A Seed of Doubt?

July 14, 2013
A Seed of Doubt
1 John
Scott Howard

Have you struggled with an ongoing doubt about your relationship with Christ, or are you scared when you think about the end of your earthly life?  It is with a loving heart our Pastor shared this message with us on Sunday to make sure there is no more doubt.

3 Reasons for struggling with ongoing doubt...

1. You struggle with doubt because you're not saved.  --Matthew 7:2-23 "Not everyone who says go me, 'Lord, Lord' will not enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

It is possible to do things in Jesus' name and not know Him at all.  If you don't hate sin in your life, if you don't love holiness, perhaps you doubt your relationship with Jesus because you should.  You may not have a heart that transforms as you seek after God.  If God is raising that alarm of doubt in your soul He is being merciful to let you know something is wrong with your relationship with Him.

      2.  You struggle with doubt because you have a hard time believing and staying dialed into the Gospel.  You have an uncertainty about God's love and affection for you.  The reality of the Gospel is that you don't save you, God saves you.  You cannot earn God's love, He gives it freely.  You do not partner with God to gain salvation, you simply say Thank You, and accept it. 

That is a spiritual truth that a lot of people struggle with: God Loves You.  Not just when you finally get your act together, He loves you because he is your Father.  You cannot earn a gift, it is given out of love.  Nothing can separate us from His love.  See Romans 8:26-35.

      3.  You struggle with doubt because you are walking in secret, indwelling, habitual sin.  If you are hiding sin, or you are simply not calling your sin what it really is, your doubt is a warning signal to examine your heart.  Read Psalm 32.  In this Psalm David is saying that secret sin is exhausting.  When you hide sin it makes you tired, but when you confess your sin, God forgives the sin and the guilt. 

So lets look at 1 John in order to be sure our hearts are aligned properly to God's word.

• Have there been and are there times in which you Love and Submit to His truth and His Word?  --See 1 John 5-10.  Do you delight in following God's plans?  Do you trust His Word?  Or do you fight, argue or make excuses?
• As you look back on your life and on your heart, do you see more and more a Moral Conformity to the life of Christ? -- See 1 John 2:1-6.  Do you hate indwelling sin?  Do you desire holiness?  Does your heart delight in what God delights in, and not that of the world? Do you desire to bring Glory to Christ and not yourself?
• Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ?  Do you extend Grace to them?  Do you grant them the benefit of the doubt? -- See 1 John 2:9-11.  Extend the grace, mercy and love that has been extended to you by God. 

Trust and obey God's love and His Word.  Ask God to help change and mold your heart to desire His desires.  Be honest with yourself and God, confess your sins and watch Him change your doubt to absolute certainty!