Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Moving From Doubt To Faith (Part 2) | July 8, 2025
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:00:00.156 --> 00:00:05.795
- [announcer] from the pulpit
- 00:00:06.396 --> 00:00:07.664
- Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
- 00:00:07.664 --> 00:00:10.200
- This is pathway to victory, with dr. robert jeffress.
- 00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:14.337
- Hi, i'm robert jeffress
- 00:00:14.838 --> 00:00:16.239
- And welcome again to pathway to victory.
- 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:19.109
- Very few christians are willing to admit it,
- 00:00:19.109 --> 00:00:21.711
- But we all struggle with doubt,
- 00:00:21.711 --> 00:00:23.913
- Myself included.
- 00:00:23.913 --> 00:00:25.748
- Maybe your thoughts are frequently overrun
- 00:00:25.748 --> 00:00:28.351
- With questions about god's goodness,
- 00:00:28.351 --> 00:00:30.587
- His sovereignty, or even his existence.
- 00:00:30.587 --> 00:00:33.523
- Or perhaps there's a small nagging voice of uncertainty
- 00:00:33.523 --> 00:00:37.060
- In the back of your mind,
- 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:38.761
- But you're embarrassed to divulge your weakness
- 00:00:38.761 --> 00:00:41.030
- To another person.
- 00:00:41.030 --> 00:00:42.732
- Gratefully, doubt is not only universal,
- 00:00:42.732 --> 00:00:45.568
- It's perfectly natural,
- 00:00:45.568 --> 00:00:47.737
- And i'm going to show you how to move from doubt to faith
- 00:00:47.737 --> 00:00:51.708
- On today's edition of pathway to victory.
- 00:00:51.708 --> 00:00:55.945
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:00:55.945 --> 00:01:02.819
- ♪ when peace like a river ♪
- 00:01:03.453 --> 00:01:08.825
- ♪ attendeth my way ♪
- 00:01:09.325 --> 00:01:18.101
- ♪ when sorrows ♪
- 00:01:18.501 --> 00:01:21.471
- ♪ like sea billows roll ♪
- 00:01:21.471 --> 00:01:30.046
- ♪ whatever my lot ♪
- 00:01:30.547 --> 00:01:35.785
- ♪ thou hast taught me to say ♪
- 00:01:36.452 --> 00:01:42.125
- ♪ it is well ♪
- 00:01:42.525 --> 00:01:48.932
- ♪ with my soul ♪
- 00:01:45.695 --> 00:01:55.405
- ♪ it is well ♪
- 00:01:55.805 --> 00:02:02.045
- ♪ with my soul ♪
- 00:01:58.942 --> 00:02:08.651
- ♪ it is well ♪
- 00:02:05.381 --> 00:02:14.724
- ♪ with my soul ♪
- 00:02:11.654 --> 00:02:21.397
- ♪ o lord haste the day ♪
- 00:02:21.931 --> 00:02:27.003
- ♪ when my faith shall be sight ♪
- 00:02:27.003 --> 00:02:32.942
- ♪ the clouds be rolled back ♪
- 00:02:33.610 --> 00:02:38.848
- ♪ as a scroll ♪
- 00:02:39.249 --> 00:02:44.988
- ♪ the trump shall resound ♪
- 00:02:45.622 --> 00:02:50.860
- ♪ and the lord ♪
- 00:02:51.261 --> 00:02:53.963
- ♪ shall descend ♪
- 00:02:53.963 --> 00:02:57.166
- ♪ even so ♪
- 00:02:57.166 --> 00:03:00.303
- ♪ it is well ♪
- 00:03:00.303 --> 00:03:03.373
- ♪ with my soul ♪
- 00:03:03.373 --> 00:03:12.248
- ♪ it is well ♪
- 00:03:12.649 --> 00:03:18.788
- ♪ with my soul ♪
- 00:03:15.785 --> 00:03:28.264
- ♪ it is well ♪
- 00:03:28.665 --> 00:03:33.870
- ♪ it is well ♪
- 00:03:34.270 --> 00:03:38.408
- ♪ with my soul ♪
- 00:03:38.408 --> 00:03:46.149
- ♪ amen ♪
- 00:03:46.416 --> 00:03:54.691
- (congregation applauding)
- 00:03:55.258 --> 00:04:03.299
- [announcer] sometimes our emotions
- 00:04:04.067 --> 00:04:05.435
- Are like mountains that stand in our way.
- 00:04:05.435 --> 00:04:07.570
- Obstacles like doubt, bitterness, or fear
- 00:04:07.570 --> 00:04:09.972
- Keep us from enjoying a peaceful life of courage.
- 00:04:09.972 --> 00:04:13.142
- In his book, "invincible, conquering the mountains
- 00:04:13.142 --> 00:04:15.745
- That separate you from the blessed life,"
- 00:04:15.745 --> 00:04:17.847
- Dr. robert jeffress helps you overcome barriers
- 00:04:17.847 --> 00:04:20.450
- Like guilt, loneliness, lust, grief, anxiety, and more.
- 00:04:20.450 --> 00:04:25.054
- Discover how to conquer the mountains that hold you back.
- 00:04:25.054 --> 00:04:27.857
- Request your hardcover copy of "invincible"
- 00:04:27.857 --> 00:04:30.226
- When you give a generous gift to pathway to victory.
- 00:04:30.226 --> 00:04:34.697
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:04:35.031 --> 00:04:41.971
- Both christians and non-christians lose their jobs.
- 00:04:43.005 --> 00:04:47.210
- Both christians and non-christians
- 00:04:47.210 --> 00:04:49.212
- Have rebellious children.
- 00:04:49.212 --> 00:04:51.581
- And both christians and non-christians
- 00:04:52.415 --> 00:04:54.717
- Have divorce and the breakup of their home.
- 00:04:54.717 --> 00:04:56.886
- So if there's no difference
- 00:04:56.886 --> 00:04:58.821
- Between what happens to christians and non-christians,
- 00:04:58.821 --> 00:05:01.724
- Why bother?
- 00:05:01.724 --> 00:05:03.159
- Bart ehrman went to the moody bible institute,
- 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:07.830
- Graduated from that conservative school.
- 00:05:07.830 --> 00:05:10.032
- He went to princeton theological seminary.
- 00:05:10.032 --> 00:05:13.202
- He became the premier apologist
- 00:05:13.202 --> 00:05:15.238
- For conservative christianity.
- 00:05:15.238 --> 00:05:17.073
- He was a expert in the new testament,
- 00:05:17.073 --> 00:05:21.377
- But he never could resolve
- 00:05:21.944 --> 00:05:23.413
- That problem of undeserved suffering.
- 00:05:23.413 --> 00:05:27.183
- And because of that,
- 00:05:27.183 --> 00:05:28.351
- He gave up orthodox christianity,
- 00:05:28.351 --> 00:05:30.620
- Became its greatest critic,
- 00:05:30.620 --> 00:05:32.822
- No longer believes in the inerrancy of the bible
- 00:05:32.822 --> 00:05:35.792
- Or the exclusivity of christ for salvation.
- 00:05:35.792 --> 00:05:39.495
- He wrote a book about his journey to unbelief.
- 00:05:39.495 --> 00:05:43.032
- It was entitled "god's problem,
- 00:05:43.032 --> 00:05:46.102
- How the bible fails to answer our most important question,
- 00:05:46.102 --> 00:05:50.473
- Why we suffer."
- 00:05:50.473 --> 00:05:52.375
- And in that book, bart ehrman said,
- 00:05:52.375 --> 00:05:54.277
- "suffering is not only senseless,
- 00:05:54.277 --> 00:05:56.846
- It is also random, capricious and unevenly distributed."
- 00:05:56.846 --> 00:06:02.785
- For some of you who may be having great doubts about god
- 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:07.490
- For undeserved suffering you feel,
- 00:06:07.490 --> 00:06:11.694
- Or some other fact in your life, unanswered prayer,
- 00:06:11.694 --> 00:06:14.831
- How do you handle that doubt?
- 00:06:14.831 --> 00:06:16.599
- How do you conquer that kind of doubt?
- 00:06:16.599 --> 00:06:20.236
- Remember, doubts are natural,
- 00:06:20.236 --> 00:06:22.371
- But if they're not taken care of,
- 00:06:22.371 --> 00:06:24.640
- If they're watered, they become seeds of unbelief
- 00:06:24.640 --> 00:06:29.245
- And ultimately departure from the faith.
- 00:06:29.245 --> 00:06:32.181
- We're going to talk about three practical ways
- 00:06:32.181 --> 00:06:34.584
- To handle your doubts.
- 00:06:34.584 --> 00:06:35.885
- But before we do that,
- 00:06:35.885 --> 00:06:37.487
- We're going to look at a case study in doubt
- 00:06:37.487 --> 00:06:40.990
- From the new testament.
- 00:06:40.990 --> 00:06:42.492
- If you have your bibles, turn to john 11.
- 00:06:42.492 --> 00:06:45.795
- We're going to look at the champion doubter of all time.
- 00:06:45.795 --> 00:06:49.632
- Do you know who he is?
- 00:06:49.632 --> 00:06:51.734
- His name is thomas.
- 00:06:51.734 --> 00:06:53.569
- He was one of the apostles.
- 00:06:53.569 --> 00:06:55.004
- We don't talk a lot about thomas,
- 00:06:55.004 --> 00:06:57.073
- Perhaps because of all of the doubts he had.
- 00:06:57.073 --> 00:07:00.276
- But i like thomas, i really do,
- 00:07:00.276 --> 00:07:03.279
- Because thomas was the kind of guy
- 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:06.215
- That would ask the question
- 00:07:06.215 --> 00:07:08.251
- That everybody else was thinking privately.
- 00:07:08.251 --> 00:07:11.354
- I mean, he actually said
- 00:07:11.354 --> 00:07:13.389
- What everybody else was thinking in a room,
- 00:07:13.389 --> 00:07:16.225
- And god honored that.
- 00:07:16.225 --> 00:07:18.628
- He honored his sincere questioning.
- 00:07:18.628 --> 00:07:21.564
- Turn to john 11,
- 00:07:21.564 --> 00:07:23.633
- And we're going to look three areas of doubt
- 00:07:23.633 --> 00:07:27.136
- That thomas had and how they correspond
- 00:07:27.136 --> 00:07:29.539
- To the kind of doubts we have.
- 00:07:29.539 --> 00:07:31.374
- First of all, doubts about life itself.
- 00:07:31.374 --> 00:07:35.912
- Doubts about life itself.
- 00:07:35.912 --> 00:07:37.346
- I'm talking about doubts about what's happening to you
- 00:07:37.346 --> 00:07:40.483
- And whether god is capable of leaving you
- 00:07:40.483 --> 00:07:42.885
- Through the challenge of this life.
- 00:07:42.885 --> 00:07:46.188
- Thomas had that same question in john 11.
- 00:07:46.188 --> 00:07:49.492
- Let me show you what i mean.
- 00:07:49.492 --> 00:07:50.860
- You know this is about the resurrection of lazarus.
- 00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:52.762
- That's what we remember john 11 for.
- 00:07:52.762 --> 00:07:55.731
- But the events leading up to the resurrection of lazarus
- 00:07:55.731 --> 00:08:00.403
- Were quite interesting.
- 00:08:00.403 --> 00:08:01.737
- Lazarus was one of jesus' best friends,
- 00:08:01.737 --> 00:08:04.407
- Along with his sisters, mary and martha.
- 00:08:04.407 --> 00:08:06.642
- And when jesus got word that lazarus was sick,
- 00:08:06.642 --> 00:08:10.446
- The disciples thought, well, we'll go to heal him.
- 00:08:10.446 --> 00:08:13.749
- But jesus had a different idea.
- 00:08:13.749 --> 00:08:15.651
- He waited a little bit longer
- 00:08:15.651 --> 00:08:17.453
- So he could wait until lazarus had died
- 00:08:17.453 --> 00:08:19.689
- And he could perform that great resurrection.
- 00:08:19.689 --> 00:08:22.158
- But it's interesting that when
- 00:08:22.158 --> 00:08:24.493
- Jesus finally said "let's go," in verse eight,
- 00:08:24.493 --> 00:08:27.363
- The disciples said to him,
- 00:08:27.363 --> 00:08:28.864
- "rabbi, the jews were just now seeking to stone you
- 00:08:28.864 --> 00:08:33.769
- And you're going there again?"
- 00:08:33.769 --> 00:08:36.505
- They were going to go to bethany,
- 00:08:36.505 --> 00:08:37.707
- Just two miles away from jerusalem.
- 00:08:37.707 --> 00:08:40.476
- They said, "aren't you forgetting
- 00:08:40.476 --> 00:08:42.878
- What the leaders tried to do?
- 00:08:42.878 --> 00:08:44.747
- They just tried to kill you.
- 00:08:44.747 --> 00:08:46.415
- Are you going to go back and risk your life?"
- 00:08:46.415 --> 00:08:48.484
- And what they weren't saying is,
- 00:08:48.484 --> 00:08:49.852
- Are you going to go back and risk our life as well?
- 00:08:49.852 --> 00:08:52.989
- Why are you doing that?
- 00:08:52.989 --> 00:08:54.590
- Thomas was one of those disciples,
- 00:08:54.590 --> 00:08:57.159
- And yet i love his reply in verse 16,
- 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:59.495
- "finally, therefore, thomas said to his fellow disciples,
- 00:08:59.495 --> 00:09:03.532
- 'let us also go,
- 00:09:03.532 --> 00:09:05.901
- So that we might die with him.'"
- 00:09:05.901 --> 00:09:09.205
- Thomas had a serious question
- 00:09:09.205 --> 00:09:10.773
- About whether this was a wise thing to do,
- 00:09:10.773 --> 00:09:13.542
- But notice how he expressed his faith.
- 00:09:13.542 --> 00:09:16.112
- We're going to go, even if it means dying with you.
- 00:09:16.112 --> 00:09:18.814
- Sometimes we have doubts about life.
- 00:09:18.814 --> 00:09:21.884
- Some of our doubts are about the future, about eternity.
- 00:09:21.884 --> 00:09:25.588
- The next time we see john, in the gospel of john,
- 00:09:25.588 --> 00:09:28.858
- It's in john 14.
- 00:09:28.858 --> 00:09:30.559
- The disciples were with jesus in the upper room,
- 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.596
- The night before he was crucified.
- 00:09:33.596 --> 00:09:36.032
- Jesus was explaining
- 00:09:36.032 --> 00:09:37.933
- About the sacrifice he was about to make for them,
- 00:09:37.933 --> 00:09:42.605
- But he gave them these words of assurance in john 14:1,
- 00:09:42.605 --> 00:09:46.942
- This was all in the upper room.
- 00:09:46.942 --> 00:09:49.111
- He said, "let not your heart be troubled,
- 00:09:49.111 --> 00:09:52.348
- Neither let it be afraid.
- 00:09:52.348 --> 00:09:54.316
- You believe in god, believe also in me,
- 00:09:54.316 --> 00:09:56.719
- For in my father's house are many mansions.
- 00:09:56.719 --> 00:10:00.356
- If it were not so, i would've told you,
- 00:10:00.356 --> 00:10:03.459
- For i go to prepare a place for you.
- 00:10:03.459 --> 00:10:05.795
- And if i go and prepare a place for you,
- 00:10:05.795 --> 00:10:07.897
- I will come again and take you unto myself
- 00:10:07.897 --> 00:10:11.434
- That where i am, there you may be also."
- 00:10:11.434 --> 00:10:15.271
- And thomas, one of the apostles,
- 00:10:15.271 --> 00:10:18.007
- Raised his hand and said, "jesus.
- 00:10:18.007 --> 00:10:21.277
- Hey jesus,
- 00:10:21.277 --> 00:10:24.313
- We don't have a clue where you're going.
- 00:10:24.313 --> 00:10:27.883
- How in the world do you expect us
- 00:10:27.883 --> 00:10:30.019
- To know the way to where you're going?"
- 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:31.721
- That's what he said in verse five.
- 00:10:31.721 --> 00:10:33.723
- And jesus responded to him, verse six and said,
- 00:10:34.657 --> 00:10:37.393
- "i am the way, the truth and the life.
- 00:10:37.393 --> 00:10:40.930
- No man comes to the father except by me."
- 00:10:40.930 --> 00:10:44.867
- Think about it, without thomas' doubt,
- 00:10:45.668 --> 00:10:48.604
- We never would've gotten that tremendous answer
- 00:10:48.604 --> 00:10:51.707
- That reminds us,
- 00:10:52.074 --> 00:10:53.776
- There is something on the other side of the grave,
- 00:10:53.776 --> 00:10:56.779
- That place called heaven.
- 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:59.315
- It's all natural for us to doubt that.
- 00:11:00.149 --> 00:11:04.053
- Again, we've never seen it before.
- 00:11:04.053 --> 00:11:06.722
- We're stuck in this life,
- 00:11:06.722 --> 00:11:08.758
- It's natural to question about eternity.
- 00:11:08.758 --> 00:11:10.860
- But jesus says there is a heaven
- 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:13.362
- And he showed us the way to get there
- 00:11:13.362 --> 00:11:15.164
- Through faith in his death for our sins.
- 00:11:15.164 --> 00:11:19.335
- Thirdly, thomas illustrates doubts about god himself.
- 00:11:19.335 --> 00:11:24.273
- Doubts about god.
- 00:11:24.273 --> 00:11:26.075
- And this is the foundational doubt
- 00:11:26.075 --> 00:11:28.277
- We have to wrestle with,
- 00:11:28.277 --> 00:11:29.445
- Is jesus really who he said he was?
- 00:11:29.445 --> 00:11:32.381
- Remember after the crucifixion that next day,
- 00:11:32.381 --> 00:11:36.218
- On friday, what did the disciples do?
- 00:11:36.218 --> 00:11:38.521
- 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
- 00:11:42.892 --> 00:11:46.328
- And crucified like jesus had been.
- 00:11:46.328 --> 00:11:49.598
- And then on that sunday evening after the resurrection,
- 00:11:49.598 --> 00:11:53.202
- Jesus miraculously appeared
- 00:11:53.202 --> 00:11:56.071
- In front of those disciples.
- 00:11:56.071 --> 00:11:58.007
- He said, "i'm here.
- 00:11:58.007 --> 00:12:00.576
- See the scars in my hands.
- 00:12:00.576 --> 00:12:02.411
- Look at the scars in my side and my feet."
- 00:12:02.411 --> 00:12:04.947
- 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
- 00:12:12.488 --> 00:12:17.760
- When jesus came."
- 00:12:18.194 --> 00:12:20.329
- Where was he?
- 00:12:20.329 --> 00:12:21.864
- He had allowed his disbelief,
- 00:12:21.864 --> 00:12:24.300
- His disenchantment with jesus
- 00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:27.336
- To cause him to separate from the disciples.
- 00:12:27.336 --> 00:12:30.139
- When the disciples saw jesus crucified,
- 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:34.210
- Their dreams evaporated.
- 00:12:34.210 --> 00:12:36.345
- They said, "he's just another man."
- 00:12:36.345 --> 00:12:39.014
- But thomas allowed his doubts to become disbelief
- 00:12:40.015 --> 00:12:43.686
- And he separated himself
- 00:12:43.686 --> 00:12:45.454
- From the rest of the apostles.
- 00:12:45.454 --> 00:12:47.756
- And so verse 25 says
- 00:12:47.756 --> 00:12:49.792
- That apparently they went out and found thomas,
- 00:12:49.792 --> 00:12:53.529
- And they said to him, "we have seen the lord."
- 00:12:53.529 --> 00:12:57.566
- But thomas said to them,
- 00:12:57.566 --> 00:12:58.934
- "unless i see in his hands the imprint of the nails
- 00:12:58.934 --> 00:13:03.405
- And put my finger into the place of the nails
- 00:13:03.405 --> 00:13:05.608
- And put my hand into his side,
- 00:13:05.608 --> 00:13:07.743
- I will not believe."
- 00:13:07.743 --> 00:13:11.280
- Now, here's a principle i want you to write down,
- 00:13:11.280 --> 00:13:13.616
- It's not on your outline, write this down.
- 00:13:13.616 --> 00:13:16.619
- Distance from others
- 00:13:16.619 --> 00:13:18.721
- 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
- 00:13:28.797 --> 00:13:31.767
- By separating from the other believers,
- 00:13:31.767 --> 00:13:34.970
- Going out by himself,
- 00:13:34.970 --> 00:13:36.672
- His doubt was turning in to unbelief.
- 00:13:36.672 --> 00:13:40.843
- 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
- 00:24:16.044 --> 00:24:18.046
- Through the most effective tools available,
- 00:24:18.046 --> 00:24:20.682
- 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.
- 00:25:25.413 --> 00:25:28.249
- And when your gift is $75 or more,
- 00:25:28.249 --> 00:25:30.785
- We'll also send you
- 00:25:30.785 --> 00:25:32.053
- The complete collection of audio and video discs
- 00:25:32.053 --> 00:25:34.089
- 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