06PM November 12 John 20 26_27

November 12, 2006—Evening Worship

God’s Broken Instruments

Limping Toward God – Part 4 – Thomas

Certainties for Uncertain Times

John 20:26-27

Intro:  Uncertain times come – even into the lives of the followers of Christ. Maybe you just came out of a crisis of faith—thank God for it. Or maybe you are heading into one & you don’t even know it—what will you do when it comes? Or maybe you are going through a crisis of faith right now. What could anyone say to you that would restore the hope that once warmed your soul?

          You see, when uncertain times come, they tend to make us cold-hearted & fill us w/despair. So what would Jesus say to you if your heart was cold & your soul is filled w/despair?

          Well, one thing is certain, even in uncertain times, Jesus would go straight to the issue; He would go straight to the heart of the problem & in most every case, the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.

          Tonight, as we conclude this series of messages, our text bids us to look deep into the heart of the Apostle Thomas. Thomas (his name in Hebrew) was also called Didymus (his name in Greek) which means “the twin.” We are not told of the events surrounding his calling, but we find his name in the lists of the apostles.

          We do, however, know something about Thomas—he is best known today for being Doubting Thomas. Let’s read our text & discover why Thomas was limping toward God as we discover certainties for uncertain times.

READ John 20:24-29

I hope that it did not escape your attention in v. 26 that…

1. God’s answer may seem Delayed! (READ v. 26a)

We know God always has perfect timing, so why does God’s answer seem delayed?

I believe the context tells us it’s…

    A. B/c of our Fear

          1. Where were the disciples again? Locked in the upper room

          2. Why were they there? V. 19 tells us “for fear of the Jews”

          3. The rulers of the Jewish religion had hounded Jesus & the Roman governor until they had successfully forced His crucifixion

          4. Now we know that God gave His Son up for us all & that the Bible tells us that all this was according to God’s plan & in His sovereignty

          5. But from a human stand point, the Jews played their part perfectly

          6. The apostles, still young in the faith & still not indwelt by the Holy Spirit, were also still afraid of the Jews

          7. So they were hiding out from them; laying low; undercover; incognito

          8. & so it seemed as if God’s answer was delayed – it had been 8 days & Thomas had not seen or heard anything from Jesus personally

          9. Oh, he’d heard from the others that had seen Jesus but not from Jesus Himself

          10. Sometimes our fear of men drowns out the voice of God

          11. Many times our fear of what might happen is worse than what actually does happen

Fear can paralyze us & make it seem as if God’s answer is delayed. But fear is not the only problem. God’s answer may seem delayed…

    B. B/c of our Doubt

          1. Thomas has walked w/Jesus for 3 years

          2. & after what he had witnessed, he was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah

          3. Jesus gave sight to the blind; made the crippled to walk; the deaf to hear; the lepers clean.

          4. Jesus calmed the storm & stilled the waves; He cast out demons & even raised the dead

          5. Surely this was the Messiah the Son of God

          6. You see, Thomas believed, along w/many Jews, that when the Messiah came that Rome would fall & that the Messiah would reclaim His throne in the city of David

          7. But Jesus was arrested & tried & found guilty & sentenced to die on a cross

          8. & when all that took place, Thomas began to doubt that Jesus was the Messiah

          9. His doubt was so strong that after the resurrection when Jesus appeared to the rest of His disciples in the upper room, Thomas wasn’t even there

          10. Sometimes, the events of our lives can make us doubt God’s love for us & even God’s ability b/c it seems as if He will never answer

          11. But answer He will & on His timing & for His glory

Don’t ever fear & never doubt what God can do! He is greater than all. There is no one like God!

So remember when your times are uncertain—your God never is! & remember that…

2. God’s presence will bring Peace! (READ v. 26b)

For 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared on several different occasions to His disciples.…

    A. Which gives us Confidence

          1. Confidence b/c we have the peace of Christ – “My peace I give you”

          2. Confidence b/c we have seen the power of God at work around us

          3. The disciples were in a locked room & Jesus just appears

          4. How do you handle seeing that? What impact does that have on your faith?

          5. That’s got to be a confidence builder!

          6. The word “came” in v. 26 means, “to come from one place to another, to appear, to become known”

          7. IOW Jesus’ peace was His presence & I’m sure you know that as a believer

          8. His peace gives confidence of His work & His presence give comfort during uncertain times

But not only does the presence of God’s peace give confidence but God’s presence will bring peace…

    B. Which gives us Courage

          1. Courage to rise to any occasion as we serve the living God

          2. Courage to stand & fight & courage to kneel & listen for the voice of the Lord

          3. Again, knowing that you are serving the Living God who can appear through walls & enter locked rooms lets you know that there is not anything that can stop God

          4. & when you know you’re on the winning side & that God cannot lose—how much more courage that gives you

          5. Jesus knew that His death had been a great change & even a shock to the disciples but He wanted to give them courage for the days ahead & strength for every moment

          6. W/o God’s presence & peace we cannot stand

          7. But knowing God is there fortifies us for the battle that lies ahead

          8. God gives us courage & confidence through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit & the life-changing truths of the word of God

          9. So be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might!

Oh, it may seem as if God’s answer is delayed but His presence will bring peace to the believer.

But v. 27 tells us that…

3. God’s objective will require Faith! (READ v. 27a)

& that faith must be…

    A. From the Individual in Christ

          1. Did you notice that the room was full of people & Jesus spoke directly to Thomas?

          2. The Lord’s purpose was to bring Thomas out of his doubting state

          3. & so He speaks directly to him to challenge his faith

          4. Hebrews 11 6 But w/o faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, & that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

          5. Every time that God comes to a person & reveals His will & direction for that person, faith is required to fulfill God’s objective

          6. When God called Abraham he responded in faith; Moses responded in faith; Gideon responded in faith

7. None of these men had perfect faith, but w/small faith expressed in God, God does great things

8. Thomas was being confronted w/his own disbelief

9. He had said in v. 25 (READ) – so God took him up on his challenge

10. W/God all things are possible but w/o faith it is impossible to please God

God’s objective will require faith, from the individual in Christ &…

    B. For the Evidence from Christ

          1. Jesus was offering the very evidence that Thomas said he required

          2. Moses had his burning bush; Gideon had his fleece; Thomas has his marks

          3. God is willing to bring us to the point of faith so that He may grow our faith

          4. Jesus offered Thomas the opportunity to put his fingers in the holes in the Lord’s hands & his hand in the hole in the Lord’s side

          5. & why does He do that—so that Thomas will believe

          6. The evidence from Christ is always overwhelming

          7. Not only did He let His disciples see His wounds, but He appeared to them for 40 days after His resurrection

          8. He allowed them to watch as He ascended into Heaven

          9. He sent His Holy Spirit in a most miraculous way on the day of Pentecost

          10. Over & over again Jesus gives clear, appropriate, overwhelming evidence

          11 All we have to do is believe & then act on what we believe

There are some things that are certain—even in uncertain times. & here they are: God’s answer may seem delayed, but God’s presence will bring peace, and God’s objective will require faith, but…

4. God’s instruction will supply Encouragement! (READ v. 27b)

I find that God’s instruction will supply encouragement…

    A. B/c He Cares enough to instruct you

          1. Jesus comes to the place where Thomas is & speaks directly to him

          2. & Jesus came to you the place where you were & spoke directly to you

          3. 1 Peter 5 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

          4. One of the greatest mysteries I find in the Bible is the fact that God cares for me

          5. God loves us even when we hate Him & He demonstrated that love in Christ

          6. That is encouraging – especially during uncertain times

          7. You can take great comfort in the fact the Sovereign God of all Creation cares for you enough to instruct you in righteousness

          8. His instruction gives encouragement; the fact that He cares for you gives encouragement; His love gives encouragement; God wants you to be encouraged even during uncertain times

& that is especially true…

    B. B/c He Calls you to follow Him

          1. He called you to Himself & encouraged you to believe

          2. He even implanted in you the faith necessary to believe the truth

          3. The word translated “believing” in that v. every time it’s used in the NT, means “one who is convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead & that He is the author of salvation”

          4. You can have faith in anything else & it will not take you to heaven

          5. Jesus calls you to follow Him; to believe in Him; to trust Him

          6. & the way that’s written in the Greek it’s a command to constantly be believing

Conclusion:  So what do you do when you don’t know what to do? You trust God b/c there is nothing else to do! Oh, it’s true—during uncertain times it may seem as if God’s answer is delayed. Think about Daniel who prayed for 21 days before he received an answer to his prayer. Think about Nehemiah who waited 4 months before the answer to his prayer came. God’s answer may seem delayed—but it’s never late!

          God’s presence will bring peace to the heart of believers. He will calm your fears & erase your doubts & lift your spirit for His glory. But the task that God has for you to accomplish will require faith in Him as He gives many infallible proofs to encourage your heart. And God’s instruction will supply encouragement b/c He cares for you & calls you to follow Him.

Invitation:  Have your times become uncertain? Are there issues you face that are undermining your faith? Has God seemed distant? Has discouragement set in? Are you weary of this burden? Then take it to Jesus & lay it down & seek His instruction.

          Tonight, God may be calling you to salvation. Will you respond to His offer of grace? You can; by repenting of your sin & placing your faith in Jesus Christ alone to save you.

          Or maybe God has challenged you to a greater faith through the circumstances in which you are walking. Will you glorify Him by responding in faith?

          Tonight, will you have faith in God? The only God who can save & who can comfort is speaking to you now. Will you come?

Hymn 405 Have Faith in God