“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8 ESV)
What is faith, the kind of faith James speaks of here? The Greek word is pístis, and it means to be persuaded, in this case to be persuaded by God (see John 6:44). It is authored and perfected by Jesus Christ, and it is gifted to us by God, and it is not of our own doing – not of the will nor of the flesh of man – so we do not get to determine what that faith looks like. God does. His word does (Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13). So this faith is going to align with the expressed will of God for our lives.
And what did Jesus say? He said that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, then we have eternal life (see Luke 9:23-26). For Jesus also said that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God the Father who is in heaven (see Matthew 7:21-23).
And he said that his sheep hear (listen to; heed) his voice, he knows them, and they follow (obey) him. And he gives to them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of his hand (John 10:27-28). And Paul said that the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, trains us to renounce (say “No!” to) ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return. For Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14; cf. Ephesians 2:10).
So, what is the main theme being expressed here as to what faith looks like? It has to do with faithfulness to God, with believing what he says and then acting upon that faith by doing what he says to do. It is not an emotional feeling or a one-time decision we make in our lives to “believe” in Jesus with human faith, which is defined by humans and not by God, and not by his word. All throughout the Scriptures we are taught that faith = obedience and that disobedience = unbelief (see 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13). Genuine faith is acted out in our obedience to God.
So, if we are seeking God’s counsel and wisdom in a particular situation in our lives, and so we pray and we ask the Lord to guide us in the direction that he would have us to go, but if we are undecided with regard to whether or not we will accept his counsel, if given, then we are not asking in faith. But this goes much further than that, doesn’t it? This is totally bringing into question whether or not this person is of genuine God-given and God-persuaded faith or not, for to be persuaded of God is to be convinced of God, and if we are convinced of God then we will follow the leading of God.
Now I am not claiming here that if we are of genuine faith that we will never fail or that we will be perfect always in our responses to the Lord Jesus. But pay close attention to the wording here, for this person is being described for us as someone who is double-minded who is driven and tossed by the wind. He is like someone seated on both ends of a teeter-totter, going up on one end while down on the other and then switching positions and going down on one end while going up on the other. And we can’t have it both ways. Either we are for God or against God, and we need to decide which.
For what else does this say here? The person who is double-minded and who keeps swaying back and forth in opinion or in what he believes or does not believe should not suppose that he will receive ANYTHING from the Lord, and that includes salvation from sin and eternal life with God. So this is not a small thing here. This is letting us know that genuine faith comes from God and is persuaded (convinced) of God and of his word as to what that faith looks like and should be acted out in our daily lives. But if we continue to live however we want, and we don’t make obedience our practice, then we do not know God, and we will not inherit eternal life with God.
See [Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-24; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-11; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
Courageous!
An Original Work / December 24, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures
The Word of God throughout taught.
Some people heard but did doubt.
Still others had faith in Christ.
By grace He purified them.
They turned from sin
And they obeyed Christ.
He opened up their blinded eyesight;
Turned them from darkness
To the true Light;
Forgave their sin by His might.
He strengthened them in their faith.
He said, “Remain my faithful.”
He called them to obedience.
By faith, they were so grateful.
By faith, they were to follow Jesus;
To daily sit and listen to Him;
To have such faith
That mountains could move;
To love those whom He gave them.
Be on your guard; courageous.
Stand firm in faith. Be thankful.
Take up the shield of your faith;
Protect against all evil.
Do not move from
The hope that you have.
Your faith in Jesus let it endure.
Hold to the truth;
Your conscience be clear.
Endure with perseverance.
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