Is it ok to doubt
Matthew 11:1-6, 11
Why do we doubt God?
I’m reminded of peter when Jesus walked on the water out to them peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water out to him but when he saw the wind and the waves what happened he fell into the water. Doubt happens when we take our focus off of Jesus and start looking at our circumstances.
When doubt creeps into your life, it puts up a wall between God and us. And the bigger the wall becomes the more miserable you become.
I’ve been a Christian most of my like. I accepted Christ when I was in third grade. I remember being so excited I couldn’t wait to get to school to tell my teacher. Four years later I faced the biggest test of faith in my life. We had gone on a trip and when we came home our house was practically empty.
My dad told me that he and my mom were going to live in separate houses for a while. I remember him dropping me off at my mom’s apartment and just feeling absolutely crushed. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. The next year or two was a downward spiral. I could put up a good front on the outside but on the inside I was an absolute mess.
I remember reading how God hates divorce, I prayed and I prayed for God to bring my parents back together. When that didn’t happen I prayed and I prayed for the fighting to stop. When that didn’t happen I just stopped praying all together, I started to just give up. I remember telling a friend of mine in youth group that I had given up on praying for my parents and they said to me “Where is your Faith in God?” Those words struck me so hard and just ate at me and ate at me.
Then Satan came in. God doesn’t care about you. He’s not listening to you. Where’s your faith in God? I was broke down so far that I almost committed suicide.
I doubted Gods control of my life and I think I felt like I needed to control something. But then Gods truths came in the “belt of truth”. Thank God. I knew God loved me, and died for me. I knew he had a plan and a purpose for my life. God’s truths are the only reason I’m here today in more ways than one.
One thing I learned, when Satan comes with lies, shut him up with the truth.
So today I want to look at a person in the bible that may not normally be thought of as doubting. John the Baptist
Let’s talk about John for a moment. He was the last and greatest of the profits. He was family with Jesus. Before he was born, he was called great in the eyes of the lord by the angel Gabriel. He was filled with the Holy Spirit even before he was born. John baptized Jesus saw the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove and then heard God Say to Jesus “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased”.
Read Matthew 11: 1-3
V1. Jesus had just chosen who the 12 apostles were going to be and he gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal people and gave them instructions on what to do when they go to the different towns.
Verses 2-3. John was in prison for speaking out against the king for marrying his brother in laws wife, and she wanted his head for it so John was arrested. So while he’s in prison the bible says he hears what Messiah is doing, and sends his disciples to ask Jesus a question. He says are you the one we’ve waiting on or is there someone else? It seems like he’s starting to doubt Jesus is the messiah they are waiting on.
Why did he say this? Let’s look earlier in Matthew 3:11-12 where John says.
“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
Through the bible, what was John’s message? Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near, “Hey the King is here GET READY”. Most of the Jews, the disciples and I would say John believed that the messiah was going to be an earthly king. John is ready for Jesus to bring the hammer down. That he would destroy the tyranny of Rome and restore Israel. That’s why when Jesus rode into Jerusalem the crowds were shouting hosanna, save us, and a few days later they shouted crucify. Even when Jesus was just a baby King Herod heard that there was a new king born and he wanted to kill him.
Now there will be a day, when Christ will come back to earth, and he will overthrow every worldly government and set up his kingdom here on earth. Amen. He will separate the chaff from the wheat, the sheep from the goats. With the way the world is ruled today who wouldn’t get excited about that.
So Johns not wrong with what he believes his timing is just off. Jesus isn’t rallying the troops to over throw Rome. He’s forgiving, he’s healing, and he says hey pay your taxes. Give to Cesar what is Cesar’s. John 3:17 says For God did not send he’s Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
So Johns sitting here in prison, facing death, and he starts questioning why am I here? Where’s Jesus? Is Jesus really who he says he is?
So here is the lesson for all of us. What did john do when he started to doubt? He went straight to Jesus, and with one question he poured out what was in his heart. Are you the one? This reminds me of a story in Mark when a father said “I do believe help me with my unbelief”
Jesus’s answer Read remaining verses 4-6
This may kind of seem like a weird answer to John’s question, but it was exactly the encouragement John need. Jesus was fulfilling a prophecy from Isaiah 35:5-6
5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
And unplug the ears of the deaf.
6 The lame will leap like a deer,
And those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Jesus was encouraging John with the truth of God word. He then says this
Skip down and read v 11
11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived; none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!
Jesus didn’t judge John; he didn’t come down on him. He understood him, he loved him, and he encouraged him. Then spoke a truth to encourage every believer to come. As great as John was we who are in Christ are greater.
So, yes it’s ok to have doubts, but it’s not ok to remain passive in them. Be active in your doubts. Search out the truth. Go to Jesus.
We are still in the “Get ready the king is coming” place in time.
If you’re not ready for the King, please come up or grab one of the leaders.
If your doubting anything or questioning your faith and in need of encouragement please, come up and we will go to Jesus and pray for you.
