John The Baptizer
Sermon Notes
Doubt can either UNDERMINE your faith or GROW your faith.
[James 1:6 NIV] But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
God doesn't expect you to have BLIND faith.
God is STRONG ENOUGH to handle your doubts.
[Mark 1:7-11] John announced: "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am--so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. [8] I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!" [9] One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. [10] As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice from heaven said, "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy."
John was the first one to ANNOUNCE Jesus was the Messiah.
[John 1:35-37] The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. [36] As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" [37] When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
Sometimes we have DOUBT when God's PLAN doesn't look like we think it should.
[Matthew 11:2-3] John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, [3] "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?"
Even people with strong FAITH face doubt in DIFFICULT times.
Doubting for too long can turn into UNBELIEF.
[Matthew 11:4-11] Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen-- [5] the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. [6] And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'" [7] As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? [8] Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. [9] Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. [10] John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.' [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!
Doubt should drive us to seek ANSWERS.