Doubts

It is possible to have legitimate questions and concerns

about persons, propositions, or teachings.

A. What is the difference between these questions and

doubt?...none...they are the same thing.

1. It is healthy...even desirous (in some cases) to

question.

a. We are actually admonished to question

some things.

I John 4:1 - 1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test

the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false

prophets have gone out into the world.

** We question these “spirits”, because we are unsure of

their validity...in other words, we doubt until that doubt

can be removed.

b. The Apostle Paul had his doubts about a

whole congregation...or so he writes in

Gal. 4:20.

Gal. 4:20 - 20I would like to be present with you now and

to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

c. The Bereans questioned everything and

checked teachings out with the Word of

God.

1.) They were commended for it...as a

matter of fact.

Acts 17:11 - 11These were more fair-minded than those in

Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all

readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out

whether these things were so.

We see that question (doubting) motivates us to search

further and deeper in our quest for the truth.

A. In this there is a positive aspect to questioning

the validity and veracity of people, propositions,

and teachings.

With rare exception, however, doubt toward God or toward

the things of God is considered a negative thing.

A. Doubt and questioning of God, is almost always

an indication of a lack of faith...a lack of belief...

the absence of trust in God or His Word.

These kinds of doubts are placed in our minds by satan.

A. Doubting God or His Word is one of the number

one destroyers of our faith and is the main cause

of Christians falling away.

1. Doubt is the enemy of faith.

2. Doubt is a cousin,...if not a brother to fear.

Because a person has doubts does not make them a wicked

person.

A. Doubts are common.

1. Some doubt God because they cannot see

His hand working in their lives.

B. Some have been known to doubt the Church...that

is,...they doubt the belief system that they have

been taught, as a Christian.

C. A terrible problem arises when we doubt our very

salvation.

1. As time goes by, we sometimes need to be

reassured of the reality of our salvation.

D. Finally...troubles, trials, and distress can bring

about real doubt about all of our spiritual

soundness.

1. Doubts about ourselves,...doubts about God,...

and doubts about the promises found in His

Holy Word.

** Doubt indicates a real need in a person’s life to feed the

soul with faith building exercises.

Many Biblical men and women questioned and doubted:

Sarah - Gen. 18:12-14

Moses - Ex. 3:11; 4:1,10

Gideon - Judges 6:13-15

Samuel - I Sam. 16:1-2

Elijah - I Kings 19:13-14

Naaman - II Kings 5:9-13

The Diciples - Matt. 16:10-11

Thomas (Didimus) - John 20:25

Peter - Acts 11:5

Annanias - Acts 9:13-14

** This is not to justify doubts, but to show their common

relationship among men.

1. Nobody is so strong that they have never had

any doubts of any kind.

Even Jesus Christ was attacked by satan trying to place

doubt in His mind.

Matt. 4:3,6 - “... If You are the Son of God...”

A. We are told that Jesus was tempted in all ways as

we are (Heb. 4:15)...but isn’t it interesting that the

only temptation that is mentioned, specifically, is

the temptation of DOUBT.

Matt. 4:3,6; 27:40,42; Luke 23:37,39

One of Peter’s major blunders is one of doubt.

Matt. 14:28-31 - 28And Peter answered Him and said,

“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the

water.” 29So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come

down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

30But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was

afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord,

save me!” 31And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand

and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why

did you doubt?”

A. Peter went from walking on water to drowning.

I. Doubting God and the things of God that have been

revealed to us from His Holy Word, is ALWAYS

FROM THE DEVIL.

A. Our faith must be built upon the Word of God.

Matt. 7:24 - 24“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of

Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who

built his house on the rock:

B. Our very final judgment will be based upon this

Word.

John 12:48 - 48“He who rejects Me, and does not receive