1 Dealing with Doubts
2 Doubts caused by ingratitude – 1 Thessalonians 5 :18 - Remembering God’s gracious provisions is a catalyst to thankfulness - Thankfulness is an antidote to doubt So - Look for reasons to be thankful - List the reasons to be thankful - Love the reasons to be thankful Comfort and ease created by our current situation leading to a feeling of self sufficiency is a great danger today which may lead to ingratitude producing doubts. List
3 Doubts caused by an inadequate or faulty view of God- Numbers 33:55 - Overcoming errant preconceptions of God which may lead to spiritual disappointments - health, wealth and prosperity - we want to follow Jesus but don’t want to carry our crosses SO - check our understanding of grace and God’s willingness and powerfulness to help. - watch for previous or current syncretistic preconceptions which may rob God’s word of it’s power. - Go on the attack, apply the same rigorous interrogation of other religious ideas as we are expected to do of Christianity. - Doubt our doubts.
4 Doubts caused by an insecure foundation– Matthew 7:24-27 - A good foundation is built on Jesus Christ alone - hearing His Word - Doing His Word - Bad foundations may include - Personal righteousness - Emotional experience - Contamination of faith with works - having faith in faith SO - Learning why we believe not just what to believe - Remember old dogs can learn new tricks - Flexibility can aid stability, hanging on tenaciously to the way things have always been will not aid our spiritual growth. Enaciously to the very thing
5 Doubts caused by a lack of commitment– Matthew 16:24-26 - Most often expressed by an unwillingness to make the sacrifices necessary for a higher cause. SO - Knock our Christian faith down from our heads to the heart to the feet Enduring faith exists because of personal conviction not inherited beliefs - Value accountability - Remember the high stakes of Christianity - The Christian faith is a call to sacrifice.
6 Doubts caused by a failure to thrive – Revelation 3:1-6- called to a life of emancipation not emaciation - a tree not growing is a tree dying or at least not bearing fruit - Doubts arise when there is a failure to practice our faith SO - Put your faith to the test exercise your spiritual muscles - Dare to pray and expect more from God than what is humanly possible - Maintain a balance between becoming a Christian and living as a Christian - Live while practicing our faith today, its not enough to live on previous experiences.
7 SO - Address those practical needs e.g. food and sleepDoubts caused by untamed emotions – 1 Kings 19 - Emotions should be a servant to understanding not visa-versa - Emotions will more easily rule us when we are tired, lonely, exhausted through long illness or spiritual battles SO - Address those practical needs e.g. food and sleep - Become task orientated - Developing good spiritual disciplines so to be word driven in times of desperation
8 SO -Forgiveness Doubts caused by old wounds – Luke 24:36 - 43- Dealing to a reluctance to trust because of Psychological damage - Healing historical festering sores SO -Forgiveness - Understanding Gods’ providence and learning to trust in a sovereign God - understand the nature and extent of God's providence and sovereignty - Focus on the good rather than giving idol status to the bad.