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Overcoming Doubt

Overcoming Doubt. “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” Rom 12:21. Some Initial Concepts. In NT, “faith” and “belief” are often the same Greek word. “to have faith”, “to trust” and “to believe” are often same thing. For example, John 14:1 “Believe in God . . .” (NKJV)

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Overcoming Doubt

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  1. Overcoming Doubt “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” Rom 12:21

  2. Some Initial Concepts • In NT, “faith” and “belief” are often the same Greek word. • “to have faith”, “to trust” and “to believe” are often same thing. For example, John 14:1 • “Believe in God . . .” (NKJV) • “Trust in God . . .” (NIV) • “Have Faith in God . . .” (BBE) • Everyone has doubts: but, we actively choose to believe. “We live by faith” in God, 2 Cor 5:7

  3. Describe Circumstances that Led to Disciples Doubting • Mark 16:9-14 • Jesus appears to Mary • Mary tells disciples she saw Jesus • Disciples do not believe her • Jesus appears to two others; they tell disciples they saw Jesus; disciples do not believe them • Disciples heard that Jesus was raised • They had not seen Jesus raised themselves • V. 14 “stubborn refusal” to believe evidence of eyewitnesses • Disciples’ Ignorance

  4. Describe Circumstances that Led to Disciples Doubting • John 20:24-29 • Thomas was not with Jesus • Other disciples told him they had seen Jesus • He did not believe eyewitness’s testimony • Jesus was away from Thomas • Others saw Jesus, but Thomas was not there • Thomas did not believe eyewitnesses • Thomas HAD TO see and touch Christ’s wounds v 25 (Compare to Matt 8:8,9 – Trusted on God’s Word alone – and Jesus marveled at his faith. You trust like that? Take Him at His Word?)

  5. Recap – Circumstances for Doubt • I obeyed Christ, but bad things still happened, so does He know or care about me?! • God the Father, God the Christ, and God the Holy Spirit are “far away”; I do not feel Them close. • I am in danger; it’s not the right time to think esoteric stuff about God. • I did not see God myself; so unless He shows me Himself . . . • I do not trust the eyewitness accounts of people who saw God themselves.

  6. Causes for Doubt • My fear. “I am in danger.” • My feelings. “Doesn’t feel right.” • My ignorance. “What are you talking about.” • My beliefs to the contrary. “Can’t be right.” • My stubborn refusal to believe eyewitnesses to God and evidences for God. • Jude 22 – Doubting people need our mercy! Do I show no mercy, so help others to doubt? • Mk 9:24 – Do I help others overcome doubt?

  7. Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.'‘ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'' (and Jesus did help his unbelief. --jb)

  8. Your Examples of Doubting Christians Have you known any Christians whose doubts overcame them? Are their reasons similar to Jesus’s disciples in NT?

  9. The Basis for Your Faith • Romans 10:17 – God’s Words. No one else’s. • 1 Corinthians 15:17 – Christ’s Resurrection. • John 20:30-31 – Eyewitnesses’ testimony. Do these facts change if I face fear or ignorance?

  10. The Nature of Faith versus Knowing or Seeing Is Faith the same thing as Knowing? I know about evolution, but I have no faith in it. “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” 1 Corinthians 1:20.

  11. The Nature of Faith versus Knowing or Seeing Is Faith the same thing as Seeing? I see a picture of aliens, but I do not believe it. After His resurrection, some of the eleven disciples, “when they saw him they worshipped Him, but some doubted.” Matt 28:16-17

  12. The Nature of Faith versus Knowing or Seeing The faith=the gospel (Acts 6:7; Galatians 1:23; 1 Timothy 3:9; Jude 1:3). The nature of faith is beyond mere knowing and seeing. And, faith always involves evidences (so Christ will tell Thomas “put your finger here . . . and stop doubting”)!

  13. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence (certainty, conviction) of things not seen . . .” Your faith is not blind. It is based on evidence! You cannot have certainty or conviction without evidence.

  14. Hebrews 11:1-3 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

  15. Hebrews 11:1-3 • Will our faith cause us to know: • The answer to every difficult question? • The reason for every disappointment? • The purpose of every problem? • The outcome of every action? 2 Cor 5:7 -- If we could know these things, would we really have faith?

  16. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good James 1:2-8 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

  17. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good • James 1:2-8 • Allow trials of your faith • Ask God for wisdom in the trial. Pray about it. • Do not be double-minded or confused about Christ or have a heart of misgivings about God. [Don’t ask for a sign from God! Don’t tempt God!] • Follow Christ with your whole heart. Be a Disciple! Learner. John 8:31, 32 “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples . . .”

  18. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good James 5:5-7; Heb 12:2 “You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” “ . . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

  19. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good • James 5:5-7; Heb 12:2 • Be Patient; Endure hardship [“Faith is a verb.”] • Good battles evil. Faith battles doubt. • Remember the future is better! Do your research to understand that! Read the Bible to gain understanding! • Remember Jesus’s hardships • He knew the direction He was on -- How He looked to the Joy Before Him • How He Endured

  20. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

  21. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good • Philippians 4:6 • Not anxious for anything • Tune out negativity • Surround yourself with positive people from the congregation • Ask God in prayer • Give thanks

  22. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

  23. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good • 1 Thessalonians 5:11 • Encourage each other. Talk to someone about it. • Surround yourself with people who have goals like you! People like Christians. • Build each other up. • Continually do this.

  24. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good Hebrews 10:22-24 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works . . .”

  25. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good • Hebrews 10:22-24 • Draw near to Christ with assurance (Christ welcomes you!) • Remove evil conscience (Get rid of fears, negativity, your past actions, critical remarks. These hold you back from God) • Implement ways to stir up brethren to love and good works (Helping others helps you more!)

  26. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good 2 Peter 1:12-18 “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”

  27. Ways to Overcome Doubt with Good • 2 Peter 1:12-18 • Remind Christians of what they know • Receive these words. They come from God (1 Thess 2:13). Use these words. • Remember what Peter saw on Mount of Transfiguration. Mark 9:7 – “This is my Beloved Son; Listen to Him.” • Remember that majestic authoritative Christ • His words are more doubt destroying than the Transfiguration (2 Peter 1:19 – “more sure.”)

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