DEMONS of DOUBT

How often we trust each other.

And only doubt our Lord.

We take the word of mortals,

And yet distrust His word;

But, oh, what light and glory

Would shine o’er all our days,

If we always would remember

God means just what He says.

—Selected

According to the Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics and Religious Philosophy, doubt is an attitude of uncertainty, directed toward a proposition or person. As the etymological connection with double makes clear, to be in doubt is to be of two minds, unsure of what to believe. René Descartes proposed adopting universal doubt (questioning everything) as the proper method to obtain certainty in philosophy. Thinkers as diverse as Thomas Reid, David Hume and Søren Kierkegaard, on the other hand, have agreed that universal doubt is impossible (and would be incurable if it were possible). Though doubt is properly seen as opposed to faith or belief, it seems possible for a healthy, living faith (understood as trust) to coexist with some kinds of doubt, as in “I believe; help my unbelief” ().

The narrative unfolding before us this afternoon has Jesus, Peter, James, and John coming down from an awesome mountaintop experience. The text reveals that it was between six and eight days after Peter’s great confession at Caesarea Philippi, that Jesus took these three disciples apart and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves (v.2). While Mark does not specify the reason that Jesus did this, Luke points out that it was for the particular purpose of prayer.

See

Luke 9:28–32 NASB95

Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.

Luke 9:28 NASB95

Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.

Luke 9:28–32 NASB95

Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.

While Jesus was on the mountain transfiguring before Peter, James, and John; another situation was unfolding with the other disciples down in the valley. Peter, James, and John were privileged to witness Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah. They were made fully aware that Jesus was the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, as they heard the voice of the Father say the cloud. When they made their descent back down to the valley, I can hear them, in my sanctified imagination, saying to one another: “I don’t have no doubt in my mind!”

Luke 9:28–32 NASB95

Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.

And might I suggest to you today, my brothers and sisters, that the Lord has taken the time out and has taken each one of us aside to soothe our doubts and calm our fears. He has made Himself known in our trouble, heartache, and pain. So that, we like Peter, James and John may boldly say in every situation: “I don’t have no doubt that the Lord will bring me out.”

Look at

Mark 9:7–8 NASB95

Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones:

Well, the text says “When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. And He asked them , “What are you discussing with them?” If you recall, Jesus had not long ago given to his disciples power and authority over demons and had sent them to cast them out.

See

Mark 6:7 NASB95

And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits;

Here they are, in this text, with delegated power and authority, but unable to deal with the demon who possessed a disparate soul. Notice if you will that “some scribes” were arguing with them and stirring up a crowd. In my spiritual imagination, I can hear these scribes saying to the disciples that Jesus was phony because they were out there in on His power and was not able to produce the proper results. They said: “this boy is still demon possessed and the power you say you have is fake”. (Are y’all here with me?)

Notice if you will that “some scribes” were arguing with me them and stirring up a crowd. In my spiritual imagination, I can hear these scribes saying to the disciples that Jesus was phony

And so, they were stirring up a crowd, working up a frenzy, trying to instigate a riot; but the text says that Jesus came back. I don’t really have time to preach this, but can I park parenthetically and tell you that not only is He an “On time God” - He is an “In time God”. What did I say? Doing something "on time" means meeting an appointment, or meeting a time that has been set by someone; Doing something "in time" means doing it before a deadline, or doing it before it becomes unavailable.

Jesus doesn't just show up “on time”, he shows up right “in time”. As He walks up to the crowd, the text says that, the argument was abated and the crowd was amazed when the they saw Him. Here's a lesson we should learn: if we would put our attention on our awesome and amazing Lord, then there would be little or no room for arguments

I can hear Jesus in verse 16 saying to the scribes instig the situation “what are you discusing with them?” It is here that a man in the crowd answered “it's my Son, Teacher; He has a demon. It makes him mute, when it takes control of him it slams him down to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I really brought him to You; but, in your absence, I turned to your disciples but they were not able to help.

Verse 19 says that Jesus answered them and said “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? What Jesus was saying was that doubt is a danger disposition. By disposition I mean the predominant or prevailing tendency of one's spirit; natural mental and emotional outlook or mood; characteristic attitude. Jesus said that this was a generation of doubters. What is a generation? A generation is "all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively." In essence, he said “all Y’all” are without faith.

Can I tell somebody that being without faith is a dangerous disposition because without faith it is impossible to please God.

See

Hebrews 11:6 NASB95

And 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 seek Him.

The text says that Jesus said “Bring him to Me!” And so they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion , and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him”.

22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

When something is detrimental it causes loss, harm, damage, and leaves one at a disadvantage. This father was certainly in a bad place. He had been enduring the this ordeal for quite some time and so he set out to get resolution and release from this ruthless demon. And so, he says to Jesus, if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.

Let me freeze the frame here and say that the use of the plural “us” is the text shows us that not only was the demon torturing the boy, it was at the same time, terrorizing the father too! Here, his plea was literally: Lord, if you can make that demon stop torturing him, it will stop terrorizing me. (Are you praying with me?)

Real quick. Let me be clear about the existence of demons. They are defined as evil spiritual forces. Scripture stresses the reality of demonic forces and recognizes a number of categories to which they may be assigned. Jesus Christ’s authority over such demonic forces is seen at work in His ministry and in that of His disciples. I said all of that to say that “demons are real, and so is the believer’s power over them".

If you tell a man that there are 581,678, 934,341 stars in the universe, he’ll believe you. But if a sign says, “Fresh Paint,” he has to make a personal investigation.

Look at this father’s pitiful plight and listen to his plea. “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us”. The statement is drenched with doubt. He does not doubt the compassion of the Lord, he questions the ability (dunami/power) of the Lord. I need to declare it emphatically today, that the issue is never whether or not God can. “It is no secret what God can do!” God can do exceedingly, abundantly above everything we could ask or think. Be careful because doubt is detrimental to deliverance.

Look at this father’s pitiful plight and listen to his plea. “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us”. The statement is drenched with doubt. He does not doubt the compassion of the Lord, he questions the ability (dunami/power) of the Lord. I need to declare it emphatically today, that the issue is never whether or not God can. “It is no secret what God can do!” God can do exceedingly, abundantly above everything we could ask or think. Be careful because doubt is detrimental to deliverance. I would even suggest today that doubt is a demon.

Jesus said to him, “If thou canst believe”. The word “believe” is not in the best texts. Our Lord’s answer was “If thou canst.” There is a Greek idiom here which cannot be brought over into the translation. The definite article occurs before the words “if thou canst.” It acts like an index finger and a pair of brackets, holding up to the father his own words for his consideration and Jesus’ comments. As Vincent puts it in paraphrase: “Jesus said, ‘that if thou canst of thine—as regards that, all things are possible.’ ” In the Greek, there is a play upon the words dunēi (δυνηι) (canst), and dunata (δυνατα) (possible). It is “If thou canst—all things can be.” Jesus puts over against the “anything” of the father, the “all things” of the Son of God.

The words of this father are not foreign to any of us gathered here today; We all can identify with him as he cries: “I believe, help my unbelief!” The Wuest Word Studies from the Greek New Testament for the English reader sheds some light on the text. The word “help” is boētheō (βοηθεω) “to run to the cry” of those in danger, hence, “to succor, bring aid, to help.” In verse 22, this verb is in the aorist imperative. Instant help is asked for. Here it is in the present imperative. Continuous help is asked for. “Be constantly helping my unbelief.” Swete says: “The father instantly responds to the demand for fuller trust on his part … He recognizes that the help he needs is in the first instance help for himself and not for his boy.… He believes, but his faith is defective, and its defect needs the Master’s succor.” The word “unbelief,” apistia (ἀπιστια), Thayer says, can be translated in this context by the expression “weakness of faith.”

Jesus said to him, “If thou canst believe”. The word “believe” is not in the best texts. Our Lord’s answer was “If thou canst.” There is a Greek idiom here which cannot be brought over into the translation. The definite article occurs before the words “if thou canst.” It acts like an index finger and a pair of brackets, holding up to the father his own words for his consideration and Jesus’ comments. As Vincent puts it in paraphrase: “Jesus said, ‘that if thou canst of thine—as regards that, all things are possible.’ ” In the Greek, there is a play upon the words dunēi (δυνηι) (canst), and dunata (δυνατα) (possible). It is “If thou canst—all things can be.” Jesus puts over against the “anything” of the father, the “all things” of the Son of God.

Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

As I looked closely at this text; I came to realize that doubt is in fact a demon. After the situation had been resolved, the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him why they were not able to drive the demon out. Jesus answered them that “this kind” can only be removed by prayer. Well, good afternoon my brothers and sisters. I’ll leave you alone, but I need to tell you that you can defeat the demons of doubt if you pray. Praying will put you in touch with the help you need. That’s really what the Lord was teaching…sometimes you have to get away from the crowd, get somewhere off by yourself, and tell him all about it. And then, if you trust Him and do not doubt, He will surely bring you out. When you have bouts with demons of doubts, Do you know where your help comes from.

The psalmist said: I will lift up my eyes to the hill, from which comes my help. I am reminded of another Hill today. On a hill far away, there is a cross. On the cross, there is blood for me. Yes, I know where my help comes from.

DEMONS of DOUBT

DOUBT DEFINED

A DANGEROUS DISPOSITION

DOUBT IS DETRIMENTAL

Detrimentality of Doubt

BOUTS OF DOUBT

DEMONS of DOUBT

DOUBT DEFINED

A DANGEROUS DISPOSITION

DOUBT IS DETRIMENTAL

Detrimentality of Doubt

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BOUTS OF DOUBT