Wisdom from above is FULL of GOOD FRUITS

Seminar Presentation at Winter Family Weekend December 25, 26, 2009 by Victor Kubik

Discussion first about what is Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding

Knowledge: Facts, data

Understanding: How things work, putting data together

Wisdom: Can be good or bad.  Depends on the application and motive behind what you do.

            Example: Understanding nuclear energy.  Can be put used for peaceful or violent purposes

James 3:13-18  (Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom)

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Our assignment today is to equate GODLY WISDOM with GOOD FRUIT. 

James 3:13-18

When you buy apples, melons, grapes?  What is the number one consideration when considering the value of the fruit? 

Cost of production? Seed, fertilizer?
Transportation?
Government subsidies?
Taxes

None of that!   You are thinking about the taste, appearance and quality of the FRUIT!

I was once asked by the Better Business Bureau if I complied with their 20 standards of good practice. One of those standards was:
An organization should regularly assess its effectiveness in achieving its mission. This section seeks to ensure that an organization has defined, measurable goals and objectives in place and a defined process in place to evaluate the success and impact of its program(s) in fulfilling the goals and objectives of the organization and that also identifies ways to address any deficiencies.  

The United Way Effectiveness as OUTCOMES.  See accompanying chart

People confuse OUTCOMES, EFFECTIVINESS, FRUIT with  INPUTS, ACTIVITY, OUTPUTS. 

God wants us to become effective Christians that have something to SHOW that is desirable, tasty and quality.

John 15:1-16

 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Luke 3:3-9  When coming to repentance, you need to SHOW, have evidence of your change

3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" 

7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him,"Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Matt 7:15-20

15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Gal 5:22-26

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Fruit and Agriculture

You must start with good seed, fertilizer.  The crop must be watered and cultivated and have plenty of sunshine to bear good fruit/crops.

Cultivate and Fertilize – Put good things int

Discussion about GOOD FRUIT