The Line Between Faith And Doubt

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2014
Today's Chapters: Jeremiah 40-42
Message Title: The Line Between Faith And Doubt

Hello My Friend,

Just this morning I was praising God for the client that was coming, but when she did not arrive on time I began fussing at Him about getting me excited for nothing. Five minutes later she arrived, and let me tell you, I felt horrible for the way I spoke to Him. There is a fine line between faith and doubt, while we truly have faith that, with God all things are possible, quite often we doubt that they are possible for us. I imagine it's really not that we doubt God, it's that any faithful Christian will find it unbelievable that God would really do anything that amazing for them. The truth is, faith is what excites God to do the impossible in us, doubt may not stop Him, but it does slow Him down. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6.

While Jeremiah did have his fair share of questions for God, we never really hear of him doing anything without seeking counsel from Him, but that seems to be what happened when he made the decision to return to Judah. After things quieted down in Jerusalem, Jeremiah, along with several other Jews were on their way to Babylon. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, sets him free, and advises him to return to Judah. “And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.” - Jeremiah 40:3-6.

Having faith in God means that you have faith in all of His Word, we cannot pick and choose what to believe, we must believe all of it in order to see Him do amazing things in our lives. The captain was well aware of the prophecies told by Jeremiah, and that God used them to place judgment upon the people for their sins. Knowing this, it is probable that he also knew of the coming fall of Babylon, but there was no indication that he would repent. Many people know of God and even read His Word, but are content to live the sinful lives they live. Sooner or later, they too will face God, even the devil himself will have to face Him for him own judgment. It does not matter who we are, we are all sinners, the same judgment is placed upon all mankind no matter what their sin. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

No sooner than Jeremiah got back to Judah, Ishmael, who thought he was next in line for the throne took charge, and conspired to kill Gedaliah. A man named Johanan tried to warn Gedaliah, but he would not listen, and he and most of the men with him were killed, except for a small remnant that Johanan rescued. “Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war. And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it, But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon. Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad. So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.” - Jeremiah 41:2-4,11-14.

We do not know where Jeremiah was during all this, but he obviously avoided it because Johanan and the remnant sought him out to seek counsel from God. “Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.” - Jeremiah 42:1-4.

The people are telling Jeremiah that they want God to give them direction for their lives and their families, but these are the same people who did not listen to him when he warned them before the fall of Jerusalem. God is always willing to accept and forgive any person who comes to Him with a sincere heart, no matter what wrong they have done in the past. However, God calls them out, fully aware of their intension to go to Egypt. “And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there; Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die. So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.” - Jeremiah 42:15-17.

God has mercy, grace, and patience on all who seek Him, but He knows whether or not we are sincere in what we are asking of Him. Any doubt in our mind will cause God to wait until we increase our faith. Imagine the power that God has, but we limit Him because of our doubt. Imagine the miracles He has to show us, but we limit Him because we pick and choose what we obey from His Word. We cannot expect to see God do the impossible if we are not willing to do the possible. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:2-4,8-10.
Today's Prayer: God, There are many things that You want to show us, many miraculous things, but we often hinder You with our doubts. Lord, increase our faith, help us to live by faith and not by sight, help us to seek Your counsel in all things, no matter how small they may seem, and help us to look to You and not our circumstances. Give us Your power to learn, trust, and seek Your will for our lives, and open our hearts to accepting all of Your Word as it is. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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