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Reboot
50 Days To Upgrade Your Life
(Easter To Pentecost Series)
Free Yourself From Self-Doubt
Sunday April 24, 2022 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui
Mark 16:14

WHY UPGRADE?

The Resurrection and Pentecost made you eligible for an upgrade to your life. The good news is that it is prepaid and comes with a lifetime warranty.

WHAT IS AN UPGRADE?

An upgrade is more than changing places, professions, or people; it is about renewing your mind-

  1. To protect against attack and security risks from the enemy.
  2. To fix spiritual bugs and prevent lasting negative impacts.
  3. To improve and extend spiritual battery life for greater performance.
  4. To provide tools for maximum productivity and efficiency.

JESUS' CONTEXT

Jesus dealt with unbelief and the hardness of heart.

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. -Mark 16:14 (NKJV)

Jesus dealt with Thomas' doubt.

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." -John 20:27 (NJKV)

Why Did Jesus Get Upset With Faithlessness?

  1. Jesus got annoyed because people were looking for empirical evidence, a miraculous sign to prove faith.

Let's look at the pattern:

  1. Jesus was not impressed with Nicodemus, who praised Jesus for the miracles He performed. (John 3:2)
  2. Jesus rebuked the disciples for not believing others who had seen Him. (Mark 16:4)
  3. Jesus rebuked Thomas for not believing the disciples. (John 20:27)

Doubt is the manifestation of a lack of faith.
Faithlessness is dangerous.
Faithlessness leads to disobedience.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith is the most powerful force operating within you. (Matthew 17:20)

OUR CONTEXT

According to the General Social Survey,

  1. The share of Americans who say they have no doubt that God exists has declined 10 percentage points over the past three decades (1988-2018).
  2. Some 53 percent of Americans said they have no doubts about a higher power in 2018, compared to 63 percent in 1988.

But faith is becoming more and more popular.

  1. Faith is on the rise and 84% of the global population identifies with a religious group. What does it mean for the future? (Harriet Sherwood of The Guardian)

Why Do We Need Faith?

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. -Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

Steps To Upgrade From Doubt To Faith

The First Step: Operate Out of the Power of the Holy Spirit

  1. The power of the Holy Spirit will make you stand strong in the things of God.
  2. The Spirit of God will give you special abilities/spiritual gifts to live an abundant life.

The Second Step: The Power of the Holy Spirit is Powered by Love

  1. Operate within the boundary of love; love God and love neighbors. (Mark 12:30-31)
  2. There is no fear in love. (1 John 4:18)

The Third Step: Set Your Mind on Jesus and on Things Above

  1. A self-disciplined mind pulls you upward to things above. (Colossians 3:2)
  2. A self-controlled mind pulls everything up to Jesus.

Faith is like gravity moving in the opposite direction.
Just as gravity pulls everything downward, faith pulls everything upward.

The Fourth Step: Obedience is Key to Move from Doubt to Faith

  1. Surrendered obedience is about a change of heart and mind.
  2. The opposite of surrendered obedience is doubt.
  3. Take your thoughts captive and make them obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
  4. Faith leads to obedience.

You have the freedom to sow any seeds you desire. But you do not have the freedom to reap whatever you want.

You sow the wind and reap a whirlwind. (Hosea 8:7)
We reap what we sow. (Galatians 6:7)

The Next Step: Daily Takeaways

  1. Access the power of God
  2. Measure everything you do with God's love.
  3. Cultivate Christ-mindset
  4. Trust and obey what God says.