Sunday Sermons
Moving From Doubt to Faith
Christians struggle with doubt from time to time. We know that in the long run doubt can be very destructive, “one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6) since at its core doubt is the opposite of faith (James 1:6).
Who Should Be Doubting
Actually, God wants most of the world to be doubting, that is, He wants them questioning their opinions, theories, lack of faith, personal philosophies and excuses for why they are not serving Him.
Where Could I Go?
If you are like me there are times in my life that something has happened that has shaken my entire belief system. At such times I know that other Christians have done a check of everything they belief, for some this takes days and weeks, and for others it takes hours, minutes or seconds. I find that Peter had done something like this when Jesus taught some hard truths and some of His disciples left Him (John 6:60). When Jesus asked the pointed question, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” (6:67), Peter quickly replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (6:68). Peter had already thought it all through. Yes, Jesus was teaching some things that were challenging and would require total commitment, yet what was the alternative?
How to Handle Doubts
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Dig Deeper
Some people allow doubt to stop their spiritual progress, this is the easy way out, yet a temptation that wisdom resists. It might initially feel easier to just opt out, but you will only be short-changing yourself of wonderful future blessings. Nathanael had doubts about Jesus being the Messiah because Jesus had grown up in the city of Nazareth (John 1:46). Philip’s answer to this doubt was, “come and see” (John 1:46). Likewise, don’t stop at a question. Dig deeper. The information that may answer your question or solve the problem you think exists might be right around the corner. Yes, Jesus was raised in Nazareth, but He was born in Bethlehem – no longer did His residence in Nazareth pose any sort of problem. Some people were content to use Jesus’ Galilee residence as an argument against Him being the Messiah (John 7:52). But a simple investigation would have revealed that this birthplace was the place prophesied by Micah (5:2), and His preaching in Galilee was the subject of another prophecy (Matthew 4:15). Have you ever noticed when you are not diligent in your daily Bible reading, it is easy to drift away, and forget what you have read and begin creating your own fuzzy view of God and truth? So when doubts arise, don’t run to your mental vault of images – run back to Scripture. One writer expressed it this way, “What do you think God thinks of you? Is He disappointed in me? I don’t settle the question of God’s attitude toward me by idle speculation; it’s far too important. I ransack His word. I want hard evidence” (Andree Seu).
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Use It As Motivation To Draw Near To God
Our prayers should not be filled with doubts and yet doubt should move us to pray earnestly. The writer of Psalm 73 had all sorts of doubts about how God rules the world and His justice. It sure seemed that the wicked were blessed and the righteous (like himself) were being punished. It is quite frustrating to tell others how they need God when it looks like they are more blessed that you! Yet the writer found the answer, and he found it when he came into the sanctuary (Psalm 73:17). It looks like this big problem had moved him to come and worship and pray – there he found the answer.
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Be Willing To Be Uncomfortable For A While
As the above writer was searching for an answer, the text says, “When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight” (Psalm 73:16). That is, it was painful, mentally exhausting, I was unable to eat, it made me sick, it felt like it was ruining my health, it kept me up at the night, it showed up in dreams – you get the picture. And yet, there was an answer. This pattern of being really bothered by something, something that seems to have no resolution, and yet finding a clear answer is often found in Scripture:
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Habakkuk could not understand why God wasn’t doing something about the injustice found among God’s own people (Habakkuk 1:2-4).
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John the Baptist had questions about whether Jesus was the final one or whether one was coming after Him (Matthew 11:3). It is interesting how Jesus handles this situation. He presents John with evidence, all sorts of people being healed (11:5) and the gospel being preached. God offers evidence or an answer to the dilemma.
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The brothers of Jesus had doubts about their elder brother, to the point that they did not even believe in Him (John 7:5), and yet in Acts 1:14 we find these same brothers among the apostles, fully believing.
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Voice Your Doubts Wisely
Don’t unload your doubts on a new Christian or someone who is struggling and weak, but instead voice them to those you perceive to be mature and spiritual (Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 5:14). What you will find is those individuals often have had the very same doubts in the past, and yet they worked through them and found the answer. If they are spiritual, they won’t look down on you, rather you will see a sparkle in their eye and an eagerness in their voice – to help you think through your hurdles.
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Be Willing To Accept The Truth When You Hear It
It is tempting to hide behind a doubt. Paul spoke of some who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). It isn’t that they can’t find the truth, rather they don’t want to find the truth – for that would mean accountability, the need to change and obey. Beware of people who keep on raising questions in the attempt to get around obeying a verse or taking a position on a doctrine. Questions are good, yet they should only be raised in our pursuit for truth, rather than as barrier to obedience. Raising questions about any topic is easy – finding the answer takes courage. Be willing to “struggle and study”. A living faith will always obey when the answer is discovered (Acts 18:26). Thus – don’t be satisfied with questions.
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The Inconsistencies Of Others
These mean nothing with regard to my own eternal destiny. Resist the temptation to discount a teaching or the faith because you find others inconsistently applying it. Remember, we will be judged, not on the basis of how others did, but on the basis of what we did (2 Corinthians 5:10). God does not grade on a curve and the failures of others do not lower the standard of judgment. If I am delaying my commitment to a teaching because it looks like others are failing to live completely up to it – this does not mean that I am safe, rather, it means they are trying, albeit inconsistently, yet in my hesitation, I am nothing moving forward whatsoever. Jesus made this clear when He said, “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:5). If no one obeys God, my failure to obey will still condemn me.
God Promises Clear Answers
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“So that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:4).
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“If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).
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“But these have been written that you may believe” (John 20:31).
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“Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
The world has many arguments, something that makes sermons longer as we seek to address them, so don’t blame the preacher, blame the world. The world has “rafts of statistics for why you can’t change, why marriage is always a disappointment, and why you’d better settle for getting by rather than knowing joy. I’m plugging my ears to it all and listening to the Bible. ‘Stop doubting and believe’ (John 20:27)”. (Andree Seu).
These Promises Are True
Whenever I have applied God’s word, whether nor not I fully understood His reasons, things have fallen beautifully into place. Chaos inevitably ensued when I’ve “done it my way”. So share wisely your questions and doubts and prepare for a rich journey as you see each question resolved one by one.
