This Weeks Notes – 4-11-21
“Faith vs. Doubt”
There’s a really huge difference between faith and doubt. It’s probably far greater than you probably imagine. However, much of the distinction between them has been lost in the evolution of language. Many of us believe that not feeling strong about something is a sign of doubt. Others believe that if we’re questioning or wondering about something this indicates doubt. Let me set the record straight.
And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:21-22 ESV)
Here’s the hard part, having faith and do not doubting. That’s where so many of us often believe that we’ve missed it. We have faith, but then in a moment we doubt. We believe we have disqualified ourselves from receiving what we’ve asked for. And the fact of the matter is that we receive what we believe for. James states it like this:
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”(James 1:6-8 ESV)
Many of us grow accustomed to failure. We fail to carry faith through into manifestation without wavering or questioning. We stop trying. We stop believing God for more. We forget that God will give us exceedingly abundantly more if we only ask. What we ask for is the limiting measure of what we receive.
I want to encourage you to begin believing that you should receive what Jesus deserves. That is the very core of the Gospel! Through Him, we’ve received all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1).
The real issue is that you should not disqualify yourself by believing that you have doubted! Let’s look at what the words translated as “faith” and “doubt” truly mean.
The Greek word for faith means to commit to, or to entrust to. The Bible says that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”.(Rom. 10:17). Therefore, faith literally means to commit yourself to or entrust yourself to the Word. It means not only to believe the Word but to also act upon it. It means to commit yourself to continuing to act in cooperation with the Word.
Doubt, on the other hand, literally means to oppose, separate, or withdraw from. it doesn’t mean to have a moment of questioning or wondering. It doesn’t refer to waking up the next morning and not feeling confidence. It means the exact opposite of faith. It is opposing, separating from, or withdrawing from what the Word says. It is completely opposing. It’s not simply questioning or wondering; rather, it is separating and turning away from.
Faith is not a feeling, just as doubt is not a feeling. They produce feelings, but they are decisions that are based on either committing to or opposing the Word.
“I don’t know how, but I know WHO!” Grace and Peace, Pastor Nelda
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