Luke 7:18-35: When You Doubt Your Faith

Introduction

https://billygraham.org/story/the-tree-stump-prayer-where-billy-graham-overcame-doubt/

Have you ever struggled with doubt?

Doubt is a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction… “I don’t think it’s going to happen...” Our hearts and minds are filled with doubt. Lack of conviction that your favorite college football team will win a national championship. Doubt that you will be able to make the grade, find the person of your dreams, get out of debt, etc. 6 moments of self-doubt a day - “Am I good enough? Do I have the skills? Will I ever find the right person to marry?”

Many of us have had seasons where we have doubted God. “Can I trust that God is real? Does God really love me? Can God really work powerfully in my life? Can God really bring me through my trials? Is God really good?” The list goes on and on.

Doubt is a normal part of the Christian faith, but in seasons of doubt we tend to feel like something is wrong with us - we feel like we shouldn’t doubt and our faith should be stronger.

If you have ever doubted God, you are not alone. The Bible shares many stories of people doubting their faith. E.g., Luke opens up with a story of doubt - Zechariah. Now, in Luke 7 - Zechariah’s son - John the Baptist - doubts Jesus. You don’t expect John the Baptist to doubt!

A contrast in this story: Doubt vs. Dullness of Heart - a difference between the two - Two truths that are going to help us know how to handle doubt and how to beware of dullness of heart.

Your doubts do not change the facts.

Haven’t heard from John the Baptist since Luke 3 - baptism of Jesus. John - a prophet in the wilderness with a fiery message: repent because judgment is coming. 3:7: Brood of vipers… 3:9: Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 3:16-17: Jesus to baptize with Holy Spirit and fire (judgement) - He will clear the threshing floor.

John announced JUDGMENT for those who did not repent. He even rebuked Herod Antipas for his adultery with his brother’s wife.

Luke 7 - John in prison for his fiery message of judgment. He would ultimately be beheaded. He will give his life for his prophetic ministry - While John is rotting away in prison, Jesus is going from backwoods town to town performing miracles and partying with people. There’s rejoicing, not judgment… Jesus is feasting with sinners - Life with Jesus looks like a party, not judgment.

vs. 18 - John’s disciples reported to John all that was taking place - the miracle at Nain, the healing of the centurion’s servant. John’s question: “Where’s the judgment?” What kind of Messiah was Jesus? Going form backwoods town to backwoods town and not restoring Israel? Not taking charge as the Messiah was supposed to do…

John was suffering because of His pronouncement of the coming of God’s Kingdom through the Messiah… John was suffering for Jesus, the party-thrower? Had John gotten it wrong? Was Jesus really the Messiah?

John sends two servants to questions Jesus. Luke gives us the question twice to help us see John’s struggle: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

John baptized Jesus! He saw the Spirit descend like a dove! He heard the voice of the heavenly Father say, “This is my beloved Son...” NOW, John thinks he got it wrong?

Jesus’ reply: vs. 22 - Reference back to his sermon at the synagogue in Nazareth where He read from Isaiah 61:1-2 - a messianic prophecy (Luke 4:18-19) - This is the kind of Messiah Jesus is - One who sets captives free.

John looking for judgment from Jesus, and judgment will come - on Jesus’ schedule, not John’s. In this moment, Jesus freeing people from the chains of sin…

vs. 23 - a word to John - a challenge to embrace Jesus for who He is not for who John wants him to be.

Jesus responds to John’s doubt not by telling John that life would get easier for him, or that Jesus would make sure that John got out of prison, or that Jesus would bring about judgment John was looking for (Jesus says nothing about judgment) - instead - Jesus’ word to John: “Embrace me for who I am…”

What should we do when we doubt? Your doubt does not change the facts. The facts are Jesus is the Son of God who has come to save you. Your doubt does not change who God is and what He desires to do in your life. When you doubt:

Know the root of your doubt.

Lots of causes of doubt but often:

God not at work on our timetable.

God not doing what we think He should do.

Our circumstances aren’t what we want. We think God should make our lives easier.

Know where to go with your doubt. John went to Jesus - not afraid to ask the big questions. Does your doubt draw you to the faith or push you away from faith? Church is a safe place for you to ask the big questions. For followers of Jesus, we need to have mercy on people who doubt. (Logan looking for answers.)

WHERE DO I GO? Away from God or to God?

Be ready to live with unanswered questions. Sometimes you just won’t know every detail of God’s plan. You won’t know why life is hard, why you’re struggling, etc. (Isaiah 55)

Keep the main thing the main thing. Jesus might not answer all our questions, but He does tell us who He is. You might have doubts, but you can settle in your heart who Jesus is.

Live according to the faith you have. You might have unanswered questions, but you know how Jesus wants you to live. Live out the faith you have. As you live according to the faith you have, God will grow your faith.

https://billygraham.org/story/the-tree-stump-prayer-where-billy-graham-overcame-doubt/

Your dullness of heart does not change the facts.

Jesus does not publicly scold John for his doubt. Instead, he publicly praises John and publicly scolds those who outright reject Him.

vs. 24-27 - “You went out in the wilderness not to see a bunch of reeds swaying, or a nice, gentle man… You saw a prophet.” John’s doubt doesn’t diminish his significance.

vs. 27 - John is the fulfillment of Mal. 3:1. Yes, he doubted, but his doubt shows he’s human His doubt does not diminish the significance of who he was.

vs. 28 - No one greater than John BUT least in the kingdom of God greater than he. Greater in the sense of what you know about Jesus in THIS life. John didn’t get all his questions answered. He was beheaded NOT knowing that Jesus would die on a cross and rise from the dead. BUT, everyone in the Kingdom, who has placed his/her faith in Jesus does so on the basis of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The person who is LEAST in the kingdom has greater revelation than what John had. John doubted, and you doubt, but you have MORE reason NOT to doubt: you KNOW the saving work of Jesus.

vs. 29-30 - Jesus talks about a problem far worse than doubt: rejection. In the crowd were followers of Jesus who had believed John’s message and been baptized. They acknowledged God’s way as right. They believed in Jesus as the Messiah. On the other hand, the Pharisees and experts in the law heard the message over and over again, and saw the miracles of Jesus yet rejected God.

vs. 31-35 - People are like fickle children… Jesus uses a parable to demonstrate how fickle people who reject Jesus are. The Pharisees didn’t “dance” when Jesus did miracles, and they didn’t “weep” when John called them to repent. They accused John of having a demon. The Pharisees weren’t pleased either the message of joy or judgment - and for their rejection - they would ultimately be judged.

The contrast: It’s one thing to doubt, it’s another for your heart to be dull and closed to the work of God.

The question for you: do you have a doubting heart or a dull heart? A doubting heart is normal because we’re human. As a follower of Jesus, you’ll have seasons of doubt. However, a dull heart is evidence that you are resisting or not open to the work of God in your life. Here’s how you know your heart is dull to the things of God:

Lack of seeking - (John had doubts, but he was seeking to know Jesus.) What about you? Are you seeking to know Him?

Lack of conviction - sin doesn’t bother you. You’re not remorseful.

Lack of morality - You’re more offended by God’s standard of holiness than you are offended by how the world has embraced sin. YOU embrace what the world embraces - The Philippians 4:8 test is not a test that you regularly apply to the things that you allow in your mind and heart.

Lack of repentance - Because of a lack of conviction and lack of morality, you rarely confess sins and ask God to change you. OR, in the case of Pharisees, lack of repentance because of self-righteousness. You think you’re good with God.

Lack of depth - The faith you claim is shallow, and you’re fine with that. Your content with a surfacy relationship with God rather than deep, abiding intimacy with Jesus.

If you go through seasons of doubt as a follower of Jesus, it doesn’t change the facts - God loves you, He’s at work, maybe not in the way you expect Him to work, but He’s at work. There WILL come a day that you see Him face to face and will never doubt again.

If you are a dull in heart - rejecting Jesus - it doesn’t change the facts. God is at work and He WILL judge those who fail to trust Him with eternal punishment.

This morning, if you are doubting, keep running to Jesus - not away from Him. He may not answer all your questions, but He will give you assurance.

If your heart is dull, cry out to God. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you - believe. Do not reject as so many did in the days of Jesus. Believe that He came for you. Believe that He lived a perfect life on your behalf. Believe that He went to a cross and died the death you deserve. Believe that He rose from the dead three days later so your sins could be forgiven and you could be given the gift of life.

This morning, embrace the work of Jesus. Turn to Him by faith.