Wisdom and Faith

By Mitch Rhymer

Wisdom and Faith

Jas 1:5-8

 

Intro:

  1. How can you have joy in persecution?

  2. Constant picture is that God gives liberally and does not chide us in our persecution

  3. Persecution does not create nor allow anyone to be a double minded

  4. Yet without faith in prayer then your wisdom memo;k

 

  1. How can we have joy in persecution? Pray for Wisdom

    1. If you want Knowledge, then go to a textbook

    2. If you want Wisdom, then get on your knees and pray

    3. Wisdom is gained because God give according to his nature

      1. Gives to Christians – plays no favorites

      2. Gives liberally – without bargaining

        1. No need to bargain with God

        2. We may ask over and over again.

        3. We can get what we ask for and scorn it and fail it

      3. Gives not upbraiding – does not scold or blame someone for asking

    4. Ask and God answers

      1. Matt 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

      2. God’s answer yes, no, or wait

      3. Yes is God giving us what we need

      4. No is God knowing what is better for us

      5. Wait is God expecting us to prepare ourselves for the time when our prayers will be answered

  2. How can we have joy in persecution? Pray in Faith Without Wavering

    1. Petition made in faith

      1. Heb 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

      2. Faith is rewarded by God because it symbolizes

        1. A firm reliance upon the Lord

        2. Unwavering trust in his work – there is a sense in which faith by definition is unwavering.

        3. A disposition to obey fully Gods’ commands.

    2. Prayer must be without doubt

      1. Implied is – in order to receive the gift the receiver must believe in God.

      2. Belief is the knowledge of God combined with a persuasion that it is true.

      3. However the doubter represents the sinful man.

        1. Doubting is an inner debate exposing the conflict with truth and desire to not change their life.

        2. Doubting describes on beset by contrary notions. One that exposes the inner conflict over whether God’s promises are true or false.

        3. Wavering shows a lack of assurance which does not allow one to have a robustness of hope and confidence.

  3. How can we have joy in persecution? Knowledge of the prayer of the Double-minded

    1. Who is the Double-minded

      1. Restless and confused in all his ways

      2. Has doubt which creates mental instability

      3. Unhappy, lacks joy

    2. Praying with an inner conflict

      1. Paying homage to two masters

        1. Matt 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

        2. The nature of truth is that something cannot be true and false at the same time.

      2. Conflict in soul hampers prayer

        1. Conflict results from a desire to make truth false and what is sinful, truth.

        2. A battle wages in our soul where our spiritual life is at stake.

    3. Like the wave of the sea tossed about

      1. A person like this is not happy

      2. A person cannot expect what is going to happen unless he has faith.

  4. How can we have joy in persecution? Avoiding the Prayer of the Double-minded

    1. Have the Nature of God – liberally and upbraided not

    2. Have one master

    3. Receive the wisdom God has blessed you with

    4. Full of Faith

 

Posted in: Faith, Preaching, Sermon Outlines, Wisdom

This website is operated under the authority of the elders of the Berryville church of Christ, Berryville, Arkansas.