Weekly Sermon

James 1:6-8 reads, “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 any thing of the Lord.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

As we have previous noted, the opening matter about which the epistle of James provides pastoral counsel concerns the trials, troubles, and tribulations of our lives.   Concerning this matter James delivers a series of four instructions under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.  The first is found in verses 2-3 and speaks concerning our regard and attitude toward the trials of life, saying, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”  The second is found in verse 4 and speaks concerning our response of submission in the trials of life, saying, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”  The third is found in verse 5 and speaks concerning our prayerfulness unto the Lord concerning the trials of life, saying, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The fourth of these instructions is found in the opening portion of verse 6.  It provides an additional requirement in relation to the previous instruction.  Therein we are instructed to “ask of God” whenever we lack the true, spiritual wisdom of God for the direction, decisions, and difficulties of our lives.  The instruction of verse 6 then adds, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”  Thus it speaks concerning our trust in the Lord through the trials of life.  This truth is then expanded in the remainder of verse 6 through verse 8, wherein a significant warning is given to those who waver with doubt toward the Lord.

Grammatically, verses 6-8 present four individual sentences and may be divided into four individual thoughts concerning the matter.  First, there is the complementary prerequisite of the first sentence -- “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”  Second, there is the comparative picture of the second sentence -- “For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”  Third, there is the explanatory prohibition of the third sentence -- “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”  Fourth, there is the defining principle of the fourth sentence -- “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

Thought for Meditation

Do you possess a heart of faith like Mary did,
or do you possess a spirit of unbelief like Zacharias did?

Meditations in Exodus

In Exodus 3:16-17 the Lord God instructed Moses to go unto and gather together the elders of Israel and to deliver the Lord’s message of deliverance unto them.  Yet three times throughout Exodus 4:1-13, we find Moses questioning the Lord.  First, Moses questioned the Lord’s Word unto him.  In the opening line of Exodus 3:18, the Lord God declared, “And they shall hearken to thy voice.”  Yet Exodus 4:1 declares, “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.”  Second, Moses questioned the Lord’s work through him.  In Exodus 4:2-9 the Lord God granted unto Moses a series of miraculous signs whereby he could validate the Lord’s message to the elders of Israel.  Yet Exodus 4:10 declares, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”  Third, Moses questioned the Lord’s wisdom in choosing him.  In Exodus 4:12 the Lord God gave His assurance unto Moses, saying, “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”  Yet Exodus 4:13 reveals Moses response, “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.”

Thus Exodus 4:14 begins with the statement, “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses.”  However, throughout this discussion with Moses, and even after His anger “was kindled against Moses,” the Lord God continued to demonstrate the abundance of His grace unto Moses. 

Meditations in Exodus

Exodus 4:14 begins with the statement, “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses.”  So then, what had Moses done to stir up the Lord’s anger?  Three times throughout Exodus 4:1-13, we find Moses questioning the Lord.  Even so, we learn that the Lord’s anger was kindled against Moses because of Moses’ spirit of questioning and doubting.

Thought for Meditation

Worry and the fear of worry IS a sin against the Lord our God;
for it is direct disobedience to His prohibition against worry,
and is an expression of doubt against His faithful character.
Therefore, the first requirement to deal with the practice of worry
is broken-hearted repentance thereof.

Outlines in Psalms

Psalm 74 can be divided into three divisions:
              I.  The Complaint of a Troubled Heart (Psalm 74:1-11)
             II.  The Turning Point of a Confident Faith (Psalm 74:12-17)
            III.  The Cry of a Trusting Heart (Psalm 74:18-23)

Under the first division, we find four questions of complaint from the troubled heart.

Outlines in Psalms

This outline is a companion to two previous outlines:  In the Day of My Trouble - Psalm 77    
                                                                                    But I Will Remember - Psalm 77:10-12    

In Psalm 77:4-9 the psalmist Asaph cried out and complained, saying, “Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.  I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.  Will the Lord cast off for ever?  And will he be favourable no more?  Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?  Hath God forgotten to be gracious?  Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.”

As we have noted in a previous outline (see above), through this complaint we understand that the psalmist had come to a place of utter discouragement and depression.  In addition, we understand that the foundational reason for the psalmist’s discouragement and depression was that he had come to a place of doubting and questioning the gracious, merciful, and faithful nature of the Lord his God.  Yet by the end of this psalm, the psalmist had come to a completely different place, to a place of comfort and courage through whole-hearted trust in and praise of the Lord his God.  The turning point for this change began with the opening confession of verse 10 – “And I said, This is my infirmity.”  Herein the psalmist acknowledged and confessed the sinfulness of his attitude against the Lord.

Yet what was the path by which the psalmist originally came to the place of utter discouragement and depression?  This path is revealed in the steps of Psalm 77:2-3.  According to the opening portion of verse 2, the psalmist had indeed sought the Lord through prayer – “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord.”  Yet this involvement in prayer did not bring relief to the psalmist’s attitude; for in the opening portion of verse 3, he declared, “I remembered God, and was troubled.”  Why did seeking the Lord through prayer not bring relief?  It did not bring relief because although the psalmist involved himself in the practice of prayer, his heart remained focused upon the troubles of his life.  This then was the psalmist’s path to utter discouragement and depression: