Doubt or Faith?

Doubt or Faith?

by Wayne Dailey
Senior Pastor, Bethel Revival Center
43 Norwood St.
Everett, MA 02149

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John 4:46-48
So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where He made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto Him, and besought Him that He would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

All the nobleman asked was if Jesus would come down to his house and heal his son, and he gets this answer from Jesus: Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. Why did Jesus say that? Why did He make such a statement?

"If I could see a miracle happen right before my eyes, then I could really believe God would meet my need!"

John 4:49,50
The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

Believing Brings Seeing

Here is the key to what Jesus was trying to get across when He said, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. He was trying to bring this man around to the place where he'd believe without seeing anything! He was trying to bring him into the realm of having faith.

Do we always have to see something to be encouraged to believe?

Jesus wanted this nobleman to get around to the place of acting in faith, so He told the man to go home because his son was alive.

"Take it or leave it! Believe it or don't believe it!"

Jesus didn't seem to think it was necessary to help this man believe by performing a miracle. He didn't give any outward sign that would encourage this man's faith. He merely spoke, "Go your way. When you get home, you'll find your son is all right."

And the man believed the word which Jesus had spoken unto him!

What are you believing? Can you really believe what Jesus has spoken? Can you take it literally into your heart and stand upon it?

This man's son was at the point of death, and he wanted Jesus to come quickly before the boy died. He had a real burden on his heart. He knew his son wouldn't make it unless something happened . . . soon. In the midst of this trial, his faith began to be tested.

He had heard of the wonderful things that were happening through Jesus' ministry, and he seemed to have faith in Jesus — at least to the point of knowing that He was doing good works.

But Jesus brought him face to face with believing. He brought him to the place of simply taking the Word of the Lord to heart and believing it.

John 4:51-53
And as he was now going down, His servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

This is a beautiful story of faith. We can derive from it the message the Lord would want to sow down in the depths of our hearts and souls: We need to be willing — and very quick — to simply stand on the words the Lord has spoken — believing them and acting upon them.

John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The Bible is not a dead book nor is it a storybook. The words found in the Bible live on and on throughout the ages, forever settled in heaven.

We can stand on the words of the Lord. We can believe them. They come to life for us when we claim them in faith.

This nobleman was questioning in his mind, "Who is this great man? Is He really the Christ?" He was desperate, so he decided to at least give Jesus a try.

In the days that Jesus walked this earth, many gave Him a try just because there was no hope, no where else to turn.

When someone has themselves in a corner and it looks like everything is against them, they often become desperate because they need help.

Because this man took the time and the courage to believe the words of Jesus, he and his entire household ended up believing in Jesus. They were all converted through this man's step of faith.

We've got to come to the clear realization that the Lord never fails. It's just not in Him to fail, and He wants us to come to the place of fully putting our faith and our trust in Him.

Some Promises to Believe

Let's consider, now, some of the things Jesus has said, and begin to believe them, merely because He said them.

Have you ever tried to get a duck wet? It can't be done.

Well, it's like that with many when it comes to the Word of God. They hear it, but it doesn't penetrate. It never stays with them long enough for them to believe.

Mark 4:14-17
The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

You can't act on everybody's word. When man promises, he doesn't always keep his promise. Man often says he'll do something for you, but it never seems to get done.

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?

When you stand on God's Word, you can be sure He will fulfill what it says, because He is faithful to His Word.

The Works of Jesus

John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Do you believe that verse? Then why aren't you doing those works that He did? You say you believe it — then why not act upon it? When you let this verse sink down into your heart, you'll find it fulfilled in your life. That's where faith comes into the picture.

I know you believe Jesus spoke this, and I know you believe He meant what He said. You believe it is possible, or He wouldn't have said it. Well, when you take what He has said as being spoken directly unto you, then it will be fulfilled in your life.

That verse is a direct promise to every believer. God wants each of us to stand on such Scriptures.

Whenever we dare to believe and respond to what He has said, those same words become spirit and life unto us. They become reality.

Physical Healing

Psalm 103:2,3
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases

How many times have you heard this Scripture? How many times have you read it? Do you believe what it says? Do you believe it enough to be well? all the time?

The Word says it.

We read it. We hear it preached. But we don't always take it to heart.

Answers to Prayer

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

What are you desiring? You can have it — if you follow what this verse tells you to do. Put your desire forth to claim the promise of God, and believe that you are going to receive.

We could go on and on speaking of the rich promises that are available to us in God's Word. They are ours — if we will only respond to them in faith.

The promises of God cover such a vast territory of supply. We've got to arrive at the place of having our spiritual eyes open to see what is ours by faith. We've got to realize that we can receive from God by merely standing on His written Word. There's no need for us to see any proof or evidence in order to believe.

In fact, God is honored more by our faith when we don't see anything than when we do. When we dare to believe what He has said in His Word simply because He said it, He is honored, because it shows our faith in Him.

Doubting Thomas

John 20:24,25
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.

"Thomas, you shouldn't have missed the meeting last night. You should have been there! Jesus came, and we all saw Him, and He spoke to us."

What is his nickname? Doubting Thomas.

Who does he put you in mind of?

If Jesus came into our midst in a similar manner, many would react the same way Thomas did.

Now, it wasn't that Thomas didn't want to believe. He just wanted to be sure that what he believed was real.

"Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe."

When Jesus said this to the nobleman in John chapter four, He was referring to such a reaction as Thomas had. Thomas needed to see — and touch — in order to believe, just in case his eyes were playing tricks on him.

There are a lot of Thomases around today. They want to believe. They really want God to do things for them, but God needs to do so much to bring them into the realm of simply believing Him on the basis of His written Word.

John 20:26
And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

Wouldn't it be nice if Jesus suddenly came into our midst and said, "Peace be unto you." A lot of people would fall down under the power of God, while others would faint from fear. But many others would be skeptical about the whole thing, doubting it was real.

John 20:27
Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Jesus branded doubting Thomas. He branded Thomas more than just as a doubter. He branded him as being faithless — as having no faith.

We can see this same thing today in the lives of many Christians. When they are in a situation where they should believe God, they end up being faithless. They don't manifest any faith toward God or His Word.

Jesus said, "Thomas, I've got the cure for your faithlessness. Run your finger into these nail prints and place your fingers into My side." And at this, Thomas really came to life!

John 20:28
And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.

It took a lot to get Thomas to admit this. He refused to believe until he saw Jesus for himself. He put himself through a needless trial, worrying and doubting. For eight long days of trial and frustration, he wondered if the disciples had actually seen Jesus.

John 20:29
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Except ye shall see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

If yOu're Saved, You Have Faith

How many of you have actually seen Jesus? I'm not speaking about seeing Him in a vision or a dream — I mean actually seeing Him right before you, and being able to place your finger in the nail prints and thrust your hand in His side?

Even though you haven't seen Jesus, do you believe in Him? Do you believe He rose from the dead? Do you believe He really is the Son of God?

If you believe all of that, then you're not quite as faithless as Thomas was. You do believe, though you have not seen.

Now, let me bring you to the point I am aiming at: How did you ever get yourself into the place of believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world?

You first had to believe the Word of God. The Word of God is the only record we have of Jesus being the Christ. The words written therein are spirit and they are life. It's those words which the Holy Spirit quickens and causes to come to life unto us.

The point is this: If you can believe the written report that tells you how you can be born again by believing in Jesus, then you have your first chance to prove that the Word of God is true.

Proof of Faith

I like to prove whether things are true or not — not to the place of becoming a skeptic, but to know of a certainty that they are 100% true.

II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Now, look at that verse. Is it true? Did it happen to you when you received Jesus into your heart? Did you find the reality that your old life changed and all things became new?

What God says He will do, He is certainly able to bring to pass. When He said that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, He meant it.

Are you the same? Did you enjoy the things of God before you were saved, or were you too busy satisfying the flesh? Do you talk today like you talked before you got saved? Why not?

Is it because the old things have passed away in your life? Did you use the name of Jesus before salvation in the same way you use it now, or did you just use His name lightly and profanely? Thank God, all of that is gone! Forgiven! Placed under the blood! Our conversation has become new, and old things have passed away!

God said this change would occur if we received His Son Jesus Christ into our hearts — and it did.

We can take any one of God's promises, and the same living reality will occur — if we personally claim them in faith. What God says He will do, He will do. He fulfils His Word in those who believe.

Now, the Bible says that God promises to give the Holy Spirit to those who believe. He made this promise many times throughout the Bible, but does God pour out His Spirit in our day? Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit still given to those who dare to believe?

Yes, God is still a God of His Word today. God wants His Word fulfilled today, just as it was fulfilled in days gone by.

We need to put more faith in His promises, knowing His Word is still good today. When we stand on a promise from the Scripture, before we know it, those words will come to pass in our lives. The same way the Word of God came to life when we got saved, the others promises in God's Word will also become a reality — if we will but cling to them in faith.

We need to get away from the place of acting like Thomas did. There is no reason for us to be faithless — not when we have the promises of God right before us!

Faith in Crises

This example of doubt is manifest throughout the gospels in the lives of the disciples. Remember when they were out there in the boat and Jesus was asleep in the hinder part?

Because the wind began to blow and the waves became too high, the disciples became nervous and frustrated — faithless. Instead of believing, they became fearful. Finally, one of them could stand it no more: He ran back and woke Jesus up.

Mark 4:38
And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

This is the reaction we often see in God's people when they face a crisis in their boat. As soon as a little water gets in the boat, they panic because their boat might sink.

Listen, if Jesus is in the ship, it won't sink. The good ship faith might get tossed about in the water, but it's not going to sink. When I was in the Navy, I spent a lot of time on a ship. I was out there when the waves went right over our ship, but the ship still remained floating.

The waves rolled that ship back and forth so bad we couldn't eat. When the storm finally ceased, though, our boat was still floating. It didn't sink, even though it had looked for awhile like it would.

Now, when the waves beat against our ship, if we're not careful, we can be faithless in our experience. We can be guilty of reacting just like those disciples did. Instead of standing in the midst of the storm, we panic. We want to run and wake up Jesus.

But instead of crying wolf, we need to bark back!

Acting in Faith

We tend to cry out: "Lord, I'm sinking again! Do something!" Instead of acting, we decide to just keep on asking. This is what the disciples did when they panicked and woke Jesus up.

Instead of constantly praying, it's good, sometimes, to act. Jesus already told us what to do. And if we do just as He said, we will find victory and blessing.

He didn't tell the nobleman to keep on praying. He said, "Go home. Your son's all right." That man believed what Jesus had said, and he started to walk by faith. Every step he took on that journey home, he had to believe his son would be well when he got there.

That son began to mend the very hour Jesus told his father to go home.

There are those times we should act instead of merely praying. I mean, Jesus didn't tell us to pray for authority over the devil — He gave us that authority.

We don't have to ask for what we already have. When our coat is hanging in the closet, should we pray for Jesus to give us a coat? No, we just have to go get the one we already have and put it on.

Using Your Authority

Well, neither is it a matter of praying for authority. It is a matter of using the authority we already have been given.

Why do we stop the car when a policeman puts his hand up? If he motions us to go, we go; and if he tells us to pull over, do we ignore him? No, we pull over. He has authority given to him, and we respect that authority enough to do just as he says. He has his badge of authority, and Christians have their badge of authority.

What is the Christian's badge of authority? The name of Jesus Christ. Yes, our authority in that Name gives us power over the devil. We have been given the right to use His name with authority.

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

Jesus is in possession of all power in heaven and in earth. There isn't any power, whatsoever, that is not in subjection to Jesus. Even Satan, himself, must submit to Jesus.

The devil has a high-minded, lofty idea that somehow he holds the keys of death and hell and that the souls of men belong to him. He thinks he has authority over this world.

But Jesus came to earth to openly show His authority over Satan. He openly defeated him, stripping him of any power or authority he might have had. Yes, Jesus openly defeated the devil. He defeated him at every turn of the road. His triumph over death at Calvary certainly was open defeat of all that Satan stood for.

When the devil knows you're aware of your God-given authority over him, then he knows his days of taunting you are numbered. When he sees your badge of authority, he knows he must back down.

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Who is going to tread on whom? If you believe what Jesus said in this verse, and if these words are spirit and life unto you, you will tread the devil under foot. But if you don't want to believe, you'll cry all day for the devil to leave you alone.

If you want to be like Thomas, you'll come against the devil with a faithless attitude. You'll cry and cry without doing a thing: "Jesus! Help me!! Help me!!"

Jesus will help you. He will say: "Didn't you read that verse? Well, then, why don't you act upon it? Take it to heart."

He said He gave you authority — take it, and use it. It is yours. If it's written in the Word of God, believe it. You believed for your salvation and you got saved. Now, believe the devil must flee when you use your rightful authority.

You've given in to the whims of the devil too often. Don't go around thinking he has some kind of power over you. Rise up and use the power and authority God gave you to use against the devil. Whether you use it or not, you still have it.

Many rich people starve to death while they have thousands in the bank or hidden away. They were so covetous, they were afraid to spend any money on food.

Well, you have this power and authority given you. Why aren't you using it? You'll constantly be defeated unless you rise up and use what is yours. You will get discouraged even more than you do now if you keep giving in.

Rise above the pressures and use your authority over them. It's about time you gave the devil some pressure, instead of allowing him to pressure you.

If you tread on Satan — like you've been told to do — he won't be walking all over you.

Now, God's Word is full of promises for His children. Claim then, and put them to use. Use what's been given to you unto the honor and glory of God.

The sooner you act on the Word, the soon you will find it coming to pass in your life.