Sermon (11-Dec): "When in Doubt..." Matthew 11:2-11

Scripture:

Matthew 11 (SLIDE)

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples

3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:

5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.

9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Big Idea:

The objective of this message is to recognize that the best of us goes through doubt; but with God, we can get through it

1) Doubt Happens…(SLIDE)

- One thing that I get mad at myself about is when I doubt what God says

- I think back decades, years, months and even days ago

- And I get mad about even questioning what God has done

- We seem to think of the monumental things that God does in our lives

- Huge promotion, new house, and new car…

- Yet, it was when those things didn’t turn out the way I expected that I got frustrated

- In some instances, I doubted

- In our day and time, there are so many things that we can doubt

- We turn on the news and look across our nation and world

- I see the things that are going on locally that cause me to shake my head in disbelief

- If we are not careful, doubt can creep in to make us question God’s plan/His power

- Especially when you see the injustices that seemingly persist from state to state—on a national level

- And governmental partisanship over morality and ethics only add to the confusion

- To set off an alarm in us

- To trigger sadness or even deeper, depression or anxiety

- Albeit, we see the stigma attached to sadness, depression, and anxiety—mental health—is slowly fading

- It is still hard nonetheless

- But I imagine how hard it could have been

- Now, it takes courage to verbalize and vocalize it

- To voice the concerns and doubts that we have and can carry

Transition: Some may say there is no definitive answer but we need to lean towards identifying our doubt(s) before God

2) John’s doubt reminds us that he was not a superhuman but rather just like us (SLIDE)

- There are different times when you read scripture and you cannot help but be encouraged

- Abraham, the founding father of our faith, got caught up in his own lies

- Moses, in his righteousness, murdered another man and attempted to cover it up

- David was an adulterer, warrior and, in the end, wanted to build God’s house

- So many instances where we see the human element—the area where we can best identify with—in each person

- Here, John the Baptist has a moment of doubt

- Have you ever been there?

- Whether you are a super-Christian or new believer,

- It can and, most likely, will hit most of us

- John has had to deal with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other religious leaders

- He has had to rebuke King Herod for marrying his brother’s wife

- Thankfully, though the Bible tells us of the superheroes of scripture

- We are also told of the humbling of our heroes

- It’s not about any one of us being super anything

- Because here’s the thing: God knows that we have doubts

- He doesn’t call us to a doubt free life

- I don’t even think that is even possible as a believer or unbeliever

- It is about faith even in the midst of doubt

- There’s no way that we can look at the life of John the Baptist and say that he didn’t have faith

- Out in the wilderness, holding firm to his conviction and belief that God called him to this…

- For decades—at least—that tells me something

- It tells me that he believed God’s purpose and plan

- Rene Descartes (Principles of Philosophy. Christianity Today, Vol. 35, no. 95), once said this (SLIDE),

“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”

- For John, this is where it all comes together

- If he ever needed a time to “qualify” his doubt and put it to rest,

- This would be the opportunity

- Could this doubt serve to strengthen his faith?

Transition: For John, growing up with Jesus is one thing, yet, coming to grips with Him as Savior and Lord is another

3) Jesus saw past John’s doubt [SLIDE]

- For Jesus, it wasn’t just John to whom He was responding

- He was also responding to the onlookers—the crowd

- He wanted to address what John pondered and asked

- But we see that he delved deeper with it

- There will be times where questions come up in our minds

- Though we would like for there to be an ideal time to ask such a question(s); it doesn’t always work that way

- And Jesus recognizes that

- The question of (v.2), “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

- It is a question of doubt but it is also one where the answer can lead to hope and joy

- John the Baptist’s status at this time is that He’s imprisoned and faced with a death sentence

- If anybody needed a message of encouragement and hope, it’d be John

- Remember it was Peter and the disciples that had walked with Jesus day after day, year after year—not John

- It was Peter who would utter the famous phrase, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”

- John didn’t have anything, from what the Bible says, other than what’s mentioned from His mother while in the womb

- He had to receive it as He matured and grew into His calling that He would be the forerunner

- Still, he’s faced with doubt that seems to grow minute by minute as he’s imprisoned

- How can he and how should we react to that doubt?

- Well, he can continue in his doubt or worry—as can we—or

- He can choose to trust in Jesus and what He’s done

- Jesus didn’t just give him the simple answer of, “John, you know me”

- He responds to John’s inquiry by referring him back to what’s been written and what’s come to pass

- John would have known the Old Testament and the promises regarding the Messiah

- He would especially have known the Book of the prophet Isaiah

- The blind, lame, deaf and lepers would all meet the miraculous healing hand of the Messiah

- I’m wondering John, wrestling with his doubt, may have struggled to even ask the question

- So, when Jesus mentions the gospel is being preached to the poor in contrast to the rich and famous

- I imagine John being encouraged by the fulfilment of this Messianic prophecy (Isa 61:1),

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners.”

- When I am faced with doubt or we struggle with it, Christ is the One who can fuel our faith and hopes

- He can do that through His Word or send someone who can speak His Word

- It may not hit the book, chapter, verse format like you expect

- But it can propel you through the situation by means of the grace of the gospel

- That is something that we need to always be spiritually attuned to happening in our lives

- Here’s the thing: our journey was never meant to be alone—

- Christ had the disciples and we have the church

Transition: Where can we take this message in and allow it to affect our lives?

4) Where can we take this message in and allow it to affect our lives? [SLIDE]

- Jesus knew John’s faith, character, and history

- What about ours; yours and mine?

- Some of us may be new to the faith or even a few years in

- So, there may not be much of a history to go on

- Or, if you have been a believer awhile, look at what Jesus passed on to John through his disciples (SLIDE)

4b “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

- Jesus redirected John to remember…He gave a report to John’s disciples of the work that had been accomplished

- How does that involve us?

- It would be best to fall back on what we know or look to God’s Word

- If I were to poll anyone here, you can remember something that God has done in your past

- And for most of us, we could detail many things that He’s done in our past—and our present

- Don’t allow the complications of the present to cloud God’s omnipresence

- God knows exactly where you are and exactly what He needs to do in your life

- Of course, pray and seek His guidance and when you find yourself inundated with things or people

- Trust in God; seek His peace

- The angst and anxiety may not go away immediately

- Yet, we as we pray we invite God into the midst of our doubts, concerns, and worries

- I found out many times He ends up working behind the scenes for our benefit

- What we end up seeing is that Jesus defends John (v.7-9)

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. – New Living Translation

- John, on record, has Jesus’ stamp of approval

- John wasn’t just some run of the mill, ordinary prophet

- He wasn’t better in quality than any other prophet

- What made him “more than a prophet” was that he was the forerunner to pave the way for Jesus

- Most expected that the Savior of the world would receive a red-carpet entrance

- But like we talked about last week, the lowly Jesus came in a manger

- The King of Kings came in all that was humble

- John wasn’t looking for glory; he just wanted answers

- His doubt fueled, in this case, his curiosity

- A moment of doubt needed holy, heavenly clarity

- I’m not mad about that—but rather encouraged by it

- So, I’m not going to dismiss anyone getting nervous or worried…initially

- That may happen for many of us

- Numerous thoughts can confuse or unnerve us

- Still, when we settle down, get our bearings, and gather our thoughts

- That’s when we can begin to concentrate on what He’s already done—what He’s already said

Transition: This is something that could help us in those doubting, challenging times

5) What Would Happen If We Relied on What We Know Instead of Our Doubts?

- Personally, I believe that there would be significant change in our walk with Christ

- In turn, it would significantly impact all our relationships

- This may be a little out of context but I think back to Peter’s interaction with Jesus out on the water

- Long story short, Jesus is walking on the water and Peter says, “If it is you Lord, bid me to come”

- Jesus says, “Come” and Peter steps out in faith believing what He knows about Christ

- The wind and storm distract Peter and he begins to sink

- Jesus reaches out to lift Peter up and says (Matt 14:31-33),

“…why did you doubt?”

- What if Peter kept pursuing Jesus despite the storm and the rain—holding firm to what Jesus said

- Now, kudos to Peter for so many other things that he did

- I’m just imagining how the story could have changed if he didn’t doubt

- How his and our relationship could be changed if we questioned our doubts because of Who we know

- Ultimately, as a believer, God has us—He has our back, front, sides…

- And, I’m truly grateful for that truth

- God can and does work with us thankfully case by case

- But if we can come up in this area; that’s where my thought process lies

Closing

- As I close, listen to this…what Jesus says,

11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

- Christ has given us freedom to be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven that surpasses John the Baptist

- That doesn’t put us on any pedestal

- Still, we are IN the Kingdom of Heaven and not outside

- Our goal is not to go without doubt but to not go without faith in Christ

- Would you pray with me?

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I ask you to forgive me for all of my sins known and unknown, I renounce them all. Lord Jesus, come into my heart. I receive you now as Lord and Savior of my life. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He died for me and arose and sits at the right hand of God praying for me, interceding for me. Lord Jesus, I give you everything. I thank you for saving me, delivering me and setting me free, in Jesus’ name!