Grace World Outreach Church
Sunday Morning Service - Pastor Daniel K Norris
Deleting Doubt
How being double-minded deactivates your faith
Vs 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
NIV (Lk 8:7)
Radical Thought: God is not afraid of your questions. A good question is always an open door to revelation if we truly are seeking the answer.
“fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear”
- Thomas Jefferson 1787.
To believe something simply because I was told, is the very root of religion and is, itself, an expression of immaturity.
Christ invites us to something greater… not blind obedience, but to come to KNOW (encounter) the truth, that is the very nature of Christianity
Ask God your questions and seek the answers… He wants to reveal them
14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
NIV. (Lk 8:14).
The third type of soil that fails to produce a harvest.
The Double Minded
Immature - Not fully grown
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
(Jas 1:5–8). NIV
Being double-minded deactivates faith!
Mt 17:14–21 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] This type comes out only by much prayer and fasting
NIV (Mt 17:14–21).
Question: Jesus, Why couldn’t we cast out this devil?
His Answer: Your faith is immature
“But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” NIV (Mk 9:22–24)”
Two Voices You Must Defeat:
1) The Voice of Fear, that is always asking “What If…”
What if I’m wrong?
What if my faith is not real?
What if God doesn’t exist?
What if I try this and it doesn’t work?
What if I step out on the water and sink?
What if I take a stand for my faith and fail?
What if I speak up and I am mocked and ridiculed?
What if I put myself out there and find out You’re not there?
Fear is not the opposite of Faith, Fear is Faith
Just as faith is the substance of things hoped for, fear is the substance of things dreaded. Faith is a deep belief that the positive thing I hope for will happen. Likewise fear is a deep belief that the negative thing that I dread is more likely to happen. Simply put, fear places a greater faith in the enemy than in the Lord.
You must Discover “What Is”
What does God’s word say about the situation you are facing? What verses can you turn to and meditate on throughout the day? What do you hear God saying to you right now? If God said it, then this is what is. His word is true and every other word or question is a lie.
The word teaches us that “faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
When I hear God’s word, I am hearing His unshakeable, unstoppable truth. There is not a single what if question that cannot be immediately silenced by what God says is.
2) The Voice of Doubt that says “I don’t know”
Faith always works… what I currently experience, or have is determined by what you’ve believe or doubt
So how do I defeat the voice of doubt?
Jesus offers the disciples a solution. He says, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Prayer and fasting is the remedy for unbelief.
Through prayer we take hold of God; Through fasting we let go of ourselves
Be careful here! Don’t make the mistake of reading Jesus’s words with a works-driven mentality.
The Christian life is first about being before doing.
The father said to Jesus, “I believe.” He had a measure of faith in Jesus to perform miracles. He knew Jesus carried authority. He sought to know Jesus more when he said, “Help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). You and I can know the same blessed place.
“Help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). You and I can know the same blessed place. You already have a measure of faith in Jesus. I encourage you to set time aside for fasting and praying. Ask Him to help your unbelief.
Lord I believe in You; help me now to believe Your word. Teach me to put faith in Your voice so that I might face my own fears and silence my doubts. All things are possible to me if I just believe. Help me to believe!