What to do when doubt has created distance from you and God?

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Intro and Tension

Do you ever struggle with Doubt? Do you feel, far from God, or sometimes in a “dry” season? Doubt that God is working in a situation? Doubt in who you are in Christ? Doubt if God is really there sometimes...
Comforting | Disciples saw resurrected Christ = Still doubted | No one expected Jesus to be resurrected | Ladies went to the tomb = Doubt.
Something can’t talk about at Church? | Doubt about God | I say, Let’s talk about it.
Message series | Last one today | Looking at the message the Apostles of Acts had | Next week we launch into “treasured possession” | This week, we focus on Pauls Message in Athens | Talk about what he Saw, What he felt, what he said.
If you’re suffering from Doubt, this message may be for you | Kids growing up, asking questions, this is for you | If you feel you are in a valley | Message for you;
Title: What to do when doubt has created distance between you and God
My Hope: You will realise that you’re faith is a journey | Relationship with God is something to work on, and no matter what, he is always there
**Prayer**
Let’s set the scene | Paul came to Athens, to wait for Silas and Timothy Rome was one of the most beautiful Cities in the world | Massive Citadels | Beatiful arhitecture | This place was MIAMI | Instead, First thing that struck him was idols | Greek word = Kateidolos = Only time it’s used = means “full of idols “ Smothered with idols” | | He was greatly disturbed by all the idols | Word of God says the city was “Given over to idolatry” |More idols, fake gods here than the entire country |
What did he feel?
It says Acts 17:16
Acts 17:16 ESV
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
Spirit was provoked = Greek word = Paraxyno = It means deeply irratate, distress, rouse to Anger = It’s the same word to describe the feeling of the Lord when he saw the Golden Calf |
Deuteronomy 9:7 ESV
Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.
Pauls Spirit was lining up with How God felt about it - He saw the Idols, He felt provoked, irrated, Jealous that God was not getting glory here;
2 Types of people here | Word of God says there are;
Stoic and Epicurean philosophers | Epicureans believed Gods to be remote, no interest in humans, have no influence on human affairs, no survival after death, no judgement - Life is chance, completely random | Result = Create a perfect life, pursue pleasure, enjoy life detached from pain, passion fear.
Stoics = Opposite. Acknowledged Supreme god - “world soul” of sourts = Must persue Duty, Live in Harmony with Nature, reason - doesn’t matter how painful - World is determined by Fate.
So these people had these “world Views” of their gods, and they had essentially made false images of who God is; So what does Paul do?
Paul | Preaches about who GOD is, Things missin | Caring activity of a personal creator | The dignitiy of humans as his ‘offspring’ | certainty of Judgement and the call to repentence;
Scene set | Paul said; Bit of Scripture here, is that ok?
Acts 17:25–31 ESV
nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Truth

That was a really long intro | Might be saying | What does this have to do with doubt? | What has this got to do with getting close to God | Athens, these people worshipping idols, but what they where really worshipping | World Views
When God doesn’t fit our world view, we doubt, and we start putting our Faith in what does fit into our world view. This creates Idolatary, which creates Distance from God = Let’s close that distance. Let’s talk about doubt - and how to deal with it.
Athens had doubts | Not the right view of God | They turned and create their own God. What happens when we doubt?
even when not caught up in idolatary | Feel close to God | Have doubts | Believe He is good | With you etc. | Am I being used? Is this where you want me? Are you even in this? | If you don’t feel close to God | In Christian circles it can be scary and lonley.
Might want to ask, but don’t feel you can | Do you battle with Doubt?
1 Reason people doubt | There are questions you can’t answer | Innocent people being hurt | War in the Ukraine | Hurts you can’t resolve | Felt Church was a safe place, unfortunately, it didn’t turn out to be as safe | Some Christians don’t have a lot of Grace = Good theology, everything is black and white, There is no Bend | Sometimes we judge lost sheep without a shephard as if they are in the paddock with us.
I want to argue = Doubts can actually draw you closer to God | Not drive away | Faith is Journey | Not a destination | You don’t just arrive
Parents | Who raise kids in church | Don’t panic when they have questions | They grown up looking at your faith | Looking at hte way you worship God | complicated questions | not a time to panic, but Process.
Church and home should be safest place to ask questions about God
The strongest Faith isn’t a faith that never doubts. The strongest faith is a faith that grows through your doubts.
Turn to Thomas doubter
John 20:24–25 ESV
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 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.”
greek = over nad over. Cross fit friend = ask me over and over = come to church.
Thomas replied; I won’t believe unless...
Thomas | Bad Rap | My Goal is dignify his Doubt | Why did others believe | They had seen | Many people can relate to Thomas = bit of a realist, | Been through some stuff = Dissapointments, very real, very honest, very sincere questions
Just because you have questions | Doesn’t make you bad | Makes you human.
Your doubts don’t disqualify your faith
John 11:14–16 ESV
Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Not fear, Courage | Gonna kill us, let us go with him and die |
Another time | Jesus said | I’m gonna build mansions for you in the place I am going | Thomas = pick me pick me - how can we follow? we don’t know where your going | I want to follow, but want to know where |
Doubt bought me to God - The Bible can handle your questions - The bible will answer your doubts, The bible is truth and if you’re gonna look for Truth, you’re gonna find God.
If you don’t deal with your doubt, you will turn to idolatary - it will create distance from God.

Application

If you have doubt - What do we do?
If you, your kids, start having questions, it’s not time to panic, it’s time to process, and press into God.
What does Jesus do with doubt?
John 20:26 ESV
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.”
8 days = New beginnings | In His Doubts | He stayed | He showed up | He pressed in | You have to show up.
John 20:27 ESV
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.”
Jesus says - put hand here
John 20:28 ESV
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
How did Jesus deal with doubt? Touched him | Turned him from a Doubter to a shouter, just like what will happen to you when Jesus touches you | Proviing to you that God is not Distant in your doubts | Jesus not a stand off saviour | Wants to be touched | If you feel far from God = Reach out
Questions? Take them to God | “God I don’t understand, but I am here to listen” |
Your doubts don’t disqualify your faith - your faith is a journey, not a destination, but if you don’t deal with them, you will find idols to fill the gap.
What will happen | You will have a question | You will have a moment of insecurtity | Spiritual Enemy is going to drive you away from God (or try) | he will lie and say “If you just had this, you’d be happy” | He is gonna say “Not a real believer” “Church doesn’t care for you” “you don’t belong” |
You’re going to say: Not today Satan | Turn to Word of God | Get to know him
God can use your doubt to draw yourself to him | God is so good | Jesus came in the middle of the doubts
Child illustration

Inspo and Close

Paul, to the philipian church just spoke about Christs humility | His divinity, how he will come back and says this;
Philippians 2:12 ESV
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
Don’t have a “world-view” of how God should work | Don’t build an entire belief on one verse | Don’t start putting your faith in Idols because they fill a need.
NIMSA MEOD = God is EVERYTHING you need - AND SO MUCH MORE.
When God doesn’t fit our world view, we doubt, we will put faith in what we believe God should be like - We create idolatry, and distance from God - If you’re far from God, it’s time to come back.
We have to see what Paul saw = The idols in our life
We have to FEEL what Paul felt - Irrated that God is not getting the glory, Annoyed, disgusted that things have grabbed our heart
So we can do what Paul did - Seek the full picture of God - Make God EVERYTHING you need…Because GOD IS everything you need.
Faith is not the absence of doubt, faith is the means to push through doubt
Psalm 23:4 ESV
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
If you’re in the valley - Keep going - people say “I’m going through hell” - Keep going, why stay there? who wants to stop there? don’t let it be your dead end.
Keep showing up | Asking questions | Trusting God | Struggling? Bring it to Jesus addictions, bring it to JESUS = anything in your life. Come to jesus
**Altar Call**
**Prayer**
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