Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Dealing with doubt (and the believers doubt)
- Reading a book - My Sunflower girl
- Can we imagine what it is to lose a child?
- Example
- Let us consider John the Baptist
- He was in a terrible time of darkness
- He was in prison
- He began to have doubts about Jesus
- The passage this morning deals with doubt
- Christians all go through doubt at some point
- Are you trusting in Jesus as your Saviour?
- This passage is not about rank unbelief
- Someone who is struggling
Struggling with Doubt
- John the Baptist
- Consider all that he had seen and understood
- He was prepared to stand up for truth despite the cost
- He was a courageous preacher
- He knew God in an intimate way
- Yet now he is in prison
- He had unrealised expectations
- Certain things were not coming to pass
- He cannot understand why the wicked prospered?
- Why has he not been delivered?
- Why had judgment not fallen on his enemies?
- Proverbs: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick"
- This can cast into a dark place
- Often because our hopes and expectations were not God's plans or God's timings
- John had not understood this was the time of love and not judgment
- The godly can be plagued by doubts - examples:
- John Bunion
- Book - Grace bounding
- Book - My Sunflower girl
- The Book of Job
- Read about Elijah
- Doubt arises in John (v18-19)
- He had heard reports of healings and miracles - this wasn't enough for him
- He called his disciples to ask Jesus
- Some speculate that he was doubting but sending the two disciples for their benefit
- John was concerned that their faith was strengthens
- v22-23 show that Jesus was talking about John - John had doubts
- John was going through deep doubt
- What about us?
- The devil hates Christians, he is a roaring like seeking those who he will devour
- When you are on your own/isolated
- He will question God and His word
- He did the right thing - he went to Jesus
- When we are in a dark time, the most important thing is that we go to Jesus
Overcoming Doubt
- "Are you the coming one?" - How does Jesus respond?
- He does not speak but act
- He cured many infirmities, afflictions and evil spirits
- Sometimes actions speak louder than words
- John's disciples would have seen these miracles
- Can we imagine the impression this would have made upon them?
- Only God can do these miracles
- In one sense being given a glimpse of glory
- Then Jesus speaks
- Go and tell the things you have seen and heard
- John was have read and know Isaiah
- Blessed
- A gentle rebuke or a word of encouragement?
- Jesus knows he will overcome this stumbling block
- Application:
- His eyes must be pointed to Jesus
- He needs to hear the word of God
- We should not stay away from Christian fellowship
- We may just need to spend time with people
- We need to say things with love
Affirming Real Faith
- v24-28
- Jesus affirms John's faith
- What would the multitudes think of John the Baptist doubting?
- Jesus speaks up for John
- There is not one born of woman greater than he
- Jesus states he is a man of conviction and great faith
- v24b - he was not shaken by man
- v25 - he was not a man of luxury
- v26 - he was/is more than a prophet
- There is none greater that John the Baptist
- He had a greater revelation of Jesus Christ
- Those who are now in the kingdom will be given a fuller revelation
- He was a very humble man
- Jesus is confirming His true servant
- v29 - the tax collectors and sinners glorified God
- v30 - the pharisees and the lawyers rejected Jesus
- They just criticised and made false allegations
- This happens today - people reject the gospel of Jesus Christ
- Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God