Background from the NT: James 3
Memory Verse: And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. -- James 3:18
It understands the power of the tongue -- James 3:3-8
We can tame horses with a bit
We can turn ships with a rudder
We can burn a forest to the ground with a single match
The tongue will not easily be tamed
It produces the right "fruit" -- James 3:9-12
Olives don't grow on fig trees
Salt water doesn't flow from a fresh water spring
The presence of Faith will bring forth fruits of the spirit and fresh, living water
Galations 5:22 -- Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meetkness, Temperance
It has heavenly wisdom -- James 3:13-18
Earthly wisdom is characterised by envy, jealousy, bitterness, strife, confusion, evil works. If so-called wisdom looks like that, it's from the devil.
God's wisdom is pure and good -- it's easy to spot.
It recognises the "Harvest Principle" (verse 18) : sowing, cultivating, harvesting
The peace-making farmer sows seeds of righteousness
He tends the fields, weeds out the bitterness, waters it with fresh water
When the harvest comes, he reaps what he has sown, which has increased in measure to the effort he made to tend it.
Most crops take a season to mature -- Faith is no different.
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