1 Timothy 6:12 (NLT) Fight
the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God
has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.
We have often heard that doubt cancels faith and that faith overcomes doubt and fear. There is a constant battle between what we know about God through the Holy Spirit and the thoughts that create
We have often heard that doubt cancels faith and that faith overcomes doubt and fear. There is a constant battle between what we know about God through the Holy Spirit and the thoughts that create
It’s faith versus doubt and you determine the outcome. If faith wins then you win. If doubt wins then you lose. These contests happen every day most of them small and the winner is determined quickly and then there are the big ones. The outcome of these battles or contests between faith and doubt can have major consequences that can last for years, and some may last until Jesus returns.
The Tale of the Tape
We will compare our combatants in this faith versus doubt contest with both secular and spiritual
Faith
From Dictionary.com
1) confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another’s ability.2)belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
3) belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
4) belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.
5) a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.
From Hebrews 11:1 (HCSB)
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
verb (used with object)
1. to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
2. to distrust.
3. Archaic. to fear; be apprehensive about.
verb (used without object)
4. to be uncertain about something; be undecided in opinion or belief.
(Verbs) 1) aporeo “to be without a way”;
2) diaporeo “to be thourghly perplexed”;
3)diakrino ”wavereth”, “making no distinction”;
4) distazo “to stand in two ways”;
5) meteorizo “signifying “in mid air, raised on high”;
6) psuchen airo “to raise the breath, or to lift the soul” signifies “to hold in suspense”
(Noun) 7) dialogismos expresses reasoning or questioning hesitation.
Remember you control the outcome of the contest. Here’s what Jesus said;
Matthew 14:31 (HCSB) Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Jesus was talking to Peter after he stepped out on the water to walk to Jesus who was walking, on the water. When he saw how strong the wind was he got scared and started to sink. When Peter was acting in faith he walked, when he doubted he started to sink. Peter’s doubt cancelled his faith. He lost that contest of faith versus doubt.
Matthew 21:21 (HCSB) Jesus answered them, “I assure you: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done.
Jesus was answering a question that his disciples asked what happened to a fig tree that He had cursed. (Matthew 21:18-22) Moving a mountain is impossible – for anyone but God, but nothing is impossible for God. We often have situations that come in our lives that are so big and that overcoming them seems impossible but if we trust and have faith in the one who can move the mountain or do the impossible it will be done. If we have doubts about God’s ability to move the mountain then the mountain won’t move for us. We lose.
Abraham is a perfect example for us to follow. The bible tells us that Abraham didn’t question the promise of God and because of it, his faith grew stronger. His faith was able to overcome any doubt he may have had.
Genesis 15:4-6 (NKJV) 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness..
Romans 4:19-21 (NKJV) 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Believe God’s promises don't look at the circumstance. Let your faith build cancelling out all doubt. Praise God and be fully convinced that God will do what He said that He would do.
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV) 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
1 John 5:4 (NKJV) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
You can conquer doubt with faith and win every time and when you win every time you become more than a conqueror (Read my blog post on becoming more than a conqueror Here!)
In order to have faith in God and trust Him completely you need to know Him and know what His promises are for you. In other words you need to have a relationship and that starts Jesus.
John 3:3 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Acts 4:11-12 (NKJV)11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you are going to lose much more often than you win. Remember what I said about Abraham that his faith in God allowed him to overcome his doubt because he knew that God is bigger than any circumstance and if He said it He was able to accomplish it. You and I are no match against Satan and this world system. Without the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we will lose. Get on the winning side.
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
If you are tired of being afraid and full of doubt pray this prayer;
“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”
If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link. Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers. Welcome to the family of God and to victory over fear and doubt.
Doubt
From Dictionary.com
1. to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
2. to distrust.
3. Archaic. to fear; be apprehensive about.
verb (used without object)
4. to be uncertain about something; be undecided in opinion or belief.
From Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary
2) diaporeo “to be thourghly perplexed”;
3)diakrino ”wavereth”, “making no distinction”;
4) distazo “to stand in two ways”;
5) meteorizo “signifying “in mid air, raised on high”;
6) psuchen airo “to raise the breath, or to lift the soul” signifies “to hold in suspense”
(Noun) 7) dialogismos expresses reasoning or questioning hesitation.
You Determine the Winner
Matthew 14:31 (HCSB) Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Jesus was talking to Peter after he stepped out on the water to walk to Jesus who was walking, on the water. When he saw how strong the wind was he got scared and started to sink. When Peter was acting in faith he walked, when he doubted he started to sink. Peter’s doubt cancelled his faith. He lost that contest of faith versus doubt.
Matthew 21:21 (HCSB) Jesus answered them, “I assure you: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done.
Jesus was answering a question that his disciples asked what happened to a fig tree that He had cursed. (Matthew 21:18-22) Moving a mountain is impossible – for anyone but God, but nothing is impossible for God. We often have situations that come in our lives that are so big and that overcoming them seems impossible but if we trust and have faith in the one who can move the mountain or do the impossible it will be done. If we have doubts about God’s ability to move the mountain then the mountain won’t move for us. We lose.
How Do We Defeat Doubt with Our Faith?
Genesis 15:4-6 (NKJV) 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness..
Romans 4:19-21 (NKJV) 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Believe God’s promises don't look at the circumstance. Let your faith build cancelling out all doubt. Praise God and be fully convinced that God will do what He said that He would do.
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV) 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
1 John 5:4 (NKJV) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
You can conquer doubt with faith and win every time and when you win every time you become more than a conqueror (Read my blog post on becoming more than a conqueror Here!)
To Win You Must Be Born Again
John 3:3 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Acts 4:11-12 (NKJV)11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you are going to lose much more often than you win. Remember what I said about Abraham that his faith in God allowed him to overcome his doubt because he knew that God is bigger than any circumstance and if He said it He was able to accomplish it. You and I are no match against Satan and this world system. Without the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we will lose. Get on the winning side.
Here’s how
If you are tired of being afraid and full of doubt pray this prayer;
“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”
If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link. Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers. Welcome to the family of God and to victory over fear and doubt.
God bless you.
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