Doubt

 

The Kingdom Principle of Faith – Doubt

Ah doubt. This is like that room in the house you throw everything into when someone is coming by unexpectedly. The door is shut. No one goes in. Let’s open that door.

Doubt. That sense of uncertainty; lack of assurance. There are some who revel in it. Who declare (with conviction!), "Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one” (Voltaire). They find it ridiculous when a Christian says, “I know for sure there is a God, Jesus rose from the dead, He is the Son of God, God hears and answers prayer.” There are others, Christians, who seem to give doubt a place of honor, saying things like, “Maybe faith isn’t about certainty, but learning to ask – and sit in the complexity of – good questions.”

What do the Scriptures say? Is there a “thus saith the Lord” concerning doubt? Yep!

First, there are instances of doubt and uncertainty.

Matthew 28:17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
This the first appearance of Christ to his disciples following the resurrection. We are plainly told that some were not yet sure. Then there is “doubting Thomas”, who wouldn’t believe til he saw. Jesus said to him, Be not faithless, but believing and, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (None of them are ever again said to doubt Christ.)

Acts 10:17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
Peter was perplexed about the meaning of the vision. Then the Spirit said, “Go with them, doubting nothing.” Just go, trusting me. Faith erases doubts.

Galatians 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Paul was in doubt about the spiritual state of the Galatians.


So, there are instances of doubt and uncertainty in Scripture. But is this the norm? Nope.

Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Peter had just been walking on water! Doubt caused him to sink like a rock and Jesus chided him because of it. Doubt thrives where little faith lives.

Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
If ye have faith and doubt not. If you entertain doubt, it don’t happen!

Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
I repeat, If you entertain doubt, it don’t happen! Doubt is not healthy or helpful. Spending time in the Word and the presence of Jesus will wash your doubts away.

Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
This chapter is about Christian liberty, things not mentioned in the Word and that Christians have different opinions about. Doubt says, “I don’t know if I can” while faith says, "I am absolutely sure I can." Doubt leads to feelings of condemnation in your conscience.

1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
I don’t even need to say anything.

Two final passages that compare and contrast faith and doubt.

Romans 4:17-21
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

God made an amazing promise to Abraham, that he and Sarah, though old and unable to have children, would have a son. Let’s see Abraham’s faith:

Who against hope believed in hope – this was impossible, but he believed

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb – he was not weak in faith, he did not consider his body, that is he did not factor it in, only God’s promise

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God – did not stagger through unbelief, did not doubt, but was strong in faith!

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform – fully persuaded - Hallelujah and Amen! There’s no doubt here.

James 1:5-8
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

ask in faith, nothing wavering - wavering is a word that is translated doubt several times. And then James gets real plain, “Let not that man, the man who doubts God will answer his prayer, think he shall receive anything from the Lord.” Doubt is, to say the least, not helpful or healthy. Or to say it like James, a man who doubts is unstable and double-minded.

“Maybe faith isn’t about certainty.” Oh but it is! Thus saith the Lord, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Assurance and conviction. The exact opposite of doubt. Sure, exercise a healthy doubt toward the news and social media, but not concerning God and His Word. Why not toward God? He is truth itself and His Word is true. God has spoken, shall I doubt? God sent His only begotten Son, shall I remain skeptical? He raised Him from the dead, shall I remain faithless? God has promised, shall I waver?

Faith and doubt are not bosom buddies, they are not a married couple, they don’t go together like ice and sweet tea, they are not even kissing cousins. We walk by faith, not by sight. Doubt undermines that faith, turns solid ground into a muddy quagmire. Do you struggle with doubts? Overcome them by soaking your heart and mind in the Word of God!


being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform



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