Wind-tossed and Unstable

From : The half-brother of Jesus To : Jewish Christians scatter James 1:1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

I Peter 4: 12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

3 – knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1: 2 – Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 – knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 – And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God promises to give freely and generously, but there is a condition. Valuing trials as joy is not easy. James 1: 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.   God promises to give freely and generously, but there is a condition.

I. God will only answer prayers that are asked in faith.

James 1: 5-8 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The promise of answered prayer is ONLY given to Christians. Psalms 66: 18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear;

Jeremiah 14: 10b-11 Therefore the Lord does not accept them; now He will remember their iniquity and call their sins to account." 11 So the Lord said to me, "Do not pray for the welfare of this people.”

Isaiah 1: 15-16 So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good, seek justice ….

The one who prays must pray believe that God will give him his request. James 1: 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting,

Mark 1: 40-42 And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Matthew 9: 27-30 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" 28 When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "It shall be done to you according to your faith." 30 And their eyes were opened.

II. The man who doubts his prayer will be granted will be denied.

James 1: 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

“Doubting” … withholding of trust “tossed by wind” … described by fisherman “Double-minded” … a man with two souls  “Unstable” … not controlled ( drunken man )

Matthew 6: 24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 12: 30 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters

James 4: 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

III. How does one pray with the faith that God requires ?

Pray not just say a prayer. Mark 7: 6 He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

Pray realizing the awesome power of God. ( cf- Eph. 3: 20 ) Romans 10: 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Pray within the will of God. I John 5: 14-15 This is the confidence which we have before 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 which we have asked from Him.

I Peter 5: 6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. II Corinthians 6: 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you

I Timothy 2: 4 God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2: 1 I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority,

I John 5: 16 There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. James 4: 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

All of us are or will be facing trials in our lives All of us are or will be facing trials in our lives. God wants for us to use them to mature our faith and to glorify Him.

Prayer is a special privilege given only to Christians who have true faith. Do you have the faith to pray ?

Do you have a prayer relationship with God ?

Or are you like Peter, divided in your mind ?

Remember : He carried it For you.