When Doubt is Alleviated

So often we have doubts and those doubts cause us to miss opportunities. Doubting is is natural. I don’t believe there is anyone who has not doubted in their life. Whether you rich or poor young or old we had times in our life when we did not believe.

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Today a week after resurrection day we pick John’s version of events surrounding the resurrection. Jesus rose and had appeared to the disciple who were on voluntary lock down in fear of the Jews. Now its important understand there was was a shift in how those who followed Jesus were identified. The Jews in description are now who opposed Jesus. They had now become the persecutors of the followers of Christ. They were the group that insisted Jesus be crucified and the attack on Jesus’ followers began immediately.

The disciples had gather together maybe to strategize their next move. Maybe it was just to lean on each other as they mourned the crucifixion Jesus. We know that 10 of them were together on resurrection Sunday. He appeared to them and met them as he had promised. The Bible said one was not there. Thomas Dydimus the twin. We really don’t know why Thomas was absence. Since he doubted that Jesus was even alive could indicate that he gave up hope. May I caution you not to be quick to give up hope. Sometimes life events may have you believing there is no hope. Yet God works best in dark situations.

Jesus shows up on that day as gives his disciples the moment they needed. Verses 19

English Standard Version Chapter 20

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Jesus greets them with a salutation Peace be with you. Literally Shalom which indicated “health salvation” It is well. Here look at my hands and my side. The word said the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus uses the salutation again Peace be with you, but ads As the Father has sent me I am sending you. The Gospel message was never meant to be stationary. It is a message that is to be shared as we go.

When he gives out the Great Commission he declares

English Standard Version Chapter 28

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This is important to understand that all authority means all authority. Daniel spoke of his authority 7:14  And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Understanding Jesus’ authority helps in obedience to is marching orders. This is why the great commission says Therefore. For this reason … What reason? I have been given all authority. Col 2:9-10 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Christ boldly charges us as the father has sent him he now sends us.

He does not send us empty handed or ill equipped. He sends us with power. Jesus breath on them. Receive the Holy Spirit. Though at this moment it was limited for the full power would come the day of Pentecost it was a prelude of what we would be working with.

He sends us to minister to the least of among us. He sends the proclaim salvation can be found in the name of Jesus. He send us to proclaim liberty through the Holy Spirit for we know where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.

So why is the so important because it was never Jesus’ plan for us to be powerless. He wants us to trust and believe that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us! because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world!

Jesus even gives his disciples the power to forgive sins . We must realize that he had already told them I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Yet with all this there was one who was not there. Thomas! Where is Thomas? Why did he miss this moment?

First we must not let our doubts make us miss our miracle.

English Standard Version Chapter 20

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Life has a way of bringing interruptions. Things will not always go as planned. Yet we can let doubt cause us to not show up. In the Bible, doubt is often portrayed as a challenge to faith. James 1 emphasizes the importance of asking in faith without doubting, as doubt can lead to instability. 

English Standard Version Chapter 1

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The Bible suggests that doubt can hinder one's relationship with God and the ability to receive wisdom.  Doubt is an experience common to all people. Even those with faith in God struggle with doubt on occasion. Yet If we doubt God’s ability to respond to our request, what would be the point of asking in the first place?  We must learn that God has great ability. He is able! I have learned through trusting God he works every thing out!

Secondly Jesus will remove our doubts

English Standard Version Chapter 20

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God.

Jesus not only shows up to remove Thomas doubts but give him extra assurance. Put you finger here. See and feel the wound. When we have trouble believing Jesus will remove out doubts. He knows where we are in our walk. He knows that we may need some convincing. I ask you the next time you are not so sure think back to how Jesus has already proven himself concerning you. See I believe he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.

How many can testify that he keeps proving himself to me?

Finally Jesus will challenge you and grow your faith

English Standard Version Chapter 20

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Its interesting how Jesus challenges Thomas on his level of belief. The question is have you believed because you have seen me? In Thomas’ case he believed because he touched his side. He saw his hands.

Yes that was wonderful that you believed because i showed you but Jesus declares it will take more than show and then i will believe faith. We will be Blessed because we believe and have not seen him. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. He goes on to say 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Remember John said 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

Jesus says we are BLESSED (favored by God when we allow our faith to stretch our thinking. If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”— Mark 9:23

Never underestimate the power of faith! What you believe determines what you receive, so make sure you are thinking and believing correctly. God is ready to work a miracle in your life. Can your believe it? The word “believeth” is the Greek word pistis, meaning faith. We must a person who is believing. Not someone who once had an experience of faith in the past; rather,we must be one who is presently believing right now.  Our faith needs to be  actively reaching forward right now to grab hold of what God has promised. Our faith needs to be habitually, constantly, consistently, and unwaveringly straining forward to take hold of that desired goal we sees before us!

I have the faith that sees the invisible Expects the incredible Receives the impossible Faith that can conquer anything Faith that uproots my problem Faith to know God can solve them Faith to vision my freedom I, I have faith that can conquer anything Faith to reach the unreachable Faith to fight the unbeatable Faith to remove the unmovable Faith that stands the invincible Faith that can conquer anything

We must have that kind of faith. For we know it was Jesus who came to save us. He tabernacled down 42 generations to live.....