Am I gentle and reasonable with others?
Yesterday
We learned the the wisdom that IS from God is 1st pure, THEN it is peaceable.
Today
Let’s move on in verse 17, and focus on God’s Wisdom is gentle and reasonable.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
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Let’s Pray
Oh Lord, we come today quick to hear You speak to us. We long for the pure milk of your Word that is implanted within us, knowing we must receive it and do it. Clear our minds, and grant us the understanding we need to live out what You teach us. Thank you!
LOOK at What God Says
Let GODcha direct you.
What will you do first?
READ God’s Word
Read James 3:13-18, asking the 5W’s and H.
Where does the wisdom from above begin?
What is it’s foundation?
What then are the other characteristics that James uses to describe the wisdom from above?
Let’s Incorporate All Our Strategies
Let’s pick up where we left off last, zooming in on the next 2 characteristics that are key to God’s Wisdom.
Work at your own pace.
Remember there is no rush.
We want to engage with God,
see what He is saying, and
hear Him speak to us personally.
Next . . .
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, THEN peaceable, ‘gentle‘. . .”
Understand God’s Words
Check Out the Meaning
Dictionary Tutorial >Gentle, epieikeâs; appropriate, fitting, suitable. Mild:—gentle, moderation, patient. Yielding, unassertive (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 3:2; James 3:17).
“Of all Greek words in the New Testament this is the most untranslatable. The man who is epieikes is the man who knows when it is actually wrong to apply the strict letter of the law. He knows how to forgive when strict justice gives him a perfect right to condemn. He knows how to make allowances, when not to stand upon his rights, [and] how to temper justice with mercy….” William Barclay.
Let Truth Explain Truth
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
1. Do you 
remember what you learned about gentleness back in James 3:13?
2. What else do you discover about gentle?
a. Christ was meek and gentle. (2Co 10:1)
b. Gentleness is the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23)
Remember we saw gentleness is produced by the Spirit, we can’t manufacture it. As the Spirit works in us to be like Christ, the result is gentleness.
c. Another one of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Mat 5:5)
d. Gentleness is a requirement for elders. (1Ti 3:3)
e. Believers are meek and gentle (Tit 3:2)
f. A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. (Pro 15:1)
3. 
What would be the opposite of gentle?
The selfishly ambitious and arrogant that describe the earthly wisdom are harsh, stirring up anger, unforgiving, fighting for their rights, never willing to make allowances.
Understand: True wisdom is gentle meaning kind, considerate, courteous.
Scholars say: this is wisdom that humbly submits to dishonor, mistreatment, persecution without hatred, without malice, without revenge.
Engage With God
LISTEN…
Am I gentle, kind, considerate when dealing with others?
Can I turn the other cheek when mistreated and/or persecuted?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Next. . .
“But wisdom from above is first pure, THEN. . . peaceable, gentle, ‘reasonable‘… “
Understand God’s Words
Check Out the Meaning
Reasonable, eupeitheâs; —easy to be intreated. Easily persuaded, compliant (James 3:17). Not in the sense of being pliable and weak, but in the sense of not being stubborn and of being willing to listen to reason and to appeal. Being skilled in knowing when to wisely yield.
“This is important because people can have a doctrinal truth, or a doctrinal purity, which is a knowledge, but not have a wisdom that is from above because it is hard-nosed, tough, and it is not gentle, it is not reasonable.” Kay Arthur
“Reasonable is used of a person who submits to military discipline willingly. It’s used of a person who observes legal and moral standards in life and willingly submits,” John MacArthur
1. What would be the opposite of reasonable?
How about being: unreasonable, stubborn, obstinate, perhaps even, disobedient.
Engage With God
LISTEN…
Am I reasonable, easy to get along with?
Do I willingly yield and submit?
Or, am I stubborn, obstinate, hard to get along with?
Am I disobedient?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Our Day Has Come To An End!
Ponder and chew on all God is teaching us about His Wisdom.
Do you need to work on any of these characteristics we have seen so far?
Oh, God loves you, talk to him.
Journal Your Discovery
You know what you need to do. Take the time and do it!
Let’s Pray
Perhaps. . .
FATHER, LORD GOD AND JESUS WHO ARE BOTH GENTLE, AND HOLY SPIRIT, WHO PRODUCES GENTLENESS IN US, we bow before You, for Your gentleness makes us great, (Psa 18:35), and we come to You, Lord, who is gentle and humble of heart, to find rest for our souls, (Mat 11:29). As we learn to be quick to hear You speak to us, sensitive to Your voice Holy Spirit, are we examining ourselves to see if we are gentle and reasonable, teachable, easy to live with? Oh Father, help us to be men and women, young adults, who are gentle. May we be kind and considerate to all we come into contact with. May we learn to know how to forgive, even when strict justice gives us a perfect right to condemn. Help us to make those allowances and not fight for our rights, tempering justice with mercy. And Father, help us all to be reasonable, not obstinate and stubborn. Help us to submit and know when to wisely yield. Oh, Father, change us from the inside out. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen!
Next: We will continue to LOOK at this wisdom that is of God.
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