Don’t Let Your Doubt Dominate You!

We all suffer doubt at one time or another, and the Bible gives us a great example of one who we can learn from and be encouraged by, so come check it out and leave a comment if you’d like!

The Story of “Doubting Thomas”

Jesus appeared alive and glorified to His disciples after His death and resurrection. This was done so that they can then go and proclaim the good news of His victory over death (John 20:19-23). However, one of the disciples, Thomas, was not there for this amazing experiance (John 20:24). He was then told by the others that Jesus lives. Thomas “doubted” and wanted physical proof of the risen Lord in order to believe.

The doubt Thomas experienced may not be any diferrent than our own when facing a massive loss: despair, heartbreak, and exceeding sorrow, all of which Christ sympathizes with (Hebrews 4:15). Even though we have the Spirit within us, we can still experience doubt. This does not i repeat does not affect our eternal standing with God.

True saving faith always perseveres to the end just as Thomas’s did, and just as Peter’s did after he had a monumental moment of weakness by denying the very Lord he loved and believed in (Matthew 26:69-75). This is because, “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Jesus is “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Faith is the gift of God to His children (Ephesians 2:8-9) and He will mature and perfect it until He returns.

How to deal with Doubt

1. Go to God in prayer

2. Recognize that we are in a daily battle

Lastly, I want to encourage you, so here are some things we have that Thomas didn’t have. The indwelling Holy Spirit and the written New Testament. By the power of both the Spirit and the Word, we can overcome doubts and, like Thomas, be prepared to follow our Lord and Savior and tell others about this glorious hope we posses!

What Does It Take, For You To LOVE ME!?

2012 Retreat Theme "His Love Never Fails!"

Those who are in Christ are "FREE"

Our Kids had an AMAZING EXPERIENCE this year

Worship Rocked as usual, We are blessed

“In all relationships, I think maturity is the main reason for success and growth”

Christian maturity requires a radical reordering of one’s priorities, changing over from pleasing self to pleasing God and learning to obey God. The key to maturity is consistency, perseverance in doing those things we know will bring us closer to God. These practices are referred to as the spiritual disciplines, and include things such as Bible reading/study, prayer, fellowship, service, and stewardship. No matter how hard we might work on those things, however, none of this is possible without the enabling of the Holy Spirit within us. Galatians 5:16 tell us that we’re to “walk by the Spirit.” The Greek word used here for “walk” actually means to “walk with a purpose in view.” When we become Christians, we are given all we need for spiritual maturity. Peter tells us that “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). God alone is our resource, and all growth comes by grace through Him, but we are responsible to make the choice to do those things that will place us in position to receive that grace.

“The Bed”

“If a husband and wife both agree that they want to try something like…”

The Bible says that “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4). Scripture never says what a husband and wife are or are not allowed to do sexually. Husbands and wives are instructed, “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time (1 Corinthians 7:5a). This verse perhaps lays down the principle for sexual relations in marriage. Whatever is done, it should be mutually agreed upon. No one should be encouraged or coerced to do something he or she is uncomfortable with or thinks is wrong. If a husband and wife both agree that they want to try something (e.g., oral sex, different positions, sex toys, etc.), then the Bible does not give any reason why they cannot.

There are a few things, though, that are never allowable sexually for a married couple. The practice of “swapping,” or “swinging/swingers,” or “bringing in an extra” (threesomes, foursomes, etc.) is blatant adultery (Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3;Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). Adultery is sin even if your spouse allows, approves, or even participates in it. Pornography appeals to the “lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes” (1 John 2:16) and is therefore condemned by God as well. A husband and wife should never bring pornography into their sexual union. Other than these two items, there is nothing that Scripture explicitly forbids a husband and wife to do with each other as long as it is by mutual consent.