Dealing With Doubts On The Journey Of Faith (Part 2)

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Dealing With Doubts On The Journey Of Faith (Part 2)</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id483.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dealing With Doubts On The Journey Of Fa"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id485.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The God Who Sees"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"Dealing with Doubts on the Journey of Faith" (Part 2), </B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+15:1-21" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Genesis 15:1-21</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, October 16-17, 2004</B></div> <bR> <div>      A divorced father wrote in the New York Times Magazine, "My son began commuting between his two homes at age 4 . . . The commuter flights between San Francisco and Los Angeles were the only times a parent wasn't  lording over him, so he was able to order Coca-cola, forbidden at home; flight attendants didn't care about cavities.  But such benefits were insignificant when contrasted with his pre-flight nightmares about plane crashes.  One winter he was to fly not to LA but to New York, where his mother and stepfather were spending Christmas.  During the preparations for the visit, he learned that he would have to change planes en route.  Late at night, long after I had put him to bed, he crept into the living room and climbed onto my lap, trembling.  When I asked him what the matter was, he said, 'I don't want to change planes.' / I told him not to worry, but he was unconvinced.  Amid sobs, he asked, 'What if I fall off the wing?' 'What will you be doing on the wing?' 'Changing plans,' he said.  'I might fall off when I'm walking from one to the other.'" (NYT Magazine, "If it's Tuesday, it must be Dad's house,").</div> <div>      Parents, how many times do you have to tell your kids, don't worry, trust me, it's going to be OK, because you know more than they know. Sometimes we are in the place of a little child. Many of our fears and worries are unfounded, from the perspective on One who knows better.</div> <div>      Abram was a man of faith, but at times he struggled with doubt, and he offered "improvements" on God's plan, because what God said to him didn't seem like it was going to happen ("God, let's make your plan more <I>realistic</I>"; Gen 15:1-3).</div> <div>      How can we effectively deal with our worries and fears about life, both today and in the future? Here are four steps for dealing with doubt and worry. </div> <bR> <div> <B>[Review: </B><A HREF="id483.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dealing With Doubts On The Journey Of Fa"><U><B>I. Give God the credit for the blessings he provides</B></U></A><B> (</B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+14:1-24" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Gen 14:1-24</B></U></A><B>).]</B></div> <div>      The battle against doubt begins in worship. In Gen 15:7, God reminds Abram of what he has already done, so Abram knows he can trust him now. When we worship, we are recalling and retelling the story of who God is and what he does.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. </B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+15:1-3" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Genesis 15:1-3</B></U></A><B> - Be honest with God about how you feel, but do so with an attitude of respect and trust.</B></div> <div>      Abram didn't abandon his faith, but from the perspective of faith, he had some questions, some doubts. And he went directly to God with them. Make your doubts a matter of direct prayer to God.</div> <bR> <div> <B>III. </B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+15:4-12" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Genesis 15:4-12</B></U></A><B>, </B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+15:17-21" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>17-21</B></U></A><B> - Review the specific promises of God and reaffirm your faith.</B></div> <div>      God confirmed his covenant with Abram, so <B>Abram would have the assurance of God's promise</B>. The promise of a child (vss. 4-5) would occur in his lifetime; the promise of the land (vss. 7, 16, 18-21) for his descendants would not come true in his lifetime. Let God speak for himself about what he has promised - go to the word. Abram reaffirmed his faith (vs. 6, he believed and was acceptable to God). People of faith take God at his word.</div> <div>      Years ago when the city fathers of New York contemplated the future growth of their city, they plotted the streets and numbered them from the center outward. At the time, New York consisted of only six or seven streets. In their planning maps, they projected how large they thought the city might grow. Reaching beyond their wildest imagination, they drew streets on the map all the way out to a 19th street. They called it "Boundary Street" because they were sure that was as large as New York City would become. But history proved them to be shortsighted. [You can go up on 242st street and still be in the city.] (Woodrow Kroll, Lessons on Living email devotional, "How Big is God," 12-14-02). Even if we can't see it or even imagine it becoming reality, God has made promises. We need to know what those promises are, so that our faith can be reaffirmed.</div> <bR> <div> <B>IV. </B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+15:13-16" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Genesis 15:13-16</B></U></A><B>, </B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+15:19-21" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>19-21</B></U></A><B> - Don't be surprised by difficult circumstances.</B></div> <div>      Often, the reason we doubt is because our circumstances change for the worse. If we are expecting that things will be smooth and easy, it is no wonder that our faith is shaken when difficult circumstances come along. Don't let your difficult circumstances be the source of doubt, as they so often are. </div> <div>      The promise to Abram would be fulfilled <I>through</I> trials, and it would be fulfilled <I>after</I> Abram's lifetime. The birds offer symbolism of opposition to the covenant promises of God. Note also that the covenant is confirmed in the darkness. Life <I>is</I> dark at times, but "never doubt in the darkness what God has told you in the light" (V. Raymond Edman).</div> <div>      Trials are not a surprise, and they will not derail God's plan, if you keep trusting in him and following him. James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul said, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Paul knew that by experience. In <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Heb+11:35" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U>Hebrews 11:35</U></A>, some experienced earthly deliverances, others died in faith, still believing, but not seeing it in their lifetime. But they were heroes the of faith.</div> <div>      A famous Bible teacher was asked by his daughter, "Daddy, what do we do now," after some very difficult circumstances entered her life. Her dad told her, "Today is the day we <I>live</I> the faith we have been talking about all these years." Your faith in God needs to show up, not drift away, when you face difficult circumstances - and you will. Don't be surprised; instead, be prepared.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2004, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>