No Doubt About It JOHN 20:24-31

John 20:24-31

DOUBT ‘Diakrinos’ – The process of making a judgment on the basis of careful and detailed information. The process that leads to belief. Matthew 21:21 - And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. Example: You tell someone that God can heal them of their cancer and they respond: “Really? How do you know? Are you sure?”

DOUBT ‘Distazos’ – To waiver on what you have already decided to believe. Matthew 14:31 – Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Example – The person that has cancer is prayed for and is not healed. They begin to doubt that God will heal them and allow the circumstances they are in to cause them to doubt. Often times it is based in fear.

UNBELIEF ‘Apestia’ – Doubting God’s willingness or ability to alter the circumstances one is in. Mark 16:14 - Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. Example – The person with cancer says “The doctor gives me two months to live…why should I continue to believe God will heal me?” A move from questioning to making a more decision to not believe.

UNBELIEF ‘Apeitheia’ – Obstinate and rebellious. Refusal to believe. Ephesians 2:1-2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Example – The person with cancer moves to a point of refusing to believe God is a healer. “God doesn’t care about me and doesn’t heal the sick. I would tell that to anyone who asks.”

Doubt is a hesitation to believe in the face of evidence and circumstances that appear to contradict what you are wanting to believe. Unbelief is a willful refusal to believe and/or a deliberate decision to disobey.

Doubt Unbelief Can’t believe Is honesty Is looking for light Asks honest questions Comes and goes Unbelief Won’t believe Is obstinate Content with darkness Refuses to hear answers Is hard to unseat

“It is the right of every believer to go through halls of doubt on their way to rooms of truth” Chuck Swindoll

How to Stop Doubt From Moving to Unbelief Ask forgiveness and pray Don’t fall under condemnation Rehearse the times God has come through for you Seek encouragement from others Stand on the truth in God’s word

Mark 9:14-24 “I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.

Time of Response Ask those with the gift of Faith to come forward. Each of us ask God to show us where our doubts are. Ask God for forgiveness for your doubts. Come forward to be prayed over.