Sermon Tone Analysis

*Intro* – Last week we left John disillusioned after several months in prison.

He had challenged King Herod for stealing his brother’s wife and Herod jailed him.

His reward for doing right?

– a dungeon!

Furthermore, Jesus was doing miracles everywhere, but none for John.

He began to doubt.

He felt like his pockets were being picked by the very One he sought to serve.

So he sent an inquiry: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Lu 7:19).

Doubt!

Despite seeing the Trinity on display at Jesus’ baptism.

Despite seeing Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

He’d been so sure – and now he’s not so sure.

Personal adversity has sparked doubt.

Perhaps you’re there right now? You’re in good company.

But while doubt happens, it is not where we want to live.

John MacArthur says, “Honest doubt is not a bad starting point, but it is a bad finishing point.”

Doubt will come, but if we harbor it for long, it will kill us.

Doubt is a prime weapon of our enemy and left untended, it will destroy us.

Wm.

Lane Craig says, “Doubt is not just a matter of academic debate or disinterested intellectual discussion; it involves a battle for your very soul, and if Satan can use doubt to destroy you, then he will.”

We must hit this issue head-on.

*I.

The Cause of John’s Doubt*

Doubt is triggered by a preconceived notion of what God should do, or when He should do it, or how He should do it.

It results from us ascending God’s throne and saying, “I wouldn’t do it that way; I’d do it this way.

I wouldn’t leave John in prison; I’d get him out.”

Doubt stems from us taking God’s role!

As president, JFK once blocked a hike in steel prices.

A prominent businessman called expressing concern about the economy.

JFK responded, “Things look great to me.

If I wasn’t president, I’d be buying stock myself.”

The man replied, “Yes, and if you weren’t president, so would I!” JFK did things differently so the man harbored doubts.

That’s how doubt looks at God. “You’re not operating as I would, so I have doubts.”

But that’s our enemy at work.

Listen – we may have to stay in the dungeon, but we don’t have to stay in doubt.

John stayed in the dungeon.

But he didn’t stay in doubt.

It doesn’t take a miracle to win over doubt.

But, we have to let God be God.

*II.

The Cure for John’s Doubt*

*A.

Summon the Person of God in Christ*

I love John’s approach.

He doesn’t convene a meeting of the disgruntled; he doesn’t lie quiet in hopeless despair; he doesn’t throw in the towel; he does not renounce his faith to go live out his days in comfort.

He goes straight to the source.

He challenges Jesus – “Are you the one?”

(Lu 7:20).

John didn’t debate it with others or call an advisor.

He just asked.

“Are you the one?

Doubt is clouding my heart.

I need to know.

Are you the one?”

He went to Jesus.

That’s the best thing you can ever do.

Talk to friends, seek advice, sure.

But the best thing you can ever do is take doubt to God, first, last and always.

Open your heart.

He can take it.

He’s heard it before.

And if your heart is pure and your inquiry honest, He will answer.

This was a constant cycle for David.

He’d have a victory and life was good, but then another threat and he’d wonder – was it coincidence last time?

Is this the time that God will not be there?

Am I about to go under?

Is He real?

In Psa 43:2 he challenges God, “Why have you rejected me?” Do you hear the doubt?

But move to Psa 43:4-5, “Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5) Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

David recovered his equilibrium in the presence of God, just like we will.

Asaph had a similar problem.

He got focused on all the fat cats around him who mocked God and got away with it.

Doubt filled his soul.

He says in Psa 73:2-3, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.

3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

He concludes in Psa 73:13, “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.”

Doubt had him in a death grip.

Psa 73:16-17, “16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.”

When did Asaph recover his faith?

When he confronted God face to face.

And note!

Nothing changed in the circumstances, just in his perception.

Like John, he didn’t get out of the dungeon, just out of doubt!

See, we can’t see reality until we are see life from God’s perspective.

And we have wandering eyes.

Yes, we do!

We’re locked in one moment and gone the next.

Remember Matt 14:28-31?

Jesus comes walking across the water to his disciples one night.

28 “And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

29 He said, “Come.”

So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus (doing great – focused on the Lord where reality resides).

30 But when he saw the wind (wandering eyes!), he was afraid (doubt moving in), and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Take your eyes off Christ for a second and doubt strikes, right?

Like a rattler!

But Peter called Jesus and rejoined reality.

Go to God, first, fast, fervently.

*B.

Survey the Power of God*