HOW TO OVERCOME DOUBT

 

How to deal and overcome doubt

 

1. Everyone has doubts.  It is natural and normal.  It happens when you trust in a being, who is unseen.  Even someone as dedicated and anointed as John.

 

1. Factors that cause doubt.  Unanswered prayer, long and hard times, isolation, satanic attack, discouragement and disappointment, hurt, un-forgiveness, fear, broken relationship or a traumatic experience.
2. For John it was isolation, pro-longed discouragement and fear.  Talk about vs 18-19.

 

2. His disciples came to Jesus and Jesus at the time was curing people who sickness, disease, evil spirits and the blind. 

 

 

1. Now notice Jesus’ reaction.  There was no condemnation or lecture.  He just said, (read vs 22-23. 
2. God is aware of our doubts and will answer in love, the facts and clarity.  Condemnation comes from satan, the world, others or ourselves.  Remember God understands your doubt, he is not afraid or it, it will not separate you from Him and will not condemn us for it.   He will reassure you, the Holy Spirit will give you the promises and He will help you overcome them.

 

3. Then Jesus in vs 24-35, commends and praises John.  God when He looks at us.  He does not see our doubt but our acts of faith, our relationship with Him, He sees us not as we are but what we shall be.  Jesus presented God’s view of John the Baptist. 

1. Remember God looks at us through rose colored glasses, the blood of Jesus and the righteousness of Christ.
2. So remember doubt is normal and natural, it comes from time to time but as time progresses it will become less and less.  Apply the word, keep in prayer, stay in fellowship and share you faith are key tools to keep doubt away. 

 

 

 

QUOTES FOR JULY 22, 2026

 

HOW TO LIVE

 How to Really Live! – Ezekial 18:9 – April 5, 2009

 

Intro:  Today we are looking at the book of Ezekial, written by one of the O.T. most unusual and mystical prophets.  I love Ezekial is an illustrative and creative prophet.

He loved poetry, visual artistic expression, storytelling and using personal example to communicate his message.  He was a son of a priest that was carried away to Babylon.

 

1.  This book records the events of the captivity in Babylon.  It is a message for all Jews.

     The Jews in Palestine and Babylon were discouraged and even rebellious and Ezekial

     Had been given the task of telling them of a future destruction and exodus of the

     People.  He tells them that God is going to restore them and they would tell others

     About the Lord’s salvation.  Ezekial’s name meant, “The God who strengthens.”

 

a.  The book may start with judgment but it ends with a promise of a new future for

     Israel.  The enemies of Israel are denounced and God’s promise of redemption is

     Revealed.  He have 179 messages from God.  Ezekial task was to be a spiritual

     watchman.  To warn the people of impeding danger. 

b.  This is a book of promise and judgment a combination of threat and promise.  The

     Key thought of the book is, “I am the Sovereign Lord.”    

c.  This book is full of fantastic scenes of God’s glory.  It shows Gods glory and

     Judgment in a symbolic form, 

 

2.  In our scripture today, Ezekial reveals two conditions to this promise and two results

     Of this promise.  Ezekial like Jeremiah is primarily a prophet of hope.  He tells his

     Audience that their rebellion did not exhaust God’s mercy.  Like David who said,

     “Sorrow may last for a night but joy comes in the morning.”  God is going to fulfill

     His promises very soon.  Ezekial wanted to the people to have a new heart.

 

.  a.  The first condition in this promise is, “He who follows my decrees.”  A decree is

     Edict or order given by someone who is in authority over us.  God is sovereign

     Ezekial reminds his audience.  The person who submits, obeys God commands,

     follows through in their lives.  Obedience is key to receiving God’s full provision. 

     Obedience is greater than any sacrifice we can offer.  1 Sam 15:23  Obedience means

     to submit out of respect, reverence and love to a higher authority. 

1.  Ezekial is a man who was obedient to the call of God.  God told him that if did not tell

     The people, he would be held responsible.  He was a living message and nothing was

     Going to keep him from telling it or having it fulfilled.  Ezekial believed in personal

     Responsibility.  We have free choice and with its comes all the responsibilities and

    Consequences.  One of the hard choices he had to make was when his wife died God

    Told him not to mourn. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

b.  And faithfully keeps my laws.  Faithfulness is a concept that cannot be stressed

     Enough today.  It means doing a task with diligence, patience, without the possibility

     Of recognition or reward.  It means being in there for the long term.  Remember it is

     Not how you start hat matters in the things of God but how you finish.  You will be

     Rewarded and commended at the end of life.  Ezekial was a creative, artistic person.

     He uses an art form called pantomime to relay his message.  There are 40 pantomimes

     Listed in the Bible and 25 of them are found in Ezekial.

 

1.  The Lord through Ezekial is encouraging His people to be faithful in keeps His laws

     Some would say the ten commanded and I believe that is so but I believe the law God

     Wants is Matt 22:37-40.  Jesus said that the law and prophets hang on these two

      Commandments.

2.  The law was the guidelines or expression of God’s agreement with His people.  These

     Were measurable ways in which you could see if you were expressing God’s desires

      In your life.  Are you today expressing God’s will in your words, thoughts, actions

      And attitudes.  .

 

3.  Ezekial then makes two statements on behalf of the Lord.  The man is righteous.  The

     Two previous expressions of obedience and faithfulness show a person to be

     Righteous.  To be righteous means to be in right standing with God.  Declare not

     Guilty of sin or its consequences.  The man who is righteous is obedient and faithful.

     Is this your testimony?  Chapter 22 is a chapter looking for a man of integrity.  I

     Believe God is still looking for men like that today.  Frank Thompson calls this

     Uprightness.  Four biblical promises for this behaviour is reward, prosperity, provision

     And success.  Ezekial reminded his readers that God His promises very soon. 

     Ezekial highly regarded men like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack amd Abednego.

a.  He will surely live, declares the Lord.  This statement was extremely powerful and

     Important considering what was happening at the time.  Death, destruction, famine,

     Pain, misery was part of everyday life.  People did not know how long they would live

     Or who would kill them. 

b.  This gives his readers and audience hope and a measuring stick to gauge their life by. 

     You are obedient and faithful you will be righteous and live.  The promise to us today

     Is that Jesus came to give us life and abundantly.  (John 10:10) 

 

1.  Life has been described in scripture as a shadow, 1 Chron 29:15

2.  Swift runner.  Job 9:25

3.  A mere handbreadth. Ps 39:5

4.  A weaver’s web.  Is 38:12

5.  A vanishing vapour.  James 4:14

 

c.  Paul encourages in light of the quickness of life to redeem each moment and make

     The most of it.  Eph 5.

 

 

 

 

d.  Jesus has been given the title of The Abundant Life Giver.  H

FOUNDATIONS OF LOVE

 

I The Foundations of Love – 1 John  3:21-24 – Sept 30, 2007

 

Intro:  It seems that we are spending a long time in this book, but remember it is powerful, truthful, simple, encouraging and talks extensively about a subject we need as much as we need to breathe.  Love.  As one southern black preacher stated, “If you love another, you are loving God.”

 

Dear friends, if our hearts do not judge us, we can be bold with God.  NIV

 

1.  John again calls the audience his friends.  This phrase along with my dear children is

     His two greetings in this book.  He looks at all believers as friends.  You might say a

     Stranger who can be a friend you have not met yet.

 

2.  John says, if our hearts do not judge or condemn us, we can be bold before God.  In   

     My last message on John we learned, how to have our hearts not condemn us.  We are

     To love one another, enter into new life, live for others, meet needs when it is  

     within Your ability, put love into action and hold onto truth.

3.  John states in a nutshell that love, righteousness and holiness creates boldness and

     Confidence.  The writer of Hebrews gives us another angle when he stated in

     Heb 4:14-16, that because Jesus went through all the temptation as we have and yet

     Did not sin.  That means we can come boldly before the throne of grace and find

     Mercy and grace in our time of need. Let’s do the have a little fun.   Say love is, and

     finish the sentence.

 

And He will give us anything we ask.  That’s because we obey His commands.  We do what pleases Him.

 

1.  This verse talks about the power of prayer.  You want answers to prayer.  Obey His

      Commands and do what pleases Him.  I gave you six things in the first part of our

      Message.  I am going to reveal a trio of commands.  Matt 22:37-40 says to “Love the

      Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul mind and strength and love your

      neighbour as yourself.  Matt 28:19 says, “To go into the entire world and preach

     the gospel, making disciples of all men baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and

     Holy Spirit.”  Lastly, John 15:12 , Jesus tells to love one another just as I have loved

      you.”

2.  God loves to give and bless.  Obedience and purity are the key, you might sat they are  

      The grease cutters to keep the pipes clean.  You might say it is the Drano of prayer. 

    

God has commanded us to do believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.  He has also commanded us to love one another. 

 

1.  John keeps it painfully simple.  Believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In the

     Original text the word in IS, is not there.  So John just says, believe the name of the

     Lord Jesus Christ.   This is actually the books reference to faith.  To John, Jesus

     Was God with a face/  He believed that Jesus was the Alpha and Omega of

     Christian Thought. 

 

2.  He taught about Jesus’ incarnation and earthly ministry.  Remember he was part of

      Jesus’ inner circle, He was there at the transfiguration.  This left a lifetime mark on

     John.  Augustine writes, “John spoke like no other on the divinity of Christ but he

     Did not neglect His humanity.  He shows Jesus in relationship, sympathies and

     Friendships.  John focused on the person of Christ.”  Here is Jesus.

3.  Then John says, “He has commanded us to love one another.”  John was a man of

     Motives.  He believed it was his task to inspire action and enable relationships.  It

     Was told of John telling his audiences to love one another, because Jesus said it.  John

     Subscribe to the phrase.  “If Jesus said it, I believe it and that settles it.”  This

     Commandment by the way is not up for debate.  Roy B. Zuck wrote, “John

     Considered love as the appropriate expression of the regenerate life of which he has

     Been speaking.  Love is righteousness in action.”

4.  John was a strong believer of the love in action and the unfathomable riches it brought

     In Christ.  He also believe it needed to be communicated to and through the life of the

     Believer.    

 

Those who obey His commands remain joined to Him and He remains joined to them.

How do we know that God lives in us?  We it know it because the Holy Spirit He gave us. 

 

1.  John has the clearest understanding of the relationship between Christ and the believer

     Of any of the New Testament writers.  John recorded the upper room discourse where

     Jesus in John 15, talks about the vine and the branches.  John talked extensively about

     How Jesus Christ the Logos, (The Living Word), was the perfect union between the

     Father and the son.  If you saw one you saw the other. 

2.  The branches cannot survive without the vine or roots.  Obedience is the fruit of the

     Union between you and God.  It is the one way to stay connected and is the sign of

     This connection. 

3.  John then asks the question, “How do we know that God lives in us?  We know

     Because of the Holy Spirit He gave us.  John seemed to have the best understanding

     About the person and work of the Holy Spirit, than any other New Testament writer. 

     He understood this best because He recorded Jesus’ discussion about the Holy Spirit

     In the upper room discourse.  John describes the Holy Spirit, work, mission,

     Personality and how He would work between the believer and the Holy Spirit.  The

     Holy Spirit is the hidden worker of redemption, salvation and regeneration.  The

     Holy Spirit is the inner voice, He states with conviction.  You are a child of God. 

     Obey and love. 

 

 

    

 

 

QUOTES FOR JULY 21, 2026

 

FOLLY OF SIN

 

July 21 – Folly of Sin -

Isaiah 42:18-25

 

     Israel is described as blind and deaf.  He equates the messenger and servants of His as blind and deaf

To the agreements that have been made.  God keeps his side, but His people don’t.  They are blind to

What is seen and deaf to what has been presented.  The law is a delight to the Lord.  His righteousness,

Glory and greatness make the law what it is. 

     The problem is that people are trapped in prisons, dungeons, and hidden places. They are plunder,

Booty, and loot.  No one can rescue them, free them, and send them back.  The reason they are in this

Condition is because of their sin, and it was the Lord who sent there because of that.  Sin is a trap

And prison.  They have sinned, not follow His ways, or obeyed them.  When the Lord punished them

They still did not understand, and they did not take heart.  The folly of sin is that it blinds you to truth

And freedom.

TRUE POWER

 

Jan 17^th – What is True Power – Acts 1:8

 

Intro:  The Question can be asked, what is true power?  The Webster’s dictionary says, it is the ability to act in decisiveness.  It is authority given to a person or thing by others or a place where power is generated.  In some people’s mind it is weaponry, armies, money, brawn or intellect.  President Obama is called the most powerful man on the planet. 

 

1.  For the Christian it is all about connection.  Jesus said in Acts 1:8 that we would receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon us.  An electric cord is useless until connected to a power source.  A garden hose is just a piece of plastic until connected to a water source.  A person is dead in their trespasses and sin until saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. 

 

a.     True power is allowing yourself to be a conduit or vessel through which the Lord can do His work.  Jesus made it clear here true. power comes from one source, the Holy Spirit.  It is from Him and never from you. 

b.    Jesus also made it clear in Acts 1:8 that is was to be used in witnessing.  To tell others in our immediate world and then to broaden our horizons to other spheres of influence.

c.     Frank Thompson describes this verse as the promise of the Spiritual equipment for a world wide campaign.

 

2.   Mark tells us Mark 16 that this power is given to drive out demons, to speak in tongues, handle dangerous situations, have divine protection and heal the sick. 

 

a.      Paul says in 1 Cor 12 that this power enables us to operate in gifts that allow us to discern what is happening in the material and spiritual realms.  To know things that only God could know and choose to reveal.  To be wise enough to see the motives and intentions of others and how to respond with the information that has been revealed.

b.    This power allows us walk in faith and trust that God will back up His promises and His word.  We will see with this power immediate and progressive healings from afflictions and diseases in whatever form they come and from whom or where.  Power given by God enables us to see the suspension of natural, physical laws of the universe and the supernatural intervention of God.  Talk about Jesus and Lazarus according to Carmen.

c.     The power and gifts given by the Holy Spirit described in our text today allows the believer to speak in tongues they never learned and interpret those tongues in a public setting.   Through the power of the Holy Spirit messages of prophecy come to edify, exhort and build up the church or body of Christ in love.   Talk about Larry Lea at His college getting filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

3.  The power described here allows you to walk in love acceptance and forgiveness.  It helps you to overcome habits, attitudes, faults failures and sins.

To say no, to the world, the flesh and the devil.  To triumph over accusation, temptation and deception no matter where it comes from or who is its instrument.           

 

a.      Paul reminds us this morning in Rom 8:11 that we have resurrection power in us.  It will quicken our mortal bodies.  Job says in Job 5:21 that the power of God gives us spiritual life.  John states in John 17:2, that this power gives us eternal life. 

b.    Paul again says that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

      (Phil 4:13). He also reveals that we are preserved through the power of

     God. (1 Tim 1:12)

c.      In 1 Cor 3:6-8 we learn that the power of God works in and through us.  That it is our foundation and ground of trust.  (Rom 4:21) 

d.    John says in 1 John 3:8, it is the power of God and the authority of Jesus Christ that destroys the works of the devil.  Micah stated in Mic 3:8 that through the power of God we will have courage.  You have all of heaven behind you today.  That is clapping, shouting and general noise ground amen.  You can speak with authority today as the apostles of old as described in Acts 4:55. 

 

 

JEREMIAH'S THOUGHTS

 

His Message

 

Major Points

 

The spring and cistern.                                                                       2:13

The ineradicably stain of sin.                                                             2:22

The search for man.                                                                            5:1

The old ways best.                                                                              6:16

The lost opportunity.                                                                          8:20

The tearful call to repentance.                                                            9:1

Te depravity of the human heart.                                                       17:9

The clay and the potter.                                                                      Ch 18

The false shepherds.                                                                           Ch 23

How to find God.                                                                                29:13

The new covenant                                                                              31:31-34

The mutilation of God’s word.                                                           36:21-24

 

Rejected

 

By his neighbours.                                                                              11:19-21

By his own family.                                                                             12:6

By the priests and prophets.                                                               20:1-2

By his friends.                                                                                    20:10

By all the people.                                                                                26:8

By the King.                                                                                       36:23                                                                                      

JESUS AND DAVID

 

Jesus and David – Matt 22:34-40, Mark 12:35-37 & Luke 20:41-44

 

            Jesus then asked the people who is and if Christ was the Son of David.  In the book of Psalms, David said, “The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for my feet.  David called Him Lord and how can he be his son?”  Jesus then gives a teaching about false teachers and who are the true teachers of the law. 

 

1.    The scribes love to walk around in long flowing gowns and get the best places at banquets.

2.    They love to be greeted with respect in the market place and the best seat in places of worship.

3.    They devour widow’s houses and then make lengthy prayers.

4.    Such men will be judged severely.  When you have been given great responsibility so comes with it great accountability. 

 

The lesson we can learn is humility, honest, integrity and responsibility are the fruit of a life grounded in Christ.

 

QUOTES FOR JULY 20, 2026

 

JESUS' CHALLENGE

 

Jesus’ Challenge – Matt 26:1-5 – Sept 8, 2013

 

Today we are talking about Jesus’ challenge but this is not for us but for Him.  If you knew the date and time of your death how would you prepare?  What would you do?  Who would you want to see?  What last minutes things would you want to accomplish?

 

In this passage we find out several things.

 

Jesus had just giving the disciples an answer to their question about the end of the age and the sign of His coming.

 

 

1.     He tells them that in two days the Passover would be upon them so Matthew 24

      was told on the Wednesday.

2. Then he told them that in two days he was going to be handed over to the religious leaders and crucified.
3. He knew the time, the place, the method of death and the hour He was going to die. 
4. His life purpose was about to be complete.  How does someone handle such detail in advance.  You can prepare but still how do you prepare?  Especially such a horrible means and method of death.  To me this is mind boggling.

 

 

Mean while the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the home of the high priest who name was Caiaphas.  He had said earlier that only one man had to die for the all. 

 

Their meeting had a two fold purpose

1. To arrest Jesus in some sly or deceitful way.
2. To kill Him.

 

 

They knew it should not be during the Passover because it would cause a riot among the people but we knew God had something else in mind as well as satan.

 

The cosmic battle of the age was about to be played out.  The stakes were high on both sides.  If satan won man would still be in bondage and if God won mankind would be free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what was Jesus’ challenge? 

 

1. As a man of free will, would He do the will of God.
2. This question would be settled in Gethsame but would take three intense sessions of prayer.
3. Will you do the will of God because it will always cost everything?  Time, talents, resources.  Past, present future.  Your will, dreams, desires and wants.  It will cost you family, friends and relationships.  It will cost your reputation, future employment because of standards and morality.  You will have new enemies such as the world, the flesh and the devil. 
4. But whatever you lose it will be given back to you 30, 60 and 100 fold in this life and the next.  So Jesus challenge is actually is our challenge.  Are you willing to pay it and look at the eternal and abundant life before you in Christ? 

JOEL

 Joel 2:13 -  May 17^th 2009 – Joel the Man who saw the Spirit of God.

 

Bible Verse.  Joel 2:28:  I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and you young men will see visions.

 

Intro:  Today I have so much to share in such a brief time period.  This message is so applicable today and especially in two weeks we will be celebrating Pentecost.

 

1.  Joel was a prophet who lived during the reign of Joash.  He was a priest in the temple

     Of Solomon and he lived around 800 B.C.  Joel’s named means, “The Lord is God.”

     He was the son of Penuel.  Both he and Joash were strongly influenced by a Godly

     High Priest named Jehoaida.  We all need godly mentors, right.  Someone we can be

     Accountable, real and open with.  Someone who can help, guide and influence our

     Lives. 

 

a.  Joel some 800 years before Christ, saw the coming of Pentecost and saw some 2700

     Years ago the coming of today’s Pentecostal movement.  The Bible is more current

     Than tomorrow’s newspaper. 

b.  Joel is reflecting on a natural disaster where a locust plague that had devastated the

     Land.  Joel saw a parallel between this plague and a human condition.  He says a

     Human army leaves behind a scorched earth.  Joel saw the Lord behind the insect

     Invasion.  He tells the people to repent and the Lord will relent. 

c.  Joel believes in whole hearted repentance leading to the promise of the outpouring of

     The Holy Spirit.  God emphasized this message to Solomon in 2 Chron 7:14.  Church

     We need to Humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked way. 

     Then God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land. 

d.  Joel writes a lofty, elegant but very forceful book.  Joel in these three chapters asks 7

     Powerful questions, He reveals 50 commands, 1 direct message from God and states

    10 promises.

 

2.  Joel in our passage this morning reveals six things.

 

a.  Rend your hearts not your garments.  Joel says true repentance is not outward but

     Inward.  Repentance is being genuinely sorry for your sins.  Godly sorrow is truly

     Being sorry, and changing your life.  Worldly sorrow is being sorry that you were

     Caught but if you had a chance you would do it again. 

 

1.  Joel in this book reminds his readers, “The day of God’s judgment is coming upon

     Sinful man and there is judgment for those who fail to acknowledge God and His

    Ways.  Paul reminds us in Gal 6:8, God is not mock what a man sows he will reap. 

2.  Joel wants his audience to whole heartedly repent.  This brings God’s favour and

     Blessing.  Joel wants his audience to stop the outward sign which in his day were

     More for show and really repent and show it through their speech and actions

 

 

b.  Return to the Lord your God.  Joel’s Judah was like today.  A small number of the 

      People were serving the Lord while the vast majority were into doing what they 

     Wanted.  It is so human nature to follow ones own wishes instead of the Lord and so

     Easy to do.  It takes real hard work to stay on track and close to the Lord. 

 

1.  You need to pray and read the word everyday.  You need to attend church every week

      Or as often as you can. 

2.  Returning to the Lord means you will become a disciple.  A native of the Congo

     prayed  thus.  “Dear Lord, you be the needle and I will be the thread.  You go first and

     I will follow wherever you lead.

3.  Joel was aware God is sovereign in this world and His will shall be done on earth in

    Heaven and earth.  A true believer is aware of that and so they want to be thoroughly

    A Christian.  A Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through Christ

    Loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, a hand through which Christ helps.

 

c.  For the Lord is gracious and compassionate.  This is the first of five attributes of

    God revealed by Joel.  God is gracious. He gives undeserved mercy and favour.  We

    Don’t get what we deserve.  He sent Jesus to die for us.  Jesus gave his body and blood

    For us.  He died, was buried and rose again for us.  That is gracious. 

 

1.  God is compassionate.  God loves us.  The whole gospel shows us this love.  God’s

     Love is patient, kind, not envious, boastful or proud.  It is not rude, self seeking or

     Easily angered, keeps no record of wrong, never delights in evil, rejoices in truth,

     Protects, trusts, hope, perseveres and never fails.

2.  God is compassionate.  He is love as John tells in 1 John 4:8.  Because of His love

     God is going to graciously give His Spirit to mankind.  In Joel 2:18-27, God

     Promises relief.

 

d.  Slow to anger.  As I mentioned a moment ago God is not easily angered.  It takes

     Generations but when He does, the gentile nations will be punished and God’s people

     Will be delivered.  It took God 450 years to punish Israel for its sin.  He sent

     Numerous prophets to warn them.  God has this same attitude towards us but I suggest

     you do not take advantage of this slowness to anger. 

e.  Abounding in Love.  God is overflowing and abundant in love.  His love is complete

     & it makes us whole.  In St. Paul’s Cathedral, London is a life sized marble statue of

     Christ writhing in anguish on the cross.  The statue is subscribed, “This is how God

    Loved the world. 

 

1.  In Ephesians 3:17-18, Paul describes the four dimensions of love.  The breadth, For

     God so loved the world, The length, that He gave His only begotten son, The depth,

     That whosoever believes in Him shall not perish and the height, but shall have ever-

     Lasting love. 

2.  God’s love is beyond description, it is only to be valued and enjoyed.

 

 

 

f.  And He relents from sending calamity.  Go