Stop Doubting and Believe
Scripture: John 20:27
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.”
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1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1 Co 15: 1-8)
Resurrection Sunday reminds us that Jesus is real and alive
Because He lives, we can do L.I.F.E. together:
- Live with confidence, hope and purpose
- Influence and impacted others for His kingdom
- Face tomorrow and its uncertainties with courage and not with fear and anxiety
- Encourage each other to trust Him always and to persevere to the end
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Today, you must believe that Jesus is not just alive, but Alive in you
Otherwise, you will live life with doubt, uncertainties, unbelief, and hopelessness. Your faith is futile and useless.
Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! (Lk 24:5-6)
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (Lk 24:9-11)
What about you?
Do you really believe Jesus is alive?
Do you believe He is Alive in you?
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On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. (Jn 19:19-20)
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 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.” (Jn 20:24-25)
Can you fault Thomas for his doubt? Why should he believe what the other disciples had to say?
One important lesson we can learn here: Why should people around us trust what we have to say to them about Jesus’ love, power and resurrection when they don’t see our “talk” matches our “walk”?
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26 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!” 27 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.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(Jn 20:26-29)
Doubters said: Seeing is believing
Jesus said: Believing is seeing
Jesus' command: Stop Doubting and Believe
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Our response:
STOP Doubting - Who He is and What He can do
START Believing - He is Alive and All things are possible with Him
What must you do?
1. To Unbelievers
- Believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior
- Let Him take control of your life
2. To Believers
- Come humbly before the Lord today
- Ask Him to:
- Touch you afresh and anew
- Forgive you of your doubt and unbelief
- Quicken your body, soul, mind and spirit
- Anoint you for ministry and evangelism
- Heal you of all ailments and sicknesses
- Deliver you from all bondages and addictions
- Meet your every need
- Grant you joy and peace to keep you calm, steady and strong in times of troubles