Faith: the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what
God has revealed.
I. But let him ask in faith.
A. Just as faith is necessry for the beginning of our Christian
walk (Ephesians 2:8), so it is necessary to the continuation of that walk. All of the
faithful listed in Hebrews 11 are credited with walking, or continuing, by faith.
B. Because faith is so important to our continued walk with the
Lord, it is the focus of many of Satan's attacks (Luke 22:31,32). This is why Paul refers
to our faith as the "shield of faith" (Ephesians 6:16). It is with this shield
that we stop all of Satan's offensive attacks on us ("quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked") (Ephesians 6:16).
C. Faith is essential to pleasing God ("Without faith it is
impossible to please [God]," Hebrews 11:6); not because God just wants to load us
with requirements, but because we can't even believe that God exists without faith. And
even those who do believe in God can not believe, apart from faith, that there is a God
who delights in giving us everything we need when we seek it in Him, ("for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him." Hebrews 11:6).
II. Nothing wavering.
A. The meaning of the word used here can be seen in the following
verses:
Acts 10:20; (a related word) Matthew 21:21.
B. The idea is that we not argue with ourselves; that there be no
dispute. What is true is true, and we must not allow our minds to attempt to convince us
that it is not true.
III. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with
the wind and tossed.
A. Few things are more unstable than a wave. When the sea is being
tossed by a strong wind, even mighty ships must simply "run before the storm,"
going wherever the waves happen to toss them. This is an excellent picture of what a
Christian is not to be; yet James says it is a picture of the man who wavers.
B. A Christian is to be characterized by the kind of confidence
expressed in the following verses:
vs. 3: "knowing this"
vs. 4: it is God's will that we be "perfect and entire, wanting
nothing."
vs. 5: we must know that when we ask for wisdom, "it shall be
given."
Questions for discussion:
1. How is the faith James talks about different from that of the
"name it, claim it" philosophy?
A: Faith is confidence in revealed truth. Name it, claim it
philosophy has to do with making whatever I desire occur by "positive
confession."
2. What is the difference between weak faith and wavering?
A: Weak faith is at least consistent in its direction; it is always
toward God. Wavering is going one way, then another.
3. What are the sources of God's revealed truth?
A: The Scripture, promptings of the Holy Spirit, prophetic
utterances, words of knowledge, wisdom, etc.
4. How is the Bible different from other sources?
A: It is the most reliable, and the standard to which everything
else measure up, because it is God's Word without error in its every part, directly
inspired by the Holy Spirit. It does not change.
5. What are some dangers of God's truth being revealed to us,
especially of some event that is to take place in the future?
A: We lose our patience and attempt to fulfill God's Word in our own
strength and by our own devices. The perfect example is Abraham.