Endangered Christian Series - Part 4 - Unbelief

   

Listen as Pastor Rick gives money away in an effort to explain the difference between unbelief and doubt!  What a powerful message!

Finding Rest in Him

In this unusual singing sermon, I hope you'll forgive that my voice is the only one on the recording.  However, I hope that you find strength to your heart and soul from it today!

D O U B T

On this Sunday of Saint Thomas, Pastor Rick deals with the specter of Doubt.

"Doubt.  What does the word conjure up for you?  It is a word that is not generally associated with pleasantness, happiness, or peace.  Instead, it is associated with discomfort, uncertainty, and fear.  Doubt is in the uplifted eyebrow, the wrinkling of the forehead, or in the wide eyes and open mouth.  Doubt is that feeling you feel when you take your driver’s test…can you make it?  Doubt is that feeling you feel when you stand at the edge of a jump into water below.  Doubt is the feeling of uncertainty when you quit your job without another in sight.  Doubt is that inner response when you hear something unlikely or unbelievable. Doubt usually isn’t any fun."

I recommend to you a book that will help you clarify your understanding of doubt further after today’s message.  The book is available for free online here: http://www.garyhabermas.com/books/dealing_with_doubt/dealing_with_doubt.htm.  The book is titled, “Dealing with Doubt,” by Gary Habermas.  Dr. Habermas is a well-known apologist specializing in matters to do with the resurrection and Christian faith.  

DOUBT

I hope today that you are encouraged to anchor your faith in God and Christ.  Do not succumb to the struggle of emotional doubt with a response of willful unbelief.  Rather, go back to the truths you know.  Cling to them.  Grow in them.  Find strength there and bridge the gap between your knowledge and your emotions with willing faith.  Trust in the Lord.  Then you can say with the Psalmist, “Ps 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”

HE KNOWS

God knows you: precisely whom you are, where you are, what you are, why you are, and how you are.  He understands you and cares about you.  Listen as Pastor Rick passionately shares the wonderful story of Thomas.

"Have you been where Thomas was that night?  A whole lot of other people tell you they have met the risen Christ.  A whole lot of people tell you that it was incredible and spectacular and you should have the same experience.  Have you felt confused by all the voices?  Have you felt that your experiential reality doesn’t match up with others’ reports of the supernatural?  Have you grieved because YOU longed to know Him in the power of His resurrection too – but somehow have missed it?  Have you been frustrated – maybe even angry – that you have been left out of His presence?  Have you determined in the midst of your pain, your loneliness, and your lostness that you WILL NOT BELIEVE?

Ah.  This I believe is part of the why of Thomas’ story.  God knows us and understands us and He wants us to know that He knows and He cares about us even when we struggle with doubt and uncertainty."

How Is Your Spiritual Plumbing?

Listen as Pastor Rick relates a tongue-in-cheek message with a very real and important meaning.

"We cannot afford to have blockages in our spiritual plumbing that make a mess of everything.  We cannot spiritually succeed with sin, selfishness, unforgiveness, doubt, disobedience, fear, neglect, out of order families, unwilling hearts, or even under the crushing pressure of life without the strength of Christ.  So I urge us all today to intentionally put His Word in our hearts, open our ears to His Spirit, and surrender ourselves completely to His control.  Let Him in to inspect/clear/maintain our spiritual pipes so that His love and power can flow in/out of our lives."