Robert Jeffress - Moving From Doubt To Faith (Part 2)

July 8, 2025 | S25 E325 | 29:0

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Moving From Doubt To Faith (Part 2) | July 8, 2025
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [announcer] from the pulpit
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  • Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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  • This is pathway to victory, with dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Hi, i'm robert jeffress
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  • And welcome again to pathway to victory.
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  • Very few christians are willing to admit it,
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  • But we all struggle with doubt,
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  • Myself included.
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  • Maybe your thoughts are frequently overrun
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  • With questions about god's goodness,
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  • His sovereignty, or even his existence.
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  • Or perhaps there's a small nagging voice of uncertainty
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  • In the back of your mind,
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  • But you're embarrassed to divulge your weakness
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  • To another person.
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  • Gratefully, doubt is not only universal,
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  • It's perfectly natural,
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  • And i'm going to show you how to move from doubt to faith
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  • On today's edition of pathway to victory.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • ♪ when peace like a river ♪
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  • ♪ attendeth my way ♪
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  • ♪ when sorrows ♪
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  • ♪ like sea billows roll ♪
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  • ♪ whatever my lot ♪
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  • ♪ thou hast taught me to say ♪
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  • ♪ it is well ♪
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  • ♪ with my soul ♪
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  • ♪ it is well ♪
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  • ♪ with my soul ♪
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  • ♪ it is well ♪
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  • ♪ with my soul ♪
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  • ♪ o lord haste the day ♪
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  • ♪ when my faith shall be sight ♪
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  • ♪ the clouds be rolled back ♪
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  • ♪ as a scroll ♪
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  • ♪ the trump shall resound ♪
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  • ♪ and the lord ♪
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  • ♪ shall descend ♪
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  • ♪ even so ♪
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  • ♪ it is well ♪
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  • ♪ with my soul ♪
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  • ♪ it is well ♪
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  • ♪ with my soul ♪
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  • ♪ it is well ♪
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  • ♪ it is well ♪
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  • ♪ with my soul ♪
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  • ♪ amen ♪
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  • (congregation applauding)
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  • [announcer] sometimes our emotions
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  • Are like mountains that stand in our way.
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  • Obstacles like doubt, bitterness, or fear
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  • Keep us from enjoying a peaceful life of courage.
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  • In his book, "invincible, conquering the mountains
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  • That separate you from the blessed life,"
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  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you overcome barriers
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  • Like guilt, loneliness, lust, grief, anxiety, and more.
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  • Discover how to conquer the mountains that hold you back.
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  • Request your hardcover copy of "invincible"
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  • When you give a generous gift to pathway to victory.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • Both christians and non-christians lose their jobs.
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  • Both christians and non-christians
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  • Have rebellious children.
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  • And both christians and non-christians
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  • Have divorce and the breakup of their home.
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  • So if there's no difference
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  • Between what happens to christians and non-christians,
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  • Why bother?
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  • Bart ehrman went to the moody bible institute,
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  • Graduated from that conservative school.
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  • He went to princeton theological seminary.
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  • He became the premier apologist
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  • For conservative christianity.
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  • He was a expert in the new testament,
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  • But he never could resolve
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  • That problem of undeserved suffering.
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  • And because of that,
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  • He gave up orthodox christianity,
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  • Became its greatest critic,
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  • No longer believes in the inerrancy of the bible
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  • Or the exclusivity of christ for salvation.
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  • He wrote a book about his journey to unbelief.
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  • It was entitled "god's problem,
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  • How the bible fails to answer our most important question,
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  • Why we suffer."
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  • And in that book, bart ehrman said,
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  • "suffering is not only senseless,
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  • It is also random, capricious and unevenly distributed."
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  • For some of you who may be having great doubts about god
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  • For undeserved suffering you feel,
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  • Or some other fact in your life, unanswered prayer,
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  • How do you handle that doubt?
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  • How do you conquer that kind of doubt?
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  • Remember, doubts are natural,
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  • But if they're not taken care of,
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  • If they're watered, they become seeds of unbelief
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  • And ultimately departure from the faith.
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  • We're going to talk about three practical ways
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  • To handle your doubts.
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  • But before we do that,
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  • We're going to look at a case study in doubt
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  • From the new testament.
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  • If you have your bibles, turn to john 11.
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  • We're going to look at the champion doubter of all time.
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  • Do you know who he is?
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  • His name is thomas.
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  • He was one of the apostles.
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  • We don't talk a lot about thomas,
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  • Perhaps because of all of the doubts he had.
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  • But i like thomas, i really do,
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  • Because thomas was the kind of guy
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  • That would ask the question
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  • That everybody else was thinking privately.
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  • I mean, he actually said
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  • What everybody else was thinking in a room,
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  • And god honored that.
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  • He honored his sincere questioning.
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  • Turn to john 11,
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  • And we're going to look three areas of doubt
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  • That thomas had and how they correspond
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  • To the kind of doubts we have.
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  • First of all, doubts about life itself.
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  • Doubts about life itself.
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  • I'm talking about doubts about what's happening to you
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  • And whether god is capable of leaving you
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  • Through the challenge of this life.
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  • Thomas had that same question in john 11.
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  • Let me show you what i mean.
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  • You know this is about the resurrection of lazarus.
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  • That's what we remember john 11 for.
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  • But the events leading up to the resurrection of lazarus
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  • Were quite interesting.
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  • Lazarus was one of jesus' best friends,
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  • Along with his sisters, mary and martha.
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  • And when jesus got word that lazarus was sick,
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  • The disciples thought, well, we'll go to heal him.
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  • But jesus had a different idea.
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  • He waited a little bit longer
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  • So he could wait until lazarus had died
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  • And he could perform that great resurrection.
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  • But it's interesting that when
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  • Jesus finally said "let's go," in verse eight,
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  • The disciples said to him,
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  • "rabbi, the jews were just now seeking to stone you
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  • And you're going there again?"
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  • They were going to go to bethany,
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  • Just two miles away from jerusalem.
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  • They said, "aren't you forgetting
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  • What the leaders tried to do?
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  • They just tried to kill you.
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  • Are you going to go back and risk your life?"
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  • And what they weren't saying is,
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  • Are you going to go back and risk our life as well?
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  • Why are you doing that?
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  • Thomas was one of those disciples,
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  • And yet i love his reply in verse 16,
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  • "finally, therefore, thomas said to his fellow disciples,
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  • 'let us also go,
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  • So that we might die with him.'"
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  • Thomas had a serious question
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  • About whether this was a wise thing to do,
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  • But notice how he expressed his faith.
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  • We're going to go, even if it means dying with you.
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  • Sometimes we have doubts about life.
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  • Some of our doubts are about the future, about eternity.
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  • The next time we see john, in the gospel of john,
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  • It's in john 14.
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  • The disciples were with jesus in the upper room,
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  • The night before he was crucified.
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  • Jesus was explaining
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  • About the sacrifice he was about to make for them,
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  • But he gave them these words of assurance in john 14:1,
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  • This was all in the upper room.
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  • He said, "let not your heart be troubled,
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  • Neither let it be afraid.
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  • You believe in god, believe also in me,
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  • For in my father's house are many mansions.
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  • If it were not so, i would've told you,
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  • For i go to prepare a place for you.
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  • And if i go and prepare a place for you,
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  • I will come again and take you unto myself
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  • That where i am, there you may be also."
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  • And thomas, one of the apostles,
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  • Raised his hand and said, "jesus.
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  • Hey jesus,
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  • We don't have a clue where you're going.
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  • How in the world do you expect us
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  • To know the way to where you're going?"
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  • That's what he said in verse five.
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  • And jesus responded to him, verse six and said,
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  • "i am the way, the truth and the life.
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  • No man comes to the father except by me."
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  • Think about it, without thomas' doubt,
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  • We never would've gotten that tremendous answer
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  • That reminds us,
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  • There is something on the other side of the grave,
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  • That place called heaven.
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  • It's all natural for us to doubt that.
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  • Again, we've never seen it before.
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  • We're stuck in this life,
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  • It's natural to question about eternity.
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  • But jesus says there is a heaven
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  • And he showed us the way to get there
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  • Through faith in his death for our sins.
  • 00:11:15.164 --> 00:11:19.335
  • Thirdly, thomas illustrates doubts about god himself.
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  • Doubts about god.
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  • And this is the foundational doubt
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  • We have to wrestle with,
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  • Is jesus really who he said he was?
  • 00:11:29.445 --> 00:11:32.381
  • Remember after the crucifixion that next day,
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  • On friday, what did the disciples do?
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  • They hold up in a secret hiding place,
  • 00:11:38.521 --> 00:11:42.892
  • Cowering in fear that they too would be arrested
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  • And crucified like jesus had been.
  • 00:11:46.328 --> 00:11:49.598
  • And then on that sunday evening after the resurrection,
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  • Jesus miraculously appeared
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  • In front of those disciples.
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  • He said, "i'm here.
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  • See the scars in my hands.
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  • Look at the scars in my side and my feet."
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  • They were astonished at what they saw.
  • 00:12:04.947 --> 00:12:08.651
  • But then john sounds this ominous note in verse 24,
  • 00:12:08.651 --> 00:12:12.488
  • "but thomas, one of the 12 was not with them
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  • When jesus came."
  • 00:12:18.194 --> 00:12:20.329
  • Where was he?
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  • He had allowed his disbelief,
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  • His disenchantment with jesus
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  • To cause him to separate from the disciples.
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  • When the disciples saw jesus crucified,
  • 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:34.210
  • Their dreams evaporated.
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  • They said, "he's just another man."
  • 00:12:36.345 --> 00:12:39.014
  • But thomas allowed his doubts to become disbelief
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  • And he separated himself
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  • From the rest of the apostles.
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  • And so verse 25 says
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  • That apparently they went out and found thomas,
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  • And they said to him, "we have seen the lord."
  • 00:12:53.529 --> 00:12:57.566
  • But thomas said to them,
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  • "unless i see in his hands the imprint of the nails
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  • And put my finger into the place of the nails
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  • And put my hand into his side,
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  • I will not believe."
  • 00:13:07.743 --> 00:13:11.280
  • Now, here's a principle i want you to write down,
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  • It's not on your outline, write this down.
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  • Distance from others
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  • Is dangerous for doubters.
  • 00:13:18.721 --> 00:13:21.590
  • Distance from others is dangerous for doubters.
  • 00:13:21.590 --> 00:13:25.194
  • Lone rangers are easily ambushed.
  • 00:13:25.194 --> 00:13:28.163
  • Thomas made a key mistake here
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  • By separating from the other believers,
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  • Going out by himself,
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  • His doubt was turning in to unbelief.
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  • Questions, if we're not careful,
  • 00:13:40.843 --> 00:13:42.444
  • Can become seeds of doubt,
  • 00:13:42.444 --> 00:13:44.179
  • And seeds of doubt can grow into unbelief.
  • 00:13:44.179 --> 00:13:47.216
  • And unbelief is like a mushroom,
  • 00:13:47.216 --> 00:13:50.819
  • It grows best in the darkness.
  • 00:13:50.819 --> 00:13:53.722
  • Now listen to me,
  • 00:13:53.722 --> 00:13:55.024
  • When you have times of doubt in your life
  • 00:13:55.024 --> 00:13:57.293
  • About your christian faith,
  • 00:13:57.293 --> 00:13:58.627
  • Satan will do everything he can to convince you,
  • 00:13:58.627 --> 00:14:01.563
  • You need to separate from the church.
  • 00:14:01.563 --> 00:14:03.866
  • You need to separate from other christians.
  • 00:14:03.866 --> 00:14:06.135
  • You need to work things out on your own
  • 00:14:06.135 --> 00:14:09.438
  • Before you come back and believe.
  • 00:14:09.438 --> 00:14:11.373
  • No, if you do that,
  • 00:14:11.373 --> 00:14:14.209
  • You become spiritual roadkill.
  • 00:14:14.209 --> 00:14:17.546
  • No, there is strength in numbers.
  • 00:14:17.546 --> 00:14:20.716
  • Don't make the mistake of distancing yourself from others
  • 00:14:20.716 --> 00:14:25.421
  • When you doubt.
  • 00:14:25.421 --> 00:14:27.589
  • So they found thomas, they said, "come back with us.
  • 00:14:27.589 --> 00:14:31.760
  • We've seen the lord."
  • 00:14:31.760 --> 00:14:32.928
  • And apparently thomas went back
  • 00:14:32.928 --> 00:14:34.797
  • And they stayed in that room for another eight days.
  • 00:14:34.797 --> 00:14:37.333
  • But eight days later, verse 26 said,
  • 00:14:37.333 --> 00:14:39.802
  • "jesus appeared again in their midst.
  • 00:14:39.802 --> 00:14:42.071
  • He said, 'peace be with you,'
  • 00:14:42.071 --> 00:14:44.640
  • And then turning to thomas,
  • 00:14:44.640 --> 00:14:46.909
  • He stretched out his hands and said,
  • 00:14:46.909 --> 00:14:49.378
  • 'put your finger here.'
  • 00:14:49.378 --> 00:14:51.413
  • Then he said, 'reach out your hand and put it into my side.'
  • 00:14:51.413 --> 00:14:55.284
  • The lord said to thomas, 'stop doubting and believe.'
  • 00:14:55.284 --> 00:15:00.622
  • And thomas said, 'my god and my lord.'"
  • 00:15:01.457 --> 00:15:05.294
  • Isn't it interesting?
  • 00:15:05.794 --> 00:15:07.730
  • Jesus knew exactly what thomas had said,
  • 00:15:07.730 --> 00:15:10.799
  • "unless i seen him,
  • 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:12.434
  • Unless i put my finger in that scar, i won't believe."
  • 00:15:12.434 --> 00:15:17.740
  • That leads to a second principle,
  • 00:15:18.474 --> 00:15:19.775
  • Dependable evidence is distributed to doubters.
  • 00:15:19.775 --> 00:15:23.746
  • Dependable evidence is given, it's distributed to doubters.
  • 00:15:23.746 --> 00:15:28.317
  • Jesus didn't scorn thomas because he wanted evidence,
  • 00:15:28.317 --> 00:15:31.987
  • He didn't chastise him.
  • 00:15:31.987 --> 00:15:33.822
  • He gave him what he was looking for.
  • 00:15:34.623 --> 00:15:36.859
  • That's how god deals with people who honestly doubt,
  • 00:15:37.926 --> 00:15:42.398
  • People who are seeking sincere answers,
  • 00:15:42.398 --> 00:15:45.401
  • People who are looking for reasons to believe,
  • 00:15:45.401 --> 00:15:48.137
  • Not to disbelief.
  • 00:15:48.137 --> 00:15:51.140
  • If you're a doubter today,
  • 00:15:51.140 --> 00:15:53.275
  • God will do the same for you.
  • 00:15:53.275 --> 00:15:55.444
  • Now, the evidence god provides
  • 00:15:55.444 --> 00:15:57.379
  • Isn't always a supernatural appearance
  • 00:15:57.379 --> 00:16:00.282
  • Like he made to thomas.
  • 00:16:00.282 --> 00:16:02.117
  • Sometimes god will direct you
  • 00:16:02.117 --> 00:16:03.986
  • To the evidence that is already there.
  • 00:16:03.986 --> 00:16:06.922
  • I think about the story of lee strobel,
  • 00:16:06.922 --> 00:16:09.091
  • A pulitzer prize winning investigative newspaper journalist.
  • 00:16:09.091 --> 00:16:14.430
  • His wife was a christian, his children were christians,
  • 00:16:15.564 --> 00:16:17.466
  • But he wasn't a believer.
  • 00:16:17.466 --> 00:16:19.368
  • And what he tripped over
  • 00:16:19.368 --> 00:16:22.704
  • Was the resurrection of jesus from the dead.
  • 00:16:22.704 --> 00:16:25.274
  • And he honestly looked for the historical evidence
  • 00:16:25.274 --> 00:16:28.944
  • To verify the resurrection of jesus christ,
  • 00:16:28.944 --> 00:16:31.647
  • And he found that evidence in fact did exist.
  • 00:16:31.647 --> 00:16:34.817
  • He became a strong believer
  • 00:16:34.817 --> 00:16:36.685
  • And wrote those bestselling books,
  • 00:16:36.685 --> 00:16:38.687
  • "the case for christ and the case for faith."
  • 00:16:38.687 --> 00:16:41.723
  • But the point is,
  • 00:16:41.723 --> 00:16:43.025
  • When god sees a heart that wants to know him,
  • 00:16:43.025 --> 00:16:45.360
  • He'll provide the evidence that person needs.
  • 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:49.298
  • Dependable evidence is distributed to doubters.
  • 00:16:49.298 --> 00:16:54.570
  • And then notice what happened.
  • 00:16:55.204 --> 00:16:56.538
  • Jesus said, verse 29,
  • 00:16:56.538 --> 00:16:58.507
  • "because you have seen me,
  • 00:16:58.507 --> 00:17:00.909
  • Have you now believed?
  • 00:17:00.909 --> 00:17:02.778
  • Blessed are those who did not see and yet believed."
  • 00:17:02.778 --> 00:17:07.983
  • Jesus said to thomas,
  • 00:17:08.484 --> 00:17:09.618
  • "i'm glad you believed, you've believed,
  • 00:17:09.618 --> 00:17:12.821
  • But there's an extra blessing
  • 00:17:12.821 --> 00:17:14.690
  • For those who haven't yet seen me but believe anyway."
  • 00:17:14.690 --> 00:17:18.727
  • You know who he's talking about?
  • 00:17:18.727 --> 00:17:20.229
  • He's talking about you.
  • 00:17:20.229 --> 00:17:22.231
  • He's talking about me.
  • 00:17:22.231 --> 00:17:23.632
  • He was looking down the corridors of history and saying,
  • 00:17:23.632 --> 00:17:26.301
  • "blessed are those who believe without seeing me."
  • 00:17:26.301 --> 00:17:30.672
  • How do you move from doubt to faith?
  • 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:34.743
  • How can you make sure
  • 00:17:34.743 --> 00:17:35.944
  • That one day you hear similar words,
  • 00:17:35.944 --> 00:17:39.414
  • "well done, good and faithful servant."
  • 00:17:39.414 --> 00:17:42.551
  • Let me share with you three practical principles
  • 00:17:42.551 --> 00:17:45.154
  • From moving from doubt to faith.
  • 00:17:45.154 --> 00:17:47.322
  • Number one, don't deny your doubts, acknowledge them.
  • 00:17:47.322 --> 00:17:52.628
  • Don't deny your doubts, acknowledge them.
  • 00:17:53.495 --> 00:17:55.330
  • The reason we're fearful of acknowledging our doubts is,
  • 00:17:55.330 --> 00:17:58.734
  • We've got this secret fear that our doubts
  • 00:17:58.734 --> 00:18:01.603
  • Are bigger than god's answers.
  • 00:18:01.603 --> 00:18:04.973
  • We think our questions
  • 00:18:04.973 --> 00:18:06.742
  • Are too great for god's answers.
  • 00:18:06.742 --> 00:18:09.111
  • Don't worry about that.
  • 00:18:09.111 --> 00:18:11.113
  • God is big enough to handle your questions.
  • 00:18:11.113 --> 00:18:14.783
  • Philosophies, they come and go.
  • 00:18:14.783 --> 00:18:17.219
  • In the early part of the 19th century,
  • 00:18:18.053 --> 00:18:19.621
  • The german philosopher, nietzsche,
  • 00:18:19.621 --> 00:18:21.423
  • Frederick nietzsche said, "god is dead."
  • 00:18:21.423 --> 00:18:25.661
  • That was revolutionary, god is dead.
  • 00:18:25.661 --> 00:18:28.263
  • Today god says, "nietzsche is dead."
  • 00:18:28.263 --> 00:18:31.099
  • (congregation laughing)
  • 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:32.901
  • I mean, philosophies come and go,
  • 00:18:32.901 --> 00:18:35.304
  • But god's word stands forever.
  • 00:18:35.304 --> 00:18:37.673
  • Isaiah 48, "the grass withers, the flower fades,
  • 00:18:37.673 --> 00:18:41.577
  • But the word of our god
  • 00:18:41.577 --> 00:18:43.245
  • Shall stand forever."
  • 00:18:43.245 --> 00:18:45.147
  • I remember talking to a christian.
  • 00:18:45.881 --> 00:18:48.550
  • She was crying, she had all kind of doubts.
  • 00:18:49.451 --> 00:18:52.254
  • She said, "i'm not even sure i believe in god anymore."
  • 00:18:52.254 --> 00:18:57.693
  • I said, "that's okay.
  • 00:18:58.193 --> 00:18:59.962
  • That's okay,
  • 00:19:00.295 --> 00:19:01.730
  • Because even when you don't believe in god,
  • 00:19:01.730 --> 00:19:03.565
  • He still believes in you."
  • 00:19:03.565 --> 00:19:07.135
  • Don't worry about denying your doubts,
  • 00:19:07.970 --> 00:19:10.439
  • Go ahead and acknowledge them.
  • 00:19:10.439 --> 00:19:13.108
  • Your questions are no match for god's answers.
  • 00:19:13.108 --> 00:19:17.079
  • Secondly, don't dread your doubts, analyze them.
  • 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:21.016
  • Again, we dread doubts because we fear that our doubts
  • 00:19:22.084 --> 00:19:24.886
  • Will destroy our faith.
  • 00:19:24.886 --> 00:19:26.421
  • No, go ahead and analyze them.
  • 00:19:26.421 --> 00:19:27.956
  • Why? why are you doubting?
  • 00:19:27.956 --> 00:19:29.691
  • Is it something you read?
  • 00:19:29.691 --> 00:19:31.159
  • Some question you have about the faith?
  • 00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:33.895
  • Is it because of an unanswered prayer,
  • 00:19:33.895 --> 00:19:36.431
  • Or a suffering you're experiencing?
  • 00:19:36.431 --> 00:19:38.967
  • Is it because of perhaps disobedience in your life?
  • 00:19:38.967 --> 00:19:42.537
  • Analyze your doubts.
  • 00:19:42.537 --> 00:19:44.039
  • Thirdly, don't disguise your doubts, articulate them.
  • 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:49.344
  • Don't disguise your doubts, articulate them.
  • 00:19:50.245 --> 00:19:52.781
  • Thomas was willing to verbalize
  • 00:19:52.781 --> 00:19:54.783
  • Exactly why he was doubting and what he needed.
  • 00:19:54.783 --> 00:19:58.787
  • You need to do that too.
  • 00:19:58.787 --> 00:20:00.522
  • Remember, doubt grows in the darkness.
  • 00:20:00.522 --> 00:20:05.160
  • Doubt grows in the darkness.
  • 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:07.763
  • You know, i read somewhere
  • 00:20:07.763 --> 00:20:10.766
  • That every christian needs to have three people in his life,
  • 00:20:10.766 --> 00:20:14.369
  • A paul, a timothy,
  • 00:20:14.369 --> 00:20:17.372
  • And a barnabas.
  • 00:20:17.739 --> 00:20:20.242
  • In other words, we need a paul,
  • 00:20:20.242 --> 00:20:22.511
  • Somebody who can mentor us,
  • 00:20:22.511 --> 00:20:24.379
  • A mature christian that we can look to for guidance.
  • 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:28.684
  • We all need a timothy,
  • 00:20:28.684 --> 00:20:29.851
  • Somebody to disciple,
  • 00:20:29.851 --> 00:20:31.053
  • Somebody whose life we are pouring into.
  • 00:20:31.053 --> 00:20:33.789
  • But we all thirdly need a barnabas.
  • 00:20:33.789 --> 00:20:36.425
  • Remember, he was the son of encouragement in acts 5,
  • 00:20:36.425 --> 00:20:39.127
  • Who was always encouraging people.
  • 00:20:39.127 --> 00:20:41.630
  • Now, the key is when you go through a time of doubt,
  • 00:20:41.630 --> 00:20:43.799
  • You've got to know which one to go to.
  • 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:45.934
  • Don't go to somebody you're trying to disciple,
  • 00:20:45.934 --> 00:20:48.303
  • Somebody who's younger in the faith than you are.
  • 00:20:48.303 --> 00:20:51.073
  • You're going to destroy them if you do that.
  • 00:20:51.073 --> 00:20:53.375
  • But there needs to be a mature christian you can go to.
  • 00:20:53.375 --> 00:20:57.079
  • And you'll find that when you voice your doubt to them,
  • 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:59.514
  • They'll say, "you know what?
  • 00:20:59.514 --> 00:21:00.916
  • I've been through the same thing,
  • 00:21:00.916 --> 00:21:02.551
  • Or i've had the same question,
  • 00:21:02.551 --> 00:21:04.119
  • And here's how i resolved it in my life."
  • 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:07.055
  • Make sure you have somebody you can go to.
  • 00:21:07.055 --> 00:21:11.093
  • And remember, above all people,
  • 00:21:11.093 --> 00:21:13.662
  • Go to god with your questions.
  • 00:21:13.662 --> 00:21:15.597
  • I came across the simple formula
  • 00:21:15.597 --> 00:21:17.833
  • For dealing with doubt that came from mark littleton.
  • 00:21:17.833 --> 00:21:20.802
  • He said, "turn your doubts into questions.
  • 00:21:20.802 --> 00:21:24.873
  • Then turn your questions into prayers,
  • 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:29.378
  • And turn your prayers to god."
  • 00:21:29.378 --> 00:21:32.514
  • That's the way for dealing with doubts.
  • 00:21:32.514 --> 00:21:35.317
  • Don't disguise your doubts, articulate them.
  • 00:21:35.317 --> 00:21:38.887
  • And when we turn our doubts into prayers
  • 00:21:38.887 --> 00:21:41.723
  • And turn them to god,
  • 00:21:41.723 --> 00:21:43.325
  • He will encourage you just like he did thomas by saying,
  • 00:21:43.325 --> 00:21:47.562
  • "do not be unbelieving, but believing."
  • 00:21:47.562 --> 00:21:51.733
  • Apparently thomas held on those words
  • 00:21:52.567 --> 00:21:55.637
  • For the rest of his life,
  • 00:21:55.637 --> 00:21:57.172
  • "do not be unbelieving but believing."
  • 00:21:57.172 --> 00:22:00.876
  • How do i know that?
  • 00:22:00.876 --> 00:22:02.411
  • Well, church tradition tells us that after the resurrection,
  • 00:22:02.411 --> 00:22:06.148
  • Thomas went to india where he started churches there.
  • 00:22:06.148 --> 00:22:10.352
  • He then went to china
  • 00:22:10.352 --> 00:22:11.887
  • Where he started the christian church in peking.
  • 00:22:11.887 --> 00:22:15.924
  • He came back to india
  • 00:22:15.924 --> 00:22:17.459
  • And nurtured those new believers in christ.
  • 00:22:17.459 --> 00:22:19.995
  • One day when he was an old man,
  • 00:22:19.995 --> 00:22:22.564
  • He was in a cave, praying to god,
  • 00:22:22.564 --> 00:22:25.767
  • And a group of hindu priests attacked him,
  • 00:22:25.767 --> 00:22:29.070
  • Fearful that christianity was going to overshadow hinduism.
  • 00:22:29.070 --> 00:22:34.176
  • And one of those hindu priests
  • 00:22:34.810 --> 00:22:37.479
  • Thrust a spear into the side of thomas,
  • 00:22:38.346 --> 00:22:41.550
  • Thinking they had killed him,
  • 00:22:41.550 --> 00:22:43.885
  • But they hadn't.
  • 00:22:43.885 --> 00:22:45.420
  • When they left,
  • 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.788
  • Thomas was able to crawl to a nearby church chapel.
  • 00:22:46.788 --> 00:22:51.493
  • He wrapped his arms around the base of a stone cross,
  • 00:22:52.561 --> 00:22:57.899
  • And he looked up at that cross and said,
  • 00:22:58.767 --> 00:23:00.869
  • "thank you, god, for your mercies in my life.
  • 00:23:00.869 --> 00:23:05.240
  • Into your hands, i commend my spirit."
  • 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:09.044
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:23:09.044 --> 00:23:12.214
  • Those are not the words of a doubter,
  • 00:23:13.048 --> 00:23:16.218
  • They are words of somebody who finally conquered
  • 00:23:17.219 --> 00:23:20.622
  • The mountain of doubt.
  • 00:23:20.622 --> 00:23:22.958
  • And they can be your final words as well,
  • 00:23:22.958 --> 00:23:26.228
  • If you learn the secret of moving
  • 00:23:26.228 --> 00:23:28.997
  • From doubt to faith.
  • 00:23:28.997 --> 00:23:31.366
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:23:31.366 --> 00:23:35.403
  • As you heard today's message on pathway to victory,
  • 00:23:36.438 --> 00:23:39.608
  • Maybe you've been thinking about
  • 00:23:39.608 --> 00:23:40.976
  • Some of your own personal doubts,
  • 00:23:40.976 --> 00:23:43.311
  • Doubts about life, doubts about the future,
  • 00:23:43.311 --> 00:23:46.548
  • Even doubts about god.
  • 00:23:46.548 --> 00:23:48.750
  • Like thomas, god can turn your doubts into faith.
  • 00:23:48.750 --> 00:23:52.921
  • Well, in the time remaining today,
  • 00:23:52.921 --> 00:23:55.123
  • Let me thank our generous pathway partners
  • 00:23:55.123 --> 00:23:57.959
  • And all of those of you who give generously
  • 00:23:57.959 --> 00:24:00.262
  • To the ministry of pathway to victory.
  • 00:24:00.262 --> 00:24:03.398
  • We are pushing back the forces of evil in our culture
  • 00:24:03.398 --> 00:24:07.035
  • As one of the fastest growing media ministries in the world,
  • 00:24:07.035 --> 00:24:10.472
  • And it's because of people
  • 00:24:10.472 --> 00:24:12.007
  • Generously supporting pathway to victory just like you.
  • 00:24:12.007 --> 00:24:16.044
  • Your gifts help us spread the gospel
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  • Through the most effective tools available,
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  • Including television, radio, and digital media.
  • 00:24:20.682 --> 00:24:24.419
  • So thank you again for your faithful giving,
  • 00:24:24.419 --> 00:24:26.988
  • And please keep up the good work.
  • 00:24:26.988 --> 00:24:29.858
  • Now, stay right there,
  • 00:24:29.858 --> 00:24:31.126
  • I'll be back with more pathway to victory
  • 00:24:31.126 --> 00:24:33.428
  • In just a moment.
  • 00:24:33.428 --> 00:24:34.996
  • Jesus told us that if we have faith
  • 00:24:35.730 --> 00:24:37.699
  • As tiny as a mustard seed,
  • 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:39.534
  • We can move mountains.
  • 00:24:39.534 --> 00:24:41.303
  • But what does that promise really mean?
  • 00:24:41.303 --> 00:24:44.673
  • [announcer] in his book, "invincible,"
  • 00:24:44.673 --> 00:24:46.274
  • Dr. robert jeffress helps you conquer the mountains
  • 00:24:46.274 --> 00:24:48.710
  • That separate you from the blessed life.
  • 00:24:48.710 --> 00:24:50.979
  • [robert] all of us are going to face mountains in life,
  • 00:24:50.979 --> 00:24:53.582
  • But those obstacles don't have to stop us in our tracks,
  • 00:24:53.582 --> 00:24:57.118
  • Because with god on our side, we are invincible.
  • 00:24:57.118 --> 00:25:01.022
  • [announcer] in the pages of "invincible,"
  • 00:25:01.022 --> 00:25:02.524
  • You'll discover how to move from doubt to faith,
  • 00:25:02.524 --> 00:25:05.026
  • From anxiety to peace, from discouragement to hope,
  • 00:25:05.026 --> 00:25:08.029
  • From fear to courage, and much more.
  • 00:25:08.029 --> 00:25:10.632
  • Life's up and downs can be overwhelming,
  • 00:25:10.632 --> 00:25:13.201
  • But in the eyes of the mountain mover,
  • 00:25:13.201 --> 00:25:15.470
  • Every mountain you face is a mole hill,
  • 00:25:15.470 --> 00:25:18.473
  • And god is ready to take you to the other side of blessing.
  • 00:25:18.473 --> 00:25:22.444
  • [announcer] you are invited to request
  • 00:25:22.444 --> 00:25:23.578
  • A hardcover copy of "invincible"
  • 00:25:23.578 --> 00:25:25.413
  • When you give a generous gift to pathway to victory.
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  • And when your gift is $75 or more,
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  • We'll also send you
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  • The complete collection of audio and video discs
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  • For the "invincible" teaching series,
  • 00:25:34.089 --> 00:25:36.124
  • Along with a personal and group study guide.
  • 00:25:36.124 --> 00:25:38.493
  • Nothing will prevent your conquering mountains
  • 00:25:38.493 --> 00:25:41.496
  • In your life any more than doubt.
  • 00:25:41.496 --> 00:25:44.265
  • We've got this secret fear
  • 00:25:44.265 --> 00:25:46.001
  • That our doubts are bigger than god's answers.
  • 00:25:46.001 --> 00:25:48.803
  • Don't worry about that,
  • 00:25:48.803 --> 00:25:50.805
  • God is big enough to handle your questions.
  • 00:25:50.805 --> 00:25:53.708
  • [announcer] your generosity today
  • 00:25:53.708 --> 00:25:55.110
  • Will help us spread the message of victory and hope.
  • 00:25:55.110 --> 00:25:57.545
  • Thank you for giving generously
  • 00:25:57.545 --> 00:25:59.214
  • To help us shine the light of christ
  • 00:25:59.214 --> 00:26:01.082
  • Into the dark corners of our country and world.
  • 00:26:01.082 --> 00:26:07.088
  • Whether we're willing to admit it or not,
  • 00:26:07.989 --> 00:26:10.325
  • All of us harbor secret doubts from time to time.
  • 00:26:10.325 --> 00:26:13.962
  • Gratefully we're not alone.
  • 00:26:13.962 --> 00:26:15.997
  • Even thomas, a disciple who walked side by side with jesus,
  • 00:26:15.997 --> 00:26:20.268
  • Doubted his faith at times.
  • 00:26:20.268 --> 00:26:22.470
  • And if doubt is at the forefront of your mind today,
  • 00:26:22.470 --> 00:26:26.074
  • I hope you'll follow the biblical roadmap
  • 00:26:26.074 --> 00:26:28.677
  • For moving from doubt to faith.
  • 00:26:28.677 --> 00:26:31.946
  • Well, throughout the scriptures, we are told not to worry.
  • 00:26:31.946 --> 00:26:35.350
  • But that's easier said than done, isn't it?
  • 00:26:35.350 --> 00:26:37.952
  • So, how can we overcome the crippling effects of anxiety?
  • 00:26:37.952 --> 00:26:42.924
  • Stay tuned for a preview
  • 00:26:42.924 --> 00:26:44.526
  • Of the next message in our series "invincible."
  • 00:26:44.526 --> 00:26:48.963
  • What i mean by that is,
  • 00:26:49.464 --> 00:26:50.865
  • Whenever we build our life around the temporal,
  • 00:26:50.865 --> 00:26:54.903
  • Instead of the eternal,
  • 00:26:54.903 --> 00:26:57.038
  • We're going to be fearful of losing what we prize the most.
  • 00:26:57.038 --> 00:27:01.342
  • For example, if we've built our life around money,
  • 00:27:01.342 --> 00:27:05.413
  • Instinctively we know that can be taken from us,
  • 00:27:05.413 --> 00:27:08.650
  • And so we work and work and work,
  • 00:27:08.650 --> 00:27:10.385
  • And accumulate more and more and more.
  • 00:27:10.385 --> 00:27:12.320
  • Hoard more and more.
  • 00:27:12.320 --> 00:27:13.822
  • But we know deep down, we can't protect ourself from loss.
  • 00:27:13.822 --> 00:27:17.826
  • [announcer] set your dvr
  • 00:27:17.826 --> 00:27:18.993
  • And join us next time for the message,
  • 00:27:18.993 --> 00:27:20.762
  • "moving from anxiety to peace,"
  • 00:27:20.762 --> 00:27:23.231
  • Here on pathway to victory.
  • 00:27:23.231 --> 00:27:25.300
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:25.300