Do not be unbelieving

John 20:24-29

Faith and Unbelief!

John 20:24-29, Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Faith: almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof. An unshakable faith in God Greek word: Pistis. Believe: may or may not imply certitude in the believer. my belief that I had caught all the errors I believe it will rain soon I couldn't believe my ears Greek Word: Pisteuo.

It is almost like synonyms It is used interchangeably It is distinctly different.

• Faith is who God is
• Belief is what God will do.
• Faith is the nature of God.
• Belief is the outcome of What God is going to do.
• My faith in God is real.
• My belief in God what and how God is going to do in my life real circumstance.

• My faith is God is Sovereign and Omnipotent.
• My belief is that God will work all things together for good.
• My faith in God is good.
• My belief is that He will never leave me nor forsake me.
• My faith is based on the character of God.
• My belief is that what God is going to do in my life.

You can believe but not have faith. Believing that things will work out fine Believing that time will heal you. Even the atheist believes that without faith in the Sovereign of God. Belief can be built on the optimistic spirit not based on the person of God.

The other side of the coin is that you can have faith in sovereign God yet struggle in believing. You can have a strong faith in God but there are issues in your life makes you to doubt or unbelief creeps in what the Lord is going to do!

Every now and then doubt creeps in.

Mark 9:14-29 V 23-24, Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

We find that our faith in God is unwavering. But now and then doubts and unbelief creeps in. You can’t make me doubt my faith in God. There are circumstances will make us to doubt. We know God is good, yet things happen in our life makes us to doubt.

God is Omnipresent!

But I wonder where are you God? God is Omnipotent! But I worry why my loved one lost their life! Faith and doubt clashes together. John 20th chapter is full of them. John 20th chapter is after Jesus’ resurrection.

His close followers are having doubt. These are put their life in for Christ. They have been there as part of the miracle of Jesus. They have witnessed every miracle. They have heard Him preach about His death and resurrection.

These people have doubt about Jesus’ resurrection. When you go through life issues which makes you to wrestle with unbelief and doubt. Which hurts you. Doubt comes when you are there in the painful situation for a long time.

Jesus helps 3 cases of faith and doubt in John 20. Jesus deals with all of them. 1. Not able to see.

Thomas

Doubting Thomas. People name you based on your failure not on the firm faith. When you don’t see the hand of God in your life and doubt comes to you.

When you pray it looks like God is not answering by not showing the signs. Education, Marriage, Children, Money, Job, Business, Ministry. Thomas didn’t see the hole in the hands and chest. Week earlier Jesus showed up but Thomas was missing.

Thomas wasn’t there where he was supposed to be. Jesus told them to wait but Thomas didn’t did not obey. Even though when we are disobedient God shows His signs. Even though when you are unworthy God does what He does! Just walk through your house see the things and it should show how God has shown who He is in your life.

Don’t think you earned all those things. Don’t let what you have seen God do forget what God has done it for you!

2. Not able sense His presence

Mary Magdalene

John 20:11-16, But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Mary asks the question where did you lay Him? Her doubt is where the Lord is! Mary Magdalene looking for Him and can’t find Him. Have you ever wondered in your life situation where is God? Maybe you never had that moment, but we have.

Life put you in a situation that it makes you doubt. Lazarus story is another example. Jesus makes sure that He comes after 4 days of Lazarus death. Both the sisters of Lazarus ask the same question.

John 11:21, Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

John 11:32, Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Where were you, Lord? If the Lord was with us, then I would not gone through the trouble in my life.

Job 23:8-10, “Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. 10 But He knows the way that I take;

When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. I may not know where God is But God knows always know where I am!

Hide and seek story. God always sees you! Mary Magdalene speaks to the Gardner. She recognises it is our Lord. All along the Lord was with her only thing she did not know. My brothers and sisters and all your life low moments God was there with you!

How do you know that God was there? Proof: you are alive here! But for God you should have been dead buried long time back. Jesus looks like a Gardner! If she did not speak to the gardener, then she would have missed the presence of the Lord.

Do not treat people whom God had put in your life.

3. Not knowing the scriptures.

Peter

John 20:2-10, Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. Peter comes inside the tomb.

The handkerchief was folded and kept on the side. Folded clothes are the evidence of resurrection and not of robbery.

Robbers don’t have time to fold the clothes. Peter sees the evidence but still has doubt. Peter was ignorant of the word of God. Understanding the word of God is the first remedy to get rid of your doubt. Sydney opera story.

Jesus comes to the first day of the week where the disciples came together. Jesus resurrected and appeared to the disciples first day of the week. Again, Jesus appeared on the 8th day that is next week first day of the week.

You must belong to a church and study the scriptures to combat every doubt comes from the enemy. Beloved part of a church which will help you overcome the doubt. There are living testimony sitting next to you will clear away your doubts.