The Church of Divine Guidance (CDG) Sunday morning adult bible study group is conducting a study about doubt and the Christian. These posts are my notes for each session. Please study with us. You can participate by asking your questions or making comments below. We welcome your thoughts, questions, comments, and prayers.
For those of you who were not at bible study or listing on the prayer line, you missed Part 2 of our study Revealed Doubt. If you want to read the notes or listen to the audio of bible study go to then notes for, Revealed Doubt - Part 2, posted on my blog. At bible study I quickly reviewed Part 1 of the study which we started last Sunday.
Review
Doubt is a very unpopular word in the Christian community. Most Christians would be afraid to admit any form of doubt they may have due to feeling guilty for having thoughts of doubt, or due to the judgment of others.
When doubt surfaces, many consider it as a lack of faith...or a lack of believing God and His Word...so many struggle silently. Through their silent struggle, they can become stagnant in their walk with God.
It is imperative to know how to handle our doubt(s) so we can experience the rich relationship with God we are fully capable of having.
We really don’t doubt that God loves us, or that He can’t work in our lives. What we doubt is His willingness to to act and work in my circumstances. We think that maybe we’re not worthy of God’s help because of things we’ve done, maybe even what we’ve do to put us in our present position or condition. We may even doubt the sincerity of God.
When we get those feelings of doubt we need to remember that God really does care about everything that happens in our lives. David said that he bends down from Heaven to hear our prayers, heartaches and concerns. He even collects every tear that we cry and recorded every heartache.
On Tuesday i said that doubt puts a wedge between us and God and the longer we let it fester the bigger the wedge get and our relationship with Him becomes more and more strained.
It is understandable to have feelings of doubt after a terrible experience it could be the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, an illness, and there are other things and it takes time to come to terms with a situation that has broken your heart or impacted your life in a negative way. I used the example of the man that asked Jesus to heal his Son and when Jesus told him that anything is possible if you believe the man I do believe but help me overcome my belief showing that he had some doubt.
But we need to remember; God doesn’t just leave us stuck with our consequences with no mercy or forgiveness in sight, even when the reason that we’re there is our own fault.
God works in..and through..every situation we face. Nothing takes God by surprise. He can redeem any circumstance by causing good to come from it.
Two scriptures show that to be the case.
Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB) For I know the plans I have for you”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration—“plans for ⌊your⌋ welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 8:28 (NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
God never wastes a trial, heartache, or hurt...as long as we submit our heartaches and doubts to Him.
If God allows us to go through a trying situation that causes us to doubt, or a situation that stretches us, we can trust that He has plans to use it for His glory.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (HCSB) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.
Many times, He shows His mercy through our troubles by allowing us to help others who later go through a similar experience. As Paul told the Corinthians God comforted him so that he could comfort them.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NLT)3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
Suffering can be the training ground for service. It equips us so that we can better minister to those who, for the sake of the gospel, are going through trials and hardships. In this way we mediate God's encouragement. So think about that when doubt creeps in about God’s willingness to deliver you from what’s happening with you and at the same time remember that He has promised to never leave or forsake you.
I said that we are not given the promise to be delivered or released from everything but we are promised for help in the midst of it. I need to correct that statement.
It is imperative to know how to handle our doubt(s) so we can experience the rich relationship with God we are fully capable of having.
We really don’t doubt that God loves us, or that He can’t work in our lives. What we doubt is His willingness to to act and work in my circumstances. We think that maybe we’re not worthy of God’s help because of things we’ve done, maybe even what we’ve do to put us in our present position or condition. We may even doubt the sincerity of God.
When we get those feelings of doubt we need to remember that God really does care about everything that happens in our lives. David said that he bends down from Heaven to hear our prayers, heartaches and concerns. He even collects every tear that we cry and recorded every heartache.
On Tuesday i said that doubt puts a wedge between us and God and the longer we let it fester the bigger the wedge get and our relationship with Him becomes more and more strained.
It is understandable to have feelings of doubt after a terrible experience it could be the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, an illness, and there are other things and it takes time to come to terms with a situation that has broken your heart or impacted your life in a negative way. I used the example of the man that asked Jesus to heal his Son and when Jesus told him that anything is possible if you believe the man I do believe but help me overcome my belief showing that he had some doubt.
But we need to remember; God doesn’t just leave us stuck with our consequences with no mercy or forgiveness in sight, even when the reason that we’re there is our own fault.
God works in..and through..every situation we face. Nothing takes God by surprise. He can redeem any circumstance by causing good to come from it.
Two scriptures show that to be the case.
Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB) For I know the plans I have for you”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration—“plans for ⌊your⌋ welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 8:28 (NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
God never wastes a trial, heartache, or hurt...as long as we submit our heartaches and doubts to Him.
If God allows us to go through a trying situation that causes us to doubt, or a situation that stretches us, we can trust that He has plans to use it for His glory.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (HCSB) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.
Many times, He shows His mercy through our troubles by allowing us to help others who later go through a similar experience. As Paul told the Corinthians God comforted him so that he could comfort them.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NLT)3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
Suffering can be the training ground for service. It equips us so that we can better minister to those who, for the sake of the gospel, are going through trials and hardships. In this way we mediate God's encouragement. So think about that when doubt creeps in about God’s willingness to deliver you from what’s happening with you and at the same time remember that He has promised to never leave or forsake you.
I said that we are not given the promise to be delivered or released from everything but we are promised for help in the midst of it. I need to correct that statement.
No ,we have not been promised to be released from everything but we have been promised deliverance from them.
After bible study pastor asked me what about what it says in Psalm 34:19
Psalm 34:19 (HCSB) Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
And I thought that’s right but what about the believer who dies of cancer without being healed; what about the believer who has financial difficulty after losing a job; what about David whose family was a catastrophe; what about Paul who was martyred; what about Peter who it is said was crucified upside down; what about you and me; what about Jesus?
Jesus certainly had many afflictions, certainly more than you or me, from men, from Satan, and even God.
Matthew 27:46 (HCSB) About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
After bible study pastor asked me what about what it says in Psalm 34:19
Psalm 34:19 (HCSB) Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
And I thought that’s right but what about the believer who dies of cancer without being healed; what about the believer who has financial difficulty after losing a job; what about David whose family was a catastrophe; what about Paul who was martyred; what about Peter who it is said was crucified upside down; what about you and me; what about Jesus?
Jesus certainly had many afflictions, certainly more than you or me, from men, from Satan, and even God.
Matthew 27:46 (HCSB) About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Look at the next verse.
Psalm 34:20 (HCSB) He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
Psalm 34:20 (HCSB) He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
We know that this statement was prophetic.
John 19:33-36 (HCSB) 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of His bones will be broken.
John 19:33-36 (HCSB) 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of His bones will be broken.
Jesus was and is “the righteous” one that David was talking about.
We who have been saved have also been declared righteous:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB) He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Romans 3:21-22 (HCSB) 21 But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets22 —that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction.
When was Jesus delivered from all His afflictions?
He, was killed. That, was a big affliction. He was not delivered from His afflictions until after His death when He was resurrected and then ascended to sit at at God’s right hand.
We too face afflictions. Ours may be different from Jesus’. Ours may be sickness, loss of material things, friends, dishonor, and persecution. At times we don’t think that we will be able to bare them. But the Lord will give us the strength to handle them if we let Him. He never allows anything to come upon us greater than we can bear
1 Corinthians 10:13 (HCSB) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.
He gives us the strength to do it all through Christ.
Philippians 4:11-13 (HCSB) 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret ⌊of being content⌋—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Yes the Lord does deliver the righteous from all their afflictions but, like our brother Jesus, that complete deliverance may not happen until we are with Him.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (HCSB) 6 So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight, 8 and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.
I now have to revise my earlier statement that we are not promised to be released or delivered from everything because God does ultimately deliver the righteous from all our adversities. We aren’t promised release but we are promised deliverance. Just maybe not how or when we want it, but it will come.
Revelation 21:1-4 (HCSB) 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB) He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Romans 3:21-22 (HCSB) 21 But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets22 —that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction.
When was Jesus delivered from all His afflictions?
He, was killed. That, was a big affliction. He was not delivered from His afflictions until after His death when He was resurrected and then ascended to sit at at God’s right hand.
We too face afflictions. Ours may be different from Jesus’. Ours may be sickness, loss of material things, friends, dishonor, and persecution. At times we don’t think that we will be able to bare them. But the Lord will give us the strength to handle them if we let Him. He never allows anything to come upon us greater than we can bear
1 Corinthians 10:13 (HCSB) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.
He gives us the strength to do it all through Christ.
Philippians 4:11-13 (HCSB) 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret ⌊of being content⌋—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Yes the Lord does deliver the righteous from all their afflictions but, like our brother Jesus, that complete deliverance may not happen until we are with Him.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (HCSB) 6 So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight, 8 and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.
I now have to revise my earlier statement that we are not promised to be released or delivered from everything because God does ultimately deliver the righteous from all our adversities. We aren’t promised release but we are promised deliverance. Just maybe not how or when we want it, but it will come.
Revelation 21:1-4 (HCSB) 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.
It’s never fun to go through tough life events, and they can truly attempt to knock us out. Life challenges can tempt us to be bitter towards God.
We must realize and embrace the truth that God genuinely wants what is best for us, and doubt attempts to lead us away from God's best.
God sees the "big picture" when we cannot. When tempted to doubt, use that as a signal to have a genuine heart-to-heart talk with God. He truly works out every situation we face for the greater good. And remember
In summary we need to admit that we have doubts about God’s willingness to help us a certain times in our lives. Once we admit it we then need to confess it and remember God’s promises to be with us through all of our adversity. We need to admit that we want our own way but that God has a plan for us and if we go along it will result in our glorifying God which is really why we exist.
We must realize and embrace the truth that God genuinely wants what is best for us, and doubt attempts to lead us away from God's best.
God sees the "big picture" when we cannot. When tempted to doubt, use that as a signal to have a genuine heart-to-heart talk with God. He truly works out every situation we face for the greater good. And remember
In summary we need to admit that we have doubts about God’s willingness to help us a certain times in our lives. Once we admit it we then need to confess it and remember God’s promises to be with us through all of our adversity. We need to admit that we want our own way but that God has a plan for us and if we go along it will result in our glorifying God which is really why we exist.
Jeremiah, a Big Time Doubter
Now I want us to look at a man in the Bible, a man that God called to be a prophet at a very crucial time in the history of Israel and Judea. God told this man, Jeremiah to tell Israel that they were going to be overrun by Babylon, and that Jerusalem and the temple were going to be destroyed and they would be taken into exile for 70 years. God sent him to do this at the same time that others, who said they were prophets too, said everything is going to be fine. Well you can imagine who they would rather believe. In fact they wanted to kill Jeremiah and he was imprisoned. Jeremiah is often called the crying prophet because often in the book of Jeremiah and in the book we are going to look at today, Lamentations, he is talking about him shedding tears over what God has told him to tell the people is going to happen.
A lament is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
When he wrote Lamentations the worst has happened all that he prophesied has taken place and the city, temple and nation are in ruins. If you read the entire book you will see his doubt expressed but what I want us to see today is how he dealt with his doubt by knowing how good God is. We are going to take a look at chapter 3 of Lamentations today. If we don’t finish today we will continue next week because one of the great statements of Christendom is in this chapter.
The five chapters of Lamentations are five beautiful and solemn elegies, or songs of mourning, expressing the anguish of the Jewish people at the sight of the utter ruin of their city, its Temple, and its population, under the conquering Babylonians in 586 b.c.
This chapter is the mountain peak of the book. Here Jeremiah bares his heart to the reader, as he frequently does in his prophecy. His life was one long martyrdom, in which he served as both judge and intercessor for people bent on their own destruction. No prophet ever pleaded with a people in more impassioned manner, calling for a national conversion, than did he. And no one, except Jesus, was treated with more national contempt than he. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
Lamentations 3:1-13 (HCSB) 1 I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath.2 He has driven me away and forced ⌊me⌋ to walk in darkness instead of light.3 Yes, He repeatedly turns His hand against me all day long.4 He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones.5 He has laid siege against me, encircling me with bitterness and hardship.6 He has made me dwell in darkness like those who have been dead for ages.7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains.8 Even when I cry out and plead for help, He rejects my prayer.9 He has walled in my ways with cut stones; He has made my paths crooked.
10 He is a bear waiting in ambush, a lion
in hiding.11
He forced me off my way and tore me to pieces; He left me desolate.12 He strung His bow and set me
as the target for His arrow.13 He pierced my kidneys with His
arrows.
In the first 3 verses Jeremiah identifies himself as as a representative Israelite, facing the dark and baffling ways of Providence. Jehovah's unsparing onslaught against him. Remember he’s prophesied for years that God said He’s going to use Babylon to punish the nation because of their idolatry primarily which has caused them to do other things like mistreat the poor of the land.
In the next verses 4-13 He hath broken my bones. He says there is only bitterness and frustration. Some of it physical (verse 4), the other affliction from the enemy (verse 5); his freedom is now gone (verse 6) and God is even rejecting his prayers (verse 8).
How often have we felt that way?
He feels that God is out to get him like an animal stalking its prey. Ever felt that way?
Remember what we said earlier about not trusting our thoughts or feelings and how we should handle them?
In the next verses 4-13 He hath broken my bones. He says there is only bitterness and frustration. Some of it physical (verse 4), the other affliction from the enemy (verse 5); his freedom is now gone (verse 6) and God is even rejecting his prayers (verse 8).
How often have we felt that way?
He feels that God is out to get him like an animal stalking its prey. Ever felt that way?
Remember what we said earlier about not trusting our thoughts or feelings and how we should handle them?
We need to remember God’s promises of bending down to hear our cries and how he is aware of and concerned about every thing about us. Remember the scriptures that we used;
Psalm 17:6 (NLT) I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.
Psalm 56:8 (NLT) You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
Doesn’t look like Jeremiah’s remembered those things.
Lamentations 3:14-18 (HCSB)14 I am a laughingstock to all my people, mocked by their songs all day long.15 He filled me with bitterness, satiated me with wormwood.16 He ground my teeth on gravel and made me cower in the dust.17 My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is.18 Then I thought: My future is lost, as well as my hope from the LORD.
He says that he is the the object now of public ridicule and that his peace is now destroyed and he has no hope. That peace and hope that he had lost was in the Lord.
Psalm 17:6 (NLT) I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.
Psalm 56:8 (NLT) You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
Doesn’t look like Jeremiah’s remembered those things.
Lamentations 3:14-18 (HCSB)14 I am a laughingstock to all my people, mocked by their songs all day long.15 He filled me with bitterness, satiated me with wormwood.16 He ground my teeth on gravel and made me cower in the dust.17 My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is.18 Then I thought: My future is lost, as well as my hope from the LORD.
He says that he is the the object now of public ridicule and that his peace is now destroyed and he has no hope. That peace and hope that he had lost was in the Lord.
Remember when I said that sometimes we wonder if God even cares? Well it looks like that’s what Jeremiah is thinking.
But now these next few verses indicate that he has stopped pitting himself and remembers what has happened in the past.
Lamentations 3:19-24 (HCSB)19 Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison.20 I continually remember ⌊them⌋ and have become depressed.21 Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope:22 Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!24 I say: The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.
He prayed and asked God to remember him and his circumstances then he remembered that God does love him and he became confident, he had hope. Remember Mike Jr.'s study about hope. Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. In other words hope is the confident expectation, the sure certainty that what God has promised in the Word is true, has occurred, and or will in accordance with God’s sure Word.
But now these next few verses indicate that he has stopped pitting himself and remembers what has happened in the past.
Lamentations 3:19-24 (HCSB)19 Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison.20 I continually remember ⌊them⌋ and have become depressed.21 Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope:22 Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!24 I say: The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.
He prayed and asked God to remember him and his circumstances then he remembered that God does love him and he became confident, he had hope. Remember Mike Jr.'s study about hope. Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. In other words hope is the confident expectation, the sure certainty that what God has promised in the Word is true, has occurred, and or will in accordance with God’s sure Word.
We'll finish Chapter 3 next week.
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