2021-4-25, People of the Resurrection: The Disciples

Introduction

Story about Juan.

Asked about kids

Grew up Catholic, but left after adulthood. Scary encounter in his mid 20s. Quit drinking and drugs. Turned his mind to spiritual things.

Had COVID-19 and really struggled. Still struggles with anxiety. It really brought to mind his earlier struggles, fear. Especially, now that he had young children.

I told him that the Bible has an incredible verse about Jesus,

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I shared the gospel and asked him if he wanted to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

He said it was uncanny that I was bringing this up because he had been thinking a lot about God.

But he said that while he knows about Jesus, he just can’t bring himself to go with it in full belief. He said it was a bridge he just couldn’t cross.

Pray for my friend, because doubt is preventing him from coming to Christ and gaining salvation, access to peace, and eternal life. He is afraid of missing out on something else in this world if he follows Christ.

What is Doubt?

Doubt means to have uncertainty or a lack of conviction about something.

In the Greek, the root of the word for doubt is “duo” which means two. So, doubt carries the idea of bring double-minded about something or walking the fence about a belief. You may lean one way or the other, but you are ultimately uncertain. It means to waiver.

The opposite of doubt would be conviction. This is where you believe something to be a certain way and you are resolute in that belief.

Christians Struggle with Doubt Too

The story I told earlier was that of a non-believer who hasn’t come into the kingdom because of doubt.

Many of us will agree that as believers we struggle with doubt also.

Ideally, we will be Christians of conviction, especially about the essentials of the gospel- There is One God, Jesus is His Son, the cross, the resurrection, God loves us and works all things for our good, the gospel, heaven, etc.

It pleases God when we have faith and do not doubt Him or His Word.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Certainly, James’ words are true and doubt is not the desired end for us...

James 1:5–7 ESV

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;

God deeply enjoys resolute faith which is anchored to His Word, not wishy-washy. But not all of His children are at this point.

However, as believers, God understands that we have doubt and He helps us through it. He works with us as a loving Father, even when doubts plague our hearts.

So you may have questions because of something you’ve read, or heard, or because it is difficult for you to understand some life event which happened to you. You at times cannot say that you have resolute conviction about something the Lord says is true in His word.

The good news is that God doesn’t leave you in these seasons.

Remember,

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And, therefore, we shouldn’t leave Him.

When we doubt, we should talk to the Lord about it and keep following Him even when we are unsure about things.

BOOK

Some of you may doubt what I’m saying today. So, let’s look at God’s record of working with His children who doubt.

Let’s consider some more people of the resurrection. Let’s consider the disciples who doubted.

Let’s pick up from where I left off when I preached on the women of the resurrection...

Mark 16:9–13 ESV

9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. 12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

The disciples did not believe Mary Magdalene when she reported that she saw Jesus, grabbed hold of Him, and spoke with Him.

Then, there were also the two disciples (Cleopas, 24:18) who walked to Emmaus.

Luke 24:14–16 ESV

14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Eventually, when they are breaking bread in Emmaus...

Luke 24:31 ESV

31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

But the other disciples did not believe these two. Mk 16:13

Then you have the report of the other women who saw Jesus on a road back to Jerusalem after visiting the tomb.

but...

Luke 24:11 ESV

11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

And to each of these, Jesus gave a rebuke for their doubt.

Mark 16:14 ESV

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

Then of course, you have Thomas, who so undoubting in his doubt that he’s historically known as “Doubting Thomas.”

After Jesus had initially appeared to the other disciples, without Thomas...

John 20:24–25 ESV

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.”

He rebuked Thomas too.

John 20:26–29 ESV

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.”

But, all of this was not new...

We’ve already seen these men doubt that Jesus could feed the 5,000. Then they doubted again regarding the 4,000.

We’ve seen Peter doubt in epic fashion when he saw the waves and began to sink instead of keeping his eyes on Jesus.

How many times did Jesus rebuke them for their doubt...

Matthew 14:31 ESV

31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Several times Jesus uttered that phrase “O you of little faith.” We can understand it to mean, “O you who doubt what God has said.”

Here, when it matters the most, their pattern of doubt continues, but this time it had to do with the most essential event to the gospel, the Resurrection.

Even when you think they get to the point when they know for sure that the resurrection is true, you have a very discouraging passage in Mt. 28:17

Remember the message Jesus and the angels gave to the women…Do not be afraid, Jesus is risen, have them meet Jesus on the mountain in Galilee.

After Jesus had told them during His earthly ministry three times that the Son of Man would die and be raised on the 3rd day, and after seven appearances, having been seen, touched, talked to, seen him eat...

Matthew 28:16–17 ESV

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

But some doubted…they were double minded. On the one hand, the doubters wanted to worship Jesus like their brothers. On the other hand, they were hesitant.

Matthew V. The Great Commission (28:16–20)

The disciples often exhibited a devotion to Jesus while still struggling with a lack of perception and uncertainty about the meaning of events. It is not surprising that with the extraordinary events associated with Jesus’ resurrection they still struggle to make sense of it all.

Matthew D. The King Sends His People with His Authority (28:16–20)

All wanted to believe, but their faith was weak. Some experienced the internal tug-of-war between “two minds”—the one wanting to follow their fledgling faith and the other wanting to follow “reason.”

However, one thing you will notice:Jesus did not castaway those who wanted to believe but struggled with doubt. Rather, He stayed with them and they stayed with Him in the midst of the struggle.

After Jesus’ difficult teaching...

John 6:67–68 ESV

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

There came a time when the doubt moved on and they all became resolute. According to tradition, most of the disciples were resolute in their convictions about Christ even in the face of gruesome death.

And we can expect a similar path for ourselves.

As I mentioned earlier, some of you face doubt, but there are important things to remember.

As believers, God understands that we have doubt and He helps us through it. He works with us as a loving Father, even when doubts plague our hearts.

In your doubt, make sure you do a couple things...

Have confidence that someday doubt will pass. Even if you struggle with it every day of your earthly life, know that upon facing Christ in glory, your doubt will have melted away.

Even in your doubt, hold fast to Christ. Do not leave Him. Instead, lean into Him.

Remember James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Make a habit of talking to the Lord about your doubt. “Lord, I struggle to believe ___________.” See what He has to say to you about it in His Word and in your heart.

What you realize is that in believers who stay with Christ is that there is a true faith (a tap root) which remains intact , deep within, even when we struggle with doubt on. We can trust that tap root will remain if we are His.

I mean, you’re talking to God about it after all.

Assurance is a gift of God by His Spirit.

1 John 3:24 ESV

24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

You can know you belong to Him if.

You believe.

1 John 5:1 ESV

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

You obey.

1 John 2:3–6 ESV

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Have the mental discipline to decide that you will not entertain doubt. This means revisiting and holding biblical facts. Make good decisions about what you say to yourself with that inner voice. If you are going to do this, then meet doubt with resolve.

We believe in God the Father We believe in Jesus Christ We believe in the Holy Spirit And He's given us new life We believe in the crucifixion We believe that He conquered death We believe in the resurrection And He's comin' back again, we believe

We believe His Word and it is true.

Even in the face of so-called evidence to the contrary, I will believe.

Often doubt is spiritual warfare “Did God really say that?” Realize the worldly “truths” that are trying to lure you away from believing in Christ and His Word are also grounded in faith themselves. If everyone is having faith anyway, then just decide that you are going to have faith in the most compelling and hopeful belief that there is- and follow Christ.

You are not in the struggle alone, there are believers near you who will walk with you in your doubt and encourage you through it.

Even in your doubt, do not leave Christ

Like my friend Juan

One whose doubt is preventing salvation...

Then if your doubt is such like my friend’s that it keeps you out of the kingdom, repent of your doubt.

“Lord, Help me believe!

ABC

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