FAITH AND DOUBT
If any of you lack with wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraided not, and it shall be given. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8)
There is no doubt that we all lack in something. Here, the request is concerning wisdom. This is not referring to mere knowledge or wisdom of man, rather spiritual wisdom that only comes from God. We are admonished in the book of Proverbs to seek after this wisdom with our whole heart. We are also given many promises of blessing that come with the obtaining of this wisdom.
Let me say, before going further, that this scripture is not referring to all people everywhere asking and receiving from God. It is, however, speaking to those who are in Christ Jesus, people who have been born again by putting faith in Jesus to forgive and save them from sin and the penalty thereof. It's talking to true Christians.
Here is the call for all Christians to pray for wisdom they lack. Scripture tells us that Jesus has been made to be wisdom for us. (1 Corinthians 1:30) So we know that in Jesus there is the wisdom of God made available to us, but we must ask and seek for it.
It begins by knowing who has it and then how to get it. We start by prayer. Scripture says to ask for it, but to ask in faith. Now we know that God has it, and we know He wants us to have it. So why doesn't he just give it to us? Because we see in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it's impossible to please God. Jesus told us that all things are possible to those who believe or have faith. (Mark 9:23)
Now, we are not likely to have faith to ask God and believe to receive if we don't first fill ourselves with faith building words. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) I think this is one of, if not the main reasons that people don't receive from God. They pray but don't get. There's not faith, rather doubt wavering in their requests by their what if’s. What if’s are the devils world of doubt.
Scripture says to not doubt for if we doubt, have what if’s, we will not receive anything from God? Not only this, but it also describes us as being unstable in all other ways of life. It describes people who can believe the devil more than God. Wait a minute, you say that's not me. Well, if any of us believe anything more than we believe God, then we are in truth believing the God of this world.
Jesus connects us to God, his power, and all his wisdom. However, to tap into all this power and wisdom and everything else God wants us to have, we must develop a faith-based prayer life that will get the right results. Maybe, you have been among those who have asked God but didn't get the desired results. I know I've been there, and I know that questions always come as to why the request was not granted. Sometimes, we begin to question the truth of God's Word. Or, in some cases, began to agree with incorrect interpretations of scripture that just explain it all away or put the blame on God.
I tell you today that God's Word is true, and it will never change! If we get our faith and prayer lined up with scripture, it will happen just like God says! Faith is not dependent upon sight, feelings or pass failures or failed prayers. It is dependent upon the promises found in God's Word that never change!
So, ask in faith and watch what happens!
If any of you lack with wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraided not, and it shall be given. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8)
There is no doubt that we all lack in something. Here, the request is concerning wisdom. This is not referring to mere knowledge or wisdom of man, rather spiritual wisdom that only comes from God. We are admonished in the book of Proverbs to seek after this wisdom with our whole heart. We are also given many promises of blessing that come with the obtaining of this wisdom.
Let me say, before going further, that this scripture is not referring to all people everywhere asking and receiving from God. It is, however, speaking to those who are in Christ Jesus, people who have been born again by putting faith in Jesus to forgive and save them from sin and the penalty thereof. It's talking to true Christians.
Here is the call for all Christians to pray for wisdom they lack. Scripture tells us that Jesus has been made to be wisdom for us. (1 Corinthians 1:30) So we know that in Jesus there is the wisdom of God made available to us, but we must ask and seek for it.
It begins by knowing who has it and then how to get it. We start by prayer. Scripture says to ask for it, but to ask in faith. Now we know that God has it, and we know He wants us to have it. So why doesn't he just give it to us? Because we see in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it's impossible to please God. Jesus told us that all things are possible to those who believe or have faith. (Mark 9:23)
Now, we are not likely to have faith to ask God and believe to receive if we don't first fill ourselves with faith building words. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) I think this is one of, if not the main reasons that people don't receive from God. They pray but don't get. There's not faith, rather doubt wavering in their requests by their what if’s. What if’s are the devils world of doubt.
Scripture says to not doubt for if we doubt, have what if’s, we will not receive anything from God? Not only this, but it also describes us as being unstable in all other ways of life. It describes people who can believe the devil more than God. Wait a minute, you say that's not me. Well, if any of us believe anything more than we believe God, then we are in truth believing the God of this world.
Jesus connects us to God, his power, and all his wisdom. However, to tap into all this power and wisdom and everything else God wants us to have, we must develop a faith-based prayer life that will get the right results. Maybe, you have been among those who have asked God but didn't get the desired results. I know I've been there, and I know that questions always come as to why the request was not granted. Sometimes, we begin to question the truth of God's Word. Or, in some cases, began to agree with incorrect interpretations of scripture that just explain it all away or put the blame on God.
I tell you today that God's Word is true, and it will never change! If we get our faith and prayer lined up with scripture, it will happen just like God says! Faith is not dependent upon sight, feelings or pass failures or failed prayers. It is dependent upon the promises found in God's Word that never change!
So, ask in faith and watch what happens!