March 10th, 2023
by Steve Marshall
by Steve Marshall
January 31, 2020
Hey church family!
Do you ever doubt this whole “Jesus is Lord” thing we are banking eternity on? Every believer that has ever walked this earth has endured times of doubting this faith that we call Christianity. Maybe you have recently come across some compelling atheist philosopher, or NatGeo documentary that you thought was persuasive, or maybe you just attended your local biology class that declares endlessly an anti-creation science, or maybe it is just the day to day drain of life on this earth where there is endless suffering and evil that seems to always be winning. Whatever it is that may create some doubt, you are not alone. Every believer has struggled with doubt at one point or another in their marathon of faith.
Even John the Baptist struggled with doubt. Yes, the man who Jesus referred, “among those born of women none is greater” (Luke 7:28). John the Baptist’s suffering day after day in his dungeon cell caused him to have some doubts about who Jesus said He was. But look what John the Baptist did about his doubts? He sent his disciples to ask Jesus face to face, Are you really the One? Are You who I'm supposed to put my trust in, or is there another? John did not waist any time with his doubt. He took his doubts straight to Jesus because he doubted his doubts.
John’s doubt was rooted in life’s confusion where things were not working out the way he had imagined. John the Baptist sat in the dungeon cell chained to the walls paying the penalty for doing what? He was suffering for doing what God had told him to do. Have you been in a situation like that? You look at life and it is not making sense and you are seemingly being punished for living a holy and righteous life? John had become unsure of Jesus’ divinity even while John's God-given vocation was declaring, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” That is a difficult place to be.
To understand what to do with doubt when it seeps into our mind and heart, it is of great importance to understand the difference between doubt and unbelief. John had not become an unbelieving skeptic. But he was at a place in his life where he could not figure out what God was doing. All of his suffering, hardships and the experiences he was enduring were creating discouraging doubt that was robbing him of joy and passion and perseverance in Jesus Christ. John was a real believer, yet because of his circumstances he was struggling with deep doubt. Does this sound familiar in your own life. Are you going through difficulties? Sicknesses? Hardships? Sufferings? Are you losing trust in Jesus? Are you doubting Christ’s goodness?
So what does John the Baptist do with his doubt? He starts to doubt his doubts and goes straight to Jesus. This is what we are called to do as well. Jesus says, bring me your doubts. Bring me your questions. Bring me your complaints. Bring me your uncertainties. And Jesus in His loving compassion seek to dispel John’s doubts. Jesus reminds John of who He is – The Son of God who has come to take away the sins of the world.
What does Jesus do to dispel John’s doubts? With great compassion Jesus not only uses words but also actions. Jesus does not make empty claims, He shows John that He does what He said He was going to do. Jesus reminds John that He works and acts to fulfill every promise He has ever made. He is simply reminding John that He has a plan and He is working that plan out even as John sits in a dungeon cell.
Like John, sometimes we have no idea what Jesus is doing in our life. When you have no idea what Jesus is doing in your life, Jesus says, “Look back at what I have already done in the fulfillment of My Word – please believe me, trust me and look ahead with trust for the day that you will understand what I am doing. Jesus says, I don’t just make claims, I have come to fulfill Scripture and I will fulfill everything that I have ever promised. In other words, Jesus is saying, I am not finished, I am not done, trust me! I have not let you down yet and I will not let you down now. I am doing a great thing in your midst and you are involved in that great thing.
Church, the dry winds of doubt blow daily in our lives as we go here and there. Meditate on the Word of God both day and night so that your faith-roots grow way down to the faith sustaining water that the Word promises will sustain you. God is not finished with His plan of redemption and you are in the middle of it with Him - enjoy.
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
I look forward to worshipping together our compassionate Savior this Sunday - Steve
PS - Corporate Prayer is at 9am in the sanctuary.
Do you ever doubt this whole “Jesus is Lord” thing we are banking eternity on? Every believer that has ever walked this earth has endured times of doubting this faith that we call Christianity. Maybe you have recently come across some compelling atheist philosopher, or NatGeo documentary that you thought was persuasive, or maybe you just attended your local biology class that declares endlessly an anti-creation science, or maybe it is just the day to day drain of life on this earth where there is endless suffering and evil that seems to always be winning. Whatever it is that may create some doubt, you are not alone. Every believer has struggled with doubt at one point or another in their marathon of faith.
Even John the Baptist struggled with doubt. Yes, the man who Jesus referred, “among those born of women none is greater” (Luke 7:28). John the Baptist’s suffering day after day in his dungeon cell caused him to have some doubts about who Jesus said He was. But look what John the Baptist did about his doubts? He sent his disciples to ask Jesus face to face, Are you really the One? Are You who I'm supposed to put my trust in, or is there another? John did not waist any time with his doubt. He took his doubts straight to Jesus because he doubted his doubts.
John’s doubt was rooted in life’s confusion where things were not working out the way he had imagined. John the Baptist sat in the dungeon cell chained to the walls paying the penalty for doing what? He was suffering for doing what God had told him to do. Have you been in a situation like that? You look at life and it is not making sense and you are seemingly being punished for living a holy and righteous life? John had become unsure of Jesus’ divinity even while John's God-given vocation was declaring, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” That is a difficult place to be.
To understand what to do with doubt when it seeps into our mind and heart, it is of great importance to understand the difference between doubt and unbelief. John had not become an unbelieving skeptic. But he was at a place in his life where he could not figure out what God was doing. All of his suffering, hardships and the experiences he was enduring were creating discouraging doubt that was robbing him of joy and passion and perseverance in Jesus Christ. John was a real believer, yet because of his circumstances he was struggling with deep doubt. Does this sound familiar in your own life. Are you going through difficulties? Sicknesses? Hardships? Sufferings? Are you losing trust in Jesus? Are you doubting Christ’s goodness?
So what does John the Baptist do with his doubt? He starts to doubt his doubts and goes straight to Jesus. This is what we are called to do as well. Jesus says, bring me your doubts. Bring me your questions. Bring me your complaints. Bring me your uncertainties. And Jesus in His loving compassion seek to dispel John’s doubts. Jesus reminds John of who He is – The Son of God who has come to take away the sins of the world.
What does Jesus do to dispel John’s doubts? With great compassion Jesus not only uses words but also actions. Jesus does not make empty claims, He shows John that He does what He said He was going to do. Jesus reminds John that He works and acts to fulfill every promise He has ever made. He is simply reminding John that He has a plan and He is working that plan out even as John sits in a dungeon cell.
Like John, sometimes we have no idea what Jesus is doing in our life. When you have no idea what Jesus is doing in your life, Jesus says, “Look back at what I have already done in the fulfillment of My Word – please believe me, trust me and look ahead with trust for the day that you will understand what I am doing. Jesus says, I don’t just make claims, I have come to fulfill Scripture and I will fulfill everything that I have ever promised. In other words, Jesus is saying, I am not finished, I am not done, trust me! I have not let you down yet and I will not let you down now. I am doing a great thing in your midst and you are involved in that great thing.
Church, the dry winds of doubt blow daily in our lives as we go here and there. Meditate on the Word of God both day and night so that your faith-roots grow way down to the faith sustaining water that the Word promises will sustain you. God is not finished with His plan of redemption and you are in the middle of it with Him - enjoy.
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
I look forward to worshipping together our compassionate Savior this Sunday - Steve
PS - Corporate Prayer is at 9am in the sanctuary.
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