Facing Doubt
Jesus Christ, this is for you! You still rock my socks off!
The other night, I was sitting around in my room, scratching my head and drooling while trying to comprehend my Bible as I usually do before I go to bed. I had been having a bad day thanks to old jackass, Satan, and at the moment I was in the “MUST BREAK AWAY” type of mood. My mind was once again under attack and Satan was being relentless. The same evil thoughts and all encompassing grief were tormenting me. In other words, I was in the middle of Spiritual warfare without much training, and my only weapon was a popgun with a broken string. I had been a bad boy and forgot to put my spiritual armor on, and I was paying for it (Reference Sunday, July 16 2006 sermon). I prayed of course, and some reassurance came of it, but not much.
While I was hiding out in my spiritual bunker (which is basically just me reading my bible and trying to ignore the bad thoughts) instead of fighting the enemy head on like a stronger person of faith would, one question kept nagging me like a back seat driver. Where is God right now? Why isn’t he talking to me? Why isn’t He giving Satan a nice butt kicking right now? I began to wonder once again whether or not God was really listening to my prayers. Was he going to lift a finger to help me out? It’s a pretty scary thought, really. I began to doubt God again. Of course, I did not give into this doubt, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this sermon *sticks out tongue*
Wow, how Satan can try to convince you of many things. From what I’ve seen, Satan’s power to make people doubt has spread like a virus. When my mom doubted God after my father died, I doubted too, as my other siblings did. When I doubted, I tried to spread that doubt to others along the line. Very fortunately most of the people I tried to make doubt I had no effect on.
From what I’ve seen, doubt can be taken in many different ways.
You ever see that movie Dawn of the Dead? I’m a big zombie movie fan, and I tell you I love that movie. I love zombie movies solely because they’re so stupid. A bunch of moaning corpses are walking at a VERY slow rate, eating people, yet it’s such a big problem. So, armed and trained soldiers just can’t fight slow moving, weak zombies? I mean, a zombie can rip somebody in two (Though they're supposed to be weak *PLOTHOLE*), yet it only walks a twenty-fourth of a mile an hour. It cracks me up because it’s SO ridiculous. I also like horror stories in general.
ANYWAY, the reason I brought that up was because, once again from what I’ve seen, doubt can be spread in a similar way. The zombie virus infects one person, then that person goes off and spreads that to another person, then that person goes off and bites another person, then that person goes off and bites another person, etc. until you’ve got a big mess. Whenever a certain person begins to doubt God and shows it, others begin to doubt it, and when they start to doubt it, more people start to doubt it. And in the end, you’ve got one big mess that the military just can’t seem to handle. Ok, no military, but I hope you get what I mean.
Another way I can think of how doubt comes into play is just our own rebellious nature. You know how it is. To be honest, I’ve never been the rebellious type. I was never like James Dean. I’m not what people call “bad boy” or what a few call “Smexy rebellious beast!” but when it comes to God, I used to have a rebellious side (God’s probably thinking “I can’t argue with that”). I used to hate God with a flaming passion, and I’d let that be my reasoning when it came to religion. A part of me always knew that there is a God, but whenever somebody would throw scripture my way I’d doubt it with a rebellious attitude. Bah! God can’t control ME! As Strong Bad said in the e-mail “video games”, I’d say to God, “YOU CAN’T CONTROL ME!!” I suppose that’s true to a degree. God can only work through you and help you to believe if you let Him. Took me ten years, but I eventually let the Big Guy take over.
I could go on about how doubt comes about, but I won’t because that would take forever.
Doubting God is a devastating thing. Man oh man; do I even need to go into that? When it feels like God can’t do what he says he can, which is to love you and help you through Jesus, does it ever feel terrible. I can easily say that doubting God is the worst thing that I ever did in life. You know in those romance films when the woman for whatever reason dumps the man and the man gets all heart broken and goes into a state of emoness? It kinda feels that way for me whenever I doubt God can help me, or when I think He’s abandoned me. It’s hard, man. I remember when I doubted whether or not God loved all people, and whether or not He wanted me to be a good person or not. That was hell on Earth for me! Thank goodness I had my spiritual bros and sisses with me, otherwise I would have gone to pooper creek without a boat!
Doubt, along with fear, is Satan’s greatest weapon against us. Whenever you doubt God, you’re hurting not only yourself, but God. Satan can put you into a headlock of doubt if you let him. Luckily for us, God has several different way of kicking Satan’s butt when he causes us to doubt.
All of the quoted text was written by Gini.
Quote:
This indicates that believing is a CHOICE:
John 20:26-28 (Amplified Bible)
26 Eight days later His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though they were behind closed doors, and stood among them and said, Peace to you!
27 Then He said to Thomas, Reach out your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place [it] in My side. Do not be faithless and incredulous, but [stop your unbelief and] believe!
28 Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God!
This indicates believing is a PROCESS:
Luke 24:37-45 (Amplified Bible)
37 But they were so startled and terrified that they thought they saw a spirit.
38 And He said to them, Why are you disturbed and troubled, and why do such doubts and questionings arise in your hearts?
39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Feel and handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.
40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41 And while [since] they still could not believe it for sheer joy and marveled, He said to them, Have you anything here to eat?
42 They gave Him a piece of broiled fish,
43 And He took [it] and ate [it] before them.
44 Then He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything which is written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.
45 Then He [thoroughly] opened up their minds to understand the Scriptures,
First, He made them aware that they had doubts and questions and asked them why?
Second, He told them to touch Him and handle Him to see that He was real. I liken this to stepping out and seeing if He heals, or delivers, or helps, or whatever the doubt is about. Testing it out to see if He will do it.
Third, they weren't entirely convinced because they were so excited, so he reminded them of what he had said to them. This is a good indication that we are to remind ourselves of what He has said He will do. Claiming the scriptures that He will heal, or again, whatever it is we're fighting doubt about.
Forth, He opened their minds to understanding the scriptures. We ask Him to help us understand what He has said, so we can further anchor our belief in what He will do or who He is.
Here He indicates that believing is trusting and being confident in Him AND we also see Him talking about the importance of forgiving before we even pray and ask, indicating if we're holding unforgiveness, we won't get our prayer answered:
Mark 11:20-26 (Amplified Bible)
20 In the morning, when they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree was withered [completely] away to its roots.
21 And Peter remembered and said to Him, Master, look! The fig tree which You doomed has withered away!
22 And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly].
23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.
24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].
25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and [a]let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.
This is the chapter that is Jesus saying this. He says He has set his face like a flint - without moving or flinching to KNOW He will not be ashamed. I think of this whenever something seems difficult - I SET MY FACE LIKE A FLINT TO BELIEVE GOD TO GET ME THROUGH. It's a FIRM choice to trust Him in a tough situation. And part of what He's saying here is because God helps him (He's seen it in the past) ... therefore, He will trust Him again.
So we really have to REMEMBER what God did for us in the past, and that helps us to believe Him in the present and future. We're trusting in the faithfulness of our God.
Isaiah 50:6-8 (Amplified Bible)
6 I gave My back to the smiters and My cheeks to those who plucked off the hair; I hid not My face from shame and spitting.(A)
7 For the Lord God helps Me; therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded. Therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.(B)
8 He is near Who declares Me in the right. Who will contend with Me? Let us stand forth together! Who is My adversary? Let him come near to Me.(C
Here's a bit on God's promises - which really, when we're trusting Him, we're really trusting the promises that He made to us, right?
Psalm 145:12-14 (New International Version)
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made. [a]
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down
(paragraph space here)
This is the biggest thing that shows it involves choice: Do not be faithless and incredulous, but [stop your unbelief and] believe! Jesus said this to His disciples and note these words: DO and STOP. Those are action words and He is commanding them. When told to do something or stop something, we have a choice. We can do it or not. It is up to us. Then, we STAND on what He said and set our face like a flint to believe Him. Make sense??
.
John 20:26-28 (Amplified Bible)
26 Eight days later His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though they were behind closed doors, and stood among them and said, Peace to you!
27 Then He said to Thomas, Reach out your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place [it] in My side. Do not be faithless and incredulous, but [stop your unbelief and] believe!
28 Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God!
This indicates believing is a PROCESS:
Luke 24:37-45 (Amplified Bible)
37 But they were so startled and terrified that they thought they saw a spirit.
38 And He said to them, Why are you disturbed and troubled, and why do such doubts and questionings arise in your hearts?
39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Feel and handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.
40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41 And while [since] they still could not believe it for sheer joy and marveled, He said to them, Have you anything here to eat?
42 They gave Him a piece of broiled fish,
43 And He took [it] and ate [it] before them.
44 Then He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything which is written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.
45 Then He [thoroughly] opened up their minds to understand the Scriptures,
First, He made them aware that they had doubts and questions and asked them why?
Second, He told them to touch Him and handle Him to see that He was real. I liken this to stepping out and seeing if He heals, or delivers, or helps, or whatever the doubt is about. Testing it out to see if He will do it.
Third, they weren't entirely convinced because they were so excited, so he reminded them of what he had said to them. This is a good indication that we are to remind ourselves of what He has said He will do. Claiming the scriptures that He will heal, or again, whatever it is we're fighting doubt about.
Forth, He opened their minds to understanding the scriptures. We ask Him to help us understand what He has said, so we can further anchor our belief in what He will do or who He is.
Here He indicates that believing is trusting and being confident in Him AND we also see Him talking about the importance of forgiving before we even pray and ask, indicating if we're holding unforgiveness, we won't get our prayer answered:
Mark 11:20-26 (Amplified Bible)
20 In the morning, when they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree was withered [completely] away to its roots.
21 And Peter remembered and said to Him, Master, look! The fig tree which You doomed has withered away!
22 And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly].
23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.
24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].
25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and [a]let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.
This is the chapter that is Jesus saying this. He says He has set his face like a flint - without moving or flinching to KNOW He will not be ashamed. I think of this whenever something seems difficult - I SET MY FACE LIKE A FLINT TO BELIEVE GOD TO GET ME THROUGH. It's a FIRM choice to trust Him in a tough situation. And part of what He's saying here is because God helps him (He's seen it in the past) ... therefore, He will trust Him again.
So we really have to REMEMBER what God did for us in the past, and that helps us to believe Him in the present and future. We're trusting in the faithfulness of our God.
Isaiah 50:6-8 (Amplified Bible)
6 I gave My back to the smiters and My cheeks to those who plucked off the hair; I hid not My face from shame and spitting.(A)
7 For the Lord God helps Me; therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded. Therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.(B)
8 He is near Who declares Me in the right. Who will contend with Me? Let us stand forth together! Who is My adversary? Let him come near to Me.(C
Here's a bit on God's promises - which really, when we're trusting Him, we're really trusting the promises that He made to us, right?
Psalm 145:12-14 (New International Version)
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made. [a]
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down
(paragraph space here)
This is the biggest thing that shows it involves choice: Do not be faithless and incredulous, but [stop your unbelief and] believe! Jesus said this to His disciples and note these words: DO and STOP. Those are action words and He is commanding them. When told to do something or stop something, we have a choice. We can do it or not. It is up to us. Then, we STAND on what He said and set our face like a flint to believe Him. Make sense??
.
We have a choice when it comes to doubting, as Gini said. We can choose to listen to Christ and stop doubting or ignore His word.
Over the last few months, I’ve learned a few ways to face and conquer doubt, Master Chief style.
The first thing I learned, and I’m sure everyone knows this, was to just think about God/Jesus and what they’ve done for me almost constantly. As Gini covered, thinking about Jesus back in the day helps me remember what the big guy sacrificed for us. It helps me to remember that Jesus HASN’T abandoned any of us. I remember there’s no reason to doubt. Jesus has my back, and all of your backs, through the worst. No matter where you are, Jesus is with you. Say you’re in a car accident; Jesus has got your back. Say you’re fighting Satan hand-to-hand in a boxing arena; Jesus has got your back. In fact, Jesus would fight Satan for you, as I’ll cover later.
The second, and most humanly personal (of course, I don’t mean that in a romantic or sexual way) way of conquering doubt is to go to a Christian brother or sister. We all make up the body of Christ, and I guarantee you most of us will be willing to help each other out. Let me tell you about my five big sisters who have made a HUGE difference for me in life. Four of them I only know on Gaia, but they no less made a difference for me. I know that showing vulnerability is tough, but I assure you, the love of a fellow believer crushes that vulnerability. At least, it has for me.
The first sister who made a big difference in my life happens to be my sibling as well. Her name is Katherine, and if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have come to Christ. Whenever I doubt, I can go to her for help. She doesn’t pursue Christ very much, unfortunately, but the fact that she listens and tells me that God is there for me helps me break down the barrier of doubt. She is very dear to me, like the other four sisters. Thank goodness we are from the same family.
The second sister that has saved me from doubt is Lisa, or frogsnack. Just recently she said a prayer for me over Pm when I told her that I needed a little help. The doubt that I was going through was crushed thanks to her willingness to help. I’m a little ashamed to admit that I still fall victim to Satan’s doubt a lot, but I do. And Lisa’ prayer quote, “kicked Satan in the shriveled ballsack” (her words, not mine ninja I’d never say anything like that…..stop staring at me) Haha, Lisa is such a goober.
The Third sister is Asha. Asha is a very intelligent, kindhearted person. Sometimes I doubt what I can do for others. I doubt that I can do any good sometimes, you know, all that emo stuff. Well, Asha was having some troubles recently and she came to me a lot. I was surprised, really, but she came to me with her troubles. I did whatever I could for her, and she always told me that I gave her great help. When I doubted that, she insisted. Haha, Satan received another punch to the face. I know now that I’m not a failure and that I can help others, which means so much to me.
The fourth sister to have made a big difference in my life is, as you’ve probably guessed because I decided to be lazy and quote what she told me, is Gini. Man oh man, if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t know about the spiritual armor that I need to effectively kick Satan’s doubt right in the kazoo. I come to her for advice a lot, especially in the doubting phases I go through. She’s very heart warming to talk to, hilarious and she’s always willing to help. Satan can’t stand it that love beats him a new one. She is quite wise with the Word of Christ. She has a very special place in my heart. She is as I call her, “A woman with a twenty year old spirit and the intelligence of a forty year old”.
The fifth sis, and the sis that made the biggest difference in my life, is a person named Lala (I’ve mentioned her in my other sermon), or Poem as she’s known on Gaia. I can honestly say that had I not met her, even though I only met her on Gaia, I’d be a dead man still consumed by the lie Satan had me in. I will never forget her or what she’s done for me through Christ. I am very, VERY grateful to know her, because God has such wonderful work in her (not to mention she’s immensely cool and sweet and funny and just plain extraordinarily likable). If I ever have children, I’ll be sure to teach them what she’s taught me. You see, when I first came to Christ, Satan still had a huge influence over me. The pompous jackass had a knack for trying to convince me that God hates various peoples or other skin colors and skin shades, that God degrades women and wants them to be lower life forms than men, that God openly hates people of other religions, that God hates homosexuals, and that I am to hate them and hurt them too. That brought me to my knees I was so worried about what I might become. I was DYING inside with doubt that I’d hardly be able to take it. I wasn’t going to do that, not ever. Of course, Satan, being a pompous jackass as mentioned above, tried to make me do it anyway, as well as other horrible things that I’d rather not mention. I had a feeling one-day while at a movie theatre to make a report (Which is the “Christianity: A loving religion” report) and post it on Gaia. I did, and the doubt became worse. In other words, pompous jackass was trying harder than hell to get me away from fighting this doubt. Well, I met Lala at my thread and we became friends very quickly. She was there for me when I asked for help, especially in times when I really needed it. God would tell me through her that He doesn’t at all hate anyone, and because of that my doubt towards God’s love is gone. She also has a way of telling Satan off (Example: quote “He (Satan) can keep trying to remind me of my past (Failure, sin, apathy) but I can do him one better. I can remind him of his future arrow burning_eyes ) that I think is just SO cool. She was the first person in my life to show me that God is cool and that He has a tender, loving heart. For that reason, my darling big sis, Lala, will be very dear to me my entire life, even if we don’t know each other.
I wish I knew the four Gaia sisters in person. That would be so cool. 3nodding
Thanks to God’s loving children, I don’t face doubt alone. It’s wonderful how God works through each other to help each other. Humanly relationships in any way shape or form are very important, and the fact that God uses that to help us is so cool. Big hand of applause for the big guy!
Matthew 11:28-31 (Amplified Bible)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will [a]ease and relieve and refresh [c]your souls.]
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest ([d]relief and ease and refreshment and [e]recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.(A)
30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, [f]good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
The third, and most important way I’ve learned to deal with doubt is to COME TO GOD!!! Don’t sit around thinking, “Oh my gosh, is God going to do anything?” like I did. God wants us to go to Him! He wants us to give Him our troubles. Pray to him, worship him, ask for forgiveness and tell him about your doubt. You may not get an answer right away, you may have to wait, but He WILL help you. Jesus fought Satan mano-e-mano and won big time. Satan didn’t stand a chance! It just like in certain comedies when a very small, arrogant and stick-like dinky dude fights a heavy weight champion, except there’s no miraculous save at the end. Let God know that you’re under attack and that you doubt from time to time. God will not get mad, but instead he will do something about it. That something will never be anything that will hurt you or pull you away from Him. You’re His child, and He will protect you (though, as taught in the July 16th sermon, you will need to know how to defend yourself from doubt). Isn’t that cool? The ultimate of the ultimate will defend you!
I hope that I have helped you all when it comes to doubt. I love you all. Jesus loves you eternally more!
~James, A.K.A Heraldo Sanchez, A.K.A Thwarp, A.K.A Senior Bang Bang.
Dear Lord in Heaven, Jesus Christ Almighty God,
I thank you for always being there for us when we doubt. I thank you for giving us the weapons needed to rip Satan a new one whenever he tried to pull us away from you. Thank you for still being the shizz. You rock my socks off. Please forgive us of our sins so that there is no block between you and us. Thank you, Jesus, for giving your life to us on that cross. Thank you for returning to us three days later. You RULE! 4laugh Jesus, take all praise. It belongs to you.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
