Doubt and Unbelief
According to this text, why did God save us?
Titus 3 (v. 4) But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, (v. 5) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us....
This love is what He is by very nature, and therefore His mercy is based on this love.
Satan is exultant when he can lead the children of God into unbelief and despondency. He delights to see us mistrusting God, doubting His willingness and power to save us....It is the work of satan to represent the Lord as lacking in compassion and pity.[1]
Image #1
Why do we doubt?
Some people are just going to doubt; Many of us find it so hard to believe.
Because, the devil helps you to focus on self, to see your unworthiness.
He tells you, that you are not good enough for Christ to save you.
He tricks us……so we can fall into his intellectual trap; the trap of “human reasoning.”
That is why we believe it….because it fits right into our own belief system, what we think about ourselves.
The thought of a Christian feeling worthless and unworthy is a lie from no one other than the devil. He’s been a liar from the beginning and he’s trying to stop you from doing God’s will for your life.[2]
Read the quote below, about a vision, that a very spiritual woman had, in the year 1850.
A dream the Lord gave me August 22. I dreamed of being in a wagon with Brother Rhodes and James, and we were to pass a bridge covered with water.…I saw angels marching through the air singing with solemn, clear voices, "For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Their voices rang through the air.…James was counting the angels, and I stood trembling with fear.[3]
My life came up before [me] and looked so full of wrongs I could not see how I should be able to stand. Just then Satan came where I was and said to me, "You are lost; you are now my property [and] will go with me to the dark regions." My feelings I cannot describe. To be separated from the Jesus I had loved and to take up my abode with those that I abhorred looked dreadful to me. At the same time, I felt unworthy to be with the lovely Jesus.[3]
While in this dreadful perplexity one of the angels came where I was and said to Satan, "She is not your property, for she has been redeemed unto God by the precious blood of Jesus. She is the purchase of His blood." Satan fled. My feelings changed. My soul was overflowing with gratitude and thankfulness to God.[3]
Satan takes advantage of us, when we doubt God’s love for us!!
Question the Value of Doubt...........................(Image #2)
But what does Jesus say, about us:
Jer 31 (v. 3) The Lord has appeared of old to me saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love....with loving-kindness I have drawn you.
II Pet 3 (v. 9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise....but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
I Tim 2 (v. 3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (v. 4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So, God the Father and Jesus Christ says: that they desire for all men to be saved and not willing for anyone to perish.
What does the Holy Spirit have to testify about us?
Rom 8 (v. 16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (v. 17) and if children, then heirs....of God and joint heirs with Christ....
Image #3
We are valued and loved by the Lord; and the issue of doubt and unbelief is really over a battle for the control of our minds.
In a war, you can’t stay neutral. You must choose which side you’re on. And in the great War Behind All Wars, choosing can be difficult....the prince of selfishness bombards us continually with lies....about Prince Michael and God His Father....According to satan, God is angry at us. He can barely contain His seething fury as He sees our sins and mistakes....But it’s all lies....[4]
The bible even tells us that, the hell-fire at the end of time was not for us, but for the devil and his angels.
Matt 25 (v. 41) Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Did it mention any other class of beings? That is because God did not intend on you being there. The ones on His left hand represent the people who rejected the gospel. Hell fire was originally prepared for the devil and his angels!! The reason why we don’t believe that Christ wants to save us, is because: The devil gets us to focus on our performance.
I wonder why so many people are so reluctant to exercise a little faith and reach out to God. Even if our faith is small, we need to give God a chance! The Bible says that as soon as we draw near to God, He draws near to us.[5]
Jam 4 (v. 8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…. (v.10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Our greatest need is faith in God. When we look on the dark side, we lose our hold on the Lord of Israel. As the heart is opened to fears and conjectures, the path of progress is hedged up by unbelief. Let us never feel that God has forsaken his work....We must have less faith in what we can do, and more faith in what the Lord can do for us....[6]
When you don't give the answers, as I cry out to you, I will trust, I will trust in You....
video Ref. [7]
References:
1. E.G. White, Steps to Christ, p.82, par.1
2. Fritz Chery, (2017). http://biblereasons.com/feeling-worthless/
3. E.G. White, Manuscript Releases (vol. 16), p.171-172, “A Dream of Angels”.
4. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion’s Gates, p.10. Hart Research Center.
5. Doug Batchelor, (2001). To See the King, p.57. Mountain Ministry.
6. E.G. White, The Atlantic Union Gleaner (23 Sep 1903) “Faith and Courage” par.1&3
7. Lauren Daigle (Lyrics) "Trust In You" Online video. YouTube, 3 Mar 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv-SXz_exKE
Image #1: Dieter Uchtdorf, (n.d.). AZ Quotes. Retrieved from http://www.azquotes.com/quote/689277
Image #2: Church of the churchless, (2017). Question the value of doubt. Retrieved from http://hinessight.blogs.com/church_of_the_churchless/2017/12/no-faith-isnt-better-than-doubt-heres-why.html
Image #3: Loving the word with the mudpreacher, (2010). Unbelief is calling God a liar. Retrieved from https://mudpreacher.org/category/abraham/
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