Doubtful Faith

Thank you for tuning into the radio ministry of community church had clear our focus is making Christ visible providing an atmosphere, worship, community come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online activities. He.org join us for this week's message by Pastor Albert on shop one of Jesus disciples was reluctant to believe that Jesus actually rose from the grave and so his statement was. I have to say it to believe it that a lot of people will live with that mantra in life that I am sophisticated I am scientific on a rational person. I don't go by these emotional feelings in your faith. I have to see it to believe it.

Today's message is called doubtful faith. Regards tried to understand how to deal with that. How to have faith in this world where if you have faith you looked upon as crazy you you are wacko you don't.

We don't know what you will do as you are those faith people. Here's the premise of the message. Faith is not the absence of doubts inside doubts and apprehensions and skepticism's and being hesitant are okay. It is normal to have doubts in your life.

It's normal to have doubts even as a Christian I believe sometimes doubts are good.

Having said that faith is overcoming doubts based on the evidence that you already received, and moving forward.

Knowing that more evidence will follow. If you have your Bibles with attorney John chapter 20 starting in verse 26 and after eight days. His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut and stood in the midst, and said, peace to you. Then he said to Thomas, reach your finger here, and look at my hands and reach your hand here, and put it into my side.

Do not be unbelieving, but believing and Thomas answered and said to him, my Lord, my God, it was an exclamation God.

He called Jesus, God blessed of his response to Thomas. Jesus said to him, is because you have seen me your belief.

Jesus was not impressed with Thomas's reaction because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed me ask you this evening. Do you have trouble believing that some man died on the cross. 2000 years ago and that same man has the power to change your life. Do you have trouble believing that you have trouble believing that this man somehow it was put into a grave or to any came out and now he is living in you.

Now he is working in this world.

Do you have doubts. My response to you is good. Tonight's message will hopefully help you understand how to have faith in the face of doubts.

If you do not know Christ as your Savior. I'm praying tonight that God will open your eyes that you may see the cross of Jesus Christ and even Christians is time for you to walk by faith and not by sight. Listen again to verse 28 and Thomas answered and said to him, my Lord and my God. His reaction is X is exclamation my Lord and my God. But Jesus is response to his reaction is more like a reprimand. Jesus was not impressed. No one in Jesus reprimand Thomas on his reaction because eight days earlier. Thomas has said this listener John chapter 2025 he said to them, some of his disciples were gathered together locked in a room, Jesus came and revealed himself. Thomas was not there, and later on those men told Thomas that Jesus had come in.

They had seen him listen to his reaction unless I see in his hands, the print of the nail and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into his side will not believe I was a first look at the reality of doubt. Let's look at this whole thing from Thomas's perspective because three days prior to the day that Jesus came to those men to those disciples in that room that they were locked in three days prior to that was Friday, the day that Jesus was unjustly accused and brutally nailed to the cross. The disciples watched helplessly as their master breathed his last breath in physical pain and emotional agony. He gave up his life and they could not do anything unfettered all they could do was betray him, denying him and dessert. They were helpless and then he was taken down from the cross and put into a tomb in the Bible tells us a man by the name of Joseph of Arimathea who was a rich man. He allowed them to put Jesus's body in his own tomb that had been hewn out probably for himself and another rich man by the name of Nicodemus brought 100 pound bag of spices murder and aloe because according to the custom they would anoint the body they would cover the body with the spices, and then wrap them with linen strips values that wanted to do that with the spices were to cover the order because in three days. According to the Jewish mindset, the body begins to decompose and decay in the spices will cover the order for something else. It would also help with the decomposition busybodies go to decompose. According the Jewish customs there were two burials. The first one was the was a burial I did for Jesus wrapped him up and linen cloths with the spices in the body would decompose in 12 months. Later all that is left is bones that they would take those bones and put them in a in a box that was known and is an ossuary and that was the second burial. This was a whole elaborate custom. The point I'm making here is this Jesus was dead is over when the wrap someone's body would boost spices, which means he is gone it's over. He is not coming back. He was a wonderful man who said wonderful words and did wonderful things, but he was dead in a grave on some hillside in Jerusalem. Some of you had to bury love once before is very hard to know that their life is over. Where are they, as Christians, we believe that in the presence of God.

But where is the body in a grave somewhere is done there is a finality to it.

There is no restart button. There is no such thing as you know what I did like the way that ended. Can we try this again. There's nothing like that Jesus was dead blessed three days had passed.

If anything was going to happen if you happen by and how would you have responded.

If you are one of the disciples, I mean, think, think, what's going through their minds, they are shocked. I make this happen so quickly. They tell us that the criminals would hang on the cross for days before they finally suffocated and dive you as bad as and painful is that males are, they don't kill you go get one thing Jesus was not killed on the cross he give up his life father, into your hands I commit my spirit. There was saddened they were grief stricken. There were angry. How dare they do this can imagine the anger they had against the priest and the Sadducees and the Pharisees and Pilate and Herod. I can imagine them just pounding the that the table or whatever was around them as they help tell you these these people are so corrupt and horrible what they did to him.

They were afraid because they're wondering, is this going to happen to them. Now they don't come looking for the disciples.

They were disappointed all the hopes they had in all the kingdom talk, the Jesus had given it's over it's done.

They were confused. They were questioning.

They were blaming themselves.

They were blaming each other if you had been there about what you mean. I was not there I was there but you ran and I ran behind Jeremy were blaming each other they were living in the what if's. They were going back to their old lives. It was starting to look for the new normal. The last thing you would do is believe that he was coming back to life. This is the mindset. These disciples had it's over is done.

It is horrible. I don't know what to think.

It is beyond words. I'm grief stricken. I'm angry. I'm afraid I'm disappointed I don't know what to do next. What we do does go home now is something that I happen if someone comes to the point and says guess what keeps alive.

If I were there I would've punched him like man, there's no time for fun and games that don't don't joke like that.

Jesus said they tell them I'm coming in and the Angels tell them that and then you can hear them saying Peter and John, but we saw the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene says I actually talk to him and to disciple say we were coming from them towards Emmaus, and next thing you know, the stranger begins to walk with us and talk with us and you open the Bible, explain to us what was happening. It was amazing and then become man, he breaks the bread and it is Jesus we actually saw him. Would you believe I would have a tough time with that as I saw him nailed to the cross. I saw him give up his spirit. I saw him being placed in the tomb. I saw the guards for the seal, I saw everything done and then you tell me he is back to life.

I know you're sad and I know you're in shock but dead people don't come to life. And guess what happens just a few minutes ago Jesus was in this room with us can imagine disciples telling Thomas. He was here and he showed us his hand in need and we saw the nail scarred.

We saw that hole in his side.

It was real. It was him what his promises reaction unless I put my finger in his hand and put my hand in his side. I'm not believing see what I want us to understand is this doubts are okay doubts are natural did not sense it is not shameful to have doubts even as a Christian.

Also Guinness was a famous is a famous author is a senior fellow at the Oxford center for Christian apologetics. Listen to what he said. He said that shame is not that people have doubts, but that they are ashamed of them. I'm standing here before you as your pastor, having pastor discharge for the past 19 years, and I study the Bible every week. Would you believe that I have doubts there many times.

I will give God I don't understand I don't get what is happening in our prayer over those doubts in our prayer over those questions, because I'm struggling with them. I have struggled with it is okay to have those doubts no one we have down. Sometimes those doubts are based on your personality. That's the kind of person you are you very inquisitive.

You like to make sure show me the proof while see the proof because everywhere else in your business world in your life in your home. Seeing is believing, and then you come to church on know you just got believe tough, you don't like people to pull the wool over your eyes.

That's is the kind of person you are.

So if you have been through tough times and you have been disappointed you prayed for something it didn't happen when you were young, bad things happen to you or to someone around you and you prayed and nothing happened.

You have doubts you wonder if this is not why did he answer their doubts because you have been exposed to other views you heard a professor say this you heard of program on TV or you read a book a bestseller and in and it all of a sudden you have questions in your mind is Christianity the only way you see this. These are many reasons that the doubts come into your mind into your hearts and it's okay to have those doubts. Just know that for every doubt you have there is an answer so the reality of doubt.

So what happens next. The mercy of Christ. Listen to what Jesus does. John 2026 and after a DCA days have happened since Jesus rose from the grave. Eight days have happened since those disciples were gathered and Jesus showed up and Thomas wasn't there eight days have passed.

His disciples were again inside but this time Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut and stood in the midst, and said he's to you, and when he had said that it says when he has said this, he shown them his hands and his sides. What it says in verse 27 he said to Thomas to reach your finger here, and look at my hands and reach your hand here, and put into my side.

Do not be unbelieving, but believing such a comforting passage to me. Thomas is struggling with doubts and Jesus doesn't abandon him, but he actually comes to him and says Thomas I'm here just for you. Here's my hand.

Go ahead, touch, here's my side doing feeling. Jesus did not have to do that if I were Jesus I would have done that, but that's his mercy that is his compassion. He saw the spark of hope and promise is hard and he was not going to let it extinguish it says no I'm coming for you.

Thomas eight days and Jesus showed up.

It is a verse in the Bible that says a bruised reed he will not break, and is smoking flax. He will not quench. In other words, when God sees a little spark of hope in your heart. He doesn't come and sit. I'm just gonna quench that because you should have a full-blown blades. How dare you not have a full know. He says okay. It's all right. I'll take what you have. Thomas had this little spark of hope in his heart. And Jesus came to him and the point is this. If you are struggling with doubts Christ will not abandon you, he will not forsake you. He will meet you right where you are. He understands that it's hard for me to believe, and he will meet you right where you are because he is merciful. He is gracious he is compassionate. I'll tell you from my personal example.

The been many times I've had doubts. I wonder God is this all real and something will happen, something God will do someone God will send to confirm yes it is right yes this is the only way keep plugging on more doubts will come in God in his mercy and grace comes and says okay keep on going. So we see the reality of doubt. Thomas had every reason to doubt. But we also see the mercy of Christ that he came and he found Thomas but now I want us to see the blessedness of faith. The blessedness of fate.

Listen to verse 29.

When did Jesus say to him, he said promise because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. In a sense, Jesus is talking about the generations that will come what he's saying is you know there are many who are going to come who will who haven't seen me they haven't seen me healed the sick.

They haven't seen me feed the hungry. They haven't seen me preach the gospel. They haven't seen me down the cross. They haven't seen me put in the grave.

They haven't seen me come to life, but they're going to take my word for it and Dan will believe in a sense, he is saying. Blessed are those who don't have the privilege of being first-hand witnesses and yet they believe none of us were there folks right unless you 2000 years old. We were not there. We believe God's word.

Jesus said blessed are you, but there is something else that Jesus meant. I believe he was talking specifically to Thomas.

He was telling him that he lost out on the blessing of faith is he there is a blessing that comes when you take God at his word and refused to give in to doubts there's a blessing that comes when you say I have enough proof to step out in faith and in time God will give me more proof, but I will not wait on more proof in order to step out in faith.

I'm going to keep going.

You see, faith is not a leap in the dark.

Faith is affirming that is so far there is a solid ground under my feet. God would keep the solid ground coming even if I can see it. God gives you enough proof to believe Thomas had enough proof to believe that Jesus rose from the grave.

You believe that, let me prove it to you in John chapter 14, Jesus was talking to his disciples and he told them something like this.

He said let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me… Passage you believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would've told you. I go to prepare a place for you. God has gone to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you will come again when someone says I will come again, what does that mean they're coming back, and receive you to my cell, which means I would take you with me that where I am, there you may be also in where I go you know and the way you know one disciples spoke up and said Jesus, we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way. Would like to know who the disciple was. It was Thomas, the only one who spoke up and said I don't know what you talking about which way are you going and at that moment Jesus made that famous proclamation.

I am the way, Thomas had enough evidence to believe that Jesus rose from the grave. When people say I have doubts, and my doubts. I have remained doubts and I'm still in doubt. I still have trouble believing they are lying or they are refusing to commit because committing and following God means losing certain precious idols in their lives. I have never found it sincere doubter who said I am sincerely and doubt in my questions have remained unanswered. Usually I come to find out later on that there's something going on there is a relationship. There is a habit. There's an addiction. Somewhere they don't want to submit to Jesus Christ. That's why they're safe. I have doubts. I have trouble with Christianity of the whole Christian Jesus being the only bad trouble with that. I just can't see a dead man coming to life. The virgin birth justice can't just mess with me on the scientific man.

God gives you enough proof to trust him. Thomas had every reason to believe without seeing and yet when the disciple said promise we saw him, he said note unless I put my finger in his hand in my hand in his side made a special visit for him to go Thomas here you go. But guess what, because you have seen you believe Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Thomas, you missed out on your blessing. As I told you I am the way, the truth and the life Billy Graham and the start of his ministry knew a guy by the name of Charles Templeton who was struggling with faith.

He was struggling with the Bible. He was struggling with questions and doubts that he had, and for a moment Billy Graham began to succumb to the same doubt same questions.

I don't know if I can believe I don't know.

This is the truth. I don't know if I can wage my life on this. He prayed, he studied God's word and in his own biography, just as I am, he went away in the woods and he knelt before God and say God I don't have all the answers I have all the questions and I have many more questions and I don't have all the answers to all my questions but I know this much. You are the living true God and Jesus Christ is your son and this is your word from this day on the matter what happens I place my trust in you and you stepped out, it would happen. He did exactly what I've been talking about faith is not the absence of doubts if you ever had to sit down in heaven with Billy Graham and synergy ever have doubts he will tell you of course I did. What did you do well, faith is overcoming doubts based on the evidence that you already received an stepping out knowing that more evidence will follow. Some of you have trouble believing. How can I believe I have gotten an answer my prayers at this didn't happen or that didn't happen for people to believe these days were living in a scientific world of this and that, based on the evidence you already have. Step and God will give you plenty of evidence that he is real. The gospel is real and Jesus is the only way the only truth in the only life tonight. I don't know where you are. You might be one of them who say I believe in this religion and that philosophy or I don't believe in anything I meet people like those out of believe anything.

What makes your faith different than this faith.

What makes this religion better than this religion and often asked him the same question. Are you sure you're standing on solid ground.

Are you sure that you are ready to start to take that next step because the next step might be the bottomless pit. I know where I'm going because the one who saved me also said I'm going ahead of you to prepare a place for you, so that where I am, there you may be also. How do I know the way I am the way, the truth and the life messages to Christians as well as non-Christians, no matter who you are. If you have doubts. It is time to say based on all the evidence I have Jesus you are the way and I want you to come into my life.

Based on everything I have many questions I've a lot of questions, but based on what I know I am a sinner and Jesus died for me.

I want him to save me step out. If you wait for all your questions to be answered. You will die in your sins. Step out.

I remember my dad giving his illustrations.

Old illustration little boy with his daddy at a train station and he said that how does this this light from that train from that engine out of the shine all the way to the next station is on it doesn't shine all the little next to him out of the driver know which way to go well as a train moves the light moves as you move the light will move and you will see what comes next, you will see another question answered. You will see another doubt quenched. You will see your faith grow using many times were not in the word of God were not hearing the word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

That's why faith is so weak that's why we have so many doubts, but the more you grow in your faith, the more you realize it's not a leap in the dark. There's plenty of evidence. If I have walked all this way and God laid the path. I know he's going to the same in the future if you're still struggling with doubts pray like that man who prayed. His son was under demonic possession he came to Jesus and said Jesus said to him, if you believe anything can happen. He's an Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief is I'm trying I want to believe, help me in my doubts God will help don't stay in your doubts, especially parents don't stay in your doubts because your kids will become skeptics don't stay in your doubts because your kids will become agnostics don't stay in your doubts because your kids will become atheists. Step out in faith and trust God that he will lay the You kids will fall. Thank you so much for joining us for this message. Faith is in the absence of doubt is recognizing the doubts in our life seen the evidence God is given us an stepping out and trusting him to lead our lives, put your faith and trust in God's plan for your life today for more information visit us online@clearviewb.org and for this sermon's notes. Check out Pastor Shaw's blog that I would on shock.com