James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. I. WHAT IS MEANT HERE BY "ASKING IN FAITH." 1. TO "ask in faith" may be here spoken in reference to the person that prays; namely, he that prays must be in the faith, a faithful or righteous person (Psalm 66:18). "The prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). 2. To "ask in faith" is to believe that all we say in prayer is true. When we confess ourselves to be grievous sinners, we are to think ourselves to be as great sinners as we say we are; when we call God Almighty "our Father," we are to believe Him to be so. 3. We are to believe that whatsoever we ask of God in prayer is according to His will. II. As concerning the matter of our prayers we are to believe as hath been said, so AS TO GOD WE ARE TO BELIEVE SEVERAL THINGS. Indeed, scarce any of His attributes but some way or other we are to act our faith upon in prayer; but I shall choose some few on which the eye of faith is especially fixed in prayer. 1. The first is God's omniscience; for else we shall be at a great loss. If we believe not this, how can we be assured that God hears our prayers? 2. We are to believe God's providence, that He rules and orders all things. Whoso thinks that all things are ruled by second causes, by the power and policy of men, or by the stars, or chance, they will not pray at all, or go to God merely as a refuge: we shall pray to God, but trust to ourselves; or to medicines when we are sick, and to our food when we are well. 3. God's omnipotence is to be believed. Else we will stagger through unbelief. 4. We must act our faith upon His goodness and bounty. If we do not believe that the goodness of God is as much above the love of our dearest friend, as we account His wisdom and power above our friend's, we have unworthy thoughts of that attribute which God hath most abundantly manifested, and would have most glorified; and the love our friend bears us is but a drop from and of that ocean that is in God. III. The third object of faith are THE PROMISES; and there are three kinds, some to prayer, some to the person praying. We are to act our faith upon all. IV. The fourth and main object of faith which our faith must eye in our prayers, is CHRIST, in whom "all the promises are Yea and Amen , who hath reconciled the person and attributes of God: and concerning Christ we are to believe — 1. The great love God bears to Christ. Which is doubtless greater than to the whole creation. 2. We are to believe the fulness of Christ's satisfaction, and the greatness of the value and efficacy of the death of Christ. For if justice be not satisfied, we have no throne of grace, but a bar of justice, to come before. The blood of Christ hath a pacifying, purifying, purchasing, perfuming, reconciling, satisfying, justifying, virtue. 3. We are to believe the efficacy and infallible success of Christ's intercession. Christ doth four things as to our prayers. (1) He indites them by His Spirit; (2) He perfumes them by His merit; then — (3) He presents our prayers and persons; for we have access through Him (Ephesians 3:12); and then — (4) Superadds His own intercession, His blood crying louder than our sins, and better things than our prayers. 4. We are to believe and improve this truth; namely, that the Father exceedingly delights to Christ. And hereby God wonderfully honours Christ, by pardoning and receiving into favour such rebellious sinners as we are, for His sake, by forgiving anything for His sake. 5. We are to believe, improve, and obey Christ's commands (John 14:13, 14; John 16:23). (1) We are to believe these things of God and Christ with an historical faith. (2) With a faith, of recumbency. We are to rely upon the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, and upon Christ's interest in God, &c. (3) Saints are, by way of duty, but not by way of a necessary condition of obtaining whatsoever they ask, to believe with the faith of assurance of obtaining whatsoever we pray for. (Thos. White, LL. B.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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