Post by souledout4Jesus on Jul 25, 2003 21:28:52 GMT -5
I’d like to start this off with a prayer.
Lord Jesus, I ask right now that my words are Your words. I ask that my interpretation is the one that You would have me use. I pray that this study of Your word will encourage and lift up those who read it, and lead them into a deeper study of the Scripture. I pray this in Your name, Amen!
Do You Ever Doubt? -> A Bible Study
I’m sure that most, if not all of you, know who John the Baptist was. However, if you don’t, let me fill you in. John was Jesus’ cousin. He was born to an older couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth, who was Mary’s cousin. Elizabeth was barren, but an angel visited Zacharias in the temple to tell him that his wife would have a child who would prepare the way of the Messiah.
John did just that! He baptized many people, leading them to the Messiah. One day, Jesus showed up, and John baptized Him as well. John knew exactly who the Christ was, and he proclaimed to everyone he saw that Jesus was Messiah.
Look at Luke 7:18-23
[blue]18John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
20When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'”
21At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”[/blue]
Jesus had just performed a miracle. He had raised a man from the dead, and news of this had spread all throughout the land, and people were proclaiming with fear who Jesus was, saying “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” In spite of all this, John had doubts! He sent messengers to Jesus, just to “make sure.” How many times have we wanted to “make sure” our faith was real? Is there something wrong with that? Let’s dig deeper to find out.
Of all people, John should have known best who Jesus was! In Matthew 3, John initially refuses to baptize Jesus, because he says that Jesus should be the one baptizing him. Why then, does he doubt? BECAUSE HE’S HUMAN! Doubt is like a virus that has infected all of humanity. It is prevalent in everything that we do, especially in something such as our faith, which doesn’t have tangible elements to prove its existence.
We could easily expect Jesus to get angry with John, after all, why should he doubt? Notice, however, how Jesus responds. He gives the messengers signs. He doesn’t discourage their questions, He doesn’t send them away, He gives them the proof they requested. Scripture doesn’t tell us how John responded when the messengers returned, but I’m sure he said something along the lines of “He is the Christ.”
So we know how Jesus responds to us when we doubt, but how should we respond to others who doubt? Look at the next verses in Luke 7:
[blue]24After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27This is the one about whom it is written:
"'I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.' 28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.[/blue]
Surely the crowd knew what was going on, what the messengers were requesting. After they left, Jesus could have turned around and said “I’m very disappointed in John, he shouldn’t doubt.” Did He do that? NO! Jesus defends him. Notice the analogy of the reed in the wind. Doubt does not indicate that John has faith that is easily swayed. He tells the people that there is no one greater than John among those born of women, even though he doubts.
When we doubt, that doesn’t indicate that we have a faulty faith, or that we’re just not good enough Christians. It means that we’re humans. If you never have doubts about what you believe, then you haven’t examined it enough. The people knew that Jesus spoke the truth, at least the ones who had been baptized by John. Remember this truth next time you’re plagued by doubts, that we all have them, and that Jesus will not hesitate to give us what we need to make them go away!
In His Love,
Cory
Lord Jesus, I ask right now that my words are Your words. I ask that my interpretation is the one that You would have me use. I pray that this study of Your word will encourage and lift up those who read it, and lead them into a deeper study of the Scripture. I pray this in Your name, Amen!
Do You Ever Doubt? -> A Bible Study
I’m sure that most, if not all of you, know who John the Baptist was. However, if you don’t, let me fill you in. John was Jesus’ cousin. He was born to an older couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth, who was Mary’s cousin. Elizabeth was barren, but an angel visited Zacharias in the temple to tell him that his wife would have a child who would prepare the way of the Messiah.
John did just that! He baptized many people, leading them to the Messiah. One day, Jesus showed up, and John baptized Him as well. John knew exactly who the Christ was, and he proclaimed to everyone he saw that Jesus was Messiah.
Look at Luke 7:18-23
[blue]18John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
20When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'”
21At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”[/blue]
Jesus had just performed a miracle. He had raised a man from the dead, and news of this had spread all throughout the land, and people were proclaiming with fear who Jesus was, saying “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” In spite of all this, John had doubts! He sent messengers to Jesus, just to “make sure.” How many times have we wanted to “make sure” our faith was real? Is there something wrong with that? Let’s dig deeper to find out.
Of all people, John should have known best who Jesus was! In Matthew 3, John initially refuses to baptize Jesus, because he says that Jesus should be the one baptizing him. Why then, does he doubt? BECAUSE HE’S HUMAN! Doubt is like a virus that has infected all of humanity. It is prevalent in everything that we do, especially in something such as our faith, which doesn’t have tangible elements to prove its existence.
We could easily expect Jesus to get angry with John, after all, why should he doubt? Notice, however, how Jesus responds. He gives the messengers signs. He doesn’t discourage their questions, He doesn’t send them away, He gives them the proof they requested. Scripture doesn’t tell us how John responded when the messengers returned, but I’m sure he said something along the lines of “He is the Christ.”
So we know how Jesus responds to us when we doubt, but how should we respond to others who doubt? Look at the next verses in Luke 7:
[blue]24After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27This is the one about whom it is written:
"'I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.' 28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.[/blue]
Surely the crowd knew what was going on, what the messengers were requesting. After they left, Jesus could have turned around and said “I’m very disappointed in John, he shouldn’t doubt.” Did He do that? NO! Jesus defends him. Notice the analogy of the reed in the wind. Doubt does not indicate that John has faith that is easily swayed. He tells the people that there is no one greater than John among those born of women, even though he doubts.
When we doubt, that doesn’t indicate that we have a faulty faith, or that we’re just not good enough Christians. It means that we’re humans. If you never have doubts about what you believe, then you haven’t examined it enough. The people knew that Jesus spoke the truth, at least the ones who had been baptized by John. Remember this truth next time you’re plagued by doubts, that we all have them, and that Jesus will not hesitate to give us what we need to make them go away!
In His Love,
Cory
. It's so good to read things like this that show me I was not alone and that it's nothing to feel guilty about. Thank-you and I'm going to be selfish and hope you post more study topics like this! 
God bless and take care! BTW I agree, you will make a wonderful preacher