Joyful Faith

Faith is . . . you can fill in the blank by now I’m pretty faithful of that. Heb11:1 is familiar to most Christians, it is believable, it is applicable, but is it applied? Not always. We serve a loving, giving God who wants to give wisdom and wants to give faith16 min without reproach> He is an attentive God (2Chr7:14) who wants to hear our prayers and answer then in accordance to His will.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB95

14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

In a time that the temple had just been completed, in a time that Solomon prayed over the temple, and the people God issues a warning and a promise, regarding their sin and regarding His love and desire to bless them by forgiving their sin and healing their land.

They had to apply their faith, they had to apply the wisdom God had given them, as do we today, but if we lack it, wisdom, instructions, faith, we need to ask the giving God who wants to give.

A giving God - gives wisdom

God who wants to give, and give generously, without reproach (Jm1:5-8) wants us to turn to Him and ask Him. Here are some things we may consider.

James 1:5–6 NASB95

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. 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.

James 1:7–8 NASB95

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.

God’s wisdom is better than the worlds (1Cor1:20-25)

God wants us to have wisdom, His wisdom (Jm1:5)

Asking for it is predicated on the fact that we know we need it (1Jn1:6-7); we were in darkness, and we are now walking in the Light and we need His wisdom

God’s wisdom is given to you, generously and without reproach (Jm1:5)

God gives prolonged life (Exo20:12)

Exodus 20:12 NIV

12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

God gives grace and glory (Ps84:11)

Psalm 84:11 NASB95

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

He does not hold back from us, He gives generously and without reproach

God gives breath; gives spirit (Isa42:5)

Isaiah 42:5 NASB95

5 Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it,

He created all things and breaths life into them and the spirit too!

So if we know we need, and when we ask, we should ask without doubting (Jm1:6; Heb11:6; Jn14:13-14)

Faith and doubt cannot dwell together for faith replaces doubt.

We need to know what we believe, what we have faith in for without it is impossible to please God who wants to bless, reward those who believe.

Hebrews 11:6 NASB95

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

God wants to give gifts, wants to give wisdom, wants to increase your faith, for without it you are like the waves of the sea (insert illustration you cannot hold back the waves)

We need to know, we need to come to Him with faith knowing, expecting that He will give to us when we ask (Jn14:13-14) - said to the Apostles but is applicable for us, when we ask by faith, and in accordance to His will.

John 14:13–14 NASB95

13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

When asking, don’t be double minded (Jm1:8; Ps119:113; Jm4:7-8)

God hates the double minded (Ps119:113)

Psalm 119:113 NASB95

113 I hate those who are double-minded, But I love Your law.

Don’t be unstable by being double minded (Jm1:8)

Submit so not to be double minded (Jm4:7-8)

James 4:7–8 NASB95

7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Don’t be double minded for you cannot serve two masters ( ref only to Lk16:23)

Faith and unbelief are two masters

May we remember that we are asking because we know we need, we need so to be able to handle the trials, tribulations we face in all joy. Having our faith built up, our faith proved, our faith enduring the trials of this life and that takes the wisdom of God that comes from above.

A Giving God- judges unbelief

God is giving and God is just, God is impartial (Jm1:9-11) Don’t be caught without it, faith that is!

James 1:9–10 NASB95

9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.

James 1:11 NASB95

11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

The lowly, the humble have high position in Christ (Jm1:9; Ps37:11; Mt5:5; 1Pt5:5)

Psalm 37:11 NASB95

11 But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

God delights in the humble, as well as blesses them.

Matthew 5:5 NLT

5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

and add to that

1 Peter 5:5 NASB95

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

May we clothe ourselves in humility for it will result in given grace

The rich are not exempt from trials/tribulations (Jm1:10-11)

Money cannot buy, secure happiness nor can it keep you from experiencing life's up and downs. for we can also know that:

Riches can come, go, as do trials and tribulations, but wisdom

Riches come and go, they can be taken, stolen, lost, but the wisdom that comes from God cannot be taken from you. And He gives it without reservations, without reproach and gives generously and in one version says liberally! So glory in your high position in Christ today, glory in your humiliation in Christ.

We all face trials and tribulations, and we are to count it all joy (Jm1:3) by asking God for His wisdom (Jm1:5) not doubting (Jm1:6) by faith (Jm1:6-7) not being double minded (Jm1:8), regardless of our position or possession as well as our circumstances (Jm1:9-11). We have a giving God that helps us to have joyful faith.

A Giving God- Gives, blesses and keeps His promises!

Do you want to be in receipt of God’s promises and God’s blessings? God wants to bless and it may, will, oftentimes will take some effort (Jm1:12)

James 1:12 NASB95

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Blessed is the one who perseveres (Jm1:12; Mt5:3-12; Eph3:20-21; Php2:13)

Blessed, happy is the man who perseveres I think we may have seen that before.

Matthew 5:3–4 NASB95

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:5–6 NASB95

5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 5:7–8 NASB95

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:9–10 NASB95

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:11–12 NASB95

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

These eternal and internal blessings happen not because circumstance but because of a giving God who wants to give, without reproach and give exceedingly abundantly more (Eph3:20-21)

Ephesians 3:20–21 NASB95

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

For greater is He who lives to both will and work in you.

Philippians 2:13 NASB95

13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

There is an external blessing that comes from the internal for the one who perseveres, it is the crown of life (Jm1:12; Rev2:10).

Revelation 2:10 NASB95

10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Crown given to those who love Him (Jm1:12)

A crown of righteousness as noted (2Tim4:8)

2 Timothy 4:8 NASB95

8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

A crown of glory as recorded (1Pt5:4)

1 Peter 5:4 NASB95

4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

In our verse it is for those who love Him, so what does it mean to love Him?

Keep his commands (Jn14:15)

John 14:15 NASB95

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Love produces obedience

Obedience produces perseverance and endurance

Endurance produces victory

Victory results in the victors crown and eternal life.

(Encouragement slide 1 - victors crown)

It is yours all for the asking! We are to be a victor in CHrist and our victory is found in Christ and it is for Christ we have been redeemed, delivered, transferred so that we may be transformed and conformed into His likeness for His purpose and glory. May that help us to have joyful faith in and through all things, even the hard things.