Faith and Doubt (3 of 6)
Dan Rodgers
James 1:1-8
INTRODUCTION: Last week, we talked about faith and security; tonight, we will discuss faith and doubt. Faith and doubt do not go together; they are mutually exclusive. One cannot exercise faith, while at the same time, doubt God.
When we think of doubt, we often think of "Doubting Thomas." Jesus had appeared to all the disciples, except Thomas; he was not there at the time. So, when they told him they had seen Jesus, he refused to believe it. He shouldn't have doubted. Jesus promised that He would rise from the dead. And not only that, Thomas had been with Jesus throughout His ministry. He had witnessed the Him heal the sick and raise the dead. He was there time and time again when the Lord performed miracles and yet, he doubted.
It reminds me of some Christians who have witnessed the hand of God in their lives. He has brought them through the most difficult of times; and yet, let some trouble come, and they begin to doubt.
We all remember the story of Peter; Peter walked on water--that is, until he took his eyes off Jesus. Then he began to sink. The Bible says in Matthew 14:31, "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Again, we remember Peter's lapse of faith when he denied the Lord; He said, "I know not the Man" (Matthew 26:74).
Let me give you a three-point outline:
I. The Need for Faith
II. The Exercise of Faith
III. The Lack of Faith
I. THE NEED FOR FAITH (VS. 6A)
A. Our Source of Faith
1. Faith is not something we can muster up on our own. If it were not for God's presence and involvement in our lives, we would have no faith. Yes, we can increase the faith we have; and yes, we can exercise more faith as we learn from life's experiences, but we must remember; our source of faith is from God. In Romans 12:3, Paul wrote, "For I say, through the grace given unto m ...
Dan Rodgers
James 1:1-8
INTRODUCTION: Last week, we talked about faith and security; tonight, we will discuss faith and doubt. Faith and doubt do not go together; they are mutually exclusive. One cannot exercise faith, while at the same time, doubt God.
When we think of doubt, we often think of "Doubting Thomas." Jesus had appeared to all the disciples, except Thomas; he was not there at the time. So, when they told him they had seen Jesus, he refused to believe it. He shouldn't have doubted. Jesus promised that He would rise from the dead. And not only that, Thomas had been with Jesus throughout His ministry. He had witnessed the Him heal the sick and raise the dead. He was there time and time again when the Lord performed miracles and yet, he doubted.
It reminds me of some Christians who have witnessed the hand of God in their lives. He has brought them through the most difficult of times; and yet, let some trouble come, and they begin to doubt.
We all remember the story of Peter; Peter walked on water--that is, until he took his eyes off Jesus. Then he began to sink. The Bible says in Matthew 14:31, "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Again, we remember Peter's lapse of faith when he denied the Lord; He said, "I know not the Man" (Matthew 26:74).
Let me give you a three-point outline:
I. The Need for Faith
II. The Exercise of Faith
III. The Lack of Faith
I. THE NEED FOR FAITH (VS. 6A)
A. Our Source of Faith
1. Faith is not something we can muster up on our own. If it were not for God's presence and involvement in our lives, we would have no faith. Yes, we can increase the faith we have; and yes, we can exercise more faith as we learn from life's experiences, but we must remember; our source of faith is from God. In Romans 12:3, Paul wrote, "For I say, through the grace given unto m ...
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