Transforming Doubt into Faith: Lessons from Thomas
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into the story of Thomas from John 20:24-25, exploring his struggle with doubt and the profound lessons it offers us about faith. Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples, was not present when Jesus first appeared to the others after His resurrection. When told about Jesus' return, Thomas famously declared that he would not believe unless he could see and touch Jesus' wounds himself. This moment of doubt is something many of us can relate to, as we often find ourselves needing tangible proof before we can fully trust in God's promises.
We discussed how our natural inclination towards disbelief is a result of the fall and how, through our born-again experience, we must re-educate ourselves with the Word of God. This re-education helps us to think more like Christ and less like our natural selves. The sermon emphasized the importance of feeding our spirit with God's Word to renew our minds and strengthen our faith.
Thomas' story illustrates that doubt can make us prisoners of our current reality, unable to see beyond what is to what God has promised. However, Jesus' response to Thomas was not one of rebuke but of understanding and compassion. Jesus met Thomas at his point of need, providing the proof he required and thereby transforming his doubt into faith. This encounter teaches us that God is patient with our doubts and is willing to meet us where we are to help us grow in faith.
We also explored how faith challenges what we see and how it is essential to speak God's promises even before they are fully revealed. Examples from Scripture, such as Moses at the Red Sea and Daniel in the lion's den, were used to illustrate how faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The sermon concluded with a call to action: to doubt our doubts and to speak faith into our lives, trusting that God will be faithful to His promises.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Nature of Doubt and Faith: Doubt is a natural inclination due to the fall, but through our born-again experience, we must re-educate ourselves with the Word of God. This re-education helps us to think more like Christ and strengthens our faith, enabling us to overcome our natural disbelief. [02:59]
2. Jesus' Compassionate Response: Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his doubt but met him at his point of need, providing the proof he required. This teaches us that God is patient with our doubts and is willing to meet us where we are to help us grow in faith. [27:30]
3. Faith Challenges Reality: Faith often challenges what we see and requires us to trust in God's promises even before they are fully revealed. Examples from Scripture, such as Moses at the Red Sea and Daniel in the lion's den, show how faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. [20:15]
4. The Power of Speaking God's Word: When faced with doubt, it is essential to speak the Word of God. This act of faith can neutralize doubt and bring God's promises into reality. Speaking God's Word transforms our minds and emotions, aligning them with His truth. [29:31]
5. Doubting Our Doubts: We are called to doubt our doubts and to bring them into the arena of faith. By doing so, we allow God's Word to counteract the enemy's attempts to sow disbelief. This practice strengthens our faith and enables us to experience God's faithfulness in our lives. [31:40]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:36] - Setting the Context
[02:59] - Natural Inclination Towards Doubt
[04:12] - Thomas' Struggle with Belief
[05:34] - The Power of God's Word
[06:54] - Speaking Faith in Difficult Times
[07:28] - Faith as the Foundation of Obedience
[08:51] - Experiencing God's Overcoming Power
[10:03] - The Reality of Death and Doubt
[12:01] - Doubt as a Doorway for Sin
[13:47] - Peter's Confession and Doubt
[15:06] - The Importance of Aligning with God's Word
[16:40] - Jesus' Compassionate Response to Thomas
[18:28] - Faith Challenges What We See
[20:15] - Examples of Faith in Scripture
[22:01] - Speaking God's Promise
[23:44] - Jesus and the Resurrection of Lazarus
[25:27] - Jesus Appears to Thomas
[27:30] - Thomas' Transformation
[29:31] - Faith Neutralizes Doubt
[30:57] - Faith Triggers Miracles
[31:40] - Doubting Our Doubts
[33:07] - Victory Over Doubt
[33:48] - Invitation to the Altar
[34:25] - Choosing Faith Over Doubt
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 20:24-25 (NIV): "Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Thomas' reaction when the other disciples told him they had seen the Lord? ([01:36])
2. How did Jesus respond to Thomas' doubt when He appeared to him? ([25:27])
3. What examples from Scripture were given in the sermon to illustrate how faith can overcome obstacles? ([20:15])
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of speaking God's Word when faced with doubt? ([06:54])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Thomas needed physical proof to believe in Jesus' resurrection? How does this reflect our own struggles with faith? ([05:01])
2. How does Jesus' compassionate response to Thomas' doubt teach us about God's nature? ([16:40])
3. In what ways does faith challenge our current reality, according to the sermon? Provide examples from the sermon to support your answer. ([18:28])
4. How does the act of speaking God's Word help to neutralize doubt and align our minds with His truth? ([29:31])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with doubt. How did you handle it, and what could you have done differently to bring your doubts into the arena of faith? ([31:40])
2. Jesus met Thomas at his point of need and provided the proof he required. How can you be more compassionate and understanding towards others who are struggling with doubt? ([16:40])
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of re-educating ourselves with the Word of God. What specific steps can you take this week to feed your spirit and renew your mind with God's Word? ([02:59])
4. Think of a current situation in your life that seems insurmountable. How can you apply the principle of speaking God's promises over this situation? ([06:54])
5. The sermon called us to "doubt our doubts." What practical actions can you take to challenge and overcome your doubts this week? ([31:40])
6. How can you encourage someone else in your life who is struggling with doubt, using the lessons from Thomas' story? ([27:30])
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to trust in God's promises even before they are fully revealed. What specific promise from Scripture can you speak over this area? ([22:01])
Devotional
### Day 1: Re-educating Ourselves with God's Word
Description:
Doubt is a natural inclination due to the fall, but through our born-again experience, we must re-educate ourselves with the Word of God. This re-education helps us to think more like Christ and strengthens our faith, enabling us to overcome our natural disbelief. Our natural selves are prone to doubt and disbelief, but as we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we begin to see the world through the lens of faith. This transformation is not instantaneous but requires consistent effort and dedication to studying and meditating on God's Word. By doing so, we align our thoughts and actions with God's truth, allowing His promises to become more real to us than our doubts. [02:59]
Bible Passage:
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection:
What specific steps can you take today to immerse yourself more deeply in God's Word and begin the process of renewing your mind?
### Day 2: Jesus Meets Us in Our Doubts
Description:
Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his doubt but met him at his point of need, providing the proof he required. This teaches us that God is patient with our doubts and is willing to meet us where we are to help us grow in faith. Thomas' story is a powerful reminder that God understands our struggles and is compassionate towards our weaknesses. Instead of condemning us for our doubts, He invites us to bring them to Him, where He can provide the reassurance and evidence we need to strengthen our faith. This compassionate response from Jesus encourages us to be honest about our doubts and seek His presence in our moments of uncertainty. [27:30]
Bible Passage:
"Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" (John 20:29, ESV)
Reflection:
Think of a current doubt or fear you are facing. How can you invite Jesus into that specific area and seek His reassurance today?
### Day 3: Faith Challenges What We See
Description:
Faith often challenges what we see and requires us to trust in God's promises even before they are fully revealed. Examples from Scripture, such as Moses at the Red Sea and Daniel in the lion's den, show how faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. These stories remind us that faith is not about ignoring reality but about trusting in a greater reality—God's promises and power. When we face challenges that seem impossible, faith calls us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and trust that God is at work, even when we cannot see the outcome. This perspective helps us to remain steadfast and hopeful, knowing that God's plans are always for our good. [20:15]
Bible Passage:
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)
Reflection:
Identify a situation in your life where you are struggling to see beyond the immediate challenges. How can you practice trusting in God's promises in this area today?
### Day 4: The Power of Speaking God's Word
Description:
When faced with doubt, it is essential to speak the Word of God. This act of faith can neutralize doubt and bring God's promises into reality. Speaking God's Word transforms our minds and emotions, aligning them with His truth. By declaring God's promises over our lives, we actively combat the lies and doubts that the enemy tries to sow in our hearts. This practice not only strengthens our faith but also brings us into closer alignment with God's will and purposes. As we speak His Word, we invite His power and presence into our situations, enabling us to experience His faithfulness in tangible ways. [29:31]
Bible Passage:
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17, ESV)
Reflection:
What specific promises from God's Word can you declare over your life today to counteract any doubts or fears you are experiencing?
### Day 5: Doubting Our Doubts
Description:
We are called to doubt our doubts and to bring them into the arena of faith. By doing so, we allow God's Word to counteract the enemy's attempts to sow disbelief. This practice strengthens our faith and enables us to experience God's faithfulness in our lives. Doubting our doubts means questioning the validity of our fears and uncertainties in light of God's truth. It involves a conscious decision to trust in God's character and promises, even when our circumstances suggest otherwise. This approach helps us to shift our focus from our limitations to God's limitless power, fostering a deeper and more resilient faith. [31:40]
Bible Passage:
"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:24, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one doubt or fear that you can bring before God today, asking Him to help you see it through the lens of faith and His promises?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Because of the fall, we are natural. We are naturally bent on disbelief over belief. And that's why following our born-again experience, coming to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we really re-educate ourselves with a Christian education, the word of God. We take and we reformat our mindset to where we begin to not lean towards those aspects that we need proof, but we begin to feed our spirit. And renew our soul, our mind, with the word of God, which enables us to think like God." [02:59] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You've heard it said, seeing is believing. But honestly, God's word says, believing is seeing. If you believe, you will see the glory of the Lord. And that's why Satan works overtime to disarm our faith. How does he disarm our faith? With doubt. You'll see that faith is the foundation of our salvation, but it's also the strength of our obedience. Scripture says without faith, it's impossible to please God." [06:54] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Salvation is more than eternal life insurance. Thank God for the assurance we have that we have eternal life, but God wants us to walk in his overcoming power. He wants us to experience a new level of confidence, how to turn bad into good were tarnished by being my house are being It's like they're Mandon. this is what your fatemans are doing for distraction or you have fun, They're doing their best And then when you're ready to go, then they hear you show you there I believe it. Can not let God in, I believe now." [08:04] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Faith speaks God's promise before God's promise is revealed. And that's what Jesus was looking for in Thomas, and it's what he's looking for in us. He was resurrected. When you begin to hear the testimony, when you begin to hear reports that God has honored, whatever that promise may be, in the life of someone else, those around you, a circumstance, a situation, rather than doubt the reports that you hear of God's faithfulness, even though we may not, you may not, I may not have seen it yet. Yet doesn't mean it's not true." [22:01] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When doubt knocks on the door of your mind, open up that door with faith and speak the word of God right in the face of the enemy. Whether it's for your healing, whether it's for the salvation of a loved one, whether it's for direction, whether it's for provision. When doubt knocks on the door of your mind, let faith open that door and speak right into the face of that temptation, that spirit. The word of God is the counterattack against doubt. Amen?" [33:07] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Thomas, for whatever reason. Scripture doesn't really show us why, but he wasn't there. And when he received this message, I'm sure like all of us, there's a part of us that wants to believe. But he had been through so much, had experienced so much heartbreak, even those he knew and he trusted. For whatever the reason, he just didn't have it within him at that point to really believe what they shared. And so you see, all of this surmounting, and not only Thomas, but there were others that Jesus knew he needed to confirm his resurrection to." [01:36] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Doubt finds its strength in what is. And if we focus on what is, and that's what Thomas did, he was focused on that grave. He was focused when he saw Jesus draw his last breath, say it is finished, and he died. He was focused on when that stone was rolled in front of that tomb, which theologians bring out could have been in excess of three tons. All that he was focused on was death. He was focused on what was, what is. You know, he couldn't see beyond the grave." [10:03] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Faith will always challenge what you see. Do you hear me? Without a doubt, faith will always challenge what you see. Because if what God desires to do in our lives is going to come to pass, then that means it's in contradiction to what we see. And that's when we just have to dig in and say, Lord, I don't know how, don't know when, don't know where, but I believe you. I believe you. Word, you will be faithful to bring it to pass." [18:28] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Thomas was not punished. In fact, do you know nowhere in the Bible is Thomas referred to as Doubting Thomas? That has been a phrase and a label that people have created. But nowhere in the Word of God is he referenced as Doubting Thomas. There's an example that he wrestled with doubt, but he was never labeled. So God didn't penalize him. God wasn't upset, but God was teaching not only a lesson to Thomas about faith and about the importance of not embracing doubt, but really when doubt does hammer, and it hammers all of us, that is the number one tactic that Satan brings against us to disarm our faith, doubt and unbelief." [28:12] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Faith is what pulls the trigger for God to do the miraculous. Or maybe there's someone you know, a situation you've been interceding for that's weighed heavy on your heart. Someone you know you love and you need a miracle triggered for their lives. Faith is what triggers that miracle. And it's this kind of faith that is released when you do what? Doubt your doubts. How many are ready to doubt your doubts? Let me say it again. How many are ready to doubt your doubts? Come on. Think about it. If Satan says it, how could it be true?" [30:57] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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