Welcome, and thank
you for joining me.
00:00:15.22\00:00:17.17
I'm Eric Garloff, your
host for Walking With Jesus.
00:00:17.20\00:00:20.26
In this, our twelfth episode in
this series, we're going to be
00:00:20.29\00:00:23.73
talking about
Casting Your Doubts Away.
00:00:23.76\00:00:25.77
In today's day and age it
seems that there are skeptics
00:00:25.80\00:00:28.71
everywhere you turn.
00:00:28.74\00:00:29.71
It seems you can't believe
in anything or anyone without
00:00:29.72\00:00:33.08
having someone contradict
what you think or believe.
00:00:33.11\00:00:35.80
As time goes on this type of
skepticism will only increase
00:00:35.83\00:00:40.05
especially as it pertains
to the religious community.
00:00:40.08\00:00:43.50
Voices will arise from every
direction; voices attempting to
00:00:45.33\00:00:49.02
draw people away from God.
00:00:49.05\00:00:50.77
These voices will come
from strangers, from friends,
00:00:50.80\00:00:53.54
and perhaps even from
our own family or relatives.
00:00:53.57\00:00:55.91
There will be voices of
doubt, voices of discouragement,
00:00:55.94\00:00:59.44
and voices of uncertainty,
voices attempting to distract,
00:00:59.47\00:01:02.99
to discredit you, or to
insinuate you're foolish
00:01:03.02\00:01:06.35
and uneducated, voices
which if not dealt with properly
00:01:06.36\00:01:10.29
may even cause you to begin
questioning your own beliefs
00:01:10.32\00:01:13.62
or abandon them altogether.
00:01:13.65\00:01:15.66
These voices are employed by the
enemy to break down our faith
00:01:15.69\00:01:18.87
in God, and to ultimately
destroy our walk with Jesus.
00:01:18.90\00:01:22.34
So now that we've exposed
these tactics of the enemy,
00:01:22.37\00:01:25.61
we can formulate a
defense to his attacks.
00:01:25.64\00:01:28.93
The number one defensive weapon
that you can carry in your
00:01:28.96\00:01:32.17
arsenal is the Holy Bible.
00:01:32.20\00:01:34.01
But our defense is not
gained by simply carrying
00:01:34.04\00:01:37.16
the Bible around, but rather
our defense is found in reading
00:01:37.19\00:01:41.78
and studying the Bible with the
belief that is God's inspired
00:01:41.81\00:01:45.89
word to our soul.
00:01:45.92\00:01:47.45
Our defense for the skeptics
is to have the attitude that
00:01:47.50\00:01:51.58
if the Bible
says it, I believe it.
00:01:51.61\00:01:54.21
We have pointed out before
during this series that history
00:01:54.24\00:01:57.67
has validated, vindicated
the Bible, that archeology
00:01:57.70\00:02:01.55
has vindicated the Bible as
well, that science has validated
00:02:01.58\00:02:05.32
the Bible.
00:02:05.35\00:02:06.32
Therefore we have no
reason to doubt the Bible,
00:02:06.33\00:02:09.33
and every reason to believe
it's divinely inspired writings.
00:02:09.36\00:02:13.47
God has proven over and
over again it's accuracy
00:02:15.04\00:02:18.92
and its relevancy.
00:02:18.95\00:02:20.53
Therefore, I say again, If
the Bible says it, I believe it
00:02:20.56\00:02:24.97
should be the motto
of every Christian today.
00:02:25.00\00:02:27.48
Steps to Christ,
page 75, 76 says:
00:02:27.51\00:02:30.73
And many other subjects
presented in the Bible are
00:02:45.31\00:02:48.63
mysterious and too deep
for the human mind to explain
00:02:48.66\00:02:52.73
or even fully to comprehend,
but we have no reason to doubt
00:02:52.76\00:02:57.05
God's word because we
can't understand the mysteries
00:02:57.08\00:02:59.92
of His providence.
00:02:59.95\00:03:01.01
Should we then be surprised
to find that in the spiritual
00:03:14.87\00:03:18.99
world also there are
mysteries that we cannot fathom?
00:03:19.02\00:03:22.40
The difficulty lies solely
in the weakness and narrowness
00:03:22.43\00:03:26.58
of the human mind.
00:03:26.61\00:03:27.64
God has given us, in the
scriptures, sufficient evidence
00:03:27.67\00:03:31.72
of their divine character.
00:03:31.73\00:03:33.36
We are not to doubt His word
because we cannot understand
00:03:33.39\00:03:37.13
all of the
mysteries of His providence.
00:03:37.14\00:03:39.25
So to put it plainly, in a
few words, the very complexity
00:04:28.48\00:04:32.59
of the Bible declares to us
the superiority and intelligence
00:04:32.62\00:04:35.85
of it's divine inspiration.
00:04:35.88\00:04:38.78
In fact, the Holy Bible is the
best selling book of all times;
00:04:39.70\00:04:42.47
selling an estimated six
billion copies worldwide.
00:04:42.50\00:04:45.41
Many of it's truths can be
easily be discerned by a child,
00:04:45.44\00:04:48.58
yet at the same time its
complexity and profoundness
00:04:48.61\00:04:51.43
can cause the worlds greatest
thinkers to ponder its passages
00:04:51.46\00:04:55.08
while searching for
its deep hidden meanings.
00:04:55.11\00:04:57.66
These deep meanings can only
be understood by the sincere
00:04:57.69\00:05:02.16
seeker of truth as the
Holy Spirit enlightens the mind,
00:05:02.19\00:05:05.15
and reveals them to
the honest in heart.
00:05:05.18\00:05:07.35
The Bible's literary style also
varies as does it's authors.
00:05:07.38\00:05:12.26
Yet each one when
studied and diligently compared
00:05:12.29\00:05:16.14
is in complete
agreement with the other.
00:05:16.17\00:05:18.17
The very fact that the
Bible is so simple, on one hand,
00:05:18.20\00:05:21.94
and yet so far reaching
into the very core of humanity,
00:05:21.97\00:05:24.89
on the other, leads
many a skeptic to reject it
00:05:24.92\00:05:28.41
simply because they
cannot fully understand
00:05:28.44\00:05:30.78
its hidden treasures.
00:05:30.81\00:05:31.97
The Apostle Paul
says in Hebrews 3:12:
00:05:32.00\00:05:35.43
In the book of Deuteronomy 29:29
we find a passage which says:
00:05:43.23\00:05:49.11
So you see, my friend, God wants
us to understand we're not going
00:05:57.70\00:06:02.07
to answer every question, every
doubt, or every concern that the
00:06:02.10\00:06:05.56
skeptics throw our way, but
He does want us to stand firm
00:06:05.59\00:06:09.20
on those things which He
has already revealed to us,
00:06:09.24\00:06:12.44
which we do know and understand,
placing our faith and our full
00:06:12.47\00:06:16.95
trust in Him.
00:06:16.96\00:06:18.27
When the time is right God will
enlighten His people more fully
00:06:18.30\00:06:23.27
to the wonderful truths
still hidden in His Holy Word.
00:06:23.30\00:06:26.16
Until then, however, God
intends for us to be constantly
00:06:26.19\00:06:30.24
searching His word of
truth for deeper meaning,
00:06:30.27\00:06:33.03
and for guidance, but this
will only come as we seek Him
00:06:33.06\00:06:36.45
in prayer and ask for
the presence and the power
00:06:36.48\00:06:39.45
of the Holy
Spirit to enlighten us.
00:06:39.48\00:06:41.75
Friends, the Savior's promise
to His followers in John 16:13
00:06:41.78\00:06:47.19
is: When he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he will guide
00:06:47.22\00:06:51.54
you into all truth...
00:06:51.57\00:06:52.65
Yes, the same Holy
Spirit, which led the men of old
00:06:52.68\00:06:56.26
to write the Holy Scriptures
is the same Holy Spirit we need
00:06:56.29\00:07:00.47
so that we might understand
what the Holy Scriptures say.
00:07:00.50\00:07:03.59
Once again, turning in the book,
Steps to Christ, pages 78, 79
00:07:05.59\00:07:09.81
we read this: When we
come to the Bible reason must
00:07:09.84\00:07:14.12
acknowledge an
authority superior to itself,
00:07:14.15\00:07:16.19
and heart and intellect
must bow to the great I Am.
00:07:16.22\00:07:20.06
however learned they may be they
are liable to error in their
00:08:09.83\00:08:13.38
understanding of scripture,
and it is not safe to trust
00:08:13.41\00:08:17.15
their explanations.
00:08:17.18\00:08:18.23
and a willingness
of heart to obey it.
00:08:55.39\00:08:57.97
And all who come to this spirit,
to the study of the Bible
00:08:58.00\00:09:02.48
will find abundant
evidence that it is God's word,
00:09:02.51\00:09:05.91
and they may gain an
understanding of its truths
00:09:05.94\00:09:09.36
that will make them
wise unto salvation.
00:09:09.39\00:09:11.75
It would stand to reason
then that a person's salvation,
00:09:13.17\00:09:17.00
his or her destiny eternal,
should be the most important
00:09:17.03\00:09:20.53
thing in their life.
00:09:20.56\00:09:21.53
Why is it then that
many who profess Christianity
00:09:21.54\00:09:25.37
will very rarely, or sometimes
even never, pick up the Bible
00:09:25.38\00:09:28.84
and search it for the words
of knowledge, truth, and life?
00:09:28.87\00:09:33.06
We should, indeed, be in
the word of God every day,
00:09:34.46\00:09:36.62
and thus we will guard
our soul against the attacks
00:09:36.65\00:09:39.28
of our enemy.
00:09:39.31\00:09:40.28
In this way the Christian puts
on his or her armor to withstand
00:09:40.29\00:09:44.06
the poison
darts of the skeptics.
00:09:44.07\00:09:45.97
Jesus said in John 7:17:
00:09:46.00\00:09:48.71
In other words,
knowledge is imparted as we act
00:09:52.75\00:09:55.07
upon His will.
00:09:55.10\00:09:56.07
In addition to
placing yourself in God's word
00:09:56.08\00:09:58.65
on a regular basis, we can also
guard ourselves from the attacks
00:09:58.68\00:10:02.12
of the skeptics by gathering
together on a regular basis
00:10:02.15\00:10:05.40
with fellow believers.
00:10:05.43\00:10:06.45
This is very important, and it's
a very important part of keeping
00:10:06.48\00:10:09.94
our faith strong and healthy.
00:10:09.97\00:10:11.78
So much so that the
Bible says in Hebrews 10:25:
00:10:11.81\00:10:15.48
What day is the Bible
writer speaking about?
00:10:25.44\00:10:27.63
He's speaking about the day
when the Lord Jesus will return.
00:10:27.66\00:10:31.10
In other words, he is saying,
as more and more time goes by
00:10:31.13\00:10:35.90
the need to draw nearer to each
other in spiritual fellowship
00:10:35.93\00:10:39.53
grows greater and greater.
00:10:39.56\00:10:41.54
Friends, doubts are nothing
more than a seed planted in
00:10:43.45\00:10:47.31
your mind by the enemy.
00:10:47.34\00:10:49.12
That's why it's so important
to deal with your doubts
00:10:49.15\00:10:51.93
right away, before they
have a chance to take root
00:10:51.96\00:10:55.23
and spring up
into something larger.
00:10:55.26\00:10:58.41
Romans 10:17 says:
Faith comes by hearing,
00:10:58.44\00:11:02.56
and hearing by the word of God.
00:11:02.59\00:11:04.35
So God brings us
full circle in our faith.
00:11:04.38\00:11:07.90
But for our faith to
grow, we need to keep ourselves
00:11:07.93\00:11:11.62
in the word of God.
00:11:11.65\00:11:12.83
If you have any doubts take
them to the Lord right away.
00:11:12.86\00:11:16.53
This is where you'll find the
strength to choke the seeds of
00:11:16.56\00:11:19.80
doubt before it
chokes your faith.
00:11:19.83\00:11:21.80
So what if you say your faith
is weak, or you don't know if
00:11:21.83\00:11:27.74
you have enough
faith to believe in Jesus?
00:11:27.77\00:11:29.76
Well, in that case, I'd like
to remind you of Paul's words
00:11:29.79\00:11:33.67
found in Romans
12:3 where we read that:
00:11:33.70\00:11:38.02
Think about that.
00:11:40.93\00:11:42.17
God would not call you to
believe in Him if He had not
00:11:42.20\00:11:45.76
already given you the gift
of faith in the first place
00:11:45.79\00:11:48.74
because it is only through
faith that you will believe.
00:11:48.77\00:11:53.30
According to John 3:16 Jesus
died, that whosoever believes
00:11:53.33\00:11:56.96
in Him might not perish,
but have everlasting life.
00:11:56.99\00:11:59.71
Friend, I'm so glad that
God used the word whosoever
00:11:59.74\00:12:05.03
in that verse because that
word is very, very important.
00:12:05.06\00:12:08.57
That word whosoever means
any; anyone who believes in Him.
00:12:08.60\00:12:12.74
It means every;
everyone who believes in Him.
00:12:12.77\00:12:15.88
It means all; all
who believe in Him.
00:12:15.91\00:12:18.83
It means as many as; as
many as believe in Him shall not
00:12:18.86\00:12:24.02
perish but have
everlasting life.
00:12:24.05\00:12:26.41
Aren't you glad God
used the word which includes
00:12:26.44\00:12:28.52
all of mankind?
00:12:28.55\00:12:29.52
You should be because that
means He's included you as well.
00:12:29.53\00:12:32.64
It means all mankind has
been given a measure of faith,
00:12:32.67\00:12:36.70
and that measure of
faith nurtured and strengthened
00:12:36.73\00:12:39.13
will carry you through every
trial until you see the return
00:12:39.16\00:12:42.83
of Jesus in the
clouds of heaven.
00:12:42.86\00:12:45.00
My words of encouragement
to you are to keep reading
00:12:45.03\00:12:48.20
the Holy Bible.
00:12:48.23\00:12:49.20
Keep praying to God and
ask Him to increase your faith,
00:12:49.21\00:12:51.88
thereby protecting you
from the seeds of doubt.
00:12:51.91\00:12:54.89
Then step out in faith
and exercise your faith,
00:12:54.92\00:12:58.62
and you will soon see God's
power working in your life.
00:12:58.65\00:13:01.26
As you keep on walking with
Jesus, please pray and ask God
00:13:01.29\00:13:06.43
for guidance.
00:13:06.46\00:13:07.43
Now, until we meet again
next time for our final episode
00:13:07.44\00:13:10.48
in this series, the staff of
Sapphire Throne Media would like
00:13:10.51\00:13:13.31
to wish upon you, and your
loved ones, the many blessings
00:13:13.34\00:13:16.98
of Almighty God.
00:13:17.01\00:13:17.98
May His love and
mercy shower down upon you.
00:13:17.99\00:13:21.95
Walking with Jesus is exciting.
00:13:24.36\00:13:27.42
No one but Jesus can
give you eternal life.
00:13:27.45\00:13:30.85
We pray you draw close
to Him every day as you
00:13:30.88\00:13:34.52
study the Bible.
00:13:34.55\00:13:35.52
Our next episode
is Happiness in Jesus.
00:13:35.53\00:13:38.93
Please be sure to join us.
00:13:38.96\00:13:41.23