OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Lev. 11-13

WHAT WISDOM?
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
MEMORIZE: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without
hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

READ: James 3:14-18

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:15).
Today's reading talks about wisdom. Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge. It
could be from God or from the devil. In this passage, the two are contrasted. How can
you identify the wisdom of the devil? Any suggestion or action that accommodates
bitterness is devilish.

No matter how laudable an action plan or step is, the moment bitterness is introduced
into it, it turns devilish. In other words, you can have a God-glorifying programme that
originated from God; if somewhere along the line the leaven of bitterness enters, God
will step aside while the devil takes over. Anything you want to do that is born out of
bitterness is not of God. Bitterness harms its host as well as its target.

An embittered fellow will struggle with forgiving the one who has offended him or her.
Is there any bitterness in your heart against an offender? Forgive and release that
individual today. Any counsel or advice that fans the embers of bitterness is not of God.
Another work of satanic wisdom is envy. Anything you do out of envy will definitely
negate God's will and Word. Any advice given to you with envy as its focal point is
definitely not from above.

In addition to these, any counsel that is strife-ridden is not of God. If you are given an
advice and as you plan to follow it, you become troubled in your inner man, it is most
likely not from God. God's wisdom gives you peace because it emanates from the Prince
of Peace. Satanic wisdom is devoid of purity. Any counsel that has any element of sinful
compromise is not from above.

Any advice that requires you to be harsh, unkind, or proud is not of God. An exception
here is where you are required to be forceful or violent in resisting temptation. It is
satanic wisdom that compels you to withdraw mercy from those that need it.

Any advice devoid of the fruit of the Holy Spirit recorded in Galatians 5:22-23 is
definitely not of God. The fruit of the Spirit will definitely back up any counsel
emanating from Heaven. Any counsel that has elements of partiality or hypocrisy is not
from Heaven. What kind of wisdom have you been operating? Key into the heavenly
wisdom today.

ACTION POINT Wisdom grows when it receives the right food. What are you feeding
your present level of wisdom with?