Transcript Overcoming Doubt

“Do not be conquered by evil, but
conquer evil with good.”
Rom 12:21
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In NT, “faith” and “belief” are often the same
Greek word.
“to have faith”, “to trust” and “to believe” are
often same thing. For example, John 14:1
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“Believe in God . . .” (NKJV)
“Trust in God . . .” (NIV)
“Have Faith in God . . .” (BBE)
Everyone has doubts: but, we actively choose to
believe. “We live by faith” in God, 2 Cor 5:7
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Mark 16:9-14
Jesus appears to Mary
 Mary tells disciples she saw Jesus
 Disciples do not believe her
 Jesus appears to two others; they tell disciples they
saw Jesus; disciples do not believe them
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 Disciples heard that Jesus was raised
 They had not seen Jesus raised themselves
 V. 14 “stubborn refusal” to believe evidence of
eyewitnesses
 Disciples’ Ignorance
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John 20:24-29
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Thomas was not with Jesus
Other disciples told him they had seen Jesus
He did not believe eyewitness’s testimony
 Jesus was away from Thomas
 Others saw Jesus, but Thomas was not there
 Thomas did not believe eyewitnesses
 Thomas HAD TO see and touch Christ’s wounds v 25
(Compare to Matt 8:8,9 – Trusted on God’s Word alone
– and Jesus marveled at his faith. You trust like that?
Take Him at His Word?)
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I obeyed Christ, but bad things still happened,
so does He know or care about me?!
God the Father, God the Christ, and God the
Holy Spirit are “far away”; I do not feel Them
close.
I am in danger; it’s not the right time to think
esoteric stuff about God.
I did not see God myself; so unless He shows
me Himself . . .
I do not trust the eyewitness accounts of people
who saw God themselves.
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My fear. “I am in danger.”
My feelings. “Doesn’t feel right.”
My ignorance. “What are you talking about.”
My beliefs to the contrary. “Can’t be right.”
My stubborn refusal to believe eyewitnesses to
God and evidences for God.
Jude 22 – Doubting people need our mercy! Do
I show no mercy, so help others to doubt?
Mk 9:24 – Do I help others overcome doubt?
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things
are possible to him who believes.'‘
Immediately the father of the child cried out
and said, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!''
(and Jesus did help his unbelief. --jb)
Have you known any Christians whose doubts
overcame them? Are their reasons similar to
Jesus’s disciples in NT?
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Romans 10:17 – God’s Words. No one else’s.
1 Corinthians 15:17 – Christ’s Resurrection.
John 20:30-31 – Eyewitnesses’ testimony.
Do these facts change if I face fear or ignorance?
Is Faith the same thing as Knowing?
I know about evolution, but I have no faith in it.
“Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the
world?” 1 Corinthians 1:20.
Is Faith the same thing as Seeing?
I see a picture of aliens, but I do not believe it.
After His resurrection, some of the eleven
disciples, “when they saw him they
worshipped Him, but some doubted.”
Matt 28:16-17
The faith=the gospel (Acts 6:7; Galatians 1:23; 1
Timothy 3:9; Jude 1:3).
The nature of faith is beyond mere knowing and
seeing. And, faith always involves evidences
(so Christ will tell Thomas “put your finger
here . . . and stop doubting”)!
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence (certainty, conviction) of things
not seen . . .”
Your faith is not blind. It is based on evidence!
You cannot have certainty or conviction
without evidence.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders
obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand
that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so
that the things which are seen were not made of
things which are visible.”
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Will our faith cause us to know:
The answer to every difficult question?
 The reason for every disappointment?
 The purpose of every problem?
 The outcome of every action?
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2 Cor 5:7 -- If we could know these things, would
we really have faith?
James 1:2-8
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials, knowing that the testing of your
faith produces patience. But let patience have its
perfect work, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all
liberally and without reproach, and it will be given
to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,
for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven
and tossed by the wind. For let not that man
suppose that he will receive anything from the
Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all
his ways.”
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James 1:2-8
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Allow trials of your faith
Ask God for wisdom in the trial. Pray about it.
Do not be double-minded or confused about Christ
or have a heart of misgivings about God. [Don’t ask
for a sign from God! Don’t tempt God!]
Follow Christ with your whole heart. Be a Disciple!
Learner. John 8:31, 32 “If you hold to My teaching,
you are really My disciples . . .”
James 5:5-7; Heb 12:2
“You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury;
you have fattened your hearts as in a day of
slaughter. You have condemned, you have
murdered the just; he does not resist you.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of
the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious
fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it
receives the early and latter rain.”
“ . . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of
our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
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James 5:5-7; Heb 12:2
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Be Patient; Endure hardship [“Faith is a verb.”]
Good battles evil. Faith battles doubt.
Remember the future is better! Do your research to
understand that! Read the Bible to gain
understanding!
Remember Jesus’s hardships
 He knew the direction He was on -- How He looked to
the Joy Before Him
 How He Endured
Philippians 4:6
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God.”
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Philippians 4:6
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Not anxious for anything
Tune out negativity
Surround yourself with positive people from the
congregation
Ask God in prayer
Give thanks
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore comfort each other and edify one
another, just as you also are doing.”
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1 Thessalonians 5:11
Encourage each other. Talk to someone about it.
 Surround yourself with people who have goals like
you! People like Christians.
 Build each other up.
 Continually do this.
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Hebrews 10:22-24
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience and our bodies washed
with pure water. Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for
He who promised is faithful. And let us
consider one another in order to stir up love
and good works . . .”
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Hebrews 10:22-24
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Draw near to Christ with assurance (Christ
welcomes you!)
Remove evil conscience (Get rid of fears, negativity,
your past actions, critical remarks. These hold you
back from God)
Implement ways to stir up brethren to love and good
works (Helping others helps you more!)
2 Peter 1:12-18
“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of
these things, though you know and are established in the
present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this
tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly
I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed
me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always
have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we
did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made
known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He
received from God the Father honor and glory when such a
voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard
this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him
on the holy mountain.”
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2 Peter 1:12-18
Remind Christians of what they know
 Receive these words. They come from God (1 Thess
2:13). Use these words.
 Remember what Peter saw on Mount of
Transfiguration. Mark 9:7 – “This is my Beloved Son;
Listen to Him.”
 Remember that majestic authoritative Christ
 His words are more doubt destroying than the
Transfiguration (2 Peter 1:19 – “more sure.”)
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