We All Thirst

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.  Isaiah 55:1-2

Today there are a lot of people desperately thirsty for meaning and purpose in life.  We are all searching, looking for relief.  Stopping at one fountain after another, we never find the one that satisfies until we get to the Onewho gives living water that brings new life.  Drinking from the wrong fountains only increases our thirst and never satisfies.  And yet, we continue to drink our own water, at great cost, without taking what God provides freely.  

The thirst within us causes us to search with an incessant quest for something that will satisfy; yet we search without finding satisfaction.  The evidences of our searching are scattered all around us in closets and garages and resumes.  What we thought was our treasure has now become our trash.  We need something beyond our own capacity to provide for ourselves to satisfy this deep craving of our soul.  God has what we need.  The prerequisite for coming to receive is not do we have enough money, but do we realize that He is what we need?  

Do You Know What You Need? For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?  Mark 8:36-37We all know we need something, but sometimes we don’t know what or where to find it.  We are thirsty, poor, and powerless.  While we are the people with the highest world income and resource, we are so very poor.  In the midst of our abundance there is the reality of our poverty of spirit and emotion.  The basis of need is the dry thirst of EMPTINESS.  And when it is unfulfilled, it will rare its ugly head and scream until you fill it with something.  The more you fill it with what does not satisfy, the louder it screams for more. It’s like drinking salt water when you are dying of thirst.  It will only make you more thirsty and unfulfilled. 

God can change your life if you are thirsty, needy, frustrated, empty and recognize that need.  If you are willing to receive His supply, COME TO THE WATER of His grace, repent of the sin of pride, receive His forgiveness and follow His direction for your life.  The fulfillment you are seeking is straight ahead, flowing from the fountain that always satisfies and never runs dry. 

Scripture to Claim:

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the scripture said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.  John 7:37b-38

Mud Soup

Submitted by Lara Cook

At a recent Women’s conference author Ann Voskamp told a story from her childhood where she had, on several occasions, drank mud soup at the command of her young friend while they were playing.  She went on to talk about how she had realized that as a 40-something-year-old woman, she was still drinking mud soup:  

You end up drinking mud soup whenever you see yourself as the passive victim in your story, instead of an active co-writer of your story, when you act like you don’t determine your responses to a situation — but your actions and responses are determined by somebody else.

You drink Mud Soup whenever you consume what isn’t life-giving good for your soul.

Having the courage to refuse to drink mud soup does not mean refusing discomfort, refusing suffering, refusing hard things and living given and living surrendered and living sacrificially can be life-giving good for your soul.

Sometimes the cup we drink from is suffering — ask Jesus. And you find the abundant life — wherever you turn toward the sign: Welcome to The Surrendered Life.

The only way to the abundant life is to accept discomfort in your life. The way to what we want is often through what we don’t want.

Painfully hard things are part of the price of admission to a purposeful, holy life.

You always have a choice to make a choice.

And you can only be an agent for change in the world — when you believe there’s agency for change in your own life. – Ann Voskamp

Jesus Christ is the only life-giving thing your soul needs and Satan is waiting for every opportunity to force feed us some mud soup.  Anything we are feeding into our lives that is not glorifying to God is not life-giving to our soul and as long as we have it in our lives, we will not have the abundant life God wants us to have.  Abundance of Him is the onlyway to abundant life.   

Are you drinking mud soup?  Are you consuming what isn’t life-giving good for your soul?  You do have the choice to make a choice.  That is the hardest line of all to swallow – that we can choosenot to drink the mud soup any longer.  Someone may be angry when you say no more mud soup, but your soul is at stake.  Fill your life with only the abundance of Christ and Hislife-giving goodness. 

Scripture to Claim:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10

Thomas

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."  John:20 24-25

Why do you believe what you believe? How muchdo you believe what you believe?  Thomas was a man who had to always count the cost.  He had to be sure.  But once he was sure he was the man who went the ultimate limit of faith and of obedience. Thomas had just suffered a very deep loss.  He did what many of us do in such times of sorrow.  He retreated to a place where he could be alone.  His deep grief required a strong proof and the Lord was to be willing for him to have it.  Thomas was a believer and a doubter.  What can we learn from him?

Thomas’ Doubt Kept Him out of Fellowship– Sometimes when we are struggling in doubt we tend to isolate ourselves. We can lose a lot of ground by doing this.  Thomas missed the meeting where the doubts of others were settled.  Fellowship is what we need when we feel this way. Fellowship is God’s gift to us to help us through these times.  No matter how we feel, we need to stay involved.

Thomas’ Friends Cared Enough to Confront Him- Thomas friends wanted him to see the Lord, not their faith.  They had found an answer and wanted their friends to find the same.  The Lord uses our experiences to help others who struggle.  These friends knew that Thomas was in a bad place and they wanted to be his friend by helping him to see the truth.  

Jesus Gives Thomas a Hand with His Doubt- Jesus gives all men enough fact to believe.  But man has to seek Him.  Many men accept their weak doubt over against the strong proof of the reality of God and Christ.  Once they accept it as truth, they have to make a decision.  It requires action and change.  Thomas took one look at the scars on Jesus’ hands and he knew the truth. Jesus’ response to him was “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." John 20:29 Thomas’ doubts were resolved and they became a testimony of fact for you and me today.  We did not get the opportunity to see the wounds in the hands of Jesus but we can believe because of the testimony of those who did. 

Sometimes doubts are a result of spiritual immaturity but when pursued they can lead to deeper faith. Simplistic faith without answered questions has no conviction and cannot defend itself against assault from the world. Every Christian has to wrestle with doubt, fear, failure, inconsistency, and hypocrisy.  In a certain sense, this is the only reliable road to true and lasting faith, a faith that can weather the storms of life.  

Scripture to Claim: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. Hebrews 11:6  

What to Do With Your Doubts

Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31  

When we honestly face our doubts, often they're not so terrible; when examined in the light of day, they turn out to be only harmless shadows.

·     Admit them- There are lots of causes for doubt.  Improper concept of God and His workis one thing that can cause doubt. These disciples didn’t understand who God was or what He was doing. God was doing what He had intended. They just did not understand Him. We often have the same problem.  Personal failurecan be a cause for doubt.  An attitude such as “I would never…”, “That only happens to other people…”,Job loss, divorce,cancer, death of a loved one or other personal tragedy– “Did not think God would do that to me” can bring on doubt.  National or Global Tragedy– “A good God would not do that.”  All these things can cause us to doubt and feel like God has abandoned us.  

·     Examine them-Unexamined truth does not bring security or power.  Don’t panic - Seek answers from scripture.  Christianity is making some remarkable claims, when you think about them. His friends claim he came back to life after being truly dead. He will come again to wrap up history. Read Christian apologetics; Defense of Christianity Don’t let fear that your doubts may be true keep you from discovering the evidence you need to confirm your faith. 

·     Discuss them-Go to the right people and the right sources. Jesus went to God’s Word. Doubts are most often NOT caused by a lack of faith as much as a lack of understanding. 3. Don’t hang around wrong people.  We fear talking to the family of faith about our doubts so we turn to the world for our confirmation.  WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?! - Talk to the right people

·     Suspend them- If, after all your efforts, nagging doubts remain, put them into a little compartment at the back of your head labeled 'To be investigated later.  If you're honest, you won't be bogged down in what you can't believe, but will act on what you can believe.  Realize that you can manage doubt. If you wait until you are 100% certain, you will never act. 

·      'Resolve them- Don't succumb to the "paralysis of analysis." Accept the truth and move on.  Accept the answer when it comes.  Open your mind to God's revelation.  Realize an improper base will not sustain a structure of truth. When God enlarges your faith to cover your doubts, you will have a BIGGER God.  You may also have a larger ministry.  Believe and get to work. Do something!

A doubt is merely a trigger for the search for deeper faith. If you say you’ve never doubted then you haven’t grown in your faith.  To pretend you've never had any doubts is to be mindless (or a hypocrite). A preacher who runs out of something to say just gets louder.  Weak 'Point - shout!
If your doubts are real it's unrealistic to believe they're not there. They won't just run away. They'll continue to lurk in the shadows of your mind.  When we honestly face our doubts, often they're not so terrible; when examined in the light of day, they turn out to be only harmless shadows.   

Scripture to Claim:And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.  Luke 24:38-40\

Vanity, Vanity

Submitted by Lara Cook

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?  Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

The definition of vanity is Vapor.  Solomon, in all his wisdom, had much to impart to us about life from some of the lessons he learned.  The word vanity is used 37 times in the book of Ecclesiastes.  In this book, he is really telling his story of how he tried to find fulfillment in all the wrong places.  He was a king, with unlimited fortune and influence.  He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines.  God blessed Solomon with wisdom, which he didn’t always use wisely in decision making. When he became King, he got way off track, choosing to disobey God.  

In Deuteronomy 17:14-20, God had given only three clear instructions for kings: no amassing of horses, no multiplying of wives, and no accumulating of silver and gold.  These commands were in place so that no king would trust in military might, follow foreign Gods, or depend on their own wealth instead of God.  Clearly Solomon didn’t follow the rules and he suffered great consequences.  

Solomon was living it up.  He was king and had all that he wanted at his disposal.  God didn’t force Solomon to obey and He doesn’t force us to obey either. He lays out His will and equips us, expecting us to obey.  He equipped Solomon with wisdom and set His will before him.  Solomon learned the hard way, like we do at times as well.  He found out that life without God, no matter how much wealth or other things you accumulate, is no life at all.  He came to the understanding that everything we work for here on earth is fleeting.  It is a vapor and it all goes away, but life in Jesus Christ is forever. Earthly pleasures are pure vanity, a vapor, empty.  

One lesson Solomon learned is that he spent a lot of money and time on things and people that were not God honoring and, in the end, didn’t even matter.  He urges us to think about the end when we are living our lives, toiling under the sun.  We need to be good stewards of the gifts God gives us, our time, and what He equips us to carry out.  

Life is short.  Let’s all learn a lesson from Solomon so we can spare ourselves of some of the same self-destructive behaviors.  Seek God first, for everything else in life promises to disappoint, and what a great waste of time and energy!  Spend your life wisely and focus on the end result, your relationship with Jesus Christ and an eternity that will not disappear like a vapor. 

Scripture to Claim:The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The Cupbearer to the King

Submitted by Lara Cook

O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.  Nehemiah 1:11

Nehemiah was a special guy.  He was cupbearer to the King of Persia and a trusted advisor and counselor.  He was not a priest or a prophet but he was in a divinely appointed position.  God placed Nehemiah in that position, serving the most powerful ruler in the world, to accomplish His will and purpose through him. The Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem and taken many Jews captive.  Nehemiah had been born in captivity in Babylon.  His brother came to visit him and told him that his people who have returned from exile to Jerusalem in Judah are in a terrible state and that the city was in ruins.  The wall around the city was a pile of rubble.  When he heard this, Nehemiah’s heart was broken, and he turned to God immediately to pour out His heart before Him.  He wept, fasted, prayed, and mourned for days. He appealed to God’s love, His covenant with His people, and His mercy.  He knew that God is a loving, faithful, and compassionate Lord who does what is right.  He pleaded for God’s attention in humility so that He would hear his prayers and answer, and he reminded God of the promises He made to His people long ago.  

Nehemiah petitioned the King to allow him to return to Jerusalem to lead his people in rebuilding the wall.  A cupbearer to the King was a very prestigious position.  In some instances, the cupbearer was the Kings’ right had man. Nehemiah most likely enjoyed the best foods, great accommodations in the palace, and the esteem and respect of the king. But Nehemiah was burdened and had a vision.  He took a twelve-year leave of absence to carry out the vision God had placed on his heart. 

Servant LeaderNehemiah was a servant leader.  He was a servant in every form of the word.  Literally he was a servant of the king - it was his job.  But Nehemiah was also a servant of the Lord. He had a servant’s heart, with the strength of a leader.  His heart was for God and the things of God.  God had placed him in a position of influence that he didn’t hesitate to use so he could fulfill His calling and purpose for his life.  He gave up his amazing, prestigious, and very comfortable life to obey.  It was not an easy time for them as they rebuilt the wall.  They often were building with one hand and holding a sword with the other, fighting off their enemies.  The people had a great leader and were committed to the work.  They finished the wall in 52 days!  

Nehemiah is the poster child for a good leader.  His heart was in the right place.  He sought God’s direction and vision.  He was broken and burdened for the things of God.  He led the people in God’s vision for them and rolled his sleeves up so he could work and fight off the enemies alongside them.  He had earned respect and influence and used them both for God’s glory. He had the heart of a servant.  

Who can you influence?  How can God use you in the position He has placed you in?  God uses influential people to reach people and accomplish His will.  The Jewish people could see God in Nehemiah’s leadership and life.  What do people see in your life that glorifies God?  

Scripture to Claim:

As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven… let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants…Nehemiah 1:4-6

The Apostle by Chapter | 1 Corinthians Chapter 16

By Sam Nobles

In this final chapter, Paul discusses one last subject before making his concluding remarks. It concerns the collection for the saints, for which Paul gives instructions as to the manner in which the funds are to be gathered and then sent to Jerusalem.

Concerning Collections (v.1-4)

After encouraging the church at Corinth to labor faithfully, Paul gives them a practical opportunity to do so in giving financially. Paul was collecting money to give to the believers in Jerusalem who were feeling the effects of a famine in the region; therefore, any funds that people wanted to give toward the church were to be gathered on the first day of each week. Anyone giving was to do so as they had been prospered, to avoid last minute collections (v.2) Once the funds had been collected, they were to be sent along with an approved representative of the church in Corinth (v.3). The 4 principles seen here should stand across the board for Christian giving in general: voluntary, proportionate, systematic, and honest. 

Concerning Leadership (v.5-12)

Paul writes briefly of his plans to see the Corinthian Christians again and makes a few comments concerning Timothy and Apollos. Regarding Timothy, Paul asks that they do not despise him, but allow him to come to them without fear (v.10-11). As far as Apollos, though urged by Paul, he chose not to go to Corinth now, but is waiting for a more convenient time (v.12). Even great men of faith, such as Paul, Timothy, and Apollos were in need of encouragement and prayer. Are you praying for your spiritual leaders?

Concerning Christ (v.13-24)

Paul’s final exhortations and solemn warning were steeped in love:  the need to love one another, a warning to love the Lord, and a declaration of his love for them. Paul encouraged the Corinthian believers to submit to the household of Stephanus and others like them, who refresh the spirits of those who know them (v.15-18). As Paul ends this letter, he does so with greetings from the churches of Asia, Aquila and Priscilla, and others (v.19-20). Paul also gives a grave warning about not loving the Lord Jesus, with a plea for his coming (v.22-24).

Scripture to Claim:

“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV)

The Apostle by Chapter | 1 Corinthians Chapter 15

By Sam Nobles

A major issue that was being faced by the Corinthian church was confusion about the resurrection. The Apostle Paul will restate the fundamentals of the faith – Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and discuss how the resurrection proves that we will one day believers will also rise to be with Christ. 

The Resurrection According to the Scriptures (v.1-11)

The Apostle Paul combats the false doctrine of false teachers by reminding the believers in Corinth that the gospel proclaims the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  Paul told the Corinthians that Christ died for all sins, and that he was buried and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. On top of what was declared in the Word, Paul also goes on to show that Jesus was seen by many eyewitnesses, including Paul himself. This was the message that had been preached to Corinthians. This was the message they believed.

The Resurrection Verified (12-34)

The Apostle Paul then proceeds to verify the resurrection with several different lines of debate. There are a few things that Paul declares happens if Christ is not risen from the dead: The apostles' preaching and the Corinthians' faith is vain; the apostles are false witnesses; people remain in their sins; those who have died in Christ have perished; those who hope in Christ are the most deplorable of all.

Paul then applies how Christ’s resurrection connects to our resurrection. Christ is the "firstfruits" of the resurrection. This means all who were born as humans, or in Adam, will die. Likewise, all in Christ all shall be made alive when he returns and sets up his kingdom. Paul concludes his argument by asking, “If the resurrection is not real, then why are people being baptized for the dead and suffering persecution?”

The Resurrection Explained (v.35-58)

The last half of the chapter is devoted to answering anticipated questions concerning the resurrection body. According to Paul, the mystery of the resurrection is that the body, whether live or dead, will be changed in a moment from flesh and blood and corruption, to an immortal, incorruptible, and glorified state. All who take part of this resurrection will be victorious over death through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture to Claim:

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV)

The Apostle by Chapter | 1 Corinthians Chapter 14

By Sam Nobles

In this chapter, Paul brings up the practice of spiritual gifts during church worship, specifically the gifts of prophecy and tongues. Prophecy is particularly desirable because it is a gift for the entire church, whereas those who speak in tongues are mainly benefiting themselves. However, speaking in tongues does have congregational benefit when it is interpreted. If spiritual gifts are exercised during church worship, it should be for the edification of the body and practiced in an orderly manner.

Prophesying and Speaking in Tongues (v.1-25)

In comparing the gift of prophecy with that of speaking in tongues, Paul points out that prophesying surpasses speaking in tongues when it comes to the edification of the entire church (v.1-5).  In fact, unless the speaking of tongues provides a new revelation or teaching, and is properly interpreted, it does little good because no one can understand it (v.6-19).  When the gift of tongues is used properly, it is serves as a sign to convince unbelievers of God’s power, but the improper use of speaking in tongues in a congregation can even bring reproach on the church (v.20-25).  

Regulating the use of Spiritual Gifts (v.26-40)

After pointing out the uses and abuses of the two most controversial gifts, Paul regulates the proper use of spiritual gifts in the assembly with a series of instructions on who, how, and when to exercise gifts. When it comes to the gift of speaking in tongues, 2 or 3 may speak in turn with one interpreter. If there is no one with the gift of interpretation present, then those with the gift of speaking in tongues should be silent (v.26-28). When it comes to the gift of prophecy, 2 or 3 may speak in turn with others discerning what was spoken. Above all, those practicing this gift of prophecy were under their own control (v.29-32).

The Role of Women in the Worship Service (v.33-40)

Since God is a God of peace and order, Paul speaks about the place of women in the worship service. Just deducting from these verses, it seems the women in the church at Corinth were speaking out during the teaching time of the service, but Paul says they were to keep silent during this time and ask their husbands any questions they had when they got home (v.33-38). Spiritual gifts were not to be forbidden but practiced with decency and order (v.39-40).

Scripture to Claim:

“But all things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40 ESV)

The Apostle by Chapter | 1 Corinthians Chapter 13

By Sam Nobles

This chapter is often called "the love chapter." It is possible for a person to be extremely gifted in spiritual things and not have love. In this chapter Paul skillfully describes love and challenges believers to put it into practice as a lifelong goal to actively pursue.

The Importance of Love (v.1-3)

Even if a person could speak in all languages, both human and angelic, but didn't use this ability for the good of others, it would not be profitable or pleasant. In the same way, a person might receive grand revelations, divine knowledge, or heroic faith, but if these gifts are not used for the benefit of others, they have no value in God’s kingdom. Even the most selfless acts of charity would not profit one if love was not the motivation.

The Definition of Love (v.4-7)

In the next few verses, Paul the Apostle makes a sandwich with the characteristics of love.

·      He first lists positive attributes, that is, what love is or does.
“Love is patient and kind…” (v.4a)

·      Secondly, Paul lists the negative aspects, that is, what love does not or does not do.
“Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. (v.4b-6)

·      Third and last, Paul revisits some positive attributes.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.” (v.7)

The Eternality of Love (v.8-13)

To end out the chapter, Paul makes a last contrast between spiritual gifts and love. First, love never ends, but spiritual gifts will cease when perfection comes. Second, Paul compares spiritual gifts with "childish things", which are put away when one grows up. We don’t see everything the way we should see it, but when we enter eternity we will know things as we should.

Scripture to Claim:

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV)

The Apostle by Chapter | 1 Corinthians Chapter 12

By Sam Nobles

There were believers in Corinth who had received the gift of tongues, which means that they were given the power to speak foreign languages without ever having studied those languages. Instead of using this gift to magnify God, they became filled with pride, and it became necessary for the apostle to correct these erroneous attitudes and to establish controls in the exercise of the gifts, especially tongues and prophecy.[1]

Chapters 12-14 deal with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The church in Corinth had apparently abused the gifts they had, especially the gift of tongues. In this part of his letter, Paul seeks to correct those abuses.

Concerning Spiritual Gifts (v.1-11)

Paul wanted the Corinthian Christians to be aware and informed that there was one God and one Holy Spirit who issues spiritual gifts to individual believers for the edification of the entire church. The giftedness of the Corinthian believers was second to none, but their gifts were actually serving to divide them instead of bringing them into unity. Paul mentions the gifts found among the believers in Corinth as wisdom, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, and tongues. The point Paul was making is that no matter what gift you have, the concern is whichgift, but whogave it to you.

One Body, Many Members (v.12-32)

To combat this pride and division, Paul uses an illustration to help make his point. Using the human body, Paul explains that it is made up of different parts, such as ears, eyes, etc. Likewise, the body of Christ (the Church) is made up of different parts. If everybody was gifted the same way, it would not be beneficial to anyone. Paul also brings up that just as some parts of our human body seem weak, there are also those in the body of Christ who may seem weak, but they have purpose and function. Your internal organs are never seen or put on display, but your very life and being is dependent upon their functioning properly. Not everyone is gifted by the Spirit in the same way, but every person is indeed gifted, and made by God for a purpose that is vitally important to the body of Christ as a whole.

Scripture to Remember:
“As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:20 ESV)

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[1]William MacDonald,Believer’s Bible Commentary: Second Edition, ed. Arthur L. Farstad, 2 edition (Thomas Nelson, 2016).

Dealing with Doubt Part 2

Thomas
John 20:24-31

“Doubting Thomas” has become a label put on those who fail to believe.  For some, it is not about believing in Christ but about their general faith.  Is it wrong to doubt?  Or does honest doubt have a place in the development of our faith? Thomas was a believer and a doubter. Let us see what we can learn from this man. 

I. Thomas’ Doubt Kept Him out of Fellowship.  v.24

When faithdisappears with thefeelingyou can be assured it wasn’t real. Emotionaldoubt is a sign of shallow belief.

II. Thomas’ Friends Cared Enough to ConfrontHim.  v.25

You can’t run your faithvery far on someone else’s fuel.

III. Jesus Gives Thomas a Handwith His Doubt.  v.27

Doubt is the place you standwhen you are between two beliefs. (Rabbi Samuel Nobles)

Nearly every doubt man has is answered with a proper theology.

IV. How to Deal with Your Doubts  

Ø  Admitthem

Causes for doubt

·     Improperconcept of God and His work

·     Personal failure

·     Sickness, injury or other personaltragedy

·     Nationalor Globaltragedy

·     Immaturefaith 

A doubt is merely a triggerfor the search for deeperfaith.  

Ø  Examinethem

Unexamined truth does not bring securityor power.

Ø  Discussthem

Doubt in faith!  Don’t carry your doubt to doubtersfor answers.  

Doubts are most often NOT caused by a lack of faithas much as a lack of understanding. 

Ø  Suspendthem

Realize that you can managedoubt.

Ø  Resolvethem

When God enlargesyour faith to cover your doubts, you will have a BIGGERGod.