And this is the record that
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God hath given
to us eternal life
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and this life is in His Son.
00:00:16.75\00:00:20.48
Welcome to 3ABN
Australia Homecoming.
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Welcome, a big
welcome to one and all.
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I'm John Malkiewycz
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and I've been
blessed by the speakers
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that have been presenting at
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our 3ABN
Australia Homecoming 2020
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"Preparing for Eternity."
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And each one has
been presenting a chapter
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from this little
book Steps to Christ.
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And it's been a real blessing.
00:00:49.98\00:00:51.38
And I'm sure our
audience, have you been blessed?
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Yes, they are
nodding their heads.
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In our last program,
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Charissa Torossian
spoke on Chapter 11,
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The Privilege of Prayer.
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And we've
summarized and she summarized
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that in five points.
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Number one.
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Nothing brings us
closer to God than prayer.
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If Jesus needed prayer,
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how much more do we need prayer?
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Number three.
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Every revival in
history began with prayer.
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We can expect
the same will be true
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for the end of time as well.
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More than ever
before, number four,
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it's time to be intentional
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and deliberate in
seeking God in prayer.
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Number five.
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God's end time people
are a people of passionate
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and earnest prayer.
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Our speaker
today is Blair Lemke.
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And he's going to
be covering Chapter 12,
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"What to Do with Doubt."
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We all have to deal with doubt
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at some time or other
and it affects the choices
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that we make.
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So we're looking
forward to what Blair has to say
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What to Do with
Doubt, but before he speaks,
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Rosemary Malkiewycz,
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she will be singing
"Sunshine and Rain."
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So thank you, Rosemary.
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I ask myself the question
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and the answer is plain
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Would I enjoy the sunshine
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If I never had any rain?
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And if I had no heartaches
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and I live without loss
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Would I seek for the comfort
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At the floor of the cross?
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And if there were
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No winters cold and so dread
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Would I earn for the love
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Of spring every year?
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And if all that I wanted
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Will stay everyday
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Would I kneel before my God
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And earnestly pray?
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If I never knew sickness,
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Never felt any pain
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Would I reach for His hand
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To help and sustain?
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If I never had a tear drop
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Running down to the floor
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Would I cry out to my Father
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And seek Him on the floor?
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And if there were
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No winters cold and so dread
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Would I earn for the love
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Of spring every year?
00:04:23.99\00:04:28.03
And if all that I wanted
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Will stay every day
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Would I kneel before my God
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And earnestly pray?
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And if I had no trials
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To calm down my way
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Would I kneel before my God
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And to earnestly pray?
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So I've asked
myself the question
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And the answer is plain
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I enjoy the sunshine
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And I enjoy the rain
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Well, hello, everyone.
It is a blessing to be here.
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I have been
thoroughly blessed going through
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the series,
Preparing for Eternity.
00:05:54.82\00:05:57.89
And I trust that
you have as well.
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And I'm looking forward today
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in sharing our next
installment of the series,
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and digging
straight into our chapter.
00:06:04.93\00:06:07.66
Because this book right
here, has changed my life.
00:06:07.70\00:06:11.60
And whenever I get
an opportunity to share
00:06:11.63\00:06:13.94
from the pages of
this book with friends,
00:06:13.97\00:06:16.34
with family, in a sermon,
00:06:16.37\00:06:18.71
I always rejoice at
the opportunity to do so
00:06:18.74\00:06:21.78
because this is a
book that changes lives.
00:06:21.81\00:06:23.61
And so I'm looking forward
to journeying with you today
00:06:23.65\00:06:26.41
in our next
installment of the series.
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Before we begin,
I'd like to start
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with a word of
prayer if you join me.
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Heavenly Father,
we want to thank You
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for the privilege that
we have to be here this day.
00:06:38.19\00:06:41.90
Lord, we thank
You for Your Word that
00:06:41.93\00:06:43.77
You have given to us
to guide us, to lead us
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in this dark world.
00:06:47.40\00:06:48.74
You've not cast
us out into the world
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to fend for
ourselves, to find our own way,
00:06:50.21\00:06:53.64
but Lord, You've
given us a compass,
00:06:53.68\00:06:55.41
You've given us a light.
00:06:55.44\00:06:57.11
And we thank You for this Lord,
00:06:57.15\00:06:58.95
we pray this morning
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as we study through Your Word
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that Your
Spirit would be with us
00:07:02.98\00:07:05.15
that You would
lead us into truth.
00:07:05.19\00:07:07.42
And we claim this
promise in Jesus' name.
00:07:07.46\00:07:10.26
Amen.
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Well, it's been an
action packed series so far,
00:07:12.83\00:07:15.46
and we've
covered a lot of ground
00:07:15.50\00:07:17.23
in such a powerful
little book Steps to Christ.
00:07:17.27\00:07:21.34
We've learned in our coverage
00:07:21.37\00:07:23.61
so far in this
series, that God loves us,
00:07:23.64\00:07:26.91
and that we are in
desperate need of God.
00:07:26.94\00:07:30.85
We've learned that
00:07:30.88\00:07:32.21
when we come to God
with true confession,
00:07:32.25\00:07:34.98
with repentance,
with earnestness of heart,
00:07:35.02\00:07:37.85
that He receives us to Himself,
00:07:37.89\00:07:40.42
and in receiving us to Himself,
00:07:40.46\00:07:42.56
He then forms us
00:07:42.59\00:07:44.16
into the very
image of His own Son.
00:07:44.19\00:07:46.90
What a beautiful
picture of what it means
00:07:46.93\00:07:49.76
to walk with
Jesus to come alongside
00:07:49.80\00:07:52.37
and learn to walk
daily with our Savior.
00:07:52.40\00:07:56.30
As we walk
daily with our Savior,
00:07:56.34\00:07:58.37
we've looked through
this series at the idea
00:07:58.41\00:08:01.34
of spending regular time
00:08:01.38\00:08:02.84
in God's Word
daily walking with Him,
00:08:02.88\00:08:05.11
having a vibrant prayer life,
00:08:05.15\00:08:07.65
but as we journey
with Jesus every day,
00:08:07.68\00:08:12.12
Satan still has some temptations
00:08:12.15\00:08:15.02
that he likes to
throw at believers.
00:08:15.06\00:08:18.43
Even as they journey
with Jesus day by day,
00:08:18.46\00:08:22.66
the devil is not
content to sit back,
00:08:22.70\00:08:25.90
and to allow a relationship
00:08:25.93\00:08:28.20
with God to go on
unheeded, unimpeded.
00:08:28.24\00:08:32.61
And so the devil has
some particular strategies.
00:08:32.64\00:08:36.34
And one of those strategies
00:08:36.38\00:08:37.71
that we're gonna look at
today is the strategy of doubt.
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What do we do with doubt?
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What do we do
when we find something
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in God's Word that
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does not become
immediately clear to us that
00:08:50.63\00:08:52.79
we cannot understand
or we have doubt over?
00:08:52.83\00:08:57.37
Well, today, what
I'd like to do with you
00:08:57.40\00:09:00.40
is share five simple
principles from God's Word,
00:09:00.44\00:09:04.04
five crucial principles
that will guide a believer in
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what they should do with doubt.
00:09:08.18\00:09:10.51
And so I would invite
you if you have your Bible
00:09:10.55\00:09:12.91
to open up God's Word
with me to the Book of Job,
00:09:12.95\00:09:17.75
we're gonna turn
to Job Chapter 11.
00:09:17.79\00:09:20.39
And we're gonna
begin our study here
00:09:20.42\00:09:22.96
in the Book of Job 11:7-9,
00:09:22.99\00:09:27.83
we pick up the story here we,
00:09:27.86\00:09:29.20
of course, Job has had a
very interesting experience.
00:09:29.23\00:09:33.40
He's faced several trials,
00:09:33.44\00:09:34.90
and he has
friends that come along
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to offer advice and counsel him,
00:09:37.11\00:09:39.61
but what we see in
this little passage
00:09:39.64\00:09:41.14
that I'm about to read to you
00:09:41.18\00:09:42.51
reveals an important principle
00:09:42.54\00:09:44.81
of what we should do with doubt.
00:09:44.85\00:09:46.65
And I want you to take
note of it here Job 11:7-9,
00:09:46.68\00:09:52.22
God's Word says,
00:09:52.25\00:09:53.69
"Can you search out
the deep things of God?
00:09:53.72\00:09:57.33
Can you find out the
limits of the Almighty?
00:09:57.36\00:10:01.00
They are higher than
heaven what can you do?
00:10:01.03\00:10:05.10
They are deeper than
Sheol what can you know?
00:10:05.13\00:10:07.97
Their measure is
longer than the earth
00:10:08.00\00:10:10.14
and broader than the sea."
00:10:10.17\00:10:12.87
I want to tell you
today that as we consider
00:10:12.91\00:10:17.48
what to do with doubt,
one of the important things
00:10:17.51\00:10:21.08
for us to
understand as believers,
00:10:21.12\00:10:23.49
as Bible believing Christians,
00:10:23.52\00:10:26.02
as we consider what
we should do with doubt,
00:10:26.05\00:10:28.16
one of the first things
that we should consider,
00:10:28.19\00:10:30.83
the first principle that
I'd like to share with you
00:10:30.86\00:10:33.29
is that we need to be
00:10:33.33\00:10:34.66
willing to be
to live in mystery.
00:10:34.70\00:10:39.20
We need to know that
God fully intends that
00:10:39.23\00:10:44.21
you and I will not
understand everything in it.
00:10:44.24\00:10:49.34
We won't understand
00:10:49.38\00:10:51.18
every single thing in God's Word
00:10:51.21\00:10:53.82
or in the world around us.
00:10:53.85\00:10:55.35
There are things that
we just cannot understand.
00:10:55.38\00:10:58.75
You and I, we are finite beings,
00:10:58.79\00:11:01.19
we are not an infinite God.
00:11:01.22\00:11:04.13
The infinite God is
far above and beyond us.
00:11:04.16\00:11:07.20
And as we read the
pages of scripture here,
00:11:07.23\00:11:08.86
the question is asked,
00:11:08.90\00:11:10.27
Can we search out
the deep things of God?
00:11:10.30\00:11:13.00
Can we know?
00:11:13.03\00:11:14.80
Well, no.
00:11:14.84\00:11:16.50
Certainly God has revealed
to us things in His Word.
00:11:16.54\00:11:19.51
And we have the
privilege of being
00:11:19.54\00:11:20.88
able to study His Word,
00:11:20.91\00:11:22.24
which is a
Revelation from God to us.
00:11:22.28\00:11:25.31
However, this is
not to assume that
00:11:25.35\00:11:28.68
we will know
absolutely everything,
00:11:28.72\00:11:31.82
that every single little thing
00:11:31.85\00:11:33.66
will be made plain to
our finite understanding.
00:11:33.69\00:11:36.66
This would be unrealistic
to expect from a finite being
00:11:36.69\00:11:41.50
if we were able to understand
00:11:41.53\00:11:44.07
everything that an
infinite God was and is,
00:11:44.10\00:11:47.94
then we would be God Himself.
00:11:47.97\00:11:50.81
We would have...
00:11:50.84\00:11:52.31
The God would no
longer be supreme over us.
00:11:52.34\00:11:55.41
And so as we
approach this topic of doubt,
00:11:55.44\00:11:58.38
a fundamental principle,
00:11:58.41\00:11:59.85
as we start our time together,
00:11:59.88\00:12:01.52
is to
understand this simple idea
00:12:01.55\00:12:03.22
that we need to be
willing to live in mystery.
00:12:03.25\00:12:06.12
There are certain
things that God knows,
00:12:06.15\00:12:09.89
we will not fully understand.
00:12:09.92\00:12:12.23
And we will, in fact, be growing
00:12:12.26\00:12:14.23
and learning in our
relationship with God
00:12:14.26\00:12:16.73
throughout all of eternity.
00:12:16.77\00:12:18.97
God is the
treasure chest of knowledge.
00:12:19.00\00:12:21.30
And we will be
learning and growing
00:12:21.34\00:12:23.17
and our
appreciation and understanding
00:12:23.20\00:12:24.91
of His character of love
00:12:24.94\00:12:26.27
for the ceaseless ages.
00:12:26.31\00:12:27.64
What a beautiful idea.
00:12:27.68\00:12:29.28
I want to take you to
00:12:29.31\00:12:30.65
one other passage of scripture
00:12:30.68\00:12:32.01
that speaks to
us about this idea.
00:12:32.05\00:12:34.75
Flick with me, if you
will, turn with me to Isaiah 55.
00:12:34.78\00:12:38.35
And in Isaiah 55:8-9,
00:12:38.39\00:12:41.52
we find another
coverage of this same idea
00:12:41.56\00:12:45.16
in the Book of Isaiah.
00:12:45.19\00:12:46.66
Isaiah 55:8-9, we read this,
00:12:46.70\00:12:50.70
"For My thoughts
are not your thoughts,
00:12:50.73\00:12:54.67
nor are My ways
your ways, says the Lord.
00:12:54.70\00:12:58.34
For as the heavens
are higher than the earth,
00:12:58.37\00:13:01.24
so are My ways
higher than your ways,
00:13:01.28\00:13:04.28
and My thoughts
higher than your thoughts.'"
00:13:04.31\00:13:07.55
You know what?
00:13:07.58\00:13:08.92
I am so happy that
God is smarter than me.
00:13:08.95\00:13:12.99
I'm happy that God's thoughts
00:13:13.02\00:13:15.49
are higher than mine
00:13:15.52\00:13:17.03
that His ways are above mine
00:13:17.06\00:13:19.76
because if God was similar
in thought and action to me,
00:13:19.79\00:13:24.90
this would be a
pretty dire situation.
00:13:24.93\00:13:27.80
This would not
be the sort of God
00:13:27.84\00:13:30.74
that we see
pictured in Scripture.
00:13:30.77\00:13:32.67
And so, as we consider
00:13:32.71\00:13:35.28
what a believer
should do with doubt,
00:13:35.31\00:13:37.51
it should not surprise
us when there are things
00:13:37.55\00:13:40.55
that we cannot fully understand,
00:13:40.58\00:13:42.48
or there may be things
that we have questions about.
00:13:42.52\00:13:45.95
This is something
that God understands
00:13:45.99\00:13:49.86
and knows is a
part of the existence
00:13:49.89\00:13:52.53
of being a finite human being.
00:13:52.56\00:13:55.36
And so an important
idea to consider here
00:13:55.40\00:13:58.40
as we spend our time together.
00:13:58.43\00:14:00.60
Turn with me, if you will,
00:14:00.64\00:14:01.97
to a passage in
the New Testament,
00:14:02.00\00:14:04.24
Romans, the Book of
Romans in Romans Chapter 11.
00:14:04.27\00:14:09.18
And we'll cover
this from one more angle,
00:14:09.21\00:14:12.78
one more text of scripture
00:14:12.81\00:14:14.38
that speaks to
this simple principle,
00:14:14.42\00:14:16.89
but really
foundational to this topic
00:14:16.92\00:14:19.72
as we deal with doubt.
00:14:19.75\00:14:21.59
In Romans 11:33,
00:14:21.62\00:14:26.36
notice what God's Word says,
00:14:26.39\00:14:28.93
God's Word says,
00:14:28.96\00:14:30.73
"Oh, the depth of the
riches both of the wisdom
00:14:30.77\00:14:34.54
and the knowledge of God!
00:14:34.57\00:14:36.71
How unsearchable
are His judgments
00:14:36.74\00:14:40.14
and His ways past finding out!"
00:14:40.18\00:14:44.18
The God of
Scripture is a big God.
00:14:44.21\00:14:47.32
The God of Scripture
is transcendent above
00:14:47.35\00:14:49.95
and beyond you and I.
00:14:49.98\00:14:52.05
And as I read these
passages of scriptures
00:14:52.09\00:14:54.89
I get a picture of
what Scripture says that
00:14:54.92\00:14:58.49
we should expect, it
becomes quite clear that
00:14:58.53\00:15:02.83
God understands
00:15:02.86\00:15:04.73
that this challenge
of doubt will exist,
00:15:04.77\00:15:07.30
that will be a part of
the experience of humans.
00:15:07.34\00:15:10.57
Now this doesn't mean
that we can't know anything.
00:15:10.61\00:15:13.68
We've talked
about this idea that
00:15:13.71\00:15:15.68
God's Word is a
Revelation to us.
00:15:15.71\00:15:17.51
He's given it to us to
teach us things in His Word.
00:15:17.55\00:15:20.35
And He makes it, He
gives us His Holy Spirit
00:15:20.38\00:15:22.75
to guide us to
give us understanding,
00:15:22.78\00:15:25.42
to lead us into truth.
00:15:25.45\00:15:26.79
And so this is not
00:15:26.82\00:15:28.16
some smokescreen to
say that we don't have...
00:15:28.19\00:15:32.06
Put down the
studying of God's Word,
00:15:32.09\00:15:34.36
or to suggest that
we cannot come to truth
00:15:34.40\00:15:36.70
as we study God's
Word, we certainly can.
00:15:36.73\00:15:38.93
But this is to say,
this doesn't mean that
00:15:38.97\00:15:41.27
we can't know anything,
00:15:41.30\00:15:42.64
but it does mean that
we cannot know everything.
00:15:42.67\00:15:46.54
We cannot know
every single thing
00:15:46.57\00:15:48.78
that there is to know about God,
00:15:48.81\00:15:51.01
and about God's Word.
00:15:51.05\00:15:52.61
And sometimes what happens,
00:15:52.65\00:15:54.42
sometimes, we want
to know everything.
00:15:54.45\00:15:57.35
And if we can't
understand everything,
00:15:57.39\00:16:00.89
then we doubt and
we reject everything.
00:16:00.92\00:16:04.29
If we can't, if
there's little points
00:16:04.33\00:16:06.36
that we can't make
plain to our understanding,
00:16:06.39\00:16:09.63
then we can fall
00:16:09.66\00:16:11.00
into the trap of
dismissing God's Word,
00:16:11.03\00:16:14.10
and having a
posture towards God Word
00:16:14.14\00:16:17.41
that is skeptical,
00:16:17.44\00:16:18.77
and that blocks us
00:16:18.81\00:16:20.58
from moving beyond
an experience of doubt.
00:16:20.61\00:16:23.91
Now notice here with me,
00:16:23.95\00:16:25.35
I want to read for you a passage
00:16:25.38\00:16:27.48
from Testimonies for the Church,
00:16:27.52\00:16:29.78
volume five, and listen with me
00:16:29.82\00:16:33.22
how this
experience is described.
00:16:33.25\00:16:36.59
We read here, it says,
00:16:36.62\00:16:37.96
"Those who desire to
doubt will have plenty of room.
00:16:37.99\00:16:41.86
God does not propose
00:16:41.90\00:16:43.73
to remove all
occasion for unbelief.
00:16:43.77\00:16:47.04
He gives evidence,
00:16:47.07\00:16:48.44
which must be
carefully investigated
00:16:48.47\00:16:50.57
with a humble mind
00:16:50.61\00:16:52.21
and with a teachable spirit,
00:16:52.24\00:16:53.98
and all should decide
from the weight of evidence.
00:16:54.01\00:16:57.45
God gives sufficient evidence
for the candid mind to believe,
00:16:57.48\00:17:01.95
but he who turns from
the weight of evidence
00:17:01.98\00:17:04.82
because there are a few things
00:17:04.85\00:17:06.89
that he cannot make plain
to his finite understanding
00:17:06.92\00:17:10.63
will be left in the cold,
00:17:10.66\00:17:12.76
chilling atmosphere of
unbelief and questioning doubts,
00:17:12.79\00:17:16.87
and will make a
shipwreck of faith."
00:17:16.90\00:17:20.50
This is a very powerful idea
00:17:20.54\00:17:23.30
that is being communicated
to us through inspiration.
00:17:23.34\00:17:26.98
We are told here,
00:17:27.01\00:17:28.58
that how we deal
with doubt matters.
00:17:28.61\00:17:31.55
There are things
00:17:31.58\00:17:33.68
if we get caught up in this idea
00:17:33.72\00:17:36.02
that we need to make everything,
00:17:36.05\00:17:37.82
we need to
understand every little
00:17:37.85\00:17:39.52
thing and
everything needs to make sense
00:17:39.55\00:17:41.09
to our finite understanding,
00:17:41.12\00:17:42.89
then we'll find
occasion to doubt.
00:17:42.92\00:17:45.19
God has not removed
00:17:45.23\00:17:46.56
the opportunity for us to doubt.
00:17:46.59\00:17:47.93
If we look for doubt,
00:17:47.96\00:17:49.46
we'll find a reason to doubt,
00:17:49.50\00:17:51.33
but if we look
for reasons to believe
00:17:51.37\00:17:53.74
in God's Word,
00:17:53.77\00:17:55.10
if we look for evidence
00:17:55.14\00:17:56.47
that He is who He says He is,
00:17:56.50\00:17:57.84
then we'll find that also.
00:17:57.87\00:17:59.21
God does not ask us to believe,
00:17:59.24\00:18:01.24
to blindly believe in Him
00:18:01.28\00:18:03.31
and just accept as
a version of events
00:18:03.35\00:18:06.98
in God's Word
00:18:07.02\00:18:08.35
without giving evidence
upon which to base our faith.
00:18:08.38\00:18:11.12
And so, but if
we take this hyper,
00:18:11.15\00:18:15.72
this very focused approach,
00:18:15.76\00:18:18.43
where we have to
make everything plain
00:18:18.46\00:18:20.53
to our finite understanding,
00:18:20.56\00:18:22.03
and if we can't we reject it,
00:18:22.06\00:18:23.77
then this is a
recipe for a cold,
00:18:23.80\00:18:26.30
chilling atmosphere of unbelief
00:18:26.33\00:18:27.90
and we make a
shipwreck of faith.
00:18:27.94\00:18:30.94
This is an important idea,
00:18:30.97\00:18:33.44
important principle as
we start out of our survey
00:18:33.48\00:18:36.51
of what to do with doubt.
00:18:36.54\00:18:37.88
When dealing with doubt,
00:18:37.91\00:18:40.02
we need to be
willing to live in mystery,
00:18:40.05\00:18:43.35
we need to be
willing to know that
00:18:43.39\00:18:45.79
God fully intended that
00:18:45.82\00:18:47.36
there would be certain things
00:18:47.39\00:18:48.72
that would we could
not fully understand,
00:18:48.76\00:18:51.06
that we will
grow in our knowledge
00:18:51.09\00:18:52.69
and our understanding of Him,
00:18:52.73\00:18:54.83
but that we can have
faith in and through that.
00:18:54.86\00:18:57.57
And He has given us evidence
00:18:57.60\00:18:59.37
upon which to base a
solid foundation of faith.
00:18:59.40\00:19:03.00
And a very important principle
as we discover this idea
00:19:03.04\00:19:08.88
that we survey this idea
of what to do with doubt.
00:19:08.91\00:19:11.78
Now I want to take
you to a second idea.
00:19:11.81\00:19:15.08
The second idea or principle
00:19:15.12\00:19:18.72
that is
important as we deal with
00:19:18.75\00:19:22.59
what to do with doubt,
00:19:22.62\00:19:23.96
as a believer
considers what to do with doubt.
00:19:23.99\00:19:26.80
The second principle that
00:19:26.83\00:19:28.46
I'd like to share with you today
00:19:28.50\00:19:30.17
is to understand that
others have been there too.
00:19:30.20\00:19:35.50
When we look at the
record of Scripture,
00:19:35.54\00:19:38.94
we see many
accounts of powerful men
00:19:38.97\00:19:42.18
and women of God
00:19:42.21\00:19:43.55
who'd faced periods of doubt.
00:19:43.58\00:19:45.98
If you face doubt,
you can find strength
00:19:46.01\00:19:49.12
and encouragement
from the many believers
00:19:49.15\00:19:51.92
who have gone before
you and who have conquered,
00:19:51.95\00:19:55.12
who have
overcome, who have faced
00:19:55.16\00:19:57.16
and overcome
doubt in their life.
00:19:57.19\00:19:59.43
Doubt is
something that at some point
00:19:59.46\00:20:01.70
in every believer's life,
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.90
it's faced, it shows its face.
00:20:03.93\00:20:07.47
And the Bible
records many instances
00:20:07.50\00:20:09.64
of these sorts of things.
00:20:09.67\00:20:11.07
We usually associate
with doubt in Scripture,
00:20:11.11\00:20:14.84
the infamous Doubting Thomas.
00:20:14.88\00:20:17.31
We think of Doubting Thomas
as the character in the Bible,
00:20:17.35\00:20:20.78
who dealt with doubt.
00:20:20.82\00:20:22.85
But, you know, when you actually
00:20:22.88\00:20:24.22
look at the Bible,
00:20:24.25\00:20:25.59
there's many other accounts
00:20:25.62\00:20:26.96
and even in the other disciples
00:20:26.99\00:20:29.26
all of the other
disciples first doubted
00:20:29.29\00:20:31.73
Jesus' resurrection
00:20:31.76\00:20:33.09
when it first happened,
00:20:33.13\00:20:34.66
but then,
00:20:34.70\00:20:36.03
and then Thomas
later doubt it also,
00:20:36.06\00:20:38.73
even as we consider now
another text of scripture,
00:20:38.77\00:20:43.97
the Bible even
records that John the Baptist,
00:20:44.01\00:20:47.21
the forerunner of Christ,
00:20:47.24\00:20:49.14
the mighty proclaimer of
the soon coming of Jesus,
00:20:49.18\00:20:55.12
the repentance, a
message of repentance,
00:20:55.15\00:20:56.99
this mighty prophet of God,
00:20:57.02\00:20:59.65
face doubt as well.
00:20:59.69\00:21:01.56
And so this is, if
you're facing doubt,
00:21:01.59\00:21:05.03
if you are a Christian,
00:21:05.06\00:21:06.53
and you're trying to understand
00:21:06.56\00:21:07.90
what to do with doubt,
00:21:07.93\00:21:09.26
understand that
you're in good company.
00:21:09.30\00:21:11.27
There are others who have gone
before you who have face doubt
00:21:11.30\00:21:14.04
and who have overcome doubt,
00:21:14.07\00:21:15.94
through dealing with
it in the correct way.
00:21:15.97\00:21:18.27
And so I'd like
you to turn with me
00:21:18.31\00:21:20.48
in your Bibles
to Luke Chapter 7.
00:21:20.51\00:21:23.11
And we're gonna look
here at an account of John,
00:21:23.14\00:21:27.42
John the Baptist.
00:21:27.45\00:21:28.98
We see that John in the Bible
00:21:29.02\00:21:31.59
was thrown into prison
00:21:31.62\00:21:33.49
because of his
confrontation with Herod,
00:21:33.52\00:21:36.36
he took a stand for truth.
00:21:36.39\00:21:37.99
And he gave a
message to Herod that
00:21:38.03\00:21:40.36
he didn't appreciate
that he didn't want to hear.
00:21:40.40\00:21:42.96
And we see that
as a result of this,
00:21:43.00\00:21:46.37
he was thrown into prison,
00:21:46.40\00:21:47.90
and spent many considerable
00:21:47.94\00:21:50.94
amount of time there in prison.
00:21:50.97\00:21:52.81
And as week after week passed,
as John was sitting in prison,
00:21:52.84\00:21:57.58
he became discouraged.
00:21:57.61\00:21:59.55
And his disciples
00:21:59.58\00:22:01.72
still had access to him came,
00:22:01.75\00:22:03.35
gave him reports
00:22:03.39\00:22:04.72
of what was
happening around the place.
00:22:04.75\00:22:06.65
And I want you to
notice what happens here.
00:22:06.69\00:22:10.13
They come and
suggest to John that,
00:22:10.16\00:22:14.20
you know, why wasn't Jesus
00:22:14.23\00:22:16.13
coming to do
something to free him
00:22:16.16\00:22:17.83
from prison perhaps?
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.37
And these suggestions
started to cause John
00:22:19.40\00:22:23.04
in his
discouraged state to doubt.
00:22:23.07\00:22:26.61
I want you to
notice what John does here.
00:22:26.64\00:22:29.31
In Luke 7:19, listen and see
00:22:29.34\00:22:34.62
what John does.
00:22:34.65\00:22:36.89
"And John, calling two
of his disciples to him,
00:22:36.92\00:22:39.52
sent them to Jesus saying,
00:22:39.55\00:22:41.76
'Are You the Coming One,
or do we look for another?'
00:22:41.79\00:22:45.76
When the men had come to Him,
they said, John the Baptist,
00:22:45.79\00:22:48.93
this is speaking of Jesus,
00:22:48.96\00:22:50.30
when the
disciples had come to Jesus,
00:22:50.33\00:22:51.67
they said, John the Baptist
has sent us to You, saying,
00:22:51.70\00:22:54.87
'Are You the Coming One,
or do we look for another?'"
00:22:54.90\00:23:00.41
John's
unfavorable circumstances,
00:23:00.44\00:23:03.41
his expectations
that failed expectations
00:23:03.45\00:23:08.58
of what he expected,
00:23:08.62\00:23:09.95
perhaps Jesus
might be coming to do
00:23:09.98\00:23:12.32
contributed to a
position of discouragement
00:23:12.35\00:23:16.76
and doubt for John and
he sent his disciples to go
00:23:16.79\00:23:21.73
and ask this question, Jesus,
are You who You claimed to be?
00:23:21.76\00:23:25.50
Are You the one
00:23:25.53\00:23:26.87
or should we be
expecting someone else?
00:23:26.90\00:23:28.70
This is John the Baptist.
00:23:28.74\00:23:30.57
This is the man who proclaimed
00:23:30.61\00:23:33.31
Behold the Lamb of God.
00:23:33.34\00:23:35.51
This is the man
00:23:35.54\00:23:36.88
who was among the
first people to explain
00:23:36.91\00:23:39.45
that I've seen and testify
that this is the Son of God.
00:23:39.48\00:23:44.39
And John, a
powerful prophet of God,
00:23:44.42\00:23:48.02
someone who Jesus
later in this very chapter
00:23:48.06\00:23:50.23
describes as the
greatest of all prophets,
00:23:50.26\00:23:53.36
face doubt.
00:23:53.40\00:23:55.73
Doubt is
something that at some point
00:23:55.76\00:23:58.07
in every Christian's
journey they will face
00:23:58.10\00:24:01.80
and how we deal with
that is an important aspect
00:24:01.84\00:24:06.37
of whether this is a
positive or a negative thing
00:24:06.41\00:24:09.78
in our lives.
00:24:09.81\00:24:11.15
How we deal with
it is very important.
00:24:11.18\00:24:12.71
Now notice here with me
00:24:12.75\00:24:14.08
how Jesus
responds to this question.
00:24:14.12\00:24:16.38
In Luke 7:21-23.
00:24:16.42\00:24:19.45
"At that very hour
00:24:19.49\00:24:20.82
He cured many
infirmities, afflictions,
00:24:20.86\00:24:22.89
and evil spirits,
00:24:22.92\00:24:24.26
and to many blind He gave sight.
00:24:24.29\00:24:25.79
Jesus answered and said to them,
00:24:25.83\00:24:28.43
the disciples who had come,
'Go and tell John the things
00:24:28.46\00:24:31.07
that you've seen and
heard, that the blind see,
00:24:31.10\00:24:33.50
the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed,
00:24:33.54\00:24:35.57
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
00:24:35.60\00:24:37.51
the poor have the
gospel preached to them.
00:24:37.54\00:24:39.64
And blessed is he
who is not offended
00:24:39.67\00:24:42.24
because of Me."
00:24:42.28\00:24:44.95
Jesus responds by
pointing to His life
00:24:44.98\00:24:47.82
and demonstrating that
00:24:47.85\00:24:49.18
He had been there, a
fulfillment of Scripture,
00:24:49.22\00:24:52.65
and He sends the disciples back
00:24:52.69\00:24:54.69
to take this report to John,
00:24:54.72\00:24:56.66
and I want you to notice
00:24:56.69\00:24:58.39
how John
responds to this report.
00:24:58.43\00:25:00.96
I'm reading here
from Desire of Ages,
00:25:01.00\00:25:03.13
that Chapter 22 that deals
00:25:03.16\00:25:05.07
with John's
imprisonment and later death.
00:25:05.10\00:25:08.14
Notice how John's
response is recorded,
00:25:08.17\00:25:11.41
"The disciples bore the message,
00:25:11.44\00:25:13.38
and it was enough.
00:25:13.41\00:25:16.21
John recalled
00:25:16.24\00:25:17.58
the prophecy
concerning the Messiah,
00:25:17.61\00:25:19.55
'The Lord hath anointed Me
00:25:19.58\00:25:20.92
to preach good
tidings unto the meek,
00:25:20.95\00:25:22.28
He hath sent Me to
bind up the brokenhearted,
00:25:22.32\00:25:24.22
to proclaim
liberty to the captives,
00:25:24.25\00:25:26.05
and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound,'
00:25:26.09\00:25:28.22
to not only declare
Him to be the Messiah,
00:25:28.26\00:25:31.86
'to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord.'"
00:25:31.89\00:25:34.23
I should say.
00:25:34.26\00:25:35.76
The works of Christ
here as He lived His life,
00:25:35.80\00:25:41.57
pointed forward to the manner
00:25:41.60\00:25:44.07
of what His kingdom would be.
00:25:44.11\00:25:45.74
And as John took this message,
as the disciples took it,
00:25:45.77\00:25:50.31
and gave it to John,
00:25:50.35\00:25:51.68
John received it and
he said, it was enough.
00:25:51.71\00:25:55.18
He was able to
look then at Scripture,
00:25:55.22\00:25:58.15
Scripture came to his mind,
00:25:58.19\00:25:59.52
he was able to make
sense of Jesus in His mission,
00:25:59.55\00:26:02.22
and His ministry,
00:26:02.26\00:26:03.59
and perhaps where he
had had some unrealistic
00:26:03.63\00:26:05.83
expectations of
what that might be.
00:26:05.86\00:26:08.30
He saw what Christ purpose was,
00:26:08.33\00:26:11.30
and it became clear to him
00:26:11.33\00:26:12.67
while he was sitting
there in that prison.
00:26:12.70\00:26:15.04
Now I want you
to notice something
00:26:15.07\00:26:16.40
very important here.
00:26:16.44\00:26:17.87
John's doubts caused him
to question and to dig deeper,
00:26:17.91\00:26:22.98
he sent a messenger
to go speak to Jesus.
00:26:23.01\00:26:26.35
And ultimately, this led him
00:26:26.38\00:26:28.02
to a firmer
conviction of the truth.
00:26:28.05\00:26:31.89
His doubts drove him to Jesus.
00:26:31.92\00:26:34.19
And as Jesus articulated
the response to his doubt,
00:26:34.22\00:26:38.46
it gave him
00:26:38.49\00:26:39.89
a firmer conviction of the truth
00:26:39.93\00:26:42.26
than what he had before.
00:26:42.30\00:26:43.97
He was more settled in the truth
00:26:44.00\00:26:46.20
because it caused
him to dig deeper.
00:26:46.23\00:26:48.90
Many of us as
believers as we become believers
00:26:48.94\00:26:53.84
at an early age
00:26:53.88\00:26:55.21
through
inheriting a faith system
00:26:55.24\00:26:57.65
from our parents or mentors,
00:26:57.68\00:27:01.28
we accept these
belief systems perhaps
00:27:01.32\00:27:06.05
without thinking much
00:27:06.09\00:27:07.42
or questioning
much what they are.
00:27:07.46\00:27:09.26
But there comes a point
in every believer's life
00:27:09.29\00:27:11.13
where you have to make
that faith experience your own.
00:27:11.16\00:27:13.96
Where you go
through a experience,
00:27:14.00\00:27:16.06
a time of asking
what you believe,
00:27:16.10\00:27:19.50
but not only what you believe
more often is quite familiar
00:27:19.53\00:27:22.04
what we believe
00:27:22.07\00:27:23.41
'cause we've grown
up learning the stories,
00:27:23.44\00:27:25.01
but why you
believe what you believe.
00:27:25.04\00:27:27.88
And that process of
making faith your own,
00:27:27.91\00:27:31.61
that process of
asking questions,
00:27:31.65\00:27:34.42
what do I believe,
00:27:34.45\00:27:36.08
and this is a
process of, in some ways,
00:27:36.12\00:27:41.66
there may be some
doubts through that process,
00:27:41.69\00:27:43.66
there may be, do I
want to accept everything?
00:27:43.69\00:27:45.89
Do I want to accept
this? Do I want to accept that?
00:27:45.93\00:27:47.90
And every person
has to go through,
00:27:47.93\00:27:49.30
every believer has to go through
00:27:49.33\00:27:50.87
and build their own
foundation of faith.
00:27:50.90\00:27:53.03
God does not have grandchildren,
00:27:53.07\00:27:55.87
He only has
children, you are not,
00:27:55.90\00:27:58.64
your ticket to heaven
00:27:58.67\00:28:00.01
is not through a
parent's relationship,
00:28:00.04\00:28:01.74
or mentor's relationship.
00:28:01.78\00:28:03.55
It's through you
as a child of God,
00:28:03.58\00:28:06.11
and you build your faith system.
00:28:06.15\00:28:07.82
And what we see is
that in these situations,
00:28:07.85\00:28:11.52
doubt is not a bad thing,
00:28:11.55\00:28:12.89
if it's dealt
with in the right way.
00:28:12.92\00:28:14.86
If it drives you to
dig deeper into God's Word,
00:28:14.89\00:28:18.13
if you take it
to the right place,
00:28:18.16\00:28:20.73
then it will
establish a firm foundation
00:28:20.76\00:28:23.90
as you are able to answer
the questions of your faith,
00:28:23.93\00:28:27.97
and you're ready to
share those with others.
00:28:28.00\00:28:30.87
And we see this in
God's Word regularly.
00:28:30.91\00:28:33.71
James 1:3, "You know that
00:28:33.74\00:28:36.01
the testing of your
faith produces steadfastness."
00:28:36.04\00:28:40.12
As you go through
that experience of testing,
00:28:40.15\00:28:42.52
as you go through that
question of questioning
00:28:42.55\00:28:45.09
what you believe
and why you believe it,
00:28:45.12\00:28:46.82
your foundation,
00:28:46.86\00:28:48.19
if doubt is
dealt with correctly,
00:28:48.22\00:28:49.92
is firmer than
it ever was before.
00:28:49.96\00:28:52.89
This is an
important principle of doubt
00:28:52.93\00:28:55.00
of how to deal with doubt,
00:28:55.03\00:28:56.36
as we look, as
we're trying to decide
00:28:56.40\00:28:58.97
how to deal with
doubt as a Christian,
00:28:59.00\00:29:01.50
we need to understand that
others have gone before us.
00:29:01.54\00:29:05.14
And we can learn and
grow from the experience,
00:29:05.17\00:29:08.24
we can be encouraged by
the experience of others
00:29:08.28\00:29:11.11
who have gone before us
00:29:11.15\00:29:12.85
and have dealt with have faced
00:29:12.88\00:29:14.88
and have overcome
doubt in their lives.
00:29:14.92\00:29:17.62
Now this leads us
into a third principle
00:29:17.65\00:29:19.62
that I want to share with you.
00:29:19.65\00:29:20.99
But I want to ask a question,
I want you to think with me.
00:29:21.02\00:29:23.93
John, when he had
that experience of doubt
00:29:23.96\00:29:26.73
when he was in the prison cell
00:29:26.76\00:29:28.33
and his disciples were
sharing reports with him.
00:29:28.36\00:29:31.63
And he began to have a
doubt over who Jesus really was.
00:29:31.67\00:29:36.94
I want you to think with me,
00:29:36.97\00:29:38.31
what did John do with his doubt?
00:29:38.34\00:29:40.98
What did he do?
Well, he took it to God.
00:29:41.01\00:29:45.08
He took it straight to Jesus.
00:29:45.11\00:29:47.72
He instead of
festering over a doubt,
00:29:47.75\00:29:51.39
instead of taking
it to another source,
00:29:51.42\00:29:53.69
he went straight to
Jesus with his doubt.
00:29:53.72\00:29:56.36
And this is a very
important principle
00:29:56.39\00:29:58.26
of how to deal with doubt.
00:29:58.29\00:30:00.20
We need to take
our doubt to Jesus,
00:30:00.23\00:30:04.03
He is best equipped
to deal with our doubts.
00:30:04.07\00:30:07.20
I want you to notice
here in Desire of Ages,
00:30:07.24\00:30:10.04
speaking here of
John the Baptist,
00:30:10.07\00:30:12.47
as he was dealing
with his doubts says,
00:30:12.51\00:30:14.84
"Doubts which otherwise
would never have arisen
00:30:14.88\00:30:17.48
was suggested to John
through his disciples.
00:30:17.51\00:30:20.52
But the Baptist did not
surrender a faith in God.
00:30:20.55\00:30:24.95
John would not
discuss his doubts
00:30:24.99\00:30:27.49
and anxieties
with his companions.
00:30:27.52\00:30:30.23
He determined to send a
message of inquiry to Jesus."
00:30:30.26\00:30:36.20
How do we deal with doubt?
00:30:36.23\00:30:37.80
How do
believers deal with doubt?
00:30:37.83\00:30:40.10
We need to take
our doubts to Jesus.
00:30:40.14\00:30:43.20
Jesus is best equipped
to deal with our doubts.
00:30:43.24\00:30:46.71
I want to take you to
another passage of Scripture
00:30:46.74\00:30:49.08
that highlights this same idea.
00:30:49.11\00:30:51.75
Turn with me to
Mark, the Book of Mark.
00:30:51.78\00:30:55.32
And we're gonna
turn to Mark Chapter 9.
00:30:55.35\00:30:57.82
In Mark Chapter 9,
00:30:57.85\00:30:59.19
we find a story
here of a young boy
00:30:59.22\00:31:03.02
who has a mute
spirit and a father,
00:31:03.06\00:31:05.53
the father brings his
young boy to Jesus to be healed.
00:31:05.56\00:31:09.63
And I want you to
notice here in Mark 9:21.
00:31:09.66\00:31:15.10
"So He asked his
father, 'How long...'"
00:31:15.14\00:31:19.64
This is Jesus asking
the father of the young boy,
00:31:19.67\00:31:22.41
"'How long has this
been happening to him?'
00:31:22.44\00:31:25.68
And he said, 'From childhood.
00:31:25.71\00:31:28.62
And often he was
thrown him both into the fire
00:31:28.65\00:31:32.65
and into the
water to destroy him.
00:31:32.69\00:31:34.49
But if You can do anything,
00:31:34.52\00:31:36.79
have compassion
on us, and help us.'"
00:31:36.83\00:31:41.96
Was this a
statement of faith here?
00:31:42.00\00:31:45.03
Or was this a
statement of doubt?
00:31:45.07\00:31:48.94
He comes, and he says,
00:31:48.97\00:31:50.61
if, the father says,
"If You can do anything."
00:31:50.64\00:31:56.24
He's not very sure
whether God can do something,
00:31:56.28\00:31:58.11
can he?
00:31:58.15\00:31:59.48
Is he at this point?
00:31:59.51\00:32:00.85
He's not sure whether
Jesus can do so he's hoping.
00:32:00.88\00:32:02.72
There's a degree
of uncertainty there.
00:32:02.75\00:32:05.45
There's a degree of doubt over
00:32:05.49\00:32:07.42
whether Jesus can
actually do something
00:32:07.46\00:32:09.06
to help his voice.
00:32:09.09\00:32:10.43
And if you can do something,
please have compassion, do it.
00:32:10.46\00:32:14.50
Notice what Jesus says
00:32:14.53\00:32:16.53
in verse 23,
00:32:16.56\00:32:21.50
"Jesus said to him,
'If you can believe,
00:32:21.54\00:32:25.24
all things are
possible to him who believes.'"
00:32:25.27\00:32:28.74
Jesus turns the if around,
00:32:28.78\00:32:30.81
and puts the if
back on the father,
00:32:30.85\00:32:33.82
and says, "If you
believe, it can happen.
00:32:33.85\00:32:37.09
All things are possible."
00:32:37.12\00:32:38.59
If you believe,
if you have faith.
00:32:38.62\00:32:42.62
This man, this
father had a doubt.
00:32:42.66\00:32:45.93
He had a question.
00:32:45.96\00:32:47.63
He had uncertainty
00:32:47.66\00:32:49.00
over whether Jesus
could do something.
00:32:49.03\00:32:50.37
Where did he take that?
00:32:50.40\00:32:51.73
He took it to Jesus,
00:32:51.77\00:32:53.10
and Jesus was
able to respond to him
00:32:53.13\00:32:56.50
and direct him to this a picture
00:32:56.54\00:33:02.18
that he was able to do something
00:33:02.21\00:33:03.81
if he firmed up his faith.
00:33:03.85\00:33:05.18
And notice here, the response.
00:33:05.21\00:33:08.58
The response here
of the father, verse,
00:33:11.69\00:33:14.29
"Immediately the
father of the child,"
00:33:14.32\00:33:15.89
this is verse 24 here,
00:33:15.92\00:33:17.46
"cried out and said with tears,
00:33:17.49\00:33:19.69
'Lord, I believe,
help my unbelief!'"
00:33:19.73\00:33:24.23
Where did the
father take his doubt?
00:33:24.27\00:33:27.30
He took it to Jesus.
00:33:27.34\00:33:28.97
He said, "I believe,
but help my unbelief."
00:33:29.00\00:33:32.07
There's some doubt there,
00:33:32.11\00:33:33.58
there's a level
of unbelief help me.
00:33:33.61\00:33:36.58
And he took it
straight to Jesus.
00:33:36.61\00:33:38.88
Jesus helped him
with his unbelief.
00:33:38.91\00:33:41.38
And Jesus was
able to deliver the son
00:33:41.42\00:33:44.29
in this instance
00:33:44.32\00:33:46.35
because of the
faith of the father,
00:33:46.39\00:33:49.82
he took his doubt to Jesus.
00:33:49.86\00:33:52.13
Jesus is best equipped
to deal with our doubts.
00:33:52.16\00:33:55.40
We don't need to be afraid that
He cannot deal with our doubts.
00:33:55.43\00:33:59.50
He's there, and He's ready
00:33:59.53\00:34:01.10
and He is the best
person to deal with our doubts.
00:34:01.14\00:34:03.74
Now notice this,
00:34:03.77\00:34:05.11
I want to read to
you from Desire of Ages,
00:34:05.14\00:34:07.94
page 429, commenting
on this interaction here.
00:34:07.98\00:34:11.85
"It is faith that
connects us with heaven,
00:34:11.88\00:34:16.25
and brings us
strength for coping
00:34:16.28\00:34:18.85
with the powers of darkness.
00:34:18.89\00:34:20.86
In Christ, God
has provided means
00:34:20.89\00:34:23.43
for subduing every sinful trait,
00:34:23.46\00:34:26.33
and resisting every
temptation, however strong.
00:34:26.36\00:34:29.73
But many feel
that they lack faith,
00:34:29.76\00:34:32.87
and therefore they
remain away from Christ.
00:34:32.90\00:34:37.31
Let these souls, in
their helpless unworthiness
00:34:37.34\00:34:40.78
cast themselves upon the mercy
00:34:40.81\00:34:43.24
of their compassionate Savior.
00:34:43.28\00:34:45.25
Look not to self, but to Christ.
00:34:45.28\00:34:48.25
He who healed the sick
and cast out the demons
00:34:48.28\00:34:51.25
when He walked among men
00:34:51.29\00:34:52.95
is the same
mighty Redeemer today.
00:34:52.99\00:34:56.26
Faith comes by the word of God.
00:34:56.29\00:34:58.29
Then grasp His promise.
00:34:58.33\00:34:59.96
'He that cometh to Me I
will in no wise cast out."
00:35:00.00\00:35:03.06
John 6:37, "Cast yourself
at His feet with the cry.
00:35:03.10\00:35:07.74
'Lord, I believe,
help my unbelief.'"
00:35:07.77\00:35:12.17
And notice how she
wraps this statement up.
00:35:12.21\00:35:15.14
"You can never perish
while you do this, never."
00:35:15.18\00:35:20.98
The best place to
take our doubt is to Jesus.
00:35:21.02\00:35:25.42
Never think for one
second, that if you lack faith,
00:35:25.45\00:35:30.99
you should
remain away from Christ.
00:35:31.03\00:35:33.19
This is the worst
possible solution.
00:35:33.23\00:35:35.56
This is the worst
approach to doubt.
00:35:35.60\00:35:38.00
So many people, if
they're facing doubt,
00:35:38.03\00:35:41.07
try to take their doubt to,
00:35:41.10\00:35:43.20
they stop going
to church perhaps,
00:35:43.24\00:35:45.14
or take their
doubt to the world.
00:35:45.17\00:35:47.94
This is not a
solution for doubt.
00:35:47.98\00:35:50.71
This is not taking
your doubt away from Jesus
00:35:50.75\00:35:54.88
will only confirm your doubt.
00:35:54.92\00:35:57.59
It will not help you
to grow through your doubt
00:35:57.62\00:36:00.56
into a deeper faith experience.
00:36:00.59\00:36:03.12
And so when as a Christian,
00:36:03.16\00:36:05.89
as you try to think
about this topic of doubt,
00:36:05.93\00:36:08.13
how do we deal with doubt?
00:36:08.16\00:36:10.13
God's Word is telling
us, take your doubt to Jesus.
00:36:10.17\00:36:14.87
He is able to
deal with your doubt.
00:36:14.90\00:36:17.47
And He is best equipped
to deal with our doubts.
00:36:17.51\00:36:22.68
We see this
clearly in God's Word.
00:36:22.71\00:36:25.35
I want to take you,
00:36:25.38\00:36:26.72
share with you another principle
00:36:26.75\00:36:28.18
from God's Word
00:36:28.22\00:36:29.55
as we consider how
to deal with doubt.
00:36:29.58\00:36:31.62
This, the fourth principle,
00:36:31.65\00:36:33.05
the fourth idea that I'd like us
00:36:33.09\00:36:34.42
to consider as
we try to understand
00:36:34.46\00:36:38.29
how to deal with doubt.
00:36:38.33\00:36:40.10
What do we do
to deal with doubt?
00:36:40.13\00:36:42.00
You're doubting God's
Word, you're doubting God,
00:36:42.03\00:36:46.20
what do you need to do
00:36:46.23\00:36:47.87
if you find
yourself in this situation?
00:36:47.90\00:36:51.24
Well, I want to tell
you that the solution,
00:36:51.27\00:36:55.24
a solution is to
surrender your heart.
00:36:55.28\00:36:59.68
This may not be
immediately obvious
00:36:59.71\00:37:04.22
why this is such an
important principle,
00:37:04.25\00:37:06.55
but I want to spend some
time unpacking this for you.
00:37:06.59\00:37:10.23
The real cause of doubt
00:37:10.26\00:37:11.89
and skepticism in most
cases is a love for sin.
00:37:11.93\00:37:16.77
If you are
struggling with doubt,
00:37:16.80\00:37:18.80
you may need to
surrender your heart to God
00:37:18.83\00:37:21.57
and to submit to Him.
00:37:21.60\00:37:23.84
This is something
00:37:23.87\00:37:25.21
we see regularly
throughout God's Word.
00:37:25.24\00:37:27.88
And one of perhaps
the most important factor
00:37:27.91\00:37:32.98
that affects how well
we understand the Bible,
00:37:33.01\00:37:36.08
or have questions
and have doubts about it
00:37:36.12\00:37:38.55
is actually our morality.
00:37:38.59\00:37:41.42
If we have a cherished sin that
00:37:41.46\00:37:45.86
we hold dear in our life,
00:37:45.89\00:37:48.26
this will color
our view of scripture.
00:37:48.30\00:37:51.77
If we have a cherished sin
00:37:51.80\00:37:53.13
that we hold on
to, you will come up
00:37:53.17\00:37:55.20
with a theology that supports
00:37:55.24\00:37:57.61
or fits around
your cherished sin.
00:37:57.64\00:38:00.94
Morality
actually has a lot to do
00:38:00.98\00:38:03.78
with how we
understand Scripture,
00:38:03.81\00:38:06.98
with how we understand God,
00:38:07.02\00:38:09.55
with how we deal
with doubts and questions
00:38:09.58\00:38:12.72
that may come up
00:38:12.75\00:38:14.09
as we study God's Word together.
00:38:14.12\00:38:15.72
There is a misunderstanding
that if you are intelligent,
00:38:15.76\00:38:19.23
or if you have a
degree, if you're smart,
00:38:19.26\00:38:21.16
if you're
academic, then you will be
00:38:21.20\00:38:23.70
able to understand the Bible
00:38:23.73\00:38:25.30
better than other people
00:38:25.33\00:38:27.64
who haven't had the
same level of academia
00:38:27.67\00:38:31.11
or intellectual
ability as perhaps you,
00:38:31.14\00:38:35.14
but this is a myth.
00:38:35.18\00:38:37.35
This is a complete myth
00:38:37.38\00:38:39.25
because God's Word was
made for the common man.
00:38:39.28\00:38:44.22
God made His Word to be
accessible for everybody.
00:38:44.25\00:38:46.99
Though, perhaps
the best illustration
00:38:47.02\00:38:49.72
to share or show this idea
00:38:49.76\00:38:53.40
that this is a myth is
by looking at the Pharisees
00:38:53.43\00:38:57.03
the religious
rulers of Jesus' time.
00:38:57.07\00:39:01.30
Of course, the
Pharisees were brilliant
00:39:01.34\00:39:04.04
with biblical knowledge.
00:39:04.07\00:39:05.41
They were
outstanding in their field
00:39:05.44\00:39:07.81
from 6 to 10 years of age,
00:39:07.84\00:39:09.48
young Hebrew boys
would memorize the Torah.
00:39:09.51\00:39:13.08
And then from 10
to 14 years of age,
00:39:13.11\00:39:15.58
they would memorize the
rest of the Old Testament.
00:39:15.62\00:39:18.49
And the best of the
best became Pharisees.
00:39:18.52\00:39:23.02
The Pharisees knew
their Bible very well.
00:39:23.06\00:39:25.69
They were
intellectually more capable
00:39:25.73\00:39:27.86
than anybody else
to understand the Bible
00:39:27.90\00:39:30.50
and to recognize the Messiah.
00:39:30.53\00:39:33.10
But when we look at
the record of Scripture,
00:39:33.13\00:39:36.91
we start to see that
intellectual ability,
00:39:36.94\00:39:40.81
academia alone is
not a significant factor
00:39:40.84\00:39:45.81
in understanding God's Word.
00:39:45.85\00:39:48.15
And in approaching it correctly
and understanding it correctly.
00:39:48.18\00:39:52.22
I want you to
turn with me to John,
00:39:52.25\00:39:54.42
the Book of John Chapter 12.
00:39:54.46\00:39:56.56
And I want to share
with you this account here
00:39:56.59\00:39:59.86
of Lazarus resurrection.
00:39:59.89\00:40:02.00
In John Chapter
11, we have Lazarus,
00:40:02.03\00:40:06.20
who was buried,
he's in the grave.
00:40:06.23\00:40:08.74
And Jesus comes along,
00:40:08.77\00:40:10.47
and calls
Lazarus out of the grave.
00:40:10.51\00:40:13.54
And Lazarus
comes out of the grave.
00:40:13.58\00:40:15.74
Jesus raises
Lazarus from the dead.
00:40:15.78\00:40:19.48
He comes out.
00:40:19.51\00:40:20.85
And the evidence that
Jesus has raised Lazarus
00:40:20.88\00:40:24.49
from the dead
00:40:24.52\00:40:25.85
is now walking
around the streets.
00:40:25.89\00:40:28.82
Lazarus is walking
around the streets.
00:40:28.86\00:40:31.73
He's been raised from the dead.
00:40:31.76\00:40:33.40
And he has evidence
that Jesus is the Messiah,
00:40:33.43\00:40:36.90
that Jesus has
raised him from the dead.
00:40:36.93\00:40:39.23
Now I want you to notice,
with this remarkable evidence,
00:40:39.27\00:40:43.61
I want you to notice
00:40:43.64\00:40:44.97
how the religious
rules deal with this.
00:40:45.01\00:40:47.78
Turn with in John
12:10, John 12:10,
00:40:47.81\00:40:53.58
look at what the
chief rulers decided to do.
00:40:53.62\00:40:57.19
"But the chief priests plotted
00:40:57.22\00:40:59.52
to put Lazarus to death also."
00:40:59.55\00:41:02.62
The Pharisees were so steeled
in their prejudice against God,
00:41:06.90\00:41:11.13
against Jesus,
00:41:11.17\00:41:12.50
that the evidence
was right before them
00:41:12.53\00:41:14.74
to indicate that
Christ was the Messiah,
00:41:14.77\00:41:16.97
but they would rather
get rid of the evidence.
00:41:17.01\00:41:20.74
They would rather
get rid of the evidence
00:41:20.78\00:41:23.31
than surrender
their hearts to Jesus.
00:41:23.35\00:41:27.98
Morality is a big deal in
how we understand God's Word.
00:41:28.02\00:41:32.22
Surrendering your
heart is a big deal
00:41:32.25\00:41:35.36
as we approach
this topic of doubt
00:41:35.39\00:41:37.56
and questioning that may come
00:41:37.59\00:41:39.83
as we study God's Word.
00:41:39.86\00:41:41.63
We see, being academically smart
00:41:41.66\00:41:44.60
is not an important factor
00:41:44.63\00:41:46.87
in
understanding God's Word well.
00:41:46.90\00:41:49.17
The majority of the
world's best Bible scholars
00:41:49.20\00:41:52.94
do not even
acknowledge something as basic
00:41:52.97\00:41:56.54
in God's Word is the Sabbath.
00:41:56.58\00:42:00.25
Academia alone,
intellectual ability alone
00:42:00.28\00:42:04.35
is not an important factor
00:42:04.39\00:42:06.45
in
understanding God's Word well,
00:42:06.49\00:42:09.12
surrendering your heart
is, as we surrender our heart,
00:42:09.16\00:42:14.00
we provide an opportunity.
00:42:14.03\00:42:16.40
This is the mechanism
that God uses to lead us
00:42:16.43\00:42:20.00
into a correct
understanding of His Word and to
00:42:20.04\00:42:22.80
and have a full understanding
to better understand
00:42:22.84\00:42:26.81
to avoid doubt in our life.
00:42:26.84\00:42:29.31
And we see this in many places
in God's Word in Mark 8:18,
00:42:29.34\00:42:34.12
Jesus speaking of the Pharisees,
00:42:34.15\00:42:35.72
He says, "You have
eyes and you do not see.
00:42:35.75\00:42:39.25
You have ears
and you do not hear."
00:42:39.29\00:42:42.66
Why?
00:42:42.69\00:42:44.03
There hasn't been a
surrendering of the heart.
00:42:44.06\00:42:46.23
In Matthew 5:8, the Beatitudes
we read in God's Word.
00:42:46.26\00:42:50.30
"Blessed are the pure in heart,
00:42:50.33\00:42:53.97
for they shall see God."
00:42:54.00\00:42:56.97
Well, apparently,
spiritual perception
00:42:57.01\00:43:01.14
requires pureness of heart,
00:43:01.18\00:43:04.05
correctly
understanding God's Word
00:43:04.08\00:43:07.02
and understanding
what God is trying
00:43:07.05\00:43:09.92
to communicate to
us through His Word
00:43:09.95\00:43:12.15
is connected to having
00:43:12.19\00:43:14.66
a surrendered pure heart to God.
00:43:14.69\00:43:17.26
This is a very
important principle
00:43:17.29\00:43:20.00
to consider in God's Word.
00:43:20.03\00:43:21.53
I want you to
turn with me to John,
00:43:21.56\00:43:22.90
the Book of John Chapter 7.
00:43:22.93\00:43:24.83
John Chapter 7,
just a few chapters back.
00:43:24.87\00:43:27.70
John 7:17.
00:43:27.74\00:43:30.64
And we'll look at this in
one more place in Scripture.
00:43:30.67\00:43:34.81
Jesus as He describes,
how to understand doctrine,
00:43:34.84\00:43:39.35
how to understand the
teachings of God's Word
00:43:39.38\00:43:42.08
doctrine is just simply
the teachings of the Bible,
00:43:42.12\00:43:44.35
teachings about Jesus.
00:43:44.39\00:43:46.59
Notice how Jesus,
Jesus gives an answer
00:43:46.62\00:43:49.86
here of how you can
understand the Bible,
00:43:49.89\00:43:52.63
how you can
correctly understand it
00:43:52.66\00:43:54.36
and avoid uncertainty and doubt.
00:43:54.40\00:43:57.70
This is what Jesus says.
00:43:57.73\00:43:59.47
He says, "If anyone
wills to do His will,
00:43:59.50\00:44:03.47
he shall know
concerning the doctrine,
00:44:03.51\00:44:06.78
whether it is from God
00:44:06.81\00:44:08.14
or whether I speak
on My own authority."
00:44:08.18\00:44:10.15
As Jesus answers the
question of how to know,
00:44:10.18\00:44:14.08
correctly understand His Word.
00:44:14.12\00:44:16.22
He says, "Whoever
wills to do His will,
00:44:16.25\00:44:18.39
will know of the doctrine."
00:44:18.42\00:44:20.86
Apparently, I will, is
more important than IQ.
00:44:20.89\00:44:26.70
Having a surrendered heart,
00:44:26.73\00:44:29.10
having a
willingness to commit yourself
00:44:29.13\00:44:32.20
to surrender yourself to God,
00:44:32.23\00:44:34.77
and to His word
is more important
00:44:34.80\00:44:37.74
as a factor for
understanding God's Word
00:44:37.77\00:44:40.18
than perhaps anything else.
00:44:40.21\00:44:42.18
Surrendering your heart.
00:44:42.21\00:44:43.85
He who wills to do His
will, will know of the doctrine.
00:44:43.88\00:44:46.51
As you put into practice
the things in your life,
00:44:46.55\00:44:51.29
as you show a willingness
to put into practice the things
00:44:51.32\00:44:54.26
that you're learning, God
reveals through His Spirit,
00:44:54.29\00:44:57.13
the truths in His Word,
00:44:57.16\00:44:58.96
and this will lead us out
of an experience of doubt,
00:44:58.99\00:45:02.90
to have greater
clarity of God's Word,
00:45:02.93\00:45:06.17
very important principle.
00:45:06.20\00:45:07.97
In order to overcome
doubt and to arrive at truth,
00:45:08.00\00:45:11.34
we need to have a sincere desire
00:45:11.37\00:45:13.78
to know the truth
00:45:13.81\00:45:15.34
and a willingness
of heart to obey it.
00:45:15.38\00:45:18.11
A very important
principle as we consider
00:45:18.15\00:45:21.18
how the Christian
is to deal with doubt.
00:45:21.22\00:45:23.99
Well, I want to take
us to our last principle
00:45:24.02\00:45:27.29
of dealing with doubt,
00:45:27.32\00:45:28.66
of course, we could
look at several others,
00:45:28.69\00:45:30.86
but the last one we've
decided to look at today,
00:45:30.89\00:45:34.60
as a Christian thinks
about how to deal with doubt,
00:45:34.63\00:45:38.73
I want to suggest
today, an important principle
00:45:38.77\00:45:41.80
in dealing with doubt is that
00:45:41.84\00:45:44.47
we need to act on
faith and not on our doubts.
00:45:44.51\00:45:48.74
We need to act on the
things that we understand that
00:45:48.78\00:45:53.92
we need to act on faith
and not act on our doubts.
00:45:53.95\00:45:57.32
That's what Noah did
when he built the ark.
00:45:57.35\00:45:59.75
That's what Abraham did
00:45:59.79\00:46:01.12
when he left Ur
of the Chaldeans.
00:46:01.16\00:46:04.09
That's what Abraham
did when he offered Isaac.
00:46:04.13\00:46:06.46
That's what Moses did
when he marched through
00:46:06.49\00:46:08.20
the Red Sea on dry ground.
00:46:08.23\00:46:11.13
That's what David did
when he faced Goliath.
00:46:11.17\00:46:13.50
That's what Joshua did
when he marched around Jericho.
00:46:13.54\00:46:16.71
That's what Daniel did
00:46:16.74\00:46:18.07
when he was thrown
into the lions' den.
00:46:18.11\00:46:19.67
That's what Nehemiah
did when he built the wall.
00:46:19.71\00:46:23.01
They acted on
faith, and not on doubt.
00:46:23.04\00:46:26.11
Don't you think that
00:46:26.15\00:46:27.65
all of these
great heroes of faith
00:46:27.68\00:46:29.58
had their doubts at times?
00:46:29.62\00:46:31.92
They have their doubts at times.
00:46:31.95\00:46:33.59
Every Christian faces a doubt,
00:46:33.62\00:46:35.86
doubts at different
places in their life.
00:46:35.89\00:46:38.86
But they didn't
fully know in advance
00:46:38.89\00:46:43.30
what their
lives would look like,
00:46:43.33\00:46:45.13
what every part of
the following God's will
00:46:45.17\00:46:47.90
for their life
would play out to be.
00:46:47.94\00:46:50.14
But they
decided to trust in God,
00:46:50.17\00:46:52.84
and they acted on their
faith and not on their doubt.
00:46:52.87\00:46:56.51
This is an important principle
00:46:56.54\00:46:57.88
as we consider how
to deal with doubt,
00:46:57.91\00:46:59.51
we need to do the same thing.
00:46:59.55\00:47:01.45
Your faith will grow stronger
00:47:01.48\00:47:03.08
as you act on your
faith and not on your doubt.
00:47:03.12\00:47:06.15
Most of the time, I
want to suggest today
00:47:06.19\00:47:08.32
most of the time,
00:47:08.36\00:47:09.69
people are in
darkness and doubt,
00:47:09.72\00:47:11.73
not because of ignorance,
00:47:11.76\00:47:13.09
not because they
don't know something,
00:47:13.13\00:47:14.86
but because they do not
do what they already know.
00:47:14.90\00:47:18.67
Most of the time, people
are in darkness and doubt
00:47:18.70\00:47:21.94
not because
their lack of knowledge
00:47:21.97\00:47:25.14
or they don't haven't
really understood something.
00:47:25.17\00:47:28.34
That's not usually the reason.
00:47:28.38\00:47:29.71
Usually, it's because
they do not do what they know.
00:47:29.74\00:47:33.88
They don't act on
faith, they act on doubt.
00:47:33.92\00:47:37.55
This is not a
safe course of action.
00:47:37.59\00:47:39.99
And it will lead us
down a path of confirming
00:47:40.02\00:47:43.06
and strengthening doubt
and moving away from God.
00:47:43.09\00:47:46.03
We need to walk in the light
that God has revealed to us.
00:47:46.06\00:47:49.53
And as we walk in that light,
00:47:49.56\00:47:51.13
God will reveal
more light to us.
00:47:51.17\00:47:53.17
This is the
principle we see in God's Word.
00:47:53.20\00:47:55.67
In James 4:17, we read,
00:47:55.70\00:47:58.77
"If anyone knows the
good that he ought to do
00:47:58.81\00:48:01.24
and doesn't do it,
to him it is a sin."
00:48:01.28\00:48:04.65
We're held
accountable to the light that
00:48:04.68\00:48:06.28
has been revealed to us.
00:48:06.31\00:48:08.05
In Desire of Ages,
page 489 we read that,
00:48:08.08\00:48:11.69
"Our
condemnation in the judgment
00:48:11.72\00:48:13.72
will not result from the
fact that we have been in error,
00:48:13.76\00:48:16.46
but from the fact that
00:48:16.49\00:48:17.83
we have neglected
heaven-sent opportunities
00:48:17.86\00:48:20.66
for learning what is truth."
00:48:20.70\00:48:23.47
This tells us that
God reveals to us truths.
00:48:23.50\00:48:28.34
And as we
faithfully walk in that light,
00:48:28.37\00:48:32.71
He reveals more light to us.
00:48:32.74\00:48:36.44
If God reveals light
to us, and we decide no,
00:48:36.48\00:48:40.65
I'm gonna take my own posture,
00:48:40.68\00:48:42.25
my own path and walk separately
00:48:42.28\00:48:44.95
to how you've shown me
00:48:44.99\00:48:46.76
and we take a
direction down here.
00:48:46.79\00:48:48.59
Why would God
continue to show us more light,
00:48:48.62\00:48:51.26
when we've
already demonstrated that
00:48:51.29\00:48:52.83
the light that He's shown us,
00:48:52.86\00:48:54.56
we're not regarding,
we're not listening to,
00:48:54.60\00:48:57.93
we're not responding to.
00:48:57.97\00:48:59.30
We've taken a
posture of walking away.
00:48:59.33\00:49:02.70
God's Word calls us
to walk in the light,
00:49:02.74\00:49:04.87
act on the faith,
00:49:04.91\00:49:06.57
walk according to
the light that you know.
00:49:06.61\00:49:09.04
And as you do so,
00:49:09.08\00:49:10.88
God will reveal
more light to you,
00:49:10.91\00:49:12.58
and will continue
to grow your faith.
00:49:12.61\00:49:15.18
And you will find
those doubts slipping away.
00:49:15.22\00:49:19.09
James 3:1, we
read, "My brethren,
00:49:19.12\00:49:21.52
let not many of
you become teachers,
00:49:21.56\00:49:23.59
knowing that they shall
receive a stricter judgment."
00:49:23.63\00:49:26.80
We're held accountable
to the light that we know,
00:49:26.83\00:49:28.73
the more that we know,
00:49:28.76\00:49:30.10
the more we're held accountable.
00:49:30.13\00:49:31.70
And so we see
00:49:31.73\00:49:33.07
this simple
principle in God's Word,
00:49:33.10\00:49:37.77
this principle,
00:49:37.81\00:49:39.24
that God is
revealing truth to us.
00:49:39.27\00:49:43.24
And He invites us
to act on the things
00:49:43.28\00:49:47.65
that He has
already revealed to us.
00:49:47.68\00:49:49.55
And as we do that, as
we be faithful to that,
00:49:49.58\00:49:51.75
as we act, we walk in the light
00:49:51.79\00:49:53.76
that God's revealed
to us, He'll reveal more.
00:49:53.79\00:49:56.39
And some of those things
that you had questions about.
00:49:56.42\00:49:59.89
If you act in
faith on the things
00:49:59.93\00:50:02.03
that you know,
00:50:02.06\00:50:03.43
then some of those other things
00:50:03.47\00:50:04.80
as you walk in the
light will start to drop away
00:50:04.83\00:50:08.30
because you have had
more light revealed to you,
00:50:08.34\00:50:10.84
as you walk on,
you're walking in faith.
00:50:10.87\00:50:13.78
And some of those
things just drop away,
00:50:13.81\00:50:17.05
they become clearer to
you as more light is revealed
00:50:17.08\00:50:20.98
because like what we started on,
00:50:21.02\00:50:23.08
we can't know everything,
00:50:23.12\00:50:24.65
we grow in our understanding
00:50:24.69\00:50:26.15
that happens
throughout all of eternity.
00:50:26.19\00:50:28.22
And so we see
00:50:28.26\00:50:29.59
this very simple
principle in God's Word.
00:50:29.62\00:50:32.19
We invited to act on our faith,
00:50:32.23\00:50:36.67
and not on our doubts.
00:50:36.70\00:50:38.53
We're invited to step into
00:50:38.57\00:50:40.60
what God has
already revealed to us
00:50:40.64\00:50:42.90
to be faithful to that.
00:50:42.94\00:50:44.94
And as you're
faithful in those things
00:50:44.97\00:50:46.64
that are clear to you,
00:50:46.68\00:50:48.14
then God will
reveal more light to you.
00:50:48.18\00:50:50.35
And that's the
invitation of God's Word.
00:50:50.38\00:50:53.15
And so as we consider
these five simple principles,
00:50:53.18\00:50:59.05
as we have taken
a very short survey
00:50:59.09\00:51:03.19
of what to do with doubt,
00:51:03.22\00:51:04.69
I would encourage you to pick up
00:51:04.73\00:51:06.06
that little
book Steps to Christ,
00:51:06.09\00:51:07.96
that 12th Chapter
what to do with doubt,
00:51:08.00\00:51:10.57
so much we haven't
been able to touch on,
00:51:10.60\00:51:12.33
but five simple
principles we've shared today.
00:51:12.37\00:51:15.80
We've looked at the idea
that in dealing with doubt,
00:51:15.84\00:51:18.67
we need to be
willing to live in mystery.
00:51:18.71\00:51:22.81
Some things are
not fully explained,
00:51:22.84\00:51:26.11
we cannot make clear to
our finite understanding.
00:51:26.15\00:51:29.02
We've looked at
the idea that there,
00:51:29.05\00:51:31.32
as we try to deal with doubt
00:51:31.35\00:51:32.79
as the Christian
deals with doubt,
00:51:32.82\00:51:34.32
a helpful tool is
to understand that
00:51:34.36\00:51:36.22
others have been there too.
00:51:36.26\00:51:38.19
Faithful men and women of God
00:51:38.23\00:51:40.33
have faced doubt in their lives
00:51:40.36\00:51:42.53
and have overcome it.
00:51:42.56\00:51:44.10
And we can look
to their experiences
00:51:44.13\00:51:45.97
and be admonished
and encouraged by it.
00:51:46.00\00:51:48.87
And we will find
strength as we do so.
00:51:48.90\00:51:51.44
We've looked at this idea
that as we deal with doubt,
00:51:51.47\00:51:54.34
we need to turn to Jesus
and take our doubt to Jesus.
00:51:54.38\00:51:59.51
He is best equipped
to deal with our doubt.
00:51:59.55\00:52:02.08
And He will help us to
move through that doubt
00:52:02.12\00:52:05.29
in a way that will
build our faith firmer
00:52:05.32\00:52:08.12
and deeper than it was
00:52:08.16\00:52:09.49
before we had a
question or a doubt.
00:52:09.52\00:52:12.39
What a powerful idea.
00:52:12.43\00:52:14.10
And we've also
looked at the idea
00:52:14.13\00:52:15.56
that as we try
to deal with doubt,
00:52:15.60\00:52:17.53
that an important principle,
00:52:17.57\00:52:20.50
if we want to avoid doubt
in our life is that we need to,
00:52:20.54\00:52:23.34
we may be being called
to surrender our hearts.
00:52:23.37\00:52:26.31
If we're struggling with doubt,
00:52:26.34\00:52:28.48
we may need to
surrender our hearts to God.
00:52:28.51\00:52:32.31
And as we
surrender our heart to Him,
00:52:32.35\00:52:35.75
as we will, as we
demonstrate a willingness
00:52:35.78\00:52:38.82
to learn of His truth
00:52:38.85\00:52:40.19
and put it into
practice in our lives,
00:52:40.22\00:52:43.83
then God will
reveal truth to us.
00:52:43.86\00:52:46.59
Those doubts will
start to fall away.
00:52:46.63\00:52:49.46
And lastly, we've
looked at this principle
00:52:49.50\00:52:53.30
in God's Word
that as you are dealing
00:52:53.34\00:52:56.00
with doubt in your life,
00:52:56.04\00:52:58.67
I want to encourage
you to act on the faith,
00:52:58.71\00:53:02.88
not on the doubt.
00:53:02.91\00:53:05.01
In those, go back to
those things that are clear.
00:53:05.05\00:53:07.75
Go back to those things
00:53:07.78\00:53:09.12
that God has made
abundantly clear to you.
00:53:09.15\00:53:10.85
Put them into
practice in your life,
00:53:10.89\00:53:13.15
walk in the light
that has been shown to you,
00:53:13.19\00:53:15.02
and as you do so,
00:53:15.06\00:53:16.69
God will reveal
more light to you.
00:53:16.73\00:53:18.86
And so the simple appeal that
00:53:18.89\00:53:21.23
I want to leave with you,
00:53:21.26\00:53:22.93
a simple opportunity
is do you want to take
00:53:22.96\00:53:27.24
your doubt to Jesus?
00:53:27.27\00:53:29.64
Do you want to
surrender your heart to Jesus
00:53:29.67\00:53:34.44
to move that
doubt out of your life?
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Do you want to act on
faith and not on your doubt?
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Well, if that's your desire,
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I want to invite you to pray
with me as we close together.
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Heavenly Father, we
thank You for the privilege
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that we have had
to study Your Word.
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And we do thank You
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for what You have shown us today
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with these five
simple principles
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that we can put into
practice in our lives.
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Lord, we pray
that You would help us
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to take up these challenge,
00:54:01.30\00:54:03.77
seals these
decisions that have been made,
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and may we go forward
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from strength to
strength with You.
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We pray in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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