Tuesday 17 March 2009

Hey I preached on doubt on Sunday - and this is some of what I spoke about. Obviously it was much better than this with amazing life stories and Video clips etc. (yeah yeah Gary - yawn yawn)

Hope it helps

Doubt, a status between belief and disbelief, (how enlightening is that statement by the way! Simple me always thought that doubt was unbelief, urm maybe not)

But doubt indulged soon becomes doubt realized. --Francis R. Havergal

Mark 9:22-24

24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (NIV)
Doubt is a battle, but let us at least admit that it is.

Hebrews 11

By Faith
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
When you read the gospels as a whole – you pick up how much doubt is there in the life of the disciples especially when Jesus wasn’t in their company or he was at a distance, and if I were to go through each incident we would be here all morning. You will know loads.

These were a group of 12 people who were with Jesus pretty much day in, day out for 3 years! And saw some pretty extraordinary things.

John 20:11-29

1st Thing that I have noticed about Jesus when it comes to doubt is something that surprised me. I don’t know why, it shouldn’t do really, but it is so nice to know – he shows up in the midst of our doubt. The story of doubting Thomas is so powerful. Jesus walks through a locked door, and all of a sudden he is there right with Thomas, I mean right there. There you go Thomas – I’m here, and here is what you asked for.

Remember Peter and the getting out of the boat, he starts to sink, he doubts, and there comes the hand of Jesus – right there. He shows up

Jeremiah 17:7 (New International Version)
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

Matthew 28:16-20 (New International Version)

The Great Commission
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Honest doubt is better than dishonest faith.

2nd thing is that Jesus believes in us – do you realise how amazing this story is – again I have always missed it. In the midst of doubt the great commission comes. What is Jesus saying, he is saying go do it anyway! He knew the disciples doubted: he walked with them. But still he commissions them. More than one by the way.
Check this out Acts 1:3. He kept coming back. Showing up proving himself and believing in them, that is my Jesus.

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