Dealing with Doubts

Starting Point: We can resolve our doubts about our faith

The crucial starting point is to believe that our questions can be answered. Many people, upon experiencing serious doubts, allow those doubts to drive them away from faith. These folks become skeptics and fall away because they don’t believe their questions have legitimate answers

The 1st Step in Resolving Doubts is to deal with our preconceived notions ()

Explanation: John the Baptist is in prison so he has to send a delegation to Jesus with his questions. John is having doubts about Jesus in the sense that he is wondering if He really is the Messiah. John believed that Jesus was the Coming One, but what he had seen and heard about Jesus wasn’t matching up with John’s message or expectations.

Illustrate: Newlyweds who encounter real life. According to Dr.’s Parrot, Unrealistic Expectations are the greatest saboteur of marriage.

Argument: John’s doubts arose due to an ignorance of the two Advents of Christ. John was looking for the Conquering King, not the Humble Servant. John’s expectation was for Jesus to act as Deliverer, right then, not at a later time.

None of us like to be reminded, but the world does not revolve around us, and the Creation actually has Jesus for its focus - not us. The admonition the Apostles received by Jesus applies to us as well: “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by How own authority.” ()

Application: Be honest with God. If you have doubts and disappointments take them to Him. He already knows anyway, and, when you keep them inside they continue to gnaw and wear.

The 2nd Step in Resolving Doubts is to deal with Truth as it is ()

Explanation: Jesus doesn’t criticize John for having questions. Jesus deals with His servant by giving John what he needs. While Jesus does not answer with a “Yes, I am the Messiah” response, He does provide a real, legitimate, and satisfying response. In the presence of John’s messengers Jesus performed healings, exorcisms, and restored the sight of the blind.

Example: Stephen Cashwell at West Edgecombe. He was in college at the time and he was being challenged in his faith by what he was being taught. His father was a Baptist pastor, and his father’s response was a simple, “We don’t believe that junk, just stick with the Word.” While true, this didn’t answer his question.

Argument: Jesus cleared up John’s doubts by His actions. His actions of healing, restoring vision, cleansing lepers, and proclaiming the Good News were not random. These activities of the Messiah had been prophesied about 1,200 years earlier by the Prophet Isaiah (, , ). The fulfilling of prophecy was a powerful sign to validate the Messiah!

Application: Allow Scripture to present a true view of reality instead of focusing on your own limited perception. Do not permit your specific area of concern (disappointment, disease, conflicting worldview), to define Truth. Discover or Refocus on the Absolute Truth

The 3rd Step in Resolving our Doubts is to renew our personal devotion to the Truth ()

The 3rd Step in Resolving our Doubts is to renew our personal devotion to the Truth ()

Explanation: As mentioned before, Jesus doesn’t criticize John for having doubts. Jesus wasn’t offended by the doubts either. He gave reassurance to one of His children, and then gave a blessing for anyone who is not offended by being known as a follower of Christ.

Illustrate: Billy Graham and friend Charles Templeton. Chuck was going the way of liberal Christianity and he advised Graham to get with modern times and let go of belief in The Inspired Word. Graham struggled with doubts for a period of time before reaching a peace with God. He recounts his turning point in a night encounter with God over the issue.

Graham struggled with doubts for a period of time before reaching a peace with God. He recounts his turning point in a night encounter with God over the issue.

“The exact wording of my prayer is beyond recall, but it must have echoed my thoughts: “O God! There are many things in this book I do not understand. There are many problems with it for which I have no solution. There are many seeming contradictions. There are some areas in it that do not seem to correlate with modern science. I can’t answer some of the philosophical and psychological questions Chuck and others are raising.”

I was trying to be on the level with God, but something remained unspoken. At last the Holy Spirit freed me to say it. “Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word—by faith! I’m going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be Your inspired Word.”

Argument: God is gracious in dealing with us. He well knows the frailties of humanity () and our limitations. And, wonder of wonders, He continues to love us. Know that His desire is not to destroy us in our failings. Instead, look to His restoration of Peter who failed during his doubting period ()

Application: Realize the sufficiency of the Scriptures. Everything we need to faithfully follow Christ is given to us in its pages. Realize the Sufficiency of Christ Himself - we are indwelt with His Spirit! Look up! (Col 3:1-2)