How Do We Handle Doubt?

November 14, 2004

Introduction

            In response to our request for sermons suggestions, someone requested verses that deal with doubt.  As we open the study of doubt, let me begin by saying that if we are talking about verses that contain the word doubt, it depends on which version we choose as to how many verses we will study.  The word doubt occurs in only six verses in the NKJV.  It occurs in only 4 verses in NASV, ten times in the KJV, and eight times in the NIV.  In spite of the fact that it occurs only a few times, it is used in somewhat different ways.

            Rather than discuss definitions, or notice all the different ways that doubt is used in the New Testament, let’s address the issue as it applies to each of us.  Let’s begin with a story.

            Today, we have a proverbial saying.  You man hear of someone who others think “can walk on water.”  To be able to “walk on water” is thought of as the ultimate in human faith, or perhaps power to do things.  Other than Jesus, only one man has walked on water, and that was Peter.  This morning we want to look at what happened immediately after this historic accomplishment.

            (Mat 14:30-31 NKJV)  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" {31} And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

            This is an interesting story.  Jesus asks a question immediately after He gave the answer, “Why did you doubt?”  He had already told him why, “O you of little faith.”

And so, this morning, we want to address the problem of doubt.

Body

I.        Why do you doubt?

1. Why did Peter doubt?

1.      He saw a situation which he had no idea how to handle?

a.       How can you walk on water when there is nothing to support you?

b.      That problem was made worse for Peter as he looked at the waves. 

c.       If the waves hit him, what happens?  Will he get wet and part of him be below the water?  The situation is more than he can understand.

2.      Many have said, and I think rightly so, that he began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus.

2. We can have doubts for the same reason.

1.      Our “boisterous waves” are the problems we don’t know how to fix.

2.      Sometimes we have boisterous waves that we don’t understand why.

3. There was another reason for Peter’s problem: 

1.      The Lord said he was of little faith.

2.      What can we do about “little faith?”

3.      “Little faith” even happened to Moses.

(Num 11:21 And Moses said, "The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, 'I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.' {22} "Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?" {23} And the LORD said to Moses, "Has the Lord's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not."

II.     Do we understand Who God is?

1. When we have problems, it’s all too easy to evaluate our problems by how we would solve the problem.

1.      That’s what Moses was doing,

2.      It’s easy for us to do.

2. We need to understand things from God’s perspective.

1.      That includes His power.

(Gen 18:14 NKJV)  "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

2.      It includes His will.

(2 Cor 12:7-9 NKJV)  And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. {8} Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. {9} And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

3.      It includes His time.

(Isa 46:9-10 NKJV)  Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, {10} Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,'

(2 Pet 3:8-9 NKJV)  But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. {9} The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

III.   Sometimes there is no substitute for patience.

1. Job was such a case.

1.      He did not deserve what happened to him.

2.      He suffered much at the hands of Satan.

2. We suffer much because of the effects of sin.

1.      We are in process of dying, and it isn’t fun.

2.      Sometimes we suffer for foolish things that we do.

3. The prayer of the apostles is appropriate also.

(Luke 17:5 NKJV)  And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

1. Any such request involves our praying, and may we increase our prayers.
2. We need always to ask God for guidance and wisdom.

(James 1:5 NKJV)  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Conclusion

I.        Doubts have plagued the best of men.

II.     May we not let doubts get us down.

III.   Leave no doubt about your salvation.  If you need to make matters right with God, now is all you are assured of.

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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