FaithFit

Refuse to Doubt

Sunday April 18, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

John 20:27

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:27)

Believing without seeing brings superior blessings - Pastor Wung Valui

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." Jesus said to him, "Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:26-27)

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! (James 2:19)

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything

Question your doubts. Let the word of God carefully scrutinize your doubt.

THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE BIBLE:

• 1. God has been dealing with doubt from the Garden to the city.
• 2. It is always unbelief that hinders the mighty work of God.
• 3. From the dawn of the history of the Christian faith, believing without seeing always brings a superior blessing.

The first question in the Bible came from the mouth of Satan:

"Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" ( Genesis 3:1)

Lesson from the father of a boy who had a mute spirit

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24).

1. WE CAN OVERCOME OUR DOUBTS WHEN WE EXPERIENCE GOD'S PRESENCE

Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side"-John 20:27

From Belief To Faith: God has been dealing with doubt from the Garden to the city.

1. Jesus' way of spiritual formation is taking someone from belief to faith.
2. Building faith is more about God's PRESENCE than PROOF.
3. Jesus took Thomas from Belief to Faith- Thomas was transformed by Christ's presence. He did not need to touch the hands and side of Jesus

Presence: To overcome your doubt, look for His Presence rather than looking for proof.

1. You can experience God's presence in small acts of kindness.
2. You can experience God's presence in His creation.
3. You can experience His presence in awe and wonder looking at a newborn baby.
4. You can experience His presence in radical empathy (Elisha raises the Shunammite's son from the dead 2 Kings 4)

2. TO OVERCOME YOUR DOUBT, ACTIVE THE POWER IN THE WORD GOD BY FAITHDo not be unbelieving, but believing -John 20:27

It has always been unbelief that hinders the work of God

It is easier to shrug off a task, saying it is beyond my capacity (God called Moses and he protested against God).

1. To build your faith, build it with faith without sight.
2. The power of God is fully active in His Word (Elijah and his faith 1 King 16-19)
3. Sing The Song of Faith even when you don't see God at work yet (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

   17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls- 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills

   For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart -(Hebrews 4:12)

TO OVERCOME YOUR DOUBT SIMPLY BELIEVE IN THE WORD OF GOD

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed"-John 20:27

From the dawn of the history of the Christian faith, believing without seeing brings superior blessing:

The Blessedness Is Attainable: Look at the whole biblical line starting from Abel.

1. A simple devoted faith in the word of God brings greater blessings than first looking for circumstances to confirm faith (Naaman was asked to perform a simple task- wash seven times in the River Jordan -2 Kings 5)
2. Do not diminish the blessings of believing in faith by imposing preconditions or asking for something spectacular to happen to you.
3. If something spectacular does not happen, it does not mean God's miraculous providence has stopped or been absent.
4. Do not diminish God's blessing by the craving for an ecstatic experience.

Has God Given Occasion For Distrusting Him?

1. Unbelief denies the self-sufficiency of God and His word.
2. Feed your faith daily.

   But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)

3. Trust God even when you cannot visibly see him at work.

Seeing God is no guarantee that you will believe and trust God:

1. True comfort and confidence come from believing without seeing.
2. Total surrender and simple, childlike faith comfort our soul.
3. Simply believing is enough; it is the way to a superior blessing.