Doubt

Doubt

We all know it!

The Latin word for doubt - dubitare – it comes from Aryan meaning two.

They figured the term “to believe” means to be in “one mind”

That’s why you are in “two minds” when you doubt.

We know the Bible talk about such a state of doubting in James 1:6

6But 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. 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Doubt is also known as hesitation, or disbelief.

Doubt is the opposite of faith…

There is one perfect case study in the Word of God written up in John 20:25 24

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."

So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

26And 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!" 27Then 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."

28And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

29Jesus said to him, "Thomas,[4] because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Here we find a man with an distinct but not attractive personality.

Who ever wants to be like Thomas? Lots want to be like Moses, David, Peter John , Paul, but I have found non who would like to be like Thomas…

Thomas … in particular his character teaches us a lot about doubt..

May I suggest that doubt needs to be repented from.. We’ll come to that but let’s first look at this man and his character.

We find four statement about this man in John that tells us more about him….

John 11 14Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."

16Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."

Sarcasm…

John 14 5Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"

Great sermon .. he interrupted Jesus

John 20 Thomas not here… Where was he?

John 21:1 1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

Thomas went from unbelieving to believing..

THE LORD TAKE PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO BE LOSERS AND MAKE THEM GREAT IN THE KINGDOM.