4.15.10_When in doubt

 Praise the LORD!!!

     I'm sitting here at the computer this morning. It's raining outside and in general I'm feeling a bit down. Not a deep depression but a weight of not being of much worth to the LORD. This is something that happens every once in awhile to me, especially when I'm not seeing any movement in the ministry physically or in myself spiritually. I've been over all the verses and studied them well. Yet these periods still seem to befall me and drain me when they do. From experience I gather they're part of my growing in the LORD. A time of plateau or valley within my life to bring about a realization that there are times in every Christian's life that they feel this way. I've read numerous testimonies of others, that though they've large ministries or churches, they too admit that they have had these times also. So it is basically, something every Christian needs to be ready for.

    How can you be ready for something like this? One moment you're feeling on top of the world and the next you're feeling as if the world is on top of you! Since I'm in front of my computer and I've my free online Bible study(http://bible.logos.com) open(since I can't run Logos and be online), I typed in "when in doubt." Within seconds, I've the first list up and ready to read through. The first reading listed is Matt.14:22-33, one I should be familiar with. Especially considering that it is where Peter "stepped out of the boat."  If you read this whole section, you realize that JESUS knew all these events were going to take place, right from the start. HE told the disciples to leave and go to the other side of the lake. HE then dismissed the people and went up on the mountainside to pray and then HE just took a leisurely stroll out to the boat where HIS teaching on faith was to take place(LORD, to have that kind of faith!!!).

   The next section of verses is, Mark 11:20-24, another well read and known faith teaching. The parable of the fig tree, where CHRIST cursed the fig tree one day and the next it was dried up and dead and HE went into the discourse on our faith and prayers united in strength together. Where as, through our unwavering faith, if we pray for the impossible, by man's standards, to be done and we doubt not in the least, they will be done for us in the name of JESUS. You can count on the fact that I prayed after reading this!!!

    Next, I'm led to James 1:2-8, where we're told about our sufferings are a means of growth. For through them we gain perseverance and it is not a finished work, but an ongoing operation within us. Something that develops over time and through the testing of our faith to make us into a faithful warrior who does not waver with every change within our life. For one that is without perseverance, is like one tossed about like a wave of the ocean, ever changing, with every change of teaching or tribulation that comes their way. Not a very good attitude to have and one where a great need for wisdom is needed. So we can tell the difference between that which is of GOD and that which is not.

   Now the list on the study goes on for quite a bit, and I'm not going to give you all the verses, this would be more of a book then a devotional if I did that. But I will go with one more, for in a way it is where the LORD  left the disciples just before HIS ascension. Matt. 28:16-17(18-20) are these verses, because they speak of our doubting, our lack of faith. Yet this is also where the LORD graces us with our calling, assigning us the "Great Commission." For a second my mind came to rest on the fact that, for one moment some of the disciples were doubting, what they're doubting, we've no idea. But they are and the next thing we know, JESUS tells them how all power in heaven and earth has been given to HIM and they then receive the Great Commission and then HE's taken up right before their eyes. Want to talk about one powerful way to get a point across to those that are doubting. The point, that no matter what it is, how much you have to suffer through, or for how long, the LORD says, "My grace is sufficient for you(2 Cor. 12:9)." That is all that needs to be remembered!!!

    So the next time trials and tribulations, or extended sufferings, or even just plain old everyday pressures of the world get me down, I'm going to relate to these verses. Now with a memory like 'Swiss cheese,' I may just have to type in the same search words or have to look up this devotional, but I'll find some way to jog my memory of these, LORD willing. Now I don't know about you, or your walk with the LORD. Or how often you also go through this type of "valley" within your life. But since I 'stepped out of the boat' last year and laid my life totally in the hands of the LORD, they've been more often and more intense. I know the reason for this oh so well though. For as we grow in faith and maturity in our walks, the adversary is going to be upon us even more so, and this is the way that the LORD prepares us to stand strong while under these attacks. The LORD knows more about us and our weaknesses and strengthens, then you can imagine. HE knows our past failures and our future triumphs and everything that it is going to take to bring us through to the day of victory. The fact is, that we are the ones that need to have the faith to realize this, and to stand strong upon the ROCK of our SALVATION, and know that the victory is ours through the power of JESUS CHRIST our LORD and SAVIOR!!!  
   

    Some other verses from this search on faith and doubting: Matt. 21:18-22; Luke 24:33-43; Acts 28:1-10; Rom. 14:14-23; Jude 20-23
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!

*** A note here- the Bible study site mentioned, can be signed up on freely and is still in development, so will be improving with time. It is also connected with what I think to be the premier Bible study program going, though a bit expensive. Check it out, you might just enjoy it. They're also the source of the programing where you roll the cursor over one of the references here and it brings up the verse in whatever Bible version you have it set to, in both my blogs! So try them out, its free and only takes a couple of minutes.***

Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org


GOD bless and good day,

Rev. Marshall Barth

Vine of CHRIST Ministries

Vine Ministerial Network International