There are so many things that the Holy Spirit has come to do in our lives, but they haven't come to completion because we either do not listen to Him or we don't know how to listen to Him. There were many who witnessed Jesus' ministry, but whose minds were set on "traditional" things and refused to hear His message. We, sometimes, have become "hard of hearing" because of what we've set our hearts and minds on.
We have put ourselves into two different camps as Christians. One camp believes that God will do it for us, while the other camp believes that God doesn't do that for everyone. We all believe that God can heal, but we also declare that "God doesn't heal everyone."
It's obvious that not everyone gets healed. We need to set our hearts and minds and choose which camp we put our faith and hearts into. Do I see myself in the "not everyone" camp or do I see myself in the "Jesus healed all who were sick" camp? It's not a matter of God can heal, because anyone who believes He is God should know there's nothing He cannot do. It's comes down to the matter of believing "Will God heal?"
James 1:1-17 (Amplified) addresses the "double-minded Christian" or a man of two minds. James speaks about various trials and tests that come into the Christian's life. The first sign of a double-minded man is his questioning, "Where do these tests come from?" Some believe that God tests them, while others do not. If it is God testing you, what do you do with the test? If it is not God Who is testing you, then what do you do with the test?
James instructs us to remain "joyful" when these trials or tests come. Paul tells the Church in Corinth the same thing. Thus, he says in 2Corinthians 12:9-10 (Amplified), "My grace (My favor and loving kindness and mercy) is enough for you (sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully); for my strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in (your) weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me." Verse 10 goes on, "So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak (in human strength) then am I (truly) strong (able, powerful in divine strength)."
Because of our being double-minded, we read this scripture and wonder whether the revelation was God or the trials and persecution was from God. Paul said in 2Corinthians 12:7 that the "Revelation of this new birth" came from Jesus and the "persecution" came from a "messenger of satan" who came to "trouble and distress" him and prevent his preaching the revelation.
Being double-minded on this subject places you in a position of "limbo." Peter brings light on the subject of trials in our lives in 1Peter 5:6-9 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore humble yourselves (demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation) under the Mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. Costing the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." Verses 8-9 go on, "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour, Withstand him, be firm in faith (against his onset,-rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined) knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world."
Determining whether or not you're the double-minded man James speaks about, you need ask "Do I humble myself in my own idea of religion or do I humble myself in the Truth of God's Word?" "Who is exalting me?" Isn't it God Who exalts you" When the trials and sufferings (that affect every believer) come, isn't it "your enemy the devil?" If God is trying you, then you must submit, but if it's satan who is trying you, then you must resist him and withstand him. Being double-minded will leave you messes up in your faith.
The Holy Spirit shows us what pride is and why we're not to be prideful, in 1Peter 5:5 (Amplified)
saying, "Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the Church-giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel) clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you with humility (as a garb of a servant, so that it's covering cannot possibly stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance) toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)-and He opposes, frustrates and defeats them) but gives grace (favor and blessing) to the humble."
God doesn't hate pride because we're not believing in His goodness, but because we're trying to exalt ourselves over the brethren. God doesn't consider it pride when we believe what Jesus has done for us by faith. But, your pride can negate your faith to the point where it won't work for you in certain areas of your life.
Faith believes that God in the One Who blesses and exalts you. Wisdom (the Holy Spirit) is the One Who will reveal to you that your enemy (the devil) is to be withstood by faith. Now, let's reread James 1. If you will read this scripture with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, then you will learn how God is not the One Who is testing you, but He is the One Who delivers you from the trials and tests. Thus, Verse 5 says, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom concerning these trials, let him ask of the giving God (Who gives) to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly without reproaching or fault finding and it will be given him."
James goes on in Verses 6&7 say, "Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitation, no doubting) for the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything (he asks for) from the Lord."
James 1:5 tells us that "If we ask, then God will give liberally, without reproaching or faultfinding." In Verse 7 though, he says that "The one who wavers and is double-minded, don't let him think he will receive anything he asks for from the Lord." Which scripture is correct? Will God give wisdom liberally or not?
The question and answer isn't, "Will God give wisdom in the case of trail," but will you receive the wisdom? If you lack wisdom, then God will give it. If you wonder whether was that God and become double-minded about it, then you will not receive wisdom. God gave the wisdom, the double-minded man wouldn't believe and receive it as wisdom and wouldn't humble himself, so that God could exalt him in truth.
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