Faith Over Doubt: Embracing Childlike Trust in God
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of doubting our doubts and placing our faith in God. He encourages the congregation to not let doubt overshadow the promises that God has made for their lives. He also highlights the deeper meaning behind Jesus' words in Matthew 18:3, explaining that being converted and becoming like little children is not just about being born again, but also about having a childlike faith and trust in God.
The pastor then shares a personal experience of being provoked by someone who was not aligned with God's purpose, and how he took the bold step to rebuke and block that person. He challenges the congregation to believe in God above all else, rejecting the world's plan of success or the voice of the adversary. He admits that he too experiences doubt, but he chooses to doubt his doubts and remain steadfast in his faith in God's provision and the truth of His word.
The pastor also discusses the concept of being converted and having faith. He clarifies that being converted does not mean being born again into a new nature, but rather bringing something back to a place it has already been. He encourages the congregation to return to a time in their lives when they believed without fear and doubt, when their minds were not troubled by the cares of life.
The pastor reflects on the journey of starting a church, drawing a parallel to Abraham, who was called by God to go out without fully understanding the destination. He emphasizes the importance of having holistic belief and faith in God's promises, even when our human logic and inhibitions try to hold us back. He assures the listeners that if God calls them to step out in faith, He will come through and never leave them forsaken.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of actionable faith. He explains that simply believing in the prophetic word of God is not enough; one must also act upon it in obedience. He uses the example of Abraham, who was promised by God to be the father of many nations and to inherit the land of Canaan. He encourages the congregation not to sacrifice God's divine potential and plan for their lives due to their comfort or fear.
Key Takeaways:
- Doubting our doubts and placing our faith in God is crucial. We should not let doubt overshadow the promises that God has made for our lives. Instead, we should choose to believe God and step out from under the cloud of unbelief and spiritual offense. ([1:23])
- Being converted and becoming like little children is not just about being born again, but also about having a childlike faith and trust in God. We should return to a time in our lives when we believed without fear and doubt, when our minds were not troubled by the cares of life. ([15:45])
- We should have holistic belief and faith in God's promises, even when our human logic and inhibitions try to hold us back. If God calls us to step out in faith, He will come through and never leave us forsaken. ([28:30])
- Simply believing in the prophetic word of God is not enough; we must also act upon it in obedience. We should not sacrifice God's divine potential and plan for our lives due to our comfort or fear. ([42:10])
- We should pray according to God's design and will for our lives. Unseen blessings from God await those who have faith. We cannot determine the will of God, but we can pray the prayer of faith, knowing that faith often goes against human logic and requires us to go beyond our natural limitations. ([56:20])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 11:7: "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."
2. Hebrews 11:8: "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."
3. Matthew 18:3: "And said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What actions did Noah and Abraham take in response to God's instructions, as described in Hebrews 11:7 and 11:8?
2. What does Matthew 18:3 suggest about the nature of faith and the requirements for entering the kingdom of heaven?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the faith demonstrated by Noah and Abraham in Hebrews 11:7 and 11:8 relate to the concept of doubting our doubts and placing our faith in God?
2. What might it mean to "turn and become like children" in the context of Matthew 18:3? How does this relate to the idea of having a childlike faith and trust in God?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you doubted God's promises for your life? How did you overcome these doubts, and what steps can you take to strengthen your faith in the future?
2. Reflect on a situation where you felt called by God to step out in faith, similar to Abraham in Hebrews 11:8. What was the outcome, and how did it impact your faith?
3. In what ways can you cultivate a childlike faith and trust in God, as suggested by Matthew 18:3, in your daily life?
4. Can you identify an area in your life where you need to act upon God's word in obedience, similar to Noah in Hebrews 11:7? What specific steps can you take to do so?
5. Think of a person or situation that challenges your faith. How can you apply the lessons from Noah and Abraham's faith to this situation?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Childlike Faith
Doubt can often cloud our vision and hinder us from seeing God's promises for our lives. It is crucial to doubt our doubts and place our faith in God, stepping out from under the cloud of unbelief and spiritual offense. This requires a childlike faith, a trust in God that is unencumbered by fear and doubt. [1:23]
Matthew 18:3 - "And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you had childlike faith. How can you recapture that sense of trust and belief in God's promises today?
Day 2: Returning to Innocence
Conversion is not just about being born again, but also about returning to a state of innocence and trust in God. It's about going back to a time when we believed without fear and doubt, when our minds were not troubled by the cares of life. [15:45]
Luke 18:17 - "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Reflection: What are some fears and doubts that are currently troubling your mind? How can you surrender them to God and return to a state of childlike trust?
Day 3: Stepping Out in Faith
Having faith in God's promises often requires us to step out in faith, even when our human logic and inhibitions try to hold us back. If God calls us to step out in faith, He will come through and never leave us forsaken. [28:30]
Hebrews 11:8 - "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where God is calling you to step out in faith? What is holding you back and how can you overcome it?
Day 4: Acting on God's Word
Believing in the prophetic word of God is not enough; we must also act upon it in obedience. We should not sacrifice God's divine potential and plan for our lives due to our comfort or fear. [42:10]
James 2:26 - "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
Reflection: What is one action you can take today to act upon God's word in obedience?
Day 5: Praying with Faith
Praying according to God's design and will for our lives is crucial. Unseen blessings from God await those who have faith. Faith often goes against human logic and requires us to go beyond our natural limitations. [56:20]
Mark 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to pray with faith, believing that God will answer according to His will?
Quotes
"When doubt comes, we put faith in our doubt instead of faith in God. But I am telling you a very easy strategy here tonight when a doubt becomes to come into your mind that tries to position you against what God has said he will perform in your life, I am telling you to doubt your doubt." [01:21:56]
"I don't know what it is that God's calling you to step out in faith for but I'm telling you tonight that if you will step forward in faith and believe on the other side of Faith you will see the miraculous hand and provision of God." #!!01:15:13!!#
"I know that life has getting has hit you left and right... I know that your friends left you all by yourself... I know you experienced hurt there... I know you experienced loss there... but I'm telling you that if you will go back to the time before all that happened to you... you will begin to see a kingdom in a different way." #!!01:26:27!!#
"God can prophesy something to you all day long but it is nothing more than prophetic potential it requires you to get your faith into action and begin getting in step with what God is doing and begin moving." #!!01:17:20!!#
"Unless you go back to the place you've already been which means it is obtainable and live your life in the posture of a little child, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." #!!01:24:56!!#
"You've been there before, you've experienced it before. You're not so much like Abraham here going out trying to find a faith in a land that you don't know where you're going. God said you've already been there before." #!!01:25:45!!#
"How many things has God prophesied to you in your life that you will never see unless you holistically believe and holistically begin to move in faith?" #!!01:13:56!!#
"The first thing to note about faith is that whatever is done in faith, faith will not make natural sense. It will go against your logic...faith will require you to go beyond the limitations of your human logic to discover the unseen blessings of God." #!!01:12:31!!#
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