To Remove Doubt

Introduction:

UNFINISHED BUSINESS > Important acts that JC perf. b4 he ascended.

Like he only had 40 days left—needed to prioritize important stuff!

Examine stories of last encounters.

Lst wk: To initiate something new: “don’t cling to me”

Jesus doing something NEW with you? Maybe don’t cling to the ways God worked in past; look for creative hand in life!

God’s Spirit is perf. example of God’s ‘NEW’ plan… evid. in our lives!

Today: Mix it up, skip over next narr. and come back next wk.

Left off last wk. w/ lots of evid. of empty tomb—one disc. sees, still not 100% sure

May M has pwrfl enc.—Jesus then appears to 11/12 disciples… Nxt WK

Start by reading our pssg for today… >

If U can, stand for reading of God’s Word

John 20:24–29 “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””

Pray + "May B seated"

I want begin today by laying groundwork for a signif. distinction re:my sermon…

There’s an important… >>

The Difference Between Doubt & Unbelief

Important Diff. btwn the two.

One God has much grace for; the other… less so

One might be a warning sign or it could be a stepping stone; the other one is a red, blinking, screeching alarm that’s diff. to come back from

Unbelief is a stubborn refusal to acknowledge what is true. Hebrews 6:4-6

Again: “Acknowledge” means to let it affect me.

Not JUST knowledge (knowing, understanding), but it pierces my heart and inspires? ownership or even change.

We make it personal.

ex: Particularly damning—those who study Bible historically & keep it THERE; no deeper!

This is hearing the truth week after week after week & ignore it.

‘Know’ing that observable science=only real thing in this world.

Asking JC into heart; life gets hard, offense occurs… & never see again!

Hebrews 6:4–6 “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”

Now, I think the real thrust of the Author: saying that WE can’t bring them back to repentance; HS needs to do the hard work of softening.

BUT… not bypass, lose effect of, strong lang. he uses here: re-crucifying Jesus!

What some consider ‘unforgiveable’ sin: having unbelieving heart unto death

On the other hand…

Doubt is a open step along the path to believing; a place where faith is growing. Proverbs 25:2

Doubt is shaky faith or might be pre-faith… unsure of what I’m hearing or seeing… but is NOT unbelief!

With doubt, there’s still a chance that someone turns to belief.

The strongest doubt involves open curiosity.

Good ex: Jordan Peterson, Steven Bartlet (Diary of CEO), Theo Von?? (in my feeds)

I would say they are on a search even though they don’t believe… yet.

Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”

Searching out the truth; leav’g no stone unturned; scouring details and history for info… the glory of kings!

If you doubt: Keep searching, keeping leaning in, keep an open mind/hrt, but let others who have years and/or wisdom guide you.

VALUES of CRA: “Learning”—wrestle; think; process; trust… land with faith?!

So I titled my message today: >>

An Invitation to the Skeptic

Believe Thomas’ story here, incl. doubt, can lead us to a place of real revelation & trust

Doubt is something we can/should grow beyond, but it’s not a 5-alarm emergency

A stepping stone, not a lead weight…

The skeptic begins by saying: >>

1. “I Want the Proof”

[The prerequisite of evidence]

John 20:25 “...[Thomas] said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.””

Thomas, along w friends, just witnessed the execution of the one person to which his whole life grasp’d.

JC saw potential, value, might in Thomas; and He healed him, helped him, taught him.

Jesus was perfect, but was tried like a criminal! For Thomas, the grief was very real.

Gap between what you expected to occur and what did… reality.

I think this made the stories/news of resurrection unbelievable; wasn’t in right headspace

When we’re grieving or life is topsy-turvy, it’s not easy to trust.

Perhaps you can relate?

Whether polit'ly unmoored, socially distant from others, or there’re phys. ailments…

Life’s chaos usually makes us self-protective; believing what I can’t see doesn’t seem wise (see Mark 9:24).

Doubt rises up w/in us to try and overtake us.

Again: Gap between what you expected to occur and what did… reality.

I think of honest man who had a son who had a demon…

Mark 9:24 “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!””

Wanting evidence is not bad, of course, but belief needs to go deeper: John 20:29

John 20:29 “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””

The WILL be seasons that seem SO bleak, SO seemingly hopeless, SO down that what it takes to get through is a trust in something/some1 that you cannot see.

There are problems so confounding that no amt. of thinking can reconcile the discrepancy

I think we can learn by Thomas’ example that >>

2. “I Need the People”

[The anchor of community]

John 20:26 “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them…”

Despite whatever his emotional, faith sit. at that time, He kept meeting with his friends.

We know he wanted evid. We can be assured grieving.

Didn’t retreat or leave city; still was with his friends—they accepted him & he kept going.

This is the anchor of good Xian Community that I commend from this pulpit regularly

Humans were not designed to do life alone!

The self-assured, self-reliant, independent attitude so glorified in movies is not a whole picture; not healthy.

We should love ourselves, have self-respect independent from others… but ALSO have real deep relat’s that root us in others’ lives as well.

We were made to be social creatures—not live or do life alone.

NO STORY in Bible ever assumes the lone wolf posture. Esp. in the context of faith.

Hebrews 10:24–25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…”

~100x in NT—ὰλλήλων (“one another”)—assumes Community!

When we are so beaten down (or too self-assured), we need others who can believe on our behalf; challenge us to trust. Galatians 6:2

Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

We NEED OTHERS in our lives.

Today—trying to do life on grit; grin/bear it; make it work—just STOP!

Find some1 who is relatively healthy & be example; a Xian friend—lean on them!

Even if you are struggling to believe today—keep seeking out others who can believe for you right now.

As a skeptic: you want proof; hopefully you learn to need ppl; final step >>

3. “I Persist in the Waiting”

[Continuing to show up]

John 20:25 “So the other disciples [kept telling] him, “We have seen the Lord!”…

Interesting grammar:

The verb elegon [imperfect tense] indicates a past action that is repeated—his friends wouldn’t keep quiet about the news!

Interesting: in the face of this constant telling, Thomas kept showing up and kept associating with them.

The darkest place that our minds can take us is to tell us that no one else understands & better off alone—push us away from others. “It’s not worth it; I’m not worth it. It’s never going to help.”

It takes a lot of grit, a lot of persistence—even can’t see up from down—to keep trying, keep going thru motions.

The Psalms are a good prayer book for someone who feels lost or despondent or hopeless. See Psalm 27, as an example.

For someone really struggling, walk through Psalms—corroborate your feelings of loss, distress, worry… leave you with moments to trust.

Psalm 27 is a beautiful Psalm of trust.

Just listen to the concluding words of Psalm’st today (NLT)

Psalm 27:10–14 NLT “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

If you doubt: Keep searching, keeping leaning in, keep an open mind/hrt, but let others who have years and/or wisdom guide you.

Hopefully lead you to the same truth as Thomas:

“I Worship the King!”

John 20:27–28 “[Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!””

Continuing to meet with his friends, even through doubt, Jesus reveals himself to Thomas

Upon seeing the evidence he asked for, he didn’t need to touch the holes,

Thomas was humbled & we see him bow and offer a…

Spirit-led Surrender

I pray that, through your searching, as you seek Jesus, HE will appear to you, help you believe, give you fresh insight.

The A.P. reminds us that the first step to salv. is declaring, like Thomas:

Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Always pictured standing up and just shouting “X IS LORD”.

Was never sure what ‘confess’/'declare’ meant in this context…

Now I know that it means to physically tell someone!

Don’t keep your revelation(s) to yourself!

Apostle Peter commends us:

1 Peter 3:15 “…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

Don’t need to stand on street corner.

DO need to tell your pastor; your best friend; declare to your parents; TELL SOMEONE!

Declaration requires another witness— to keep you accountable/true; to acknowledge this interior change.

The Spirit will Reveal Truth in your life!

John 20:28 “Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!””

This was not made by his own deductions—tho the evid. might’ve contributed—this was a Holy Spirit revelation!

The Spirit of the Living God was working in Thomas

Altar time.

Special Prayer call…