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The struggle with Faith: John 12:37-43

The struggle with Faith: John 12:37-43. Even after the miracles they did not believe!(37) They could not believe (39) – heart were hardened! They would not confess (42) …because they loved praise from men!. 7 ways of doubting: (Os Guinness). What is the faith that weakens?.

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The struggle with Faith: John 12:37-43

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  1. The struggle with Faith: John 12:37-43 • Even after the miracles they did not believe!(37) • They could not believe (39) – heart were hardened! • They would not confess (42) …because they loved praise from men!

  2. 7 ways of doubting: (Os Guinness)

  3. What is the faith that weakens? The faith which was not a Total commitment and sacrifice (12:24) - E.g. Tennis racket - E.g. Immunization 2. The faith that did not grow into a public testimony (42-43) - James 2:17 - Faith if not accompanied by action is dead! 3. The faith that is not enlightened by the unique awesome convincing supremacy of the crucified Christ (44-49)

  4. What is the faith that holds out? Seek the Lord, while He may be found; Call on Him, while He is near! Let the wicked forsake his way And the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord And He will have mercy on him And (turn) to our God For He will freely pardon him! - Isaiah 55:6,7

  5. Seeking means: • Seeking His presence(Ps 27:8 - face)! • Ps 105:4 – Always (continually!) • Enjoy continual consciousness of His supreme greatness and love and worth! • ‘Set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God (1 Chron 22:19); Set your mind on things that are above’ (Col 3:1-2) • Make a mental and emotional effort for the presence of God!

  6. The big obstacles: • Seek implies there is always things around which we have to find Him. • Pleasures – (Carnal desires): 1 Thess 4:3 - He is hidden behind the curtain of our carnal desires • Pride: Ps 10:4 - In his pride the wicked does not seek Him; In all his thoughts there is no room for God. • Popularity: John 12:43 – Loved the praise from men. • Preservation: John 12:25 – The man who loves his life will lose it.

  7. Because He longs to fill us, • He hides His face long enough • for us to discover • how fervently and exclusively we want Him. • (Larry Crabb)

  8. The great promise: 1 Chron 28:9 – If you seek Him he will be found by you! Heb 11:6 – He rewards those that earnestly seek Him! Isaiah 6:13 – The oak leaves stumps when they are cut down! Believe in Me!(44)....Eternal life!(50)

  9. Ps 42 The many kinds of hearts that came to know the limits of reason, the loneliness of the Godless horizon, The chill of winter with its cry of Absence, Absence! Karl Rahner.

  10. Seasons in life (Summer and Winter)

  11. HALF-TIME

  12. James Fowler: Stages of Faith Intuitive-projective: Fantasy Mythical-literal: Literal Synthetic-conventional: Group-belief Individuative-reflective: Own conviction Conjunctive: Doubting Universalizing: Accommodating

  13. Seasons in life (Summer and Winter) Traumatic experience

  14. Factors driving us into the winter season • Seasons • Trauma/pain • Failure • Spirit of our time • Satan • Circumstances • The harvest of sin • Persecution • God’s discipline

  15. 7 ways of doubting: (Os Guinness)

  16. It is very hard to tolerate the experience of God as a purifying absence…We are tempted to grasp rapid solutions…Our inclination is to put faith in any suggestion that promises quick healing… In our desperate need for fulfillment and our restless search for the experience of divine intimacy… In our impatient culture, it has indeed become extremely difficult to see much salvation in waiting. But still the God who saves is not made by human hands. (Henri Nouwen) We want relief from pain, we cherish whatever pleasures lift us out of it…and we are drawn more to the possibility of personal fulfillment than to the opportunity to know God through suffering. … All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Phil 3 (The message)

  17. What do you do when you are in the Winter season? • You face God! (Heb 11:6) • You remember the promise. (Heb 11:13) • You focus on Obedience. (Heb 11:6) • You hold on to the Big Exchange! (Heb 8,9,12:2) • You avoid sin. (Heb 12:1,4) • You look for support. (Heb 10:24;12:1) • You apply the right disciplines. (Heb 10:25) • You understand Kingdom vs World.(Heb 11:9,10) • You remember who God is(Heb11:11,16;12:7,10) • You remember that character is built in winter (Heb 12:11; Rom 5:3-5)

  18. Because He longs to fill us, He hides His face long enough for us to discover how fervently and exclusively we want Him. Shattered dreams subject us to pain that weakens our stubborn grip on life as we want it and stirs our appetite for …God’s presence. It isn’t always good to be blessed with the good things of life. Bad times provide such an opportunity to know God, that blessings can never provide. (Larry Crabb)

  19. No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb • If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~Anne Bradstreet • Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing. ~Albert Laighton

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