The Christian Cheat Code

I was pressty good at them but every now and then you would play a game that was very hard. There would be a stage that you just could not get past, or there would be a boss fight that you just could not beat.

And in those desperate moments of defeat, if you knew it, you could enter what is called the Konami Kode. this was a cheat code that made the game significantly easier. It gave you extra lives, made you stronger, faster - no matter how hard the game was, with the Konami kode you could beat it.

And even from then i always wished there was a real life Konami Kode. Imagine that when you face cghallnging days or seasons, or come up against impossible odds, that you could jsut enter a cheat code that would make all the challanges of life much easier!

Well today i want to tell you that there is a cheat code. God has revealed it in the bible to everyoner of His children.

W.I.S.D.O.M

I want you to know that Biblical Wisdom from above is like a cheat code that significantly decreases the challenge of life.

The People of God knew this, When given a blank cheque to ask for whatever he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom.

Proverbs 4:5–9 ESV

5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. 8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. 9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Proverbs 3:13–18 ESV

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Like I said, Wisdom is a cheat Code for life.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

Thde bible speaks of 2 kinds of wisdom: There is True wisdom that comes from above and False wisdom that comes from below.

Heavenly wisdom Comes from God, but earthly wisdom comes from the Devil.

James 3:15 ESV

15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

We must be abkle to tell the two apart and thankfully the bible tells us how to, but first lets ask an important question:

What is Wisdom?

Wisdom is not knowing a lot of things, thats knowledge, and its often been said that wisdom is the proper application of knowledge, which is true.

But on a more practical level, wisdom is how we interact with people, circumstances, blessings and all of life’s interactions in such a way that we remain Holy.

Someone with knowledge can know how to use a gun, but only someone with wisdom can know when to use it.

Demonic Wisdom

James 3:14–15 ESV

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.

2 concepts are used to show us what demonic wisdom looks like:

1: Bitter Jealousy

Not just jealousy, but bitter jealousy! Do you know that there are people our there who cannot be happy for other people when something good happens in their lives?

You get good news, you tell them the good news and they get angry and jealous that they havent got good news and so they try to rob you of your joy out of nothing more than bitter jealousy.

Think hard about your gut reaction to hearing about someone elses blessing. It is one of joy or do you find yourself wondering, “well i am happy for them, but why not me?”

I know of a pastors wife, a member in the church won a car, the pastors wife entered the same competition, and when she lost and they won, accused them of witchcraft!

Lucky draw???

2: Selfish Ambition

The greek word means “A strong drive for personal success without moral inhibitions”.

these are people who want, want want. They will usurp anyone for their own gain. In the church they are trouble makers, always nagging to take over someone elses ministry, always point out how they are more qualified.

The exact opposite of heavenly wisdom:

James 3:13 ESV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Meekness!

And with that let us turn to Wisdom from above:

Heavenly Wisdom

James 3:13 ESV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

James 3:17–18 ESV

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.

Meekness (v. 13).

Meekness is not weakness; it is power under control.

The meek person does not selfishly assert himself.

The meek person seeks only the glory of God and does not cater to the praises of men.

Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit, it cannot be manufactured by man.

The truly wise person will show in his daily life that he is a child of God. Attitude and action go together.

Purity (v. 17a).

“First pure” indicates the importance of holiness.

God is holy; therefore the wisdom from above is pure.

The idea behind this word is “chaste, free from defilement.”

God’s wisdom leads to purity of life. Man’s wisdom may lead to sin.

Peace (v. 17b).

Man’s wisdom leads to competition, rivalry, and war, but God’s wisdom leads to peace.

Gentleness (v. 17c).

Matthew Arnold liked to call this “sweet reasonableness.”

It carries the meaning of moderation without compromise, gentleness without weakness.

A gentle person is not a push over but they know how to speak the truth in love.

Open to reason (v. 17d).

God’s wisdom makes the believer agreeable and easy

to live with and work with.

Man’s wisdom makes a person hard and stubborn.

The compliant person is willing to hear all sides of a question, but he does not compromise his own convictions.

He can disagree without being disagreeable.

He is “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

Mercy (v. 17e).

To be “full” of something means to be “controlled by.”

The person who follows God’s wisdom is controlled by mercy.

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve, and in His mercy He does not give us what we do deserve.

Good fruits (v. 17f).

People who are faithful are fruitful.

God’s wisdom does not make a life empty; it makes it full.

The Spirit produces fruit to the glory of God.

God’s wisdom is practical; it changes the life and produces good works to the glory of God.

Decisiveness (v. 17g).

The word suggests singleness of mind and is the opposite of “wavering” (James 1:6).

When you lean on the world’s wisdom, you are pressured from one side and then another to change your mind or take a new viewpoint.

When you have God’s wisdom, you need not waver; you can be decisive and not be afraid.

Wisdom from above brings strength from above.

Sincerity (v. 17h).

The Greek word translated hypocrite in our New Testament means “one who wears a mask, an actor.”

Wherever you find God’s people pretending and hiding, you can be sure the wisdom of this world is governing their ministry. “Religious politics” is an abomination to God. “Faith is living without scheming.”

How do we get this wonderful cheat code?

James 1:5 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.