Faith That Overcomes Doubt Series

Sermon: Faith that Overcomes Doubt

Series: 40 Days of Extraordinary Faith

Text: John 20:24-31 April 7, 2013 AM

John 20:24–31 (NIV84) 24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Mark 11:23 (NIV84) 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

INTRODUCTION

All kinds of people are doubters.

Remember when people said

Nobody needs a cell phone?

Home computers are just a fad...

Just this week I heard about 2 instances

That could raise doubts in a Church family

You may have heard

That Rick Warren’s youngest son, Matthew

Committed suicide on Friday

According to the family

He was a young man of faith

But he struggled with mental illness

And depression all his life

I also heard this week about a Church

That lost pastor to suicide this week

And I am reminded that

Even the strongest among us is weak from time to time

I think those Churches

Are struggling with doubt this morning

And maybe you are too

I hope nothing so devastating as suicide

But a financial setback can bring doubt

A bad report from a doctor

A week when the car breaks down

The Hot water heater dies

And the dog eats your homework

Can bring doubts to mind...

Is God really up there?

Does He really care?

Out memory verse this week is:

“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Mark 11:23 (NIV)

Doubt is natural, but doubt can also be deadly.

Honest doubt seeks answers,

It can be a sign of a seeking heart.

But there is a dishonest doubt that disguises cynicism,

It hides from evidence

And overlooks the truth clearly presented.

Thomas’ words in our key passage today

Help us to see the difference

Between doubt and unbelief.

QUOTE: WIERSBE: What was it that Thomas would not believe? The reports of the other Christians that Jesus Christ was alive. The verb said in John 20:25 means that the disciples “kept saying to him” that they had seen the Lord Jesus Christ alive. No doubt the women and the Emmaus pilgrims also added their witness to this testimony. On the one hand, we admire Thomas for wanting personal experience; but on the other hand, we must fault him for laying down conditions for the Lord to meet.

Doubt says, “I am struggling to believe

I need help, answers, direction”

But Unbelief says, “I will not believe

I refuse to accept the evidence

Even if I see it!

Rodney Buchanan: The reason the Christian faith has grown from one little band of disciples to the place where it has conquered kingdoms and the hearts of people of every age is that it is based on truth.

Listen, it takes outrageous faith to trust God

In the midst of a world gone wrong.

But only outrageous faith

Will bring us the peace we need.

Only through outrageous faith

Can we build homes, families,

And even Churches that will weather the storms.

I. FIND FAITH IN FELLOWSHIP

John 20:19–23 (NIV) 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”