Wisdom From Above: Purity

SERIES: WISDOM FROM ABOVE
MESSAGE: Purity
TEXT: James 3:13-18
MESSAGE BY: Pastor J Carr

Wisdom:

• Babel vs. Bethel

• Moon vs. Sun

Purity:

• James. 3:17

• Wisdom is first and foremost pure

• What is purity?

  • James 1:27

    • Undefiled, unstained

      • By the world, the flesh, and the devil

        • James 3:15

  • Not only negative - mainly positive

    • James 4:8

      • “…To will one thing” and not be “double-minded”

  • But the negative is there

    • James 4:7 - "resist”

The World, The Flesh, & The Devil:

• Classical music analogy

  • Classical music = sin

  • Orchestra (of Bach’s kids) = the flesh

  • Conductor/mayor = the devil

  • City of Vienna = the world

The Devil:

• John 8:44

  • Murderer: aims to destroy life

  • Liar: means/weapons are lies

• 1 Peter 5:8-9

• Psalm 24:4

  • Pure heart = do not lift up soul to falsehood

  • v. 6 - seek God alone

The World:

• Fire at Beverly Hills supper club

  • Companions in complacency

  • Walter Bailey - courage and compassion

The Flesh:

• Our bodies/desires dominated by sin

  • Romans 6-7 (6:6;12)

• Horse and rider

• Overcome in union with Jesus who overcame

• Psalm 14:1 - practical atheism = foolishness

Positive Purity:

• Beholding Glory and becoming whole

• Radical recentering

Discussion questions:

What is purity?

• What do you think of?

• What is a negative vs. positive view of purity?

  • How might a purely negative understanding of purity be unhelpful?

How does the Devil seek to destroy us?

• What kind of lies does he want you to believe?

• What other lies do you see him deceiving people with?

• How do you resist him?

How does the world’s opposition play out?

• How are you tempted by it?

How does the flesh sabotage our souls?

• In what ways directions does your horse (flesh) run off

  • How might you try to train it?

How do you understand how the world, the flesh, and the devil work together?

How can we mount a resistance?