Haunted By Doubt Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• This week concludes our Haunted Series. If you missed one of the messages and would like to hear what you missed, go to the FCC web site and click on the audio sermons link.

• You can also subscribe to our pod caste on ITunes. Search First Christian Church and you will see us under the Pod Castes in the ITunes Music Store.

• Today we will examine a subject that we all struggle with on various levels; however, it is a misunderstood subject.

• Haunted by doubt.

• Doubt Is defined by the Bing Dictionary as follows: to feel unconvinced or uncertain about something, or think that something is unlikely

• - to suspect that somebody is not sincere or trustworthy, or that something is not true, likely, or genuine

• - a feeling or state of uncertainty, especially as to whether somebody is sincere or trustworthy, or as to whether something is true, likely, or genuine

• No one can go through life without facing doubts; however, we do not need to be haunted by doubt.

• Doubt is a tricky subject for the Christian because we are told by well-meaning people that doubt is of the devil or that if you have faith you should not doubt.

• For the person who has doubts these well-meaning statements can drive a deeper wedge between their faith and their doubt because now they are led to believe that REAL Christians have no doubts.

• Through the course of this message we will get a picture of what doubt is and what it is not.

• Understanding the issue of doubt can help us not to give up on our faith when we start to doubt something concerning God.

• Let’s look at the passage we will examine together this morning as we wad through the paradox of doubt.

• SLIDE #2

• James 1:6 (HCSB) But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

I. Faith is the key to receiving blessings.

• Before we dig into the issue of doubt we need to begin our examination by looking at the relationship between faith and blessings.

• You will need to follow me close on this one so that when we get to the issue of doubt we will understand what James is and is not saying.

• In the context of the passage, James is talking about wisdom and how if one lacks wisdom, one can ask of God and He will be more than happy to help bestow wisdom to the one who asks.

• James shares a caveat as far as receiving the blessing one is asking for, they must ask in FAITH.

• In order to comprehend doubt, we need to understand what faith entails.

• There are a few ways in which one can define “FAITH”; however, for our purposes let us define faith as WHOLE-SOULED TRUST IN GOD’S WORD AS TRUE BECAUSE OF THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE. (Gareth Reese Commentary on Acts p. XXXVIII)

• Faith in direct connection with God would be Faith is a complete commitment to God in trusting obedience. Holman New Testament Commentary - Holman New Testament Commentary – Hebrews & James.

• So faith in simple terms is trust. It is a strong enough trust which allows one to follow God’s lead.

• When James is speaking of asking in faith, he is not suggesting one has zero doubts about a situation. He is not suggesting we put on a pretend display of emotions to show we have no doubts.

• Faith to James is a single-minded commitment to God that trusts because God is God.

• Faith allows one to God, to trust God even in the midst of one’s doubts.

• Your faith gets put to the test on a daily basis by the grind of life and some of the difficulties that plague you.

• In the previous verses to verse 6, James speak on the subject of the testing of one’s faith and how said testing can produce a deeper, stronger faith.

• When you are in a situation you may harbor some doubt because you do not know how God is going to work through the difficulty or even how He could possibly carry out Romans 8:28 through the difficult situation.

• SLIDE #4

• Romans 8:28 (HCSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

• You may not know the answers, nevertheless, you KNOW your God will deliver!

• Your, experience, your heart, and your mind tells you that you can lean on God.