Wrestling With Doubt

Wrestling With Doubt Wrestling With Doubt Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Doubt; Expectation; Adversity; Suffering; Faith / Luke 7:18-30 When our situations dont match our expectations and Jesus isnt helping how we determined He should we set ourselves up to doubts. No one is immune to doubts no matter your position in the Lord. Its what we do with our doubts that determines if we move to unbelief or not. Luke shares the time John the Baptist doubted and if we look and listen closely we can wrestle victoriously with our doubts and remain faithful to Jesus. Introduction 1. Working out is definitely physically challenging a. Sore muscles screaming b. The weight of the weights c. Gasping for breath as you push one more - the one more that is one more and one more until we get to no more 2. The toughest part of working out (maybe just for me) is the the battle in the mind a. Our minds fill us with doubt on our ability i. It too tough ii. This isnt what I expected iii. I am tired iv. I cant take any more v. Lets just slow down a bit vi. Its ok if I skip this b. Our minds fill us with doubt if we dont see the results we want to i. Its not working ii. Its not worth it iii. its going to take forever iv. etc 3. The same is true as we seek to be spiritually crossfit a. We trust God for salvation and we see our lives changed i. We think we will always be faithful and never doubt ii. Doubt is often times a dark secret in the church 1. The truth of the matter is we all doubt from time to time 2. Doubt itself is not sinful or wrong and can actually be used as a catalyst to spiritual growth b. We need to prepare and train to wrestle with doubts - because its not if we have doubts, its when i. Luke brings us this morning to the time when a great prophet - no the greatest prophet who ever lived - had doubts ii. If we look closely and learn what God has for us here - believe we can wrestle our doubts victoriously - not that we wont have them - but we can wrestle with them victoriously › SLIDE Luke 7:18-20 CSB 18 Then John's disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" 20 When the men reached him, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to ask you, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?' " › SLIDE Luke 7:21-23 CSB 21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. 22 He replied to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 23 and blessed is the one who isn't offended by me." › SLIDE Luke 7:24-26 CSB 24 After John's messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. › SLIDE Luke 7:27-28 CSB 27 This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. 28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." › SLIDE Luke 7:29-30 CSB 29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God's way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John's baptism. 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.) › SLIDE - First we need to understand Why We Doubt › SLIDE Luke 7:18-19 CSB 18 Then John's disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" John's disciples told him about all these things - what things? The news of what Jesus was doing • Began Ministry in Galilee in fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 9:1-2) • Performed His first miracle at a wedding in Cana (John 2) • Read from the scroll in Isaiah 61:1-2 in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4) • Announcing the fulfillment of prophecy - Claiming to be the Messiah • Rejected in Nazareth - also fulfilling prophecy and escaping miraculously being stoned or pushed off a cliff • Cast our demons and unclean spirits in Capernaum (Luke 4) • Healed Simon's mother-in-law and others or various sickness by speaking it out (Luke 4) • Cast out demons and rebuked them to remain silent (Luke 4) • Stated His mission was to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God (Luke 4) • Called His first disciples - fishermen and called them now Fishers of Men (Luke 5) • Touched healed and cleansed a leprous man and healed many others in a large crowd (Luke 5) • Forgave the sins of a paralytic man and then healed him - enraging the Pharisees and leaving the people awestruck (Luke 5) • Called His next disciple Levi - the Tax-collector and went to a banquet at his house (Luke 5) • Overcame controversies - forgiving sins, associating with sinners, not fasting, and working/healing on the Sabbath - (Luke 5-6) • Chose the 12 disciples to be His Apostles (Luke 6) • Healed a multitude and cast out unclean spirits (Luke 6) • Preached the sermon on the plain - teaching and challenging held beliefs (Luke 6) • Love your enemies • Dont be judgmental • Dont call me Lord and not obey • Beatitudes • Was amazed by the faith of a Gentile Centurion (Roman Soldier) and healed his servant (Luke 7) • Moved to compassion by the grief of a widow and raised her son to life (Luke 7) 1. Difficult Circumstances can bring doubts a. With all of these wonderful things that Jesus is doing John would be excited right? i. He would be overcome with hearing how the Messiah was doing all these things ii. John's response instead was to question or doubt Jesus as Messiah 1. What a weird question - especially for the one who was the front runner and identified Jesus as Messiah › SLIDE John 1:29-31 CSB 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I told you about: 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.' 31 I didn't know him, but I came baptizing with water so he might be revealed to Israel." › SLIDE John 1:32-34 CSB 32 And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him. 33 I didn't know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on-he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." b. Where was John? Why did his disciples have to come and tell him what Jesus was doing? i. John was in the dungeon of King Herod - in a prison 1. John was a child of the wilderness - an outdoors man if you will - now confined - a prisoner 2. For preaching the truth unwaveringly calling all to repentance - including the King who was married to his brothers wife ii. No one - especially John is having a good time in prison 1. Prisons today are not like what John experienced here but they still arent somewhere I would want to be iii. His circumstances brought on the doubts - because I believe John had a misunderstanding 2. Misunderstanding can lead to doubts a. From John's perspective here is the proclamation he made concerning Messiah › SLIDE Luke 3:16-18 CSB 16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing shovel is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out." 18 Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people. i. He is more powerful ii. His baptism is greater iii. He is the Judge b. John like most every other Israelite believed in the Messiah coming and being a warlord or political leader who would free them from the Roman empire i. He would join John in His fiery preaching ii. But the Jesus on the scene is - amazed by the faith of a Roman soldier? 1. Preaching a message of forgiveness? a. Where is the Winnowing shovel? b. Where is the fire that never goes out? 2. He isnt expelling the Romans invaders. › SLIDE - Jesus' Mission Statement Luke 4:18-19 CSB 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 3. Unmet Expectations a. John was confused and discouraged and doubting because Jesus wasnt at all what he expected. i. His experience didnt meet his expectation ii. Perhaps - he expected Jesus would help him out of his situation? 1. Preaching through the country side - while he is there is prison a. I mean if Jesus is setting captives free - hello who am I? 2. How many of us feel Jesus doesnt meet our expectations - where he doesnt free us from our prisons of circumstances › SLIDE When the warm air of expectation meets the icy air of God's inactivity it causes the clouds of doubt to begin to form b. Unmet expectations can lead us away from the truth i. Jesus isnt who He said ii. God doesnt care iii. I am living for God how can this happen to me - why am I here in this situation iv. doubts come not from what Jesus is doing - but from what He isnt doing › SLIDE Next we have to learn What To Do With Our Doubts › SLIDE Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7 So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" 20 When the men reached him, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to ask you, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?' " › SLIDE Luke 7:21-23 CSB 21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. 22 He replied to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 23 and blessed is the one who isn't offended by me." 1. Take your doubts to Jesus a. It says John summoned two disciples and sent them to Jesus to ask Him i. Notice John didnt take a consensus from his other disciples ii. John didnt just give up either › SLIDE Oswald Chambers Doubt is not a sign one is wrong, it may be a sign that he is thinking 1. Sounds like John because there is not much else to do in prison - in NT bible times 2. Doubt is not a sign we are leaving God behind, but a sign that we are leaving behind our false idea of God - the one who fits in our box b. This is the humbling approach where we anchor our doubts in our faith › SLIDE Anchor your doubts in your faith in Jesus not in your doubts or thoughts i. Approach Jesus in absolute humility that you are misunderstanding something or that you are wrong ii. Sincere doubt can lead to a deeper faith when we identify where we allowed our expectations and misunderstandings lead us wrong c. When we look to Jesus - alot of times we begin to see His works i. Expectations are like a compass - if they are wrong as we look for them we are looking in the wrong direction ii. Look to Jesus and you are always looking in the right direction 2. The next thing to do is to take scripture to your doubts a. The disciples of John came and asked posed John's question to Jesus and His reply was for them to tell John what they have seen and heard i. This doesnt look like scripture - but Jesus replied to John's question with the affirmation of scripture as to what is going on and who Jesus is ii. John was a student of the scriptures and the word of God He would have known › SLIDE - the blind receive sight, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the mute sing Isaiah 35:5-6 CSB 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; › SLIDE - the dead are raised Isaiah 26:19 CSB 19 Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For you will be covered with the morning dew, and the earth will bring out the departed spirits. › SLIDE - good news is proclaimed to the poor Isaiah 61:1 CSB 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; b. Jesus says according to scripture the works I am doing and the message I am proclaiming authenticates me. 1. So make a choice either you are going to ignore scripture - or you will change your ideas, expectations etc a. Blessed is the one not offended by me - a new beatitude seldom quoted or even known i. But this is for those who doubt ii. Offended - skandalion - scandalize - the one offended by Jesus is in danger of being snared in a trap 1. The one offended by their ideas of Jesus when they meet Jesus or see Jesus working 2. Especially the Jewish people who had the wrong expectation for the Messiah in His coming 2. The Lord is doing what He is supposed to do - even if we see Him not doing what we think He should do › SLIDE Isaiah 55:8-9 CSB 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways." This is the LORD's declaration. 9 "For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. a. Do not lose faith in Jesus because of the work He is doing or for not doing the work we think He should › SLIDE - Now we can take comfort in knowing Jesus' Response to Doubt › SLIDE Luke 7:24-26 CSB 24 After John's messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. › SLIDE Luke 7:27-28 CSB 27 This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. 28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." 1. Jesus did not tear down John or His ministry for the doubts a. As you read through the Bible you begin to see a truth - it is not unusual for great spiritual leaders to have doubts and uncertainty i. Abraham lied about Sarah being his wife because he doubted and was afraid ii. Moses was ready to quit › SLIDE Numbers 11:10-11 CSB 10 Moses heard the people, family after family, weeping at the entrance of their tents. The LORD was very angry; Moses was also provoked. 11 So Moses asked the LORD, "Why have you brought such trouble on your servant? Why are you angry with me, and why do you burden me with all these people? › SLIDE Numbers 11:12 CSB 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth so you should tell me, 'Carry them at your breast, as a nanny carries a baby,' to the land that you swore to give their fathers? › SLIDE Numbers 11:13-15 CSB 13 Where can I get meat to give all these people? For they are weeping to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' 14 I can't carry all these people by myself. They are too much for me. 15 If you are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now if I have found favor with you, and don't let me see my misery anymore." iii. Elijah was ready to die - Kings 19 iv. Jeremiah - a prophet who was put in prison, dungeon and a dung hole v. Paul was despaired also vi. Thomas - Doubting Thomas b. Jesus i believe knows that we have finite minds and finite understanding i. Our doubts only say - Lord I dont understand what or understand why c. Jesus reminds the people of when they went to the wilderness to hear John i. Did you go to see a reed swaying in the wind? 1. John was not a reed swaying in the wind - he had strong convictions and preached in accordance with his convictions 2. This doubt didnt undo his convictions - it was born of the convictions a. John still believed in God and His plan for the Messiah i. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways ii. John was not unstable or wavering ii. Did you go to see one dressed in soft clothes? 1. Was John one who preached because of comfort and luxury? 2. No he wore camel skins and ate locusts a. John preached a message because it was true - not because the people liked it b. Not because it was profitable iii. You went to see a prophet 1. Because he proclaimed the Lord's message - for the first time in 400 years Israel had a prophet 2. Jesus said he was the prophet to prepare the way - a unique prophet - a prophet to fulfill prophecy 3. The greatest prophet for He would also be the last prophet before the kingdom of God came a. None born of women would be greater i. Filled with the Spirit from birth ii. Faithfully Preached Gods Word iii. Funneled people to Jesus iv. Final Prophet v. Forerunner to Jesus b. Yet as great a prophet - he was a man with doubts in his walk with God - which we all have and is normal iv. The least of the kingdom however will be greater than even him 1. Not because they wont doubt 2. John was OT and the Kingdom of God is NT 3. John was a herald of the king we are a friend of the king 4. John was a friend of the bridegroom - we are the bride to the bridegroom 5. John announced the kingdom - we are part of the kingdom › SLIDE Moments of doubt do not negate years of ministry, integrity, heart or character › SLIDE - Finally we must be aware Two Choices in Doubt › SLIDE Luke 7:29-30 CSB 29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God's way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John's baptism. 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.) 1. Acknowledge Gods Way a. It says here when all the people - including tax collectors heard this they acknowledged God's way i. They may not understand fully - but they know God does - so they trust God's way 2. Reject Gods plan a. The Pharisees and experts in the law - were not baptized by John i. Self-righteous ii. Shallow - in their religion and in the depth of their sinfulness - they believed they werent really all that bad b. They rejected the plan of God for themselves › SLIDE Romans 10:3 CSB 3 Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God's righteousness. i. They thought their works made them righteous ii. They thought their birth made heaven a right › SLIDE There is a difference between doubt and unbelief - doubt brings us to Jesus and unbelief leads us away from Jesus Doubt is a matter of the mind and unbelief is a matter of the will Know that prophets are not perfect - doubts are ok, God can handle our doubts Recognize the danger of unmet or unrealistic expectations - they can cloud our vision with doubt and we will miss the things God is doing in front of us Dont be offended by Jesus and especially by what He isnt doing Remember that Jesus doesnt free us because of our doubts We have two choices in our doubts - trust God or reject God Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:43 PM February 22, 2020.