Faith

When asked if he needed financial assistance in caring for his orphanage, he replied, "...I do not feel at liberty to speak about the state of our funds.  The primary object of this ministry is to lead those who are weak in faith to see that there is reality in dealing with God alone."

The Autobiography of George Muller March 26, 1840

The Double-Minded Man

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

When you ask, do it in what you are persuaded, not going back and forth in your convictions. James compares this double minded conduct with the ocean's waves which are driven and moved by an outside force. Otherwise, don't expect anything, because you have two different thought processes.

Recently, I had been praying for someone to have a mind change concerning something they were doing. One way that I have been double-minded in my thinking is that when I finish praying, I tend to think, "Well, if God doesn't answer within a certain time, then I will talk to the person about my desire for their change".

This type thinking puts me in the category of the 'double-minded' man. I ask God, believing He can do it, and then get off my knees and think, "how can I accomplish this".

"…unstable in all his ways"

The instability then moves to other areas of my life, my job, relationships, etc. I tend to ask God for something, believing Him to accomplish His will and then I try to manipulate the circumstances or grumble if it didn't go the way I wanted.

The double-minded man, who is unstable in his thinking and conduct, who wishes to change, needs only look to James 4:8 where he says, "purify your hearts minds you double-minded". This indicates that the one who has these "double-minded" behaviors need only meditate on the Word. This is the process of "purifying the heart".

James says, "but let him ask in faith...". Doubting leads to double-mindedness. Faith is the opposite of doubting. We know that "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". So as we build our faith through the Word, it opposes and dispels doubting and double-minded thoughts and conduct.

Important Facts of Faith

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. Eph 2:8


*Faith can fail
But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and
you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. "Luke 22:32

*Faith can be seen
This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had
fixed his gaze upon him, and had seen that he had faith to be made well, Acts 14:9

*We increase our faith by hearing the Word of God
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Rom 10:17

*Each has an allotment
God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Rom 12:3

*We are warned to stand firm in it
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be
strong. 1 Cor 16:13
If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and
steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have
heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I,
Paul, was made a minister. Col 1:23

*Others can strengthen and encourage us in our faith
And we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the
gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, 1 Thes. 3:2

*Yielding to the tempter can destroy it
For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to
find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted
you, and our labor should be in vain. 1 Thes. 3:5

*Rejecting a good conscience causes shipwreck in regards to our faith
But holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 1 Tim 3:9
Keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected
and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 1 Tim 1:19

*Falling away from the faith results from paying attention to deceiving
spirits and instruction of demons
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall
away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines
of demons, 1 Tim 4:1

*Longing for money causes us to wander from it
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some
by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced
themselves with many a pang. But flee from these things, you man of God;
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and
gentleness. 1 Tim 6:10

*Pursuing youthful lusts destroy it
Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith,
love {and} peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Tim 2:22

*Reproofs strengthen ones faith
This testimony is true. For this cause reprove them severely
that they may be sound in the faith, Titus 1:13

*When it is tested, it produces endurance
Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:3

*Diligence applied to faith is a precursor to moral excellence and maturity
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your
faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; 2 Peter 1:5

All Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible