Scripture
Quote
Instead of being a sign of weakness, doubt can actually be something that causes us to dig deeper into our relationship with God, and can even make our faith stronger.
~Jesse Carey
Jesus was high on John the Baptist, “No greater man born of woman,” Jesus said but John was human and he struggled with doubt. John was an Elijah, an outdoors man, who slept under a canopy of stars. John was a bird that was never meant to be caged. When Herod threw him in a dungeon, it disturbed John’s peace and he began wrestling with doubt, “Was Jesus [John’s cousin] really the Christ?” John sent his disciples to Jesus and on the surface, it seems like Jesus gave them very little assurance. Jesus simply said, “Go back to John. Report to him what you hear and see. Blind people receive sight. Disabled people walk. Those who have skin diseases are healed. Deaf people hear. Those who are dead are raised to life. And the good news is preached to those who are poor. Blessed are those who do not give up their faith because of Me.” Jesus was fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah, all the things above, healing, liberating, preaching, restoring were Messianic signs and Jesus was fulfilling them all. Basically, Jesus was telling John, “You know God’s word, you can see that I am fulfilling it so trust the WORD!”
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, the devil’s approach was subtle, “If you are the Son of God, turn these rocks into bread.” The devil could have said “Since You are,” because he and his demons knew who Jesus was but he intentionally questioned Jesus relationship with the father. How did Jesus respond? With the word of God. No miracles, just the word of God. Did Jesus have to rely on the word of God? Not really, He is the living word. Could He not have back slapped the devil into outer space? Yes, Jesus was God and He could have dealt with Satan by using divine powers but he didn’t because he was setting an example for us. We have the word of God and that is all we need. John wanted answers to his many questions but Jesus gave him only one answer, the word of God.
When Satan attacks, and he surely will if you are a true believer, quote scripture to him. Let me give you an example:
The devil woke Martin Luther up one night and starting listing Luther’s sins. Luther said, “I have heard the record. But I have committed far more sins which do not appear in your record. Put them down too if you would and then write this...The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.”
Satan is the Hebrew word for ‘adversary’ and that is exactly what he is, he opposes us with all the venom of hell. He is the devil our accuser. He accuses God to us and us to God. He slandered Job in the presence of God and then tempted Job to renounce his faith in God. He is a terrorist, a fear monger. Feed on God’s word and if you speak to Satan, use scripture. Try Matthew 4:10, he hates it… “Get away from me, Satan! It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve.’ Is there any part of you that wants to worship Satan today? Of course not but he wants your worship so tell him up front who you are going to worship today. When Jesus told him, he left Jesus alone for a season.
Russel M. Carter wrote a hymn, Standing On The Promises, and the first verse goes like this…
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
- I came down with a little crud over the weekend. I sound much worse than I feel but my energy level is down. Shohn and I got the utility room cleaned yesterday. You would not believe what we removed from that room. We are still planning to do the gym floor tomorrow. Why now? We have to do it during a holiday because it takes the wax a couple of days to dry.
- I got a steroid shot and I feel like a new man. I could use one of those every Monday morning.
- It went from Summer (80*) to winter (30*). We missed Fall. I think they are giving a 60% chance of rain tomorrow. Pray for rain.
- No Wednesday night services, we meet on Thursday this week. Breakfast at 9:00 and service at 9:30.
