Overcoming Doubt

1
Overcoming Doubt

• Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil
  with good.
• Rom 1221

2
Some Initial Concepts

• 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 141
• 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 57

3
Describe Circumstances that Led to Disciples
Doubting

• Mark 169-14
• 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
• Disciples heard that Jesus was raised
• They had not seen Jesus raised themselves
• V. 14 stubborn refusal to believe evidence of
  eyewitnesses
• Disciples Ignorance

4
Describe Circumstances that Led to Disciples
Doubting

• John 2024-29
• Thomas was not with Jesus
• Other disciples told him they had seen Jesus
• He did not believe eyewitnesss 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 Christs wounds v 25
  (Compare to Matt 88,9 Trusted on Gods Word
  alone and Jesus marveled at his faith. You
  trust like that? Take Him at His Word?)

5
Recap Circumstances for Doubt

• 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 its 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.

6
Causes for Doubt

• My fear. I am in danger.
• My feelings. Doesnt feel right.
• My ignorance. What are you talking about.
• My beliefs to the contrary. Cant 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 924 Do I help others overcome doubt?

7
Mark 923-24

• 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)

8
Your Examples of Doubting Christians

• Have you known any Christians whose doubts
  overcame them? Are their reasons similar to
  Jesuss disciples in NT?

9
The Basis for Your Faith

• Romans 1017 Gods Words. No one elses.
• 1 Corinthians 1517 Christs Resurrection.
• John 2030-31 Eyewitnesses testimony.
• Do these facts change if I face fear or
  ignorance?

10
The Nature of Faith versus Knowing or Seeing

• 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 120.

11
The Nature of Faith versus Knowing or Seeing

• 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 2816-17

12
The Nature of Faith versus Knowing or Seeing

• The faiththe gospel (Acts 67 Galatians 123 1
  Timothy 39 Jude 13).
• 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)!

13
Hebrews 111

• 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.

14
Hebrews 111-3

• 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.

15
Hebrews 111-3

• 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?
• 2 Cor 57 -- If we could know these things,
  would we really have faith?

16
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• James 12-8
• 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.

17
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• James 12-8
• 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. Dont
  ask for a sign from God! Dont tempt God!
• Follow Christ with your whole heart. Be a
  Disciple! Learner. John 831, 32 If you hold
  to My teaching, you are really My disciples . .
  .

18
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• James 55-7 Heb 122
• 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.

19
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• James 55-7 Heb 122
• 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 Jesuss hardships
• He knew the direction He was on -- How He looked
  to the Joy Before Him
• How He Endured

20
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• Philippians 46
• Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
  prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
  your requests be made known to God.

21
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• Philippians 46
• Not anxious for anything
• Tune out negativity
• Surround yourself with positive people from the
  congregation
• Ask God in prayer
• Give thanks

22
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• 1 Thessalonians 511
• Therefore comfort each other and edify one
  another, just as you also are doing.

23
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• 1 Thessalonians 511
• 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.

24
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• Hebrews 1022-24
• 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 . . .

25
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• Hebrews 1022-24
• 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!)

26
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• 2 Peter 112-18
• 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.

27
Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good

• 2 Peter 112-18
• Remind Christians of what they know
• Receive these words. They come from God (1 Thess
  213). Use these words.
• Remember what Peter saw on Mount of
  Transfiguration. Mark 97 This is my Beloved
  Son Listen to Him.
• Remember that majestic authoritative Christ
• His words are more doubt destroying than the
  Transfiguration (2 Peter 119 more sure.)