Doubting Thomas
When Doubting is “Good”
&
When we should “Doubt or Doubts”
The night of the Resurrection
(John 20:19+/Luke 24:33+)
Afraid… Locked doors… Jesus appeared
“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.” “Now Thomas… 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.” 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.”
-John 20:19-29
Doubt is not the opposite of faith, it is an element of faith.
Balance, Balance, Balance
Doubt is neither good nor bad, positive nor negative, healthy not unhealthy.
Having a doubt in your mind does not make you a “Doubter”.
WHEN is doubting good.
WHEN should we “doubt,”
and when should we “doubt our doubts.”
(When ever we continue in our doubt about God)
Three Levels of Doubt
1. To be uncertain about something.
I don’t know if something will happen, or if something is true.
2. To believe something is unlikely.
I don’t think something will happen, or that something is true.
3. To believe something is not likely at all, but we can’t be 100% sure.
I pretty much know something will not happen, or that something is not true.
REASONS THAT WE DOUBT
1. Because life is filled with many “unknowns” which can make us afraid.
2. Because we feel a certain way or we want to “protect” ourselves from feeling a certain way.
3. Tragedies.
Don’t look at God in the light of your tragedy…
Look at your tragedy in the light of God.
POSITIVES OF DOUBTING
1. Doubts can sharpen our mind.
2. Doubts can slow us down and give time to properly evaluate.
3. Doubts can encourage us to ask some questions, look for answers and take action if needed.
4. Doubts can affirm our thoughts and feelings or they can change them.
5. Doubt can keep us out of trouble.
NEGATIVES OF DOUBTING
1. Even though doubts can “positively” lead us to evaluate, some of the process can cause conflict and turmoil within ourselves or with others.
2. Doubts can leave us in confusion.
3. Doubts can be crippling.
Doubt
A matter of the mind
Unbelief
A matter of the will.
“I will not believe.”
You may doubt God, but don’t abandon Him.
John the Baptist went TOWARDS Jesus when having doubts, rather than going AWAY from him.
Jesus’ response to John the Baptist.
Look to God’s Word.
Don’t ever continue doubting things that God addresses!
(When you do, doubt your doubts)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”
-Proverbs 3:5,6
Job 1:21. the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh
The night of the Resurrection…
(John 20:19+/Luke 24:33+)
Afraid… Locked doors… Jesus appeared
“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.”
-John 20:19+
“Now Thomas… 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.” 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.”
Q: Where in your life are you having any doubts?
God is never unreliable.
Be aware of your surroundings
Do you give “doubt” center stage?
When Doubting is “Good”
A: When it makes us think deeper and strengthens our faith.
When we should “Doubt or Doubts”
A: When they have to do with God’s Word.
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
-Hebrews 11:1
Believe it or not.
-Ripley
“Believe!”
Comments