## Deliverance from Doubt

## John 20:24-25

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Doubting God is nothing new. People have been doing this since the beginning of time. Adam and Eve listened to Satan and doubted God's Word. Both Abraham and Sarah laughed in doubt when God's messenger told them they have a son in there old age. Gideon questioned God when He had assured him of victory over the Midianites. John the Baptist doubted whether or not Jesus was really the Messiah.

So this morning if you find yourselves doubting God, you are not alone. Consider with me this morning some thoughts on the subject of doubt.

I. The Consequences Of Doubt

A. There Is No Fullness Of Joy.

(1 JOHN 1:4) "AND THESE THINGS WRITE WE UNTO YOU, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL."

1. A life filled with doubt is a life filled with turmoil, fear, and troublesomeness.

2. That isn't the life that God intended for the believer to live.

3. Jesus tells us that the life He brings is abundant and full.

B. John explains the purpose of writing this first epistle was:

1. That we may know that we are saved.

(1 JOHN 5:13) "THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND THAT YE MAY BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD."

2. And that our joy may be full.

3. Doubt will steal our assurance and our joy.

C. Doubt Will Hinder What We Do For The Lord.

1. Doubt will cause us to stay back and never get into the real will of God.

2. We need to settle any and all doubt while there is time.

3. Our Christian walk is to be one of faith and assurance.

4. We cannot be effective in our service to Him as long as we doubt Him.

II. The Causes and Conditions Of Doubt

A. Doubt is caused by failing to trust God's Word.

1. God's Word is worthy of our trust.

2. In a world of changing values it is good to know that we can still count on God.

3. He doesn't change...He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

4. And He is not a liar!

B. Doubt is caused by some because they didn't have a certain feeling or experience.

1. Consider Paul's Salvation.

a. Paul was knocked to the ground and left blinded by the light from heaven.

b. So Paul says, "If you don't get knocked off your horse and blinded by the light, then you are not saved."

c. That is not what Paul said...he told the jailer in Philippi , "...Believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..."

2. Feelings and experiences do not bring salvation.

3. Only a complete surrender of faith and repentance can bring salvation.

4. Feelings have no bearing on whether a person is saved or not.

For feelings come and feelings go, And feelings are deceiving. My warrant is the Word of God Naught else is worth believing. Though all my soul should feel condemned, For want to some sweet token, There is One greater in my heart, Whose Word cannot be broken. I'll stand on His unchanging Word, Till soul and body sever, For though all things should pass away His Word shall stand forever. DO YOU KNOW WHY I KNOW I AM SAVED? BECAUSE GOD SAYS SO IN HIS WORD.

III. The Cure For Doubt

A. Salvation is not in trying...it is in trusting!

1. Suppose I ask you, "Are you married?"

2. You reply, "I surely hope so. I have six kids and a wife."

3. "I'm trying to be."

4. "I've got just as good a chance as anyone else."

5. I know I'm married. I have a piece of paper with writing on it. It is called a "Marriage License."

B. Salvation Is In Writing...Not feelings.

1. We have God's promises on it.

(JOHN 3:36) "HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE; BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM."

(ROM 10:13) "FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."

2. There are only two things that a person can doubt.

a. They can doubt that they have placed their trust in Christ.

b. Or they can doubt that He meant what He said.

c. Which Is it?

IV. The Basis Of Assurance Of Salvation

A. The Witness Of The Holy Spirit.

(ROM 8:16) "THE SPIRIT ITSELF BEARETH WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT, THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD:"

1. Prior to salvation the only appearance of the Holy Spirit in our life was in that of conviction.

2. But when conversion comes He speaks peace to the soul.

3. He grants an inner rest that confirms to the individual that he really belongs to Jesus now.

(GAL 4:6) "AND BECAUSE YE ARE SONS, GOD HATH SENT FORTH THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO YOUR HEARTS, CRYING, ABBA, FATHER."

B. The Word Of God.

1. Often the Holy Spirit will witness through the Word of God.

(1 JOHN 5:10) "HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON OF GOD HATH THE WITNESS IN HIMSELF: HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT GOD HATH MADE HIM A LIAR; BECAUSE HE BELIEVETH NOT THE RECORD THAT GOD GAVE OF HIS SON."

(1 JOHN 5:13) "THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND THAT YE MAY BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD."

2. Let the Word of God be the foundation upon which you build a strong assurance.

(ACTS 13:39) "AND BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, FROM WHICH YE COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES."

C. A Changed Life.

1. When a person is born again there will be a change in their life.

(1 JOHN 3:14) "WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE, BECAUSE WE LOVE THE BRETHREN. HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER ABIDETH IN DEATH."

2. A believer is a new creature in Christ Jesus.

3. This is manifested in the new affections that now transpire in that life.

(2 COR 5:17) "THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW."

V. The Calm That Comes When Doubt Is Gone.

(JOHN 14:1-3) "LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED: YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO."

This thing is going to end one of these days and where will you be? Will you be ready for heaven? Will you be ready to meet God?

If you have had doubts, you need to get it settled. Doubting will cause you to either live a defeated life, or it means that you have never been saved. Get the answer soon