Untitled Sermon (118)

TRUSTING GOD WITHOUT DOUBTING HIM.

INTRODUCTION:

MANY OF US CAN SAY THAT WE TRUST GOD, UNTIL A STORM ENTER INTO OUR LIVES.

IT IS THEN WHEN WE REALLY FIND OUT HOW MUCH FAITH THAT WE HAVE.

WHAT CAUSES US TO DOUBT GOD IS WHEN WE TAKE OUR SIGHTS OFF OF GOD AND PUT OUR FOCUS ON THE STORMS IN OUR LIVES.

IT’S JUST LIKE PETER, AS LONG AS HIS EYES WAS ON THE LORD, HE WAS ABLE, TO WALK ON THE WATER.

BUT ONCE HE TOOK HIS EYES OFF THE LORD, DOUBT SET IN AND HE BEGAN TO SINK.

TODAY I LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU, WHAT CAUSES DOUBT, AND WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO DOUBT?

A. A LACK OF PATIENCE.

James 1:3–5 “knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

WHAT CAUSES DOUBT IS A LACK OF PATIENCE. IT’S USUALLY BECAUSE YOU LACK MATURITY WHICH LEADS YOU TO MAKING YOUR OWN DECISIONS.

WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS, WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS EXCLUDING THE LORD OR INVOLVING HIM IN YOUR DECISIONS.

WHEN THIS HAPPEN EITHER, YOU SHOW A LACK OF TRUST IN THE LORD OR YOU AFRAID WHEN THE LORD MAKE A DECISION CONCERNING YOUR LIFE, IT WON’T TURN OUT THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.

HOW MANY OF US BEGIN TO DOUBT THE LORD, BECAUSE WE WAS LOOKING FOR RELIEF, BUT THE LORD ALLOWED US TO EXPERIENCE MORE PAIN.

THE PROBLEM WITH US , WE LIKE TO BE IN CONTROL OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN WE ARE NOT THE ONE’S WHO CREATED THEM.

THE LORD CREATE STORMS SO THAT OUR FAITH IN HIM WOULD BE GENUINE.

WHEN YOUR FAITH IS NOT WORKING PATIENCE, IT IS WORKING DOUBT.

WE ARE A GENERATION OF BELIEVERS WANTS THINGS TO HAPPEN INSTANT, BUT THAT IS NOT HOW OUR LORD OPERATE. IF THE LORD DID SOMETHING FOR YOU INSTANT, YOU WILL NEVER LEARN ANYTHING WHILE YOU ARE IN THE TRIAL.

WE RESIST WISDOM AND GIVE OVER TO UNBELIEF. TO MAINTAIN WISDOM , YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ASK GOD FOR IT AND WAIT ON IT.

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” WHAT KEEP YOU FROM ASKING IS DOUBT.

B. WHAT CAUSES US TO DOUBT IS WAVERING FAITH.

James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

WHAT IS WAVERING FAITH? IT IS WHEN SOMEONE’S BELIEF IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS INCONSISTENT OR STAGGERING.

THEY CONSTANTLY CHANGING THERE MINDS ABOUT WHETHER GOD WILL BE FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD.

JAMES SAYS THIS IS THE DOUBLED MIND MAN OR WOMAN WHO IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS OR HER WAYS.

WHEN THINGS ARE ALRIGHT IN THERE LIVES THEY TRUST THE LORD, BUT WHEN IT’S NOT THEY BEGIN TO DOUBT THAT THE LORD IS ABLE TO PERFORM WHAT THEY ASKED.

JAMES SAYS WHEN YOU WAVER IN YOUR FAITH DON’T EXPECT TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD.

THE ONLY THING THAT THE LORD RESPOND TO IS YOUR FAITH IN HIM.

Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISE, BUT DO YOU TRUST HIM IN WHAT HE PROMISED YOU.

C. THE SOLUTION TO DOUBT IS PRAYER.

JAMES SAYS WE NEED TO ASK IN FAITH, MEANING WE NEED TO HAVE ACTIVE TRUST AND BELIEF THROUGH OBEDIENCE.

WHAT REMOVES DOUBT, IS WHEN YOU ABLE TO SUBMIT TO THE LORD AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THE LORD IS ABLE TO DO WHEN YOU ASK HIM.

AND WHEN YOU ASK THE LORD ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE WILL ANSWER YOU.

YOU CANT ASK THE LORD FOR ANYTHING WITH DOUBT ALREADY IN YOUR HEART.

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”