When Someone Doubts — C.J. Mahaney

Jude 22 and the Reality of Doubt

Please open your Bibles to what one scholar identifies as Probably the most neglected book in the New Testament and according to this scholar that distinction belongs to the letter of Jude and if the letter of Jude is the most Neglected book in the New Testament, then it should come as no surprise this morning that the passage we will be considering from this most neglected book is among the most commonly overlooked and neglected passages in the New Testament and the point of the passage and the topic of this message are therefore rarely addressed.

So this morning from an obscure letter of the New Testament and a Verse that many of us are not familiar with we're going to consider a topic that is rarely addressed. It's how we're gonna roll this morning.

Title of this message is when Someone doubts and I now have the privilege to read From this divinely inspired letter. I have the privilege to read From the letter of Jude we have the privilege to be addressed by God as I read Jude verse 22 and have mercy on those who doubt.

Let's pray father though I Often Neglect this book. I Am so grateful that you have not neglected to include it in the canon of Scripture. Lord receive our gratefulness for Inspiring Jude to write this letter and preserving this letter including this letter in Holy Scripture so that We might be addressed by you from this letter this morning.

So Lord Address away Address away father like only you can Draw near Draw near to each one present here today draw near to them through the preaching of your word. Lord, I thank you that you are eager to do this.

To pray prior to preaching is not some Means or effort on my part to overcome some reluctance within you to bless the preaching of your word. No, you are eager to bless the preaching of your word. You're eager to bless the preaching of your word when your church gathers to give attention to your words.

So I thank you for your intention to bless and I proceed now we proceed now filled with Anticipation that you will bless the preaching of your word today. That you will draw near to all who are present Here today.

That you will speak to all who are present here today through your word and for this I Thank you in Jesus name. In an article from table talk magazine Scott Devere writes about entering college filled with Excitement and anticipation that he would make a serious difference for the advance of the gospel on campus.

Instead Found himself unprepared For what awaited him there. He writes. I began my college years ready to conquer the world for Christ. The reality of my journey, however tells quite a different story.

College for me was a roller coaster from incredible joys to the most debilitating doubts I ever experienced. Recalling these years once again, I joyfully recognize God's providence. Even through the dark valleys I walked.

The world I entered as a college student was a God-ignoring culture filled with more isms Pluralism relativism individualism and more addictions drug alcohol and pornography than I dreamed. Possible more than that college was a continual onslaught of objections to Christianity.

Professors and students would ask I've got a book Written by so many different authors contain no errors. Doesn't science disprove God. Who would believe in a book that describes floating axe heads and talking donkeys and snakes?

Doesn't Christian faith preclude rationality. If God is so good. Why is there so much? Evil in the world. Good questions, but not questions without good answers. It was my junior year in college and unanswered questions about Christianity were fixed in my mind.

I began Doubting the faith at this point in my life I had been heavily involved in the church teaching numerous adult Bible classes and ministering to the youth. Even with all that Involvement I was still Sinking slowly into a mire that sought to consume me And to make matters worse.

I was engaged to a wonderful Christian woman and I was too scared to tell her or anyone else about my doubts. Debilitating Debilitating Doubts. It's how Scott describes his experience in college debilitating doubts and paralyzing Fears can't can't help can't help but wonder how many present this morning Might be able to identify with Scott.

You are familiar with doubt. Perhaps these doubts have developed slowly and Gradually over a period of years in your life or perhaps recently and Unexpectedly you have been blindsided by doubt in some form and you aren't a college student.

You've been a Christian maybe 20 30 years it isn't just college students who are blindsided by doubt. Actually scripture reveals in our experience confirms that the temptation to doubt in some form is a common experience.

For all Christians all Christians not just some Christians a Scott felt unique. Scott felt alone. Scott was neither unique or Alone, he was however unprepared. He was unprepared for this temptation to doubt and in his own words He was scared to tell anyone about his doubts leaving him quite vulnerable To his doubt and sadly ignorance about doubt and fear to divulge doubts all too common Among Christians and many of us aren't just unprepared for the temptation to doubt.

We are also Unprepared if someone approached us Voicing their doubts asking us for help to resolve their doubts. We have not been sufficiently prepared to effectively serve someone Who is in need of help in order to resolve their doubts?

What if Scott were here today and what if he approached you after the meeting? What if he divulged his doubts? How'd you react? What would you say? These few words found in this obscure letter inform us inform us about the reality of doubt and Equip us to effectively serve those for whom doubt has become a frequent companion this passage.

Jude verse 22 Addresses the reality of doubt and The appropriate response to doubt and those would form my two points this morning both I trust derived from this text the reality of doubt verse 22 those Who doubt those who doubt?

Well, who are who are those who doubt? Who are these people and why are they doubting? What are they doubting? Well in order to discover who they are and why they're doubting we must must equate ourselves With the original intent of the author in writing this divinely inspired letter.

What why did Jude write this letter? What moved Jude to in effect? Pick up his quill and compose this particular letter in order to to accurately interpret and Understand and apply verse 22. We must have some understanding of the occasion of this letter.

Must have some understanding of all of the verses that precede verse 22 in order to rightly interpret understand and apply verse 22 to our lives. So why why did Jude write this letter? Well, the purpose of this letter is no mystery Jude.

Jude is clear and he is explicit about the purpose of this letter at the outset of this letter. Please look at verse 3 where he writes beloved. Although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation I found it necessary To write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the Saints.

Here's why this exhortation to contend for the faith was necessary verse 4 for certain people if crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation on godly people who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and Deny our only master and Lord Jesus Christ that that is clear that that is his primary purpose for writing this letter.

This letter is a call to contend. This letter is a call to contend for the gospel a call to protect and preserve the gospel a call to Guard the gospel from false teachers and false teaching that threatened to undermine and pervert the gospel of grace.

False teachers had Infiltrated this church they were perverting the gospel of grace into sensuality. They were advocating licentiousness. They were approving sexual sin. They had dismissed the ethical implications of the gospel.

They had denied the lordship of Jesus Christ. The situation on the ground could not be more serious or more dangerous and Therefore Jude is moved to write and exhort them to contend for the gospel. He not only exhorts them to contend for the gospel.

He also exhorts them to contend with their hearts. Please look in verse 21 where we read keep yourselves in The love of God keep yourselves in the love of God. We must not only contend for the faith. We must also contend with our Hearts, we must contend with our hearts because our hearts are prone to wander.

Prone to wander Lord. I feel it prone to wander. Therefore I am exhorted here. We are exhorted here to contend with our hearts. Contending for the faith is Critical absolutely critical, but it's not sufficient.

We must also give attention to our hearts and our relationship with God and Surrounding this imperative to keep ourselves in the love of God are three wonderful Participles exhorting us to build and to pray and to wait as means of contending with our heart contend for the faith.

Contend with your heart and then we arrive in verse 22. Where we are exhorted to contend for others. Verses 22 and 23. We are exhorted to contend for others. We exhorted to contend for those who have been adversely affected By the false teachers and the false teaching.

Verse 22 have mercy on those who doubt verse 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire to Others show mercy with fear hating even the garment stained by the flesh in these two verses. We are being exhorted to contend for those who have been Adversely influenced by false teachers and false teaching.

We are observing in these verses the effect of false teaching upon the original recipients of this letter. Some rescue operation is needed and the church here is pictured as Aggressive aggressively pursuing those who have been adversely influenced by false teachers and false teaching and it appears There are there are three different groups.

It appears there are three distinct groups that we are to contend for who have been influenced by Differing degrees verse 22, which will occupy our attention those who are presently doubting. Second group and it appears they are in even greater danger.

Actually as you read these two verses as the passage progresses the condition of those in view appears to become more perilous. So secondly, we are to save others by snatching them out of the fire. This would appear to be individuals who have begun to engage with both the thinking and the lifestyle of the false teachers.

They they are being engulfed by fire the fire of judgment fire a reference to hell. They are unaware that they are being engulfed by this fire. They're unaware of how serious their condition is at present and yet there is hope for them.

The church is called to snatch them out of this fire. And finally and most concerning to others show mercy with fear hating even the garment. Stained by the flesh these these would be individuals who've been fully seduced.

They are all in in relation to the false teachers. They they are full participants and Advocates and yet even to them we are to show mercy. There is hope for them. But that mercy is informed by wisdom that mercy must be shown with fear.

We must fear as we interact with us fear being contaminated by their sin because of the deceitfulness of sin. And we must hate must hate the garment that is stained by the flesh. We must hate the sin so we relate to them with mercy.

But we also are informed by this wisdom this fear and this hating so that we are not drawn in to Their sin. We are called to contend for others. This morning. We're just gonna confine our attention though to verse 22.

Mercy Toward Christians Who Doubt

The exhortation to have mercy on those who doubt. Now we know a little bit more about these people. Those who Doubt those who doubt in Jude are those who have been adversely influenced by false Teachers.

They are doubting they are doubting the gospel. They initially received is the faith that was once for all delivered to the Saints and Jude. Jude is a wise pastor spent much time in Jude over the last year.

I feel like I know Jude. I Feel like if Jude were here and appeared in the lobby that I would recognize him. I've learned much from him. He is a wise he is he is wise. He is humble. He is caring. He is discerning and he is courageous.

Man is the full package. He is a wise Pastor and he is aware of those who've been adversely influenced. He is aware of those who are presently Struggling with doubt he is aware of the reality of doubt.

And he cares for those who are being tempted to doubt. He doesn't condemn them. But he is concerned about the state of their soul as evidenced by this exhortation to contend for them and to have mercy on them.

Wise pastor is aware of the reality of doubt. Wise pastor is aware of the reality of doubt. Wise pastor is not surprised by the temptation to doubt because the temptation to doubt temptation to doubt the trustworthiness and truthfulness of God whether in this particular form as revealed in Jude that Jude references or in differing forms that are revealed throughout scripture this temptation to doubt is common to all Christians.

No Christian is exempt from this temptation. Not not the heroes of the faith throughout redemptive history. See Elijah Job Jeremiah David John the Baptist the disciples. Not the most mature Christian, you know every Christian to some degree is familiar with this temptation.

We shouldn't be surprised. Shouldn't be surprised shouldn't be surprised by the reality of doubt. We should not be surprised by the temptation to doubt. Here's here's just a few reasons why we shouldn't be surprised.

This is not an exhaustive list. We shouldn't be surprised because it's a fallen world. We live in a fallen world that is opposed to the gospel live in a fallen world that is opposed to the gospel we proclaim and believe.

Second in Indwelling sin remains the influence of sin remains in all of our lives. Sin Remains and the sin that remains is active and it is particularly active in opposing our trust in God and his word and our faith toward God next our humanity and the weakness and frailty of our humanity.

Satan is real. Satan is real and he is real serious about attacking our faith. We are introduced to him in Genesis chapter 3 where he is sowing doubt about the goodness of God and the judgment of God.

The strategy proved effective then there has been no need to alter his approach. He is still whispering as God really said. False teachers and false teaching continues to adversely influence the church.

We aren't promised a full knowledge of God in this life. And we are called to walk by faith and not by sight. So we shouldn't be surprised. Shouldn't be surprised the reality of doubt shouldn't be surprised at the temptation to doubt.

We shouldn't be surprised by the reality of doubt or the temptation doubt, but we should be prepared. We should be prepared for this temptation. All all Christians are familiar with this temptation in some form.

But not every Christian is prepared for this temptation. And if you aren't prepared for this temptation You will be vulnerable to this temptation and the effects of this temptation particularly if you don't tell anybody about this temptation.

My historical hero Charles Spurgeon did not want his Congregation surprised by this temptation and he sought to prepare his church for this temptation. One particular Sunday when he tenderly addressed his congregation with these words it seems as if doubt were doomed to be the perpetual companion of faith as Dust attends the chariot wheels.

So do doubts naturally be cloud faith. Some men of little faith are perpetually enshrouded with fears. Their faith seems only strong enough to enable them to doubt. If they had no faith at all, then they would not doubt but having that little and but so little they are perpetually involved in Distressing surmises suspicions and fears, by the way, I wish I could stop and just draw you there is just brilliant wisdom.

Spurgeon is in effect Encouraging and confirming that those in his congregation who are generally converted and struggling with doubt. Actually their struggle with doubt is a confirmation of the presence of genuine faith in their lives.

So it's just brilliantly Communicated what effective pastoring others? So now he now he transitioned for those with little faith because no doubt there were blows present the congregation who did not think of Themselves as having little faith but having great faith and they might have indeed had great faith.

But that doesn't mean they're exempt from the temptation to doubt. Others who have attained to great strength and stability of faith are nevertheless at times subjects of doubt. He who has a Colossal faith will sometimes find that the clouds of fear float over the brow of his confidence.

It is not possible. I suppose so long as a man is in this world that he should be perfect in anything and Surely it seems to be quite impossible that he should be perfect in faith. I Think I shall be quite safe in concluding this morning that there are some here who are full of doubting and fearing.

Sure, I am that all true Christians have their times of anxious questioning. The heart that hath never doubted is not yet learned to believe. Yes, there may be timid ones here those who are always of little faith.

And there may be also great hearts those who are valiant for truth who are now enduring seasons of despondency and hours of darkness of heart. Spurgeon assumed that he would be quite safe in Concluding that there were those present who were full of doubt and fear.

Even great hearts with colossal faith Who are now enduring seasons of despondency and hours of darkness of heart. I'm going without assumption perhaps that's you. And in this most unexpected way all of the busyness That has accompanied this morning and the noise and the interaction has actually Delivered you to this moment where now you are aware God is drawing near to you and giving Personal attention to your soul.

Because he cares so whether you arrived with little faith and very aware of doubts and fears. Whether you walk through the door with genuinely great faith, but it's been a season of despondency and darkness.

Doubt is a reality and it's a temptation that we must be prepared for. Because at some time we will all be numbered among those who Doubt and in light of the reality of doubt and the temptation to doubt.

Anticipating this temptation God Comes to us in this verse. God provides for us in verse 22 He provides mercy. He provides mercy in the form of those who've been prepared to care for us so that we can Turn to someone when we are dogged by doubt.

We can divulge our doubts and we can see receive mercy from them. Oh think think of what this Think of what these words must have meant to someone in the original Congregation who was struggling with doubt in the midst of all that was taking place.

The Influence of the false teachers and falsely think of what it must have meant to those Individuals when this letter was read aloud in the assembly and they heard these words and have mercy. On those who doubt means the same to you and has the same effect on you the reality of doubt.

And what we read at the outset of this verse is the appropriate response to doubt. God's provision for doubt. The appropriate response to someone who doubts. The appropriate response to someone who doubt so.

Given the reality of doubt given the common temptation to doubt. How do we care for how do we contend for those who are tempted to? It's real clear, isn't it? We're called to have mercy and have mercy and have mercy on those who die.

I mean mercy in a word describes the appropriate disposition of our heart if someone like Scott Informs us about their doubt this verse actually the entirety of this letter informs how we can wisely and skillfully care for those who Doubt be it a new Christian or an old Christian be it a spouse or a child.

Remembering the Mercy We Have Received

How can we communicate mercy to those who doubt. A few recommendations number one. By remembering and acknowledging the mercy we have received. By remembering and acknowledging the mercy that we have received one can't have mercy on others if one isn't aware of the mercy they have received from God.

And if you are a Christian this morning the Explanation for why you are a Christian is solely because God being rich in mercy had Mercy on you. That is the sole explanation for why you are a Christian if you are a Christian.

Because you and I were richly deserving not mercy. We were richly deserving the full fury of his righteous wrath in light of our sin in light of our rebellion. In light of our offenses against him. That is what we richly deserved but Oh Thank God this morning that he is rich in Mercy and thank God that in the mystery of this wealth of mercy He turned his attention to sinners like you and I and he made us objects of his Mercy so that we who were dead in our trespasses and sins who were in rebellion against him and richly deserving his wrath were instead made alive together with Christ because of his substitutionary sacrifice on the cross.

By grace, you have been saved. Yes indeed. In verse 2 Jude prays that the mercy they have received and the mercy that is revealed in 1b to those who are called Beloved in God much loved by the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.

Jude prays in verse 2 may mercy. Jude prays that the mercy they have received the mercy revealed in 1b the mercy they have received Would be freshly Multiplied in their lives. And then look at verse 21 where we read keep yourselves in the love of God waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

This letters peppered with references to Mercy. Christians are described in verse 21 as waiting for we have not only received mercy. We have not only become objects of mercy now as we turn our attention to the future the past judgment against our sin has been resolved and now we turn our attention to the future and What do we await?

We await mercy. For mercy those who have received mercy and those who are waiting for mercy should be very eager to show mercy to anyone Who divulges they are doubting? If you remember the mercy of God in your life if you acknowledge the mercy you've received should make a difference in your soul.

Should provoke you to to be eager to show mercy should protect you from responding self-righteously or Impatiently with those who doubt. Listen, if you aren't aware of mercy, you will be vulnerable to self-righteousness.

If you want aren't aware mercy you will be vulnerable to be impatient with those who doubt but the mercy of God should have of Humbling effect on us so that when someone divulges their temptation to doubt our response isn't how could you?

Or why would you? Know instead our response is how can I help you? Because God has been merciful to me. You remember the mercy of God and acknowledge the mercy of God. You won't scold someone who acknowledges doubt.

You'll care for them. You'll comfort them and you'll wisely and appropriately Exhort them. We have mercy on those who attempted to doubt by remembering that we have received mercy and we are waiting for mercy.

Distinguishing Doubt from Unbelief

Second help those who doubt understand the difference between doubt and Unbelief. Help those who doubt understand the difference between doubt and unbelief and Lord. Help CJ go faster. Josh, you know, actually I think the only hope for me and this is the only hope and this thought just came into my mind.

So I'm not attributing it to any kind of spirit. Inspired inspiration is let me just. When I have this privilege to preach. It's it's it's I just get two parts. So rather than trying to fit the sermon into the first one, I just do it in two parts.

We'll we'll get back to you and talk about that later. I So frustrating to me to look and see where I am in this help those who doubt it's not helping interacting right now, is it? It's not like you're holding me up.

Help those who doubt understand the difference between doubt and unbelief. Help them understand this difference. I think there is a critical difference. I Think it's a common assumption among Christians that doubt and unbelief are synonymous.

But I think I think if you do a careful study of Scripture, I think that careful study would indicate otherwise. Now, please understand trust. You do understand if you aren't familiar with me. I'm not a scholar not a scholar.

Don't have formal education which I did but I know a lot of smart guys and I have my own personal smart guy in the form of Jeff Perswell the Dean of the pastor's college. It's what I say. If you can't be a smart guy hire a smart guy to work for you.

And that's what I've wisely done because I want to serve you. I think I think this distinction is a critical one. I'll explain to you in just a moment. Why I think it can be a difference maker. Typically typically when the New Testament is referencing unbelief it is speaking of disbelief.

Unbelief is a refusal to believe. It is a refusal. It is a rejection a refusal to believe a rejection of God and his word doubt is different. Doubt involves an uncertainty a questioning a wavering. Someone is perplexed they are distracted.

Those Jude identifies as doubting here are questioning. They are questioning whether the faith They've received at the inception of their Christian life was indeed Normative. They they are questioning because they find themselves Uncertain having been adversely influenced by false teachers and false teaching.

But this would be different than a refusal to believe to be different than a Rejection this would be different than a resistance. This would be different than a defiance. Doubt weakens faith, but the presence of doubt doesn't mean there is the absence of faith.

Think there is a fundamental difference between the unbelief that characterizes a non-christian someone who clearly Does not believe they do not have faith. There's a difference between unbelief as relates to the non-christian and the Christian who doubts and at times wavers in their beliefs struggles to believe.

They aren't refusing to believe they are Struggling to believe. One scholar writes the following doubt in the New Testament is an affair of the believer rather than the unbeliever and I often think I create my own confusion by the the broad and careless way I use the word unbelief because because at times and an attempt to just humble myself I want to acknowledge a deficiency in my trust in God in a particular area.

And so I'll say something like I'm in unbelief I Mean here here's more precisely what I mean when I say that I mean I'm struggling to trust God in a particular area or in relation to a particular promise or in relation to a particular command in scripture unbelief would have all would involve a refusal a rejection a Defiance.

Well that wouldn't accurately describe what's going on in my life by the mercy of God that wouldn't accurately describe my Struggle now. I am NOT abandoning my Fundamental allegiance to Christ. I'm not abandoning my fundamental trust in the gospel for the forgiveness of sins.

I'm not abandoning any of those things just struggling with a particular area in a particular Moment with a particular promise. I am tempted to or succumbing to doubt not unbelief. Now, please don't misunderstand.

You're on the risk of being misunderstood. I run the risk of being misunderstood. I do not mean to imply. I do not mean to imply. I am NOT implying that doubt isn't serious doubt is serious. Doubt is serious doubt is sin and doubt is always portrayed in Scripture as serious and sinful and detrimental.

It is not cool to doubt. When when I am doubting I am exalting my perceptions and my opinions and my feelings over the truth of God's Word Over his gracious promises over his wise commands. So when I make this distinction between doubt and unbelief as a means of having mercy on those who doubt this Distinction isn't meant to in any way trivialize doubt.

We must not minimize doubt ignore doubt trivialize doubt. Doubt is serious doubt is sin. Doubt is to be opposed. Doubt is to be fought. Doubt is to be addressed. Doubt is to be resolved. But We are to have mercy on those who doubt.

We are not to condemn the one struggling with doubt and the one who is struggling with doubt should not condemn themselves and In this I'm speaking now from pastoral experience in my past experience those those who don't understand this distinction are are more vulnerable to this misunderstanding and I think they're more vulnerable to condemnation.

This this distinction between doubt and unbelief is actually Helpfully addressed in this fine book titled God in the dark The assurance of faith beyond the shadow of doubt by Oz Guinness Which is available in the bookstore and I commend to you for your further study the author writes the following about this distinction and How critical it is to understand this distinction.

This distinction? He writes is absolutely vital the distinction between doubt and unbelief because it uncovers and deals with the first major misconception of doubt the idea that we should be ashamed of doubting because Doubting is a betrayal of the faith and a surrender to unbelief.

No Misunderstanding causes more anxiety and brings such bondage to sensitive people in doubt. Now as I as I reflect back I I have been involved in some form of pastoral ministry for 37 years. I am quite familiar I'm quite familiar with the genuine Christian who is ignorant of this distinction and the effect of this Misunderstanding in the form of anxiety and fear and condemnation upon their sensitive souls.

I I think I think this would actually explain what I observed in my most recent Conversation with someone who was tempted to doubt as I was interacting with this individual after a Sunday meeting. They they spontaneously abruptly revealed doubt in their life the presence of doubt in their life and immediately after revealing doubt and acknowledging doubt tears filled her eyes and as I began to interact with her and seek to Respond to Jude's exhortation to have mercy on her.

One of things I did was help her understand this distinction between doubt and Unbelief because she was assuming that the presence of the here's what was having. She was paralyzed by condemnation because of doubt paralyzed she assumed this was a betrayal of the faith a surrendered unbelief.

Wondering. She didn't understand how the temptation to doubt was common to all Christians. She didn't understand this distinction between doubt and unbelief. Because she wasn't aware of this distinction.

She felt ashamed condemned. Wondered about the genuineness of her conversion. I attempted to express mercy to her Help her understand the difference between doubt and unbelief by God's grace. It seemed to immediately help.

I Wanted her to experience conviction about her doubt but not condemnation. I didn't want her to associate her doubt with unbelief. I wanted her to address her doubt from scripture and resolve her doubt but not be condemned because of her doubt not Question the genuineness of her faith because of this temptation to doubt.

Discerning the Nature and Sources of Doubt

Third. We have mercy on those who doubt by helping them discern the nature of their doubt. We have mercy on those who doubt by helping them to discern the nature of their doubt because doubt Assails us all in different forms.

And so it's very wise for us to discern the specific ways Someone is prone to or vulnerable to doubt. Here's what I've discovered. Most who are tempted to doubt haven't given any specific attention to their doubt.

And so we serve them by helping them to do so having mercy on those who doubt Involves helping them to discern the nature of their doubt the occasion of their doubt because the temptation can take many forms.

Actually in the letter of Jude it takes two distinct forms. Theological would be one form. Theological would be one form. The original recipients were quite obviously being influenced by false teachers and false teaching who they were.

Denying the truth of the gospel in verse 4. They were denying the uniqueness and supremacy of Christ in verse 4. So their temptation to doubt certainly had this Theological component to it, but it also had a moral component and Some doubts are moral at their root.

Actually, what what is most characteristic about the false teachers identified in Jude is is their appeal to the flesh? Study for yourself. It's their appeal to Sensuality. They're perverting the grace of God into sensuality.

Verse 4 or 7. Verse 8 verse 15. Listen our craving sinful hearts. Our tendency to crave sin can have a corrosive effect on our trust in God and his word. So doubt that isn't strictly or solely an intellectual issue because our hearts are Active with cravings that are influenced by remaining sin and those cravings can weaken one's faith and introduce doubt and draw us away from truth causing us to question God's Word in relation to a promise or a command somebody want to doubt the promises of God the wise command of God the blessings of Obedience.

Listen, here's another way. This book will serve you in the second section of this book by Oz Guinness. He has what he just calls part two seven families of doubt. He wants that wants to help us to diagnose the nature of our doubt the occasion of our doubts that we might Address our doubt might alert to it and address it since it comes to us in different forms and in different ways and we all Aren't prone or vulnerable in exactly the same way.

So chapter 3 doubt from ingratitude for doubt from a faulty view of God. 5 doubt from weak foundation. 6 doubt from lack of commitment. 7 doubt from lack of Growth. 8 doubt from unruly emotions. 9 doubt from hidden conflicts.

Help you to discern your doubt. So that you can address it and resolve it. Here's here's what I've discovered. And this this would just be from My experience as a Christian and the privilege I've had to serve this church the unspeakable privilege served this church and Sovereign grace.

For can it be. I guess it is 37 38 years. I think I am most vulnerable To doubt this would be my personal experience observation be my pastoral experience. I think we are most vulnerable to doubt when we encounter severe or prolonged trial and suffering.

I Think that's I think that's when we are. I think when this occurs severe suffering prolonged suffering severe and prolonged suffering. I Think we are tempted in those moments to ask to cry to groan to complain and to say why?