, corrupt creation. That Jesus healed many who were brought to Him showed His willingness to serve His broken world. It showed that Jesus cared for the needs of others, whatever ailments they had.
    Jesus also cast out more demons, demonstrating His authority over them. There is a difference between demonic oppression and illness. Demons can cause physical ailments. For example, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to Jesus, and when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke (Matt 9:32–33). Another demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the man spoke and saw (Matt 12:22). But here in Mark’s passage, there is a distinction between the demons Jesus cast out and the people He healed. Again, Jesus silenced the demons. He did not permit them to speak.
    Application: Jesus’ act of healing invites us to bring our physical and emotional burdens to Him. You can trust in the Lord of creation to care about your sickness, your pain, and your struggles. You are not alone and God does care about you. We can also be agents of God’s healing in the lives of others. We can share the hope that we have in Christ with those who do not have it. We can pray with the brokenhearted and downtrodden and point them to the One who heals all hurts.
    But, this does not mean that everyone is healed. Sometimes, healing comes later or not how we expect. Even in this passage, “all who were sick or oppressed by demons” were brought to Jesus, but it was “many” (not all!) who were healed.
    Does that mean Jesus only has authority in some matters?
    Does that mean Jesus did not care for everyone? No! Jesus is Lord of all, and He is sovereign over all creation. The challenge for us it to accept His lordship and trust in His sovereign care even when the answer is sometimes “No” or “Not yet”.

    Conclusion

    In closing, Jesus' authority brings hope and healing to our lives, offering freedom from sin and its effects through faith in Him. Jesus’ power and authority remind us that we are not alone in our struggles. God wants us to bring our burdens to Him so that we can experience healing in our lives, both physically and spiritually. He wants us to trust Him and His strength.
    This passage can help us understand that Jesus’ authority is not just an historical fact; it is active and available to us today. By trusting in the power of Jesus over our challenges such as fear, illness, and spiritual oppression, we can find hope and healing.
    If Jesus has authority to declare God’s Word faithfully,
    If Jesus has authority to cast out demons by the word of His mouth,
    If Jesus has authority to heal those sick with various diseases,
    What can Jesus do for you?
    What situation in your life is beyond the authority of Christ? Nothing!
    Whatever struggles you are facing,
    Whatever burdens you are carrying,
    Whatever doubts you have,
    Turn them over to Jesus. Trust in the merciful, sovereign Savior Who cares for You. Surrender your life to Him.
    Closing Hymn: I Surrender All

      • Mark 1:21–22ESV

      • Mark 1:23–26ESV

      • 1 John 3:8ESV

      • Ephesians 4:27ESV

      • Mark 1:27–28ESV

      • Mark 1:29–31ESV

      • Mark 1:32–34ESV

  • A Tale of Two Wisdoms

    Happy Father’s Day! Recognize!
    Ephesians 6:4 Love wife, lead family. Spiritual leader in the home.
    Psalm 103:13 Example of God our Heavenly Father.
    The main verse of the letter is probably be James 1:22 - “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only”.
    In chapter two, James taught that genuine saving faith demonstrates itself through good works. Faith without works is dead. Chapter 3 introduced another external indicator of one’s inner spiritual condition - the tongue. What we say matters and it often reveals our spiritual condition. Now, we see the solution to speaking well and living well is to have wisdom, specifically godly wisdom.
    Scripture:
    James 3:13–18 (ESV)
    13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
    Introduction
    We have called James a collection of wisdom sayings, the Proverbs of the NT. The passage today is all about wisdom.
    Last week…we saw how speech is an indicator of our spiritual condition, focusing on the power and potential harm our speech can have. James provides a remedy for taming our tongues. It is wisdom. Just as James mentioned the wisdom of God to have a divine perspective on trials (James 1:5), we also need the wisdom of God to use our tongues, to know what to say, when to say it, and how to say.
    But, what is wisdom? In the Old Testament, living a life well requires a relationship with God, and the wise person lives well by applying God’s principles to everyday circumstances.
    How do we learn to respond to life’s challenges and troubles? We need wisdom.
    How do we learn to speak good things, even in challenging circumstances? We need wisdom.
    How do parents learn to raise their children to be God fearing and Christ-exalting? Wisdom!
    Fathers need wisdom to lead, and children need a father’s wisdom. Someone once said, “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience often comes from bad judgment.” Fathers can help children benefit from lessons they learned. A father's greatest display of wisdom may not be his words but his example. A wise father helps his children avoid dangers they cannot yet see. In the same way, James points us to a wisdom from above—a wisdom that comes from our Heavenly Father, who sees what we cannot see and lovingly guides us in the path of righteousness. We need the wisdom of God to live a live well for God.
    James has already mentioned, if we lack wisdom, we should ask for it (James 1:5). 
    The passage today provides another example of the letter’s main theme of calling us to ensure our behavior (works, speech, relationships, etc.) matches what we say we believe. To borrow the “faith and works” theme, faith without good works means a life of evil works. And since the evil of the tongue is ignited by the evil of hell (James 3:6), we should ask ourselves, what is guiding us, the heavenly (James 3:17) or the hellish (James 3:15)?
    This message will reveal three truths about wisdom.

    True Wisdom is Demonstrated by Actions

    James 3:13
    If I asked you to name a wise person, some might say Solomon. Others might say, a favorite teacher, a grandparent, or a trusted mentor. What is probably similar with all of these is that we rarely describe wise people by their IQ, income, or accomplishments. We typically describe wise people by their character, judgment, and how they treat others. James would agree. To answer who is wise, James points not to what a person knows, but to how a person lives.
    James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 
    It is possible that, just as some church members were apparently taking the mantle of “teacher” upon themselves recklessly (James 3:1), so were some (maybe the same people) setting themselves up as “wise” or “understanding”. Such believers needed to be reminded of the true nature and fruits of wisdom.
    James starts with a question, “Who is wise and understanding?” We should probably see this question as one of those that you want to be careful answering. If you raise your hand, “Yes, I am wise and understanding”, James is prepared to challenge that assertion.
    “Really?”, James would say, “Show me your wisdom and understanding.” 
    James had already taught that God grants wisdom to those who ask Him in faith (James 1:5–8). In this passage, James went into more detail concerning the origin and expressions of wisdom. True wisdom is grounded in the “fear of the Lord”.
    Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
    What makes biblical wisdom distinctive, aside from it beginning with the fear of God, is that is associated with godly character., i.e., good works. Any claim to wisdom is tested by the life and demeanor of the supposed wise person. James describes wisdom as not merely intellectual but also behavioral…“by his good conduct”. By his good conduct, show his works. Again, James was asking people to prove what they say.
    If you say you have faith, show it (James 2:18). If you say that you are wise, show it by how you live.
    When one stands in proper awe and respect (fear) of God, the result is “meekness”. Meekness, which is translated “gentleness” in Galatians 5:23) was considered weakness by the Greeks. But meekness is not weakness. Meekness comes not from being weak or cowardly, but rather from trusting God and therefore being set free from anxiously promoting self (i.e., selfish ambition). Jesus elevated meekness to a primary Christian virtue (Matthew 5:5; Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.) Recognizing one’s proper place in creation and submitting to the Creator’s will in daily life is wise.
    Next, we will see the difference between two kinds of “wisdom”.

    The Fruit of False Wisdom is Disorder

    James 3:14-16
    If there are two kinds of wisdom, what does the false wisdom look like?
    James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 
    Verse fourteen begins with the word “but” to show a contrast between the values expressed in the previous verse. While the person who is wise should show his or her wisdom by good works, this is not true for those who are not truly wise. We could read verse fourteen, “But if [you claim to be wise while at the same time] you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast [about your so-called wisdom] and be false to the truth.” 
    As opposed to the “good conduct” and humble deeds (James 3:13) that are outward expressions of true wisdom, false wisdom pours forth evil conduct and arrogant boasting. James describes the characteristics of this evil conduct, but first he looks to the inside of the person (to the “heart”). As we mentioned last week, any outward behavior is an overflow of the heart. 
    Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
    Two things “in our hearts” that James mentioned are bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. A person with false wisdom is characterized by “bitter jealousy.” God’s jealousy is legitimate as He alone deserves our worship. God is rightly jealous for His honor and the loyal devotion of His people because He deserves it. On the other hand, human jealousy often demonstrates itself as a wicked desire for the abilities, possessions, or status of another that do not belong to the one jealous.
    Whether it is sinful jealously and godly jealousy hinges on motive—do you rightly deserve what you fear losing and does it matter to God. Human jealousy, like ambition, becomes distorted by sin. James adds the word “bitter” to “jealousy” (the same word that is used to refer to “salty” in James 3:11), to make it clear that this jealousy is an attitude of resentful competition that is worse that the usual wicked desire.
    “Selfish ambition” (James 3:14) is another sinful heart condition that is contradictory to true wisdom. There is a godly ambition that should not be suppressed, which is a personal drive that seeks to honor God and benefit others. A couple of biblical passages that speak to godly ambition include 1 Timothy 3:1 about men aspiring to the office of overseer, and Colossians 3:23-24 where believers are encouraged to work heartily as for the Lord rather than for human approval. 
    But, that is not the ambition James mentioned here. James described a prideful desire to promote oneself or one’s personal concerns without reference to God or the genuine needs of others. “Selfish ambition” is a willingness to split a group in order to achieve one’s personal desires. It focuses on what “I want” instead of what God wants. This same word is translated “rivalry” elsewhere in scripture, e.g., Galatians 5:20.
    James warns us about having bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. He wrote, “Do not boast [about your supposed wisdom] and be false to the truth” (James 3:14). In other words, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don’t pretend to be wise. Repent, and ask God to change your heart.
    James then described the characteristics of this false wisdom.
    James 3:15–16 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
    Such false wisdom is not from God. James described worldly behavior in terms that “progress” from bad to worse, recalling the list in James 3:5–6, the tongue is a “world of unrighteousness”. Rather, this false wisdom is…
    Earthly: Such behavior is ultimately earthbound. It stands for the human, rational approach to things that does not take the revealed will of God into account.
    Unspiritual: This describes someone who is self-absorbed. It means being out of touch with God—operating according to natural human impulses rather than divine guidance.
    Demonic: Its resembles the powers of darkness. Just as evil speech comes from Satan (James 3:6), so does this “worldly behavior”. Recall Jesus’ rebuke of Peter (Matthew 16:16–23) where Peter had spoken both a godly word and a demonic word. 
    Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition are, at their root, expressions of a worldly and demonic rebellion against God. The evil of the tongue and ungodly wisdom are influenced by hellish evil. Later James exhorts us to “resist the devil” (James 4:7).
    Though we can never really look into the hearts of others (and sometimes rarely within ourselves!), we can clearly see the fruit of false wisdom. The bitter jealousy and selfish ambition of a wicked heart cannot be contained but it will express itself in “disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16). The result of such devil-driven conflict can only be disorder and every vile practice.
    Think about the damage one person or group in a church can cause by jealousy or selfishly ambition. It causes disorder or worse in the congregation. Therefore, we must resist these destructive patterns and embrace the wisdom that comes from God.

    The Fruit of True Wisdom is Righteousness

    James 3:17-18
    The answer to the “disorder” of verse sixteen is to seek wisdom from above. Whereas the earthly wisdom finds its origin in Satan, true wisdom comes from God, has godly attributes, and produces godly results.
    James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
    The wisdom that comes from God is characterized by both internal and external fruits, similar to the list Paul reveals in Galatians chapter five on Fruit of the Spirit. This should not be surprising as James reveals the characteristics of wisdom that is born from the Spirit of God.
    Internally, true wisdom is “pure” (i.e., fundamentally motivated by goodness and holiness, not by sin). Purity is the primary virtue (“first”) with the rest providing aspects of this moral purity. Pure wisdom displays the love of the believers without showing favoritism (2:1).
    Second, this wisdom is displayed by being peaceable or “peace-loving.” This fruit of wisdom is the polar opposite of “selfish ambition” and the discord it produces. Those who make peace are committed to the unity of the fellowship. Peacemaking often means unity-protecting.
    The peaceableness of wisdom has the virtue of gentleness or the quality of being “considerate.” The is similar to “a soft/gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). These people are also going to have a willingness to yield (“open to reason”), merciful, impartial, and sincere. True wisdom is a genuine expression of a heart redirected by God. Just as false wisdom results in “disorder and every vile practice” (v. 16), so true wisdom bears distinct and recognizable good fruits.
    James then emphasized the critical attribute of peace in the last verse as the pure believer.
    James 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
    Just as verse 17 referred to “fruits”, verse 18 uses the word “harvest.” This is an interesting concept to consider that what we sow produces a harvest…it could be a harvest of good or a harvest of bad. 
    Gena has been trying to grow a garden at home. While I have not really helped much in this effort, I see her hard work of planting, tending, watering and caring for things she has planted. She has already seen evidence of things growing, the fruit of her labor. Likewise, we reap good things by sowing peace. Peace is the soil in which righteousness grows.
    A truly wise person goes through life “making peace” with those around him. The legacy of those who live in peace and make peace rather than conflict is a harvest of righteousness. In other words, James ends this section by reminding us that the truly wise person is a peacemaker who leaves behind a legacy of righteous behavior and influence. Jesus said that peacemakers are truly blessed and called the children of God.
    Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
    One of Gena’s favorite things to do in her practice of law is being a peacemaker. She helps to mediate conflict between people in order to help them come to a resolution without having to go to court.
    God is the Great Peacemaker Who made peace with us through Jesus. If it were not for God wanting peace, none of us would be saved. And as God has brought peace to us through Jesus, He wants His people to make peace with one another, and help others have peace. God expects His people to be peacemakers.
    A church that is rich in reconciling activities, that is, telling others about Jesus, defending the poor, counseling the troubled, offering hospitality to the stranger, sending gospel missionaries throughout the world, and many more, reaps a rich harvest of righteousness.
    Will you seek peace with one another?
    Will you help others come to peace?
    Pursue the wisdom from above that brings peace and unity and which is consistent with the redemptive work of Christ. This affirms our calling as peacemakers, and creates an environment that reflects the kingdom of God on earth.
    Conclusion
    In closing, James calls us to be wise people who follow the Holy Spirit. But, do we actually follow our “selfish ambition”?
    When others succeed, are we jealous?
    How do we feel when someone else does something well, gets a promotion, is given a responsibility that we once had or one that we want to have?
    What is the condition of our “hearts”? Do we have bitterness, anger, resentment, or “disorder” in our hearts?
    The greatest problem James identifies is the sinful heart that produces earthly wisdom. Only Jesus can change that heart. Jesus died for our pride, envy, selfish ambition, and hypocrisy. He rose again to give us a new heart and a new way of living.
    Before making decisions this week, ask yourself this question:
    “Is what I am doing or thinking of doing from below or from above?”
    Then choose the path that looks most like Jesus.
    We can serve God boldly, moving forward in faith, knowing that even though our weak service is often tainted with sin, our gracious heavenly Father is eager to forgive His children who ask for mercy (Luke 18:13–14). We must ask for God to fill us with true wisdom, His wisdom, which reveals itself in the fruit of righteousness and peace. God chose to regenerate us (James 1:18) by implanting His saving Word inside us (James 1:21), and now He is calling us both to act and to speak as His holy people. 
    Let the Holy Spirit lead you and your words and actions will become instruments of grace rather than weapons of destruction. Choosing godly wisdom over earthly wisdom glorifies God and fosters unity among His people. Meanwhile, we look forward to the new heaven and new earth, in which all of our motives, actions, and words will be completely holy.
    This is good news. Thanks be to God. Amen.
    Closing Song: Where He Leads Me I Will Follow
  • I Surrender All
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