HEB.11:1;6 "FAITH AND DOUBT"
* Many Bible stories have mixtures of faith and doubt. * This is true of the simple account given
in Matt.8:23-27. * Jesus entered into a ship and His disciples followed Him.
* There came a great storm upon the sea. * The boat was covered with the waves, but Jesus was
asleep. * His disciples came to Him and said, "Lord, save us: we perish."
* Jesus arose & rebuked them saying, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith."
* Then the Savior rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm.
A) This story reveals the matter of faith and doubt. * The disciples had some faith, but they
also had much doubt. * So Jesus said, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith."
B) In Matt.14:22-31, right after the feeding of the 5000, Peter walked on the water.
* Most of us are people of faith and doubt! * We fail to heed the Bible admonitions on how to
have faith. * Strangely, we have faith in many ways. * For example:
C) We have faith in mailing a letter. * We write it, sign it, stamp it, and put it in the mailbox.
* We believe that the letter will be delivered, we have no doubt about it! (Visitor’s letters)
D) We have faith in banking money. * We go to our bank, make out a deposit, hand it with our
money to the teller and walk away with confidence.
* We have faith in buying and eating food. * We buy with confidence & we eat w/o fear.
E) We manifest faith when we fly by plane to some distant place.
* We have faith that the plane will hold us up & bring us safely to our destination.
F) Even in the matter of drinking water, we are manifesting faith.
* We turn on the faucet, fill a glass of water, and we drink it. * The water could have poison in
it, but we have faith to believe that it is pure!
G) Even in starting a car we manifest faith. * We get into the car, hit the starter, the battery turns
over the starter, the starter turns over the motor, and off we go.
* I could go on and mention other ways that we manifest faith. * Drs., nurses, medicines,
operations, treatments, all of these are manifestations of faith we have in people & things.
H) But now, we are discussing the matter of faith and doubt, recognizing that the two are
close together. * Note with me a few things:
(1) A DISTURBED FAITH * In Matt.11:4-6 we read that John the Baptist was put in prison.
* From the prison cell, he learned of the works of Christ, and he sent 2 of his disciples saying,
"Art thou he ......." * In v.4-6 Jesus answered, "Go and show John again those things ......."
* John the Baptist was a great man of faith, but for a time, his faith was disturbed.
A) Faith Is Sometimes Disturbed By Conditions! * This was true of John the Baptist!
* The bare prison walls didn’t help to bring about faith, joy and happiness!
* Therefore, John sent out word to inquire regarding the Lord.
B) I believe in my heart he knew, but his faith had been disturbed by the things that had happened.
* The Lord Jesus of course knew of the greatness of John the Baptist, and He said in Mt.11:11,
* "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a ......."
C) So, John’s faith was disturbed! * The disciples on the ship ....... * Peter on the water .......
* Conditions of life oft times brings disturbance. * I read about a little girl who fell down on the
sidewalk & skinned her knee. * She said to her mother,
* "Wouldn’t it be nice if all the world was cushioned?" * But the world is not cushioned!
D) And in this life we will have distressing circumstances, some unfortunate conditions that may
surround us! * Satan is gonna see to it that your life is not easy!
* There’s a primitive African tribe that believes that although God is a good God & wishes good
for all of us, he has a half witted brother who keeps getting in the way & messes things up.
* This is pagan foolishness, but there is a devil who is disturbing conditions around us all the time!
E) Again, Faith Is Disturbed By Delay! * David - "I waited patiently ..." * Waiting is always hard!
* Waiting for conditions to improve, waiting for prayers to be answered for a loved one to come
to Christ - It’s hard! * However, we must know that God sometimes delay his answers...purpose.
* He is trying to increase our faith & our dependence upon Him!
* But still we can’t understand how faith is disturbed by delay. * For example:
F) Here is a wife who has prayed so hard for the salvation of her husband.
* She believes God, she has testified to him, there is no response & she wonders why the delay.
G) Again, Faith Is Disturbed By Failure! * We all have had the experience of doing what we
considered our best, then we have seen before us just plain failure!
* I’ve seen pastors become bitter after sore failure! * They have found their best work come to
naught! * Many have had the same experience!
* Spent a lifetime trying to build a business, and then you see it go to nothing.
* This has a bearing on our faith! * Faith is disturbed by conditions, delay and failure!
H) Faith Is Disturbed By The Criticism Of Others! * Criticism is a sure thing of those who are
active in the service of Christ! * Those who are never criticized are those doing nothing for God!
* Wherever you work, whatever you do, someone will criticize!
I) Now, when disturbances come, what can we do? * We must run to Jesus even as John did!
* He sent two of his disciples & told them to ask, "Art thou he that should come or do we ......."
* Disciples on the ship ....... * Peter on the water ....... * They all ran to Jesus!
* Jesus has the answer for us! * He’ll tell us to fear not, but have faith in God!
(2) DOUBTING FAITH * These 2 thoughts are closely aligned and yet different.
* Faith may be disturbed, but may still be faith, a strong faith. * Peter on the water - Mt.14:31
"Wherefore didst thou doubt?" * Don’t be critical, some of you are still in the boat!
* Sometimes the doubts come & we are rendered weak & incapable of strong work because of
doubt! * Doubts are usually symptoms of something underneath the surface!
A) First, Sin Brings Doubts! * Sin breaks the chain of faith! * Sin weakens your life!
* Sin blinds your eyes! * Sin destroys your ability to lay hold on the truth.
* Sin tries to put the blame on another! * If you allow sin to invade your life, you can be sure
that you will soon have doubts! * It matters not what the sin may be!
* Unfaithfulness, not telling the truth, etc. * But remember, sin brings doubts!
B) Idleness Brings Doubts! * I don’t know why Thomas was absent on that 1st Sun. night when
Jesus appeared to the disciples, but he wasn’t there!
* The other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." * Thomas said, "Except I see ..."
* Thomas was a doubter! * He might’ve had a good reason to be absent on the previous Sun. night.
* Or he might’ve been absent just because of his doubting heart!
C) Whatever it was, he expressed his doubts very plainly!
* The doubts were not erased until Jesus made an appearance before him & told him, "Reach
hither thy finger ..." * Thomas answered Him & said, "My Lord and my God."
* In Jn.20:29 He gives a word to all of us; a word that should help us to overcome our doubts!
* "Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou ..." * When you miss church, fail to read your Bible,
fail to pray, there is danger! * Inactivity & idleness brings doubts!
D) Refusing God’s Call Brings Doubts! * Many a man has lived a life of misery because he has
refused God’s call to service & for a lifetime he was filled with doubts!
* I’m reminded of a statement that was made to a young preacher by W.A. Luckie.
* He said, "Son, if God has called you to preach, never turn your back on that call."
* "When I was a young man, God called me to preach, but I never have preached."
* He said, "My life has been one of unhappiness; I have failed God!"
E) Doubts May Come By Listening To Wicked Teachers! * That’s why I like Christian schools.
* Public schools don’t teach nothing about God or Christ! * One more thing on doubting faith:
F) A Doubting Faith May Be The Result Of The Presence Of Trouble!
* Adversities will bring doubts! * Too often our troubles raise a big question mark, so the devil
takes the depressed mind and sows doubt!
(3) A DYNAMIC FAITH * We’ve discussed a disturbed faith and a doubting faith.
* But I believe the Bible tells us how we can build a faith that is strong and steadfast!
A) 1st, There Must Be Direction! * We must look toward Him!
* Faith will not come by looking at yourself! * We must look toward Christ the Author and
Finisher of our faith! * 1st, there must be a believing in the Son of God as your own ... Savior!
* And 2nd, there must be a resting upon Him! * I see the importance of looking to Jesus!
* Looking at the world never brings faith!
B) 2nd, When We Look Toward Him, There Will Be Assurance!
* We have His promise, "I will never leave thee ... I am with you alway, even unto the end!"
* David had this assurance, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!"
C) 3rd, There Must Be A Purpose! * The purpose must not be selfish!
* Selfishness will always keep away a dynamic faith! * Perhaps we can put the matter in a little
different way: "Why have a dynamic faith?"
* First, That He might be exalted! * We should desire to honor Him always!
D) Second, That His work might be done! * We have a task given to us & if we don’t do it, .......
* Third, That others might be blessed! * Faith is catching! * Your strong faith will help others!
* Your faith will increase the faith of others!
E) Last, That souls might be won to Christ! * Sometimes we are tempted to believe that someone
can’t be saved! * We say, "There’s no hope for him, he’ll never get saved," & we believe that!
* We must believe God & have faith to pray & work & witness until the lost souls come to death.
* God grant that we shall continue in faith to pray for others & act on our prayers!
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A) Perhaps a thousand doubts have entered your minds. * You have been tempted to give up your
prayer life and your intercession for others!
* I lay upon your hearts, pray earnestly, fervently, and believingly!
B) Make sure that in all of your praying that you are looking toward the Savior,
* And that your faith is firmly fixed in Him!
C) He is the one who gives life, peace and joy! * The world is full of doubts!
* Satan will try to deceive you and put every evil thought that he can in your mind!
* But look to Christ! * He will save, He will keep, He will satisfy!
D) Maybe you need to tell the Lord as the disciples did, "Lord, increase our faith!"
