How To Have Faith | 4-27-25
Sunday, April 27
HOW TO HAVE FAITH, John 20:24-31
3 of the most discouraging and confusing words I’ve ever heard might be: “Just Have Faith.”
John 20:24-25
- Be honest about your doubts—THEN _____________ YOUR DOUBTS!
Two Specific Causes For Thomas’ Doubt And OUR Doubt:
- “Unless… I Won’t Believe.”
I have to see and touch.
Thomas lived with doubt because he put unrealistic requirements on faith.
Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the conviction about something that you’re hoping for. Faith is a certainty about something you do not see.”
Faith Is Informed Trust And Trust Acts On Its Belief!
- Withdrawal From Christian Fellowship.
John 20:26-27
- TO HANDLE DOUBTS—REDIRECT YOUR _________.
Two statements here teach us a powerful truth about faith:
Thomas- “I will not believe.”
Jesus- “Stop doubting and believe.”
►Question: “Is faith a head decision or a heart decision?” — Answer: Neither!
The Truth Is: Faith Is A Matter Of The WILL!
The literal translation of Jesus’ words is interesting: “Stop becoming faithless and become a believer.”
We’re growing in one of two directions: Doubt or Faith.
John 20:28
III. TO HANDLE DOUBTS—_____________________ CONFESSION.
Each word in this confession says something significant:
My: It’s Personal.
Lord: Declares That Jesus Is The Manager Of My Life.
And: You Can’t Contain The Person Of Jesus In One Word.
My: This Is My Personal Faith.
God: The Truth Of WHO Jesus Is!
►Don’t Hide Your Doubts, Like Thomas Tell Jesus Your Doubts—And Then He’ll Begin To Help You With Them.
Thomas’ experience teaches us three things about confessions of faith:
- Confessions are Vital—without them faith is not alive.
- Confessions are a Personal declaration of belief.
- Confessions are Visible—others know about it.
Romans 10:9-10, “If you use your mouth to say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we use our mouths to say that we believe, and so we are saved.” (NCV)
John 20:29-31
- TO OVERCOME MY DOUBTS I MUST RECEIVE HIS ___________________!
The result of faith is Blessing!
The result of faith is Life!
Want to have faith? — Here’s how!
- Remove Your Doubts:
Write down your doubts on a sheet of paper. At the bottom of the sheet write this prayer, “Jesus, I ask you to give me your answers to these doubts.”
- If you have intellectual questions, along with the Bible, read one of Lee Strobel’s books: A Case For Faith, A Case For Christ, A Case For Creation, Or Josh McDowel’s book: ‘Evidence That Demands A Verdict.’
- Redirect Your Will:
DECIDE to have faith in an area where you’ve been waiting for your emotions or your logic to decide for you.
- Renew Your Confession OR Confess For The First Time:
Start each day this week with a confession of your faith. You can find many confessions of faith throughout the book of Psalms.
- Receive His Blessing:
Take 20 minutes sometime this week to sit down and make a list of what you have because of your faith in Christ.