Hope for Healing, Faith for Living Podcast

Today we will again be in James Chapter 1 where we see in verse 5 that we can ask of God and that he is generous. He is good. Today we will see in verse 6 how we are to ask and how not to.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 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. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

We are to ask in faith. Let me say again, this portion of scripture is talking about asking for wisdom but I want to make it clear, this is teaching us how to ask for anything we need from God, not just wisdom.

Verse 5 ends with the promise of when we ask, it will be given and then verse 6 starts with a but.  “But let him ask in faith”.

Whatever we are asking of God, needs to be, must be asked of in faith.

In other words, we need that full assurance that we can ask, that God wants us to ask for what it is that we are asking for.

How are we going to get faith? How are we going to get that full assurance?

Romans 10:17 gives us the answer, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (King James says word of God)

God’s Word reveals God’s will. It’s his will that we can ask for.

1 John 5:14-15 English Standard Version

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

We know his will when we know his Word. His Word reveals His will. 

When we ask according to the Word, we are asking according to God’s will. We are asking knowing this is God’s will for us, his desire for us, what he wants for us.

In the Scriptures we are studying in James, we are told if we need wisdom, we can ask. 

Therefore we can have faith for wisdom because we know asking for wisdom is God’s will.

Now you may doubt God wants you to receive wisdom from him, but if you continue to meditate on the Scriptures that show you are invited to come and ask for wisdom, that doubt will subside and faith will take it’s place. You will get to a point of being fully persuaded of what God’s will is for you.

Let’s read verse 6 again, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting…”

How are we to ask? In faith. With no what? Doubting.

I want you to notice that the verse reads with no doubting. Doubting is a verb. It’s something you do. In this context, it’s taking in consideration other things besides the revealed will of God.

Let’s go back and read the verses again and you will see it talking about going back and forth. 

6 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. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Faith is focused on God’s Word, his revealed will. Doubting is considering other things that are not inline with God’s revealed will, the truth of his will. So that person goes back and forth.

Can it be dishonoring to God to put ourselves in the seat of judgment where we decide whether God’s Word is true or not? Yes.

You’ve got to decide. Will his Word be your final authority and you diligently study it to be sure of God’s will or not.

It’s the only way you can walk in faith.

Blessings,
Tim Dumas
www.hopeforhealingfaithforliving.com