Bible Study No1 -Doubting God

[Debi1967]

Many of us have times of fear and of doubt along our spiritual walk with God. For the most part Christendom today has said that we should never doubt God and that this is a bad thing. They have even at times made us feel guilty for a simple human failing we have. But what does God think? Do we honestly believe that God judges us so harshly that in those moments of doubt that he cannot see we are struggling and in need of Him?

Many of you have expressed how at times you have doubted God or had times of extreme fear, because you seem to lose that vigor you once had for Him. Like the tide in our lives it ebbs and flows differently all the time with differences in situation and differences in where we are spiritually.

Let us explore in the Bible where the Apostles were with Christ at times.

Now this is right after Jesus had been resurrected from the dead

Mat 28:16 And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
Mat 28:17 And seeing him they adored: but some doubted.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.

But we still see here that even though He had risen from the dead which was truly a miraculous thing some still doubted!

Then we have the infamous story of doubting Thomas in the Bible

Joh 20:24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Joh 20:26 And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: Peace be to you.
Joh 20:27 Then he said to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither and see my hands. And bring hither the hand and put it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 Thomas answered and said to him: My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29 Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed.

So here again we have one of Christ's own disciples who had seen him perform many miracles and had seen rise from the dead but yet still doubted that He was the Lord and God. Yet God did not discharge them but instead kept instilling in them Faith.

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress. But have confidence. I have overcome the world.

So Christ is telling us that in this world we will have distress and we will be put to the test but to have confidence in Him because He has overcome this world and so shall we. So it is not easy to have Faith in these days and times. More often then not we are going to have to struggle and obstacles will be put in our way to try to move us from our Faith in the Lord.

Some people will tell you that if you do not Love the Lord your God every minute of every day that you have lost your belief and therefore your Faith. So let's explore this.

We are children in the eyes of God are we not? And as children, does a child always like the decisions made by a parent? If you answer truthfully like I would have to then the answer would be No. Also many times we confound our children with the decisions that we make because simply they are too young to understand why we had to make the decisions that we had to make and why. Well this is the same position that God is in with us. So often like little children we are wondering the age old question of why? Why does God have to make me go through all of this at this time? ect.

But in reality who is the creator of doubt and of evil that we deal with everyday that we often associate to God? Is it really God or is it really the devil? And why would the Devil want to create such chaos in our Faith and belief to begin with?


Please answer the questions discuss and post more biblical backup if you have any in support of this subject ....

When we are done discussing this subject then we will move onto something else.

Lovingly In Christ
Debi

[Debi1967]

Peter's betrayal because of fear
Mat 26:33 Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, "I will never leave you, even though all the rest do!"
Mat 26:34 Jesus said to Peter, "I tell you that before the rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me."

Peter was so sure of himself when he wasn't being put to the actual test but just as any individual when actually in the real life situation circumstances were completely different and he faultered.

Mat 26:69 Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard when one of the High Priest's servant women came to him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus of Galilee."
Mat 26:70 But he denied it in front of them all. "I don't know what you are talking about," he answered,
Mat 26:71 and went on out to the entrance of the courtyard. Another servant woman saw him and said to the men there, "He was with Jesus of Nazareth."
Mat 26:72 Again Peter denied it and answered, "I swear that I don't know that man!"
Mat 26:73 After a little while the men standing there came to Peter. "Of course you are one of them," they said. "After all, the way you speak gives you away!"
Mat 26:74 Then Peter said, "I swear that I am telling the truth! May God punish me if I am not! I do not know that man!" Just then a rooster crowed,
Mat 26:75 and Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: "Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know me." He went out and wept bitterly.

We see throughout scripture men that fallible in the extreme and because of that react in very human ways to situations. When we are put to the test we certainly hope that we can withstand and overcome the urge to do what comes naturally to us, but God does know that sometimes we cannot is merciful to us because of that.

Jesus himself asked His Father in the Garden if any relief could be given to Him on the night before His death

Jesus begging the Father so that maybe he would not have to suffer
Mat 26:39 He went a little farther on, threw himself face downward on the ground, and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering from me! Yet not what I want, but what you want."
Mat 26:42 Once more Jesus went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cup of suffering cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done."

So although we know he was God in the Flesh we also know that he had a human nature that wanted to preserve itself too.

We also see the betrayal of Judas. Although Judas, was instrumental in what needed to happen and in fulfilling prophecy to be sold out for a few coins had to be hard for Jesus to fathom.

Mat 26:48 The traitor had given the crowd a signal: "The man I kiss is the one you want. Arrest him!"
Mat 26:49 Judas went straight to Jesus and said, "Peace be with you, Teacher," and kissed him.
Mat 26:50 Jesus answered, "Be quick about it, friend!" Then they came up, arrested Jesus, and held him tight.

Notice that Jesus still calls Judas friend, and notice this too, if Judas had not fulfilled the prophecy that he would be betrayed by one of his own then Jesus would not be crucified for us.

It is reputed that after this Judas committed suicide because he could not deal with guilt of what he had done to Jesus and later when they were discussing Judas between themselves, the apostles, that it was Peter who made it a point to still call him Brother.

Now if the Apostles could faulter and fail the Lord on occasion and even have doubts why can't we who have not even seen the Lord?

[JoeWill]

But in reality who is the creator of doubt and of evil that we deal with everyday that we often associate to God? Is it really God or is it really the Devil? And why would the Devil want to create such chaos in our Faith and belief to begin with?

I think that some of the answer is connected with one of the Bible verses that you gave us:


Mat 28:18 And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.


Ephesian 4:7-13 reads:

7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says:

"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men."

9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The power given to Jesus, is distributed to his people in the form of gifts and ministries to perform on earth.

But they are received and operated by faith. Therefore, the Devil tries to undermine our faith in order to make us less ineffective.

This is one reason why the scriptures exhort us to maintain strong faith (e.g. James 1:6-7), while also presenting the consoling examples of men of God whose faith level fell short.

One way to mend your faith is to restore your spiritual self-esteem by reminding yourself that you are loved by God. Begin by focusing on God's love for you (e.g. Romans 8:35), and then ask for the things you need such as encouragement, anointing etc.

Hmm... gotta do that myself...

[Debi1967]

I think that some of the answer is connected with one of the Bible verses that you gave us:



Ephesian 4:7-13 reads:

7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says:

"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men."

9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The power given to Jesus, is distributed to his people in the form of gifts and ministries to perform on earth.

But they are received and operated by faith. Therefore, the Devil tries to undermine our faith in order to make us less ineffective.

This is one reason why the scriptures exhort us to maintain strong faith (e.g. James 1:6-7), while also presenting the consoling examples of men of God whose faith level fell short.

One way to mend your faith is to restore your spiritual self-esteem by reminding yourself that you are loved by God. Begin by focusing on God's love for you (e.g. Romans 8:35), and then ask for the things you need such as encouragement, anointing etc.

Hmm... gotta do that myself...
Thank You for you contributions to the study Joe :)

[Criada]

One way to mend your faith is to restore your spiritual self-esteem by reminding yourself that you are loved by God. Begin by focusing on God's love for you (e.g. Romans 8:35), and then ask for the things you need such as encouragement, anointing etc.

Hmm... gotta do that myself...

Me too, brother. Thanks for that. :hug:

[jive4005]

Yeah, even the disciples thought Jesus "beside Himself" (re: crazy).
Doubts come and go.... but thwe Word and God never change and stand the test of examination.

If you read the Bible with your heart, there is no way you will ever REALLY doubt God. Hey, the Israelites doubted God even after they saw Him do all that miracle stuff. That tells me something about how superficial man can be. It is vital we stay IN the Word and live our lives among fellow believers. We are saved by His grace and each others testimonies. Those testimonies are VERY important. They prove to us the power and love and possibilities of God.
Romans 10:17"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"

His,
Rev J