065: Shane Smith - Tackling Doubt

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

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   Welcome to the good Christian talks podcast. I’m Levi and I’m Chris. Thank you so much for joining us this week on this podcast. We select one taco week to help each one of us get the Bible in our daily news feed. We post at the start of each week for you to listen.

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   With a short intro before hand to kind of set the stage for the talk. You’re about to hear and now let’s hear more about this week’s talk.

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   For this week. We’re listening to an extrication. That was another recommendation given to us an excitation. That was given by Shane Smith at the Mount Waverley occlusion, Melbourne, Australia. I’m not sure exactly what year this excitation was given but it was a recommendation. We got a few months back and finally was able to listen to it and really enjoyed it.

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   The topic of this excitation is tackling doubt brother Shane does a really good job of breaking down what doubt can do to us taking a look at that, you know once doubt is allowed to enter into your mind you Or to feel doubt doubt is seated in a fear fear of not knowing or not doing the right thing or not knowing what you’re supposed to do.

5. 1:31

   And once you have that fear, our own human instinct is in to take steps to preserve ourselves kind of self-preservation kicks in and once that kicks in then you start looking for ways to kind of prevent or solve your doubt yourself and he looks at several biblical examples starting right from the in the garden talking about how that you know, the serpent introduced doubt into Eve’s mind about whether whether or not what God had told Adam and Eve was true. And once she saw that doubt then she started to act on it and it caused the the downfall and then looks at multiple other Biblical characters how that just a little entering of Doubt has significant impact on them and kind of steers the course of their life brother Shan with his with his exhortation is focusing on What that doubt can do to us, you know, whether it’s being uncertain about where you stand with with friends or in a Social Circle or being uncertain about work or doubting whether or not you’re able to do what you need to do. It’s something that we all struggle with at various points. Sometimes it’s that little nagging feeling in the back of your mind that you can’t quite put your finger on why you feel uncertain but it’s there and it’s a it’s a human failing we all suffer with it and Shane.

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   Other chains excitation when he’s going through this points out that rather than letting that doubt control us and steer us that instead when we feeling that doubt and then you feel that fear of not knowing how you’re going to deal with the doubt. It’s that you’re feeling is instead to kind of take a lesson from Paul and instead throw our doubts before God and feel the confidence that we know that God is working in our lives that he has a larger plan going.

7. 3:22

   On for us for each of us individually and for the world as a whole and that if we can trust in God even when something seems uncertain but knowing that it’s going to work out in a way that makes sense in a way that works for his good and will as long as we’re striving to follow after him will lead to us being in the Kingdom. Then it allows us to banish those doubts and as Paul was doing to be able to speak boldly and clearly and confidently. God and trusting in Him beyond what any human person would say has we have any right to do so, this was a really awesome excitation.

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   Like I said, when I it was recommended a few months back and we got around to listening to it. It was a really good one. So I’m excited to share this one with you. And as this one should be getting published a little bit after the first of the year. So we wanted to have this one is something especially with kind of the popular thing with It’s the start of a new year is to do New Year’s resolutions to try to refocus yourself for the coming years. And I know sometimes when I’ve looked back at the years passed it kind of can lead to doubt and questioning where you were coming from and where you’re going and so I this was I thought was a really good one to sort of focus on in the coming year driving and focusing that the hope and the faith that we have in God will overpower any fear doubt that we might have so with that.

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   We’ll turn it over to brother Shane Smith for his exhortation. in tackling doubt Well, it was there in the beginning. But it was lightened. And it was there nevertheless.

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    And it only took one question to bring it to the surface in Eve’s mind. If you cast your mind back to the serpent in in back in Eden, the serpent had asked Eve hath. God said ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden to achieve had responded. We may eat of the Trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree, which is in the midst of the garden God has said You shall not eat of it.

11. 5:35

    Neither. Shall ye? Touch it lest you die. And then the serpent made a statement to challenged. He’s thinking he said you will not surely die. And he introduced the line of reasoning that had two things it appealed to her senses to be gratified. And created doubt about what God had said. And the more she gave her mind to the erroneous thinking of the serpent the less the truth of what God Said had any impact. And doubt became disbelief.

12. 6:18

    And disbelief became rejection. And she reached out and she took of that fruit. But for Adam there was no doubt. He simply hearken unto the voice of his wife and rejected the command of his God. And since creation nearly every human identity will wrestle with doubt of one form of an era or another insecurity about one thing and grasping of another thing. They D more credible.

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    Primarily because we allow the seed of a diverse form of thinking to be planted in our mind. and The Offspring of doubt is fear and When We Fear the next step is self-preservation. And suddenly we found ourselves making immediate decisions to remedy the problem to allay our fear. And Adam said I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself you see his fear led to self-preservation. The problem is in most cases those immediate decisions lack wisdom. that truth and then that God Like Us. Let me come to the meaning of the word Doubtfire expresses the meaning of the word doubt this way to be at variance with oneself to hesitate.

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    Strong’s puts it this way to separate thoroughly to withdraw from or by implication to oppose. And he adds to be partial to stagger or to waiver.

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    So then come over to Genesis chapter 15 and let’s see how the meanings of these takes us effect in the life of Abraham and Sarah. In Genesis chapter 15 and verse 4 Abraham is in discussion with God about the seed. He promised and God stated in verse 4 that Eliezer shall not be thine Heir but the seed would come of his own bowels and we read in verse 6 and Abraham believed in Yahweh and he counted it to him for righteousness.

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    In other words. There was no doubt in Abraham’s mind. But God will give him a seed. But when Ibraham in part of this information to Sarah when no seed came she doubted. And more than that she disbelieved. And finally, she blamed God for her plight. If you have a look at chapter 16 verse 1 and 2. Necessary.

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    I Abraham’s wife bear him. No children, and she didn’t hand maid an Egyptian whose name was Hagar and Sarah. I said unto Abraham behold. Yahweh hath restrained me from bearing. I pray thee go in unto my made. It may be that I may obtain children by her. and so we find self-preservation led to the solving of a problem her way going on to Hagar my maid you see the problem was when it came to Sir II it was all about her. She said go in and says that I may be builded. by her the problem lies with the self and when you come chapter 18 and verse 9 when Sarah was no longer able to conceive then the angel came confirming the promise.

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    chapter 18 and verse 9 and they said unto him. Where is Sarah? Thy wife cheese in the in the tent and he said I will turn unto thee the time of life and Sarah. Thy wife shall have a son. And she heard in the tent door and verse 12. She laughed. She laughed with herself saying after I am waxed old shall I have pleasure my Lord being old also. She doubted she disbelieved.

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    She feared. And she said I laugh not she preserved herself. But in essence the angel came along to Sarah and held a mirror up to her face that impelled her to take a reflective. Look at her character and her prevailing attitude for the past 20 years. It’s when you come over chapter 21.

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    We read from verse 1 and 2. And Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said and the Lord said unto Sarah will did under Siri as he had spoken for Sarah conceived and bare Abram son in his old age at the set time which God had spoken unto him. So what was the inhibition could not God have given her conception 20 years earlier. But of course he could but Sarah’s doubt and disbelief was her own problem.

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    And for all those years she thought it was too hard for God to do the impossible. It was just too hard for him. But God will not interfere with human will. to accomplish his purpose What brought about the Mind change?

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    Then finally remove all down. Well Hebrews tells us that was all about faith. Faith in the promised seed but you can see a distinct mindset change when you come and see in verse 2 for Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son. Do you remember the other verses we looked at you says that I might be builded by my servant now she says in verse 2.

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    I am she says she’s born that the child unto Abraham and we read verse for Abraham circumcised. His son Isaac being eight days old as God had commanded him. And Abraham was 100 years old. When his son Isaac was born unto him. You see him mindsets now changed the promise was to Abraham. She thought that she could be building which is I understand that this was the child of promise. It was promised to Abraham when she finally stopped trying to wrestle with God.

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    She eliminated all doubt. She said I knew all I had to do was just trust in God. It was all about faith. Faith in the fact that nothing was too hard for the Lord. She had to test him. And it took 20 years brothers and sisters for her to overcome that doubt and disbelief before she finally reached exactly the same position as her husband when right in the beginning Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

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    Now doesn’t that say an awful lot about their relationship? Did it the beginning when Ibraham believed? and his wife didn’t Abraham didn’t take the heavy-handed dominant role. Look Sarah. You just going to have to get this sorted out in your mind. I don’t know why you don’t we doubt God. You’re going to have to learn to trust him.

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    You can’t resolve this your own way. You simply don’t have enough faith. Is that leadership in a relationship? Is it understanding of his wife? Hello Abraham spoken to Sarah like that would have helped her in her course.

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    You know the father operated like this like so with us he would lose in an instant the very thing he desires of us. our willing submission and for 20 years or thereabouts Abraham patiently demonstrated the example of faith. of trust until his wife finally understood and she conceived in faith.

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    Imagine what it was like when Sarah ultimately recognized her failing. When she finally went to Abraham. And she said, you know Abraham. You were right. For all these years. I’ve been trying to solve this problem wide away. I think dancing called all my time all this time.

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    I’ve only made matters worse. And during all that time you were patient with me. And you just demonstrated to me the trust that I should head also.

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    Never was there a stronger Bond made that when husband and wife have Unity on Divine principles. But isn’t that true, sometimes that there are some spiritual principles that are distinctly clear to us. That others might doubt or they reject it, or they just can’t see it. and it’s so easy to for us to become impatient with our brothers and sisters and think how look they just so hopeless they’re a lost cause but that’s not the way that God deals with us and it’s not the way that Abraham dealt with his wife. That’s the long-suffering character of God whom we worship.

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    And he’s a father who pities his children that don’t understand who love him. But I blinded by their own Folly and God will work with each of us to reduce a character like under his own if we only let go our doubt. And Trust in our father. Well, there’s God’s observed Sierras change of heart. Let’s see the way that he dealt with Gideon over in gems in Judges chapter 7.

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    Jin Judges chapter 7 The eyedropper claims to Gideon that he’s a mighty man of Valor. And you wouldn’t think so if you ask Gideon. And we’re told in Genesis. So Judges chapter 7. And verse 7 that God says to Gideon and Yahweh said to get him by the 300 men that lap while I save you and deliver you deliver the midianites into thine hand. You come over to chapter 3 verse 8. So the people took the rituals in the hand and their trumpets and he said the rest of Israel every man to his tent and retain the 300 men.

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    I’m the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. And it came to pass the same night that the Yahweh said unto him arise get thee down to the hose for I’ve delivered into thine hand. but if thou fear Go down with fuhrer. Thy servant to The Host. So on one hand, we have Gideon whose neck hold a mighty man of Valor.

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    He sees himself small in his own site. His number of men who wish to go to war with the midianites is reduced to 300 and he’s going to go against a mighty host that has the sand of the sea for multitude and I think my memory serves me correct was about a hundred and thirty-five thousand about twice the population of ancestor.

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    And he stands on a hillside. He looks at $135,000 looks and he’s only he’s just 300. And God raised him like a book. and he said if you fear surely we can appreciate Gideon’s angst in the such the face of such odds.

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    But how does God deal with Gideon’s doubt? The first of all there is no reprimand for his angst. Offer for the circumstances prevailing upon him. So there’s no reprimand. Secondly, God doesn’t take away Gideon’s fear and replace it with lye and courage.

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    And thirdly God doesn’t even change the circumstances with the incredible odds. But rather God encourages Gideon to action. To demonstrate his faith in the face of doubt. So in verse 13 and verse 14 Gideon goes down to the host. Two men go right up to the brink of a hundred and thirty-five thousand men.

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    And here’s the conversation about a prophecy about Gideon Supremacy in battle. And it was so verse 15 when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and the interpretation are off that he worshipped and returned to the host of Israel and said arise for Yahweh hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. There we just did an overall summary of Gideon in the story of Gideon which we’ve known from Sunday school for years. But if we were to put that collectively all together. There are six simple steps for us over coming down. Point number one Trust in what God has promised in verse 9 Gideon was told that God would deliver it into his hand fundamental Vital Information.

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    God said, I will do it. So Point number one in trust what God has promised. Point number two, where in doubt seek support God said to Gideon go with fuhrer thy servant hearts and now there’s two of them on this agenda.

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    Find someone in Europe lesion with whom you can relate. Look I’m really struggling with this. What are you struggling with? Well, I find this this this and this get-together of someone with like-minded faith. And share your birds. Point number three apply ourself in faith He’s got to go with fuhrer and he’s going right up to the brink of a hundred and thirty-five thousand men is got to demonstrate his faith. Make prayer fundamental in our life. Number four except what God reveals getting old do it? This folding we’ve got this is none other than the sword of Gideon except don’t keep fighting like Sarah accept what God has said. number 5 understand it is God’s battle, which he is asked for your input. In chapter 6 and verse 14 God had gone to Gideon said this is the battle to take place.

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    It’s my battle. I’m appointing you to lead them. It was God’s battle if we can only stop taking all the attention off ourselves and put the matter in God’s hands then God’s going to head as the leader of the battle were following in his footsteps. and finally when Gideon heard the prophecy and what the outcome would be he worshipped.

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    Remember to praise God for his victory in battle. You see brothers and sisters. It’s a natural characteristic of humanity experience doubt. and fear when faced by trauma of overwhelming circumstances what it God is most interested in is what we do. When the fee hits us. Look at that reading the we had meditation this morning in Psalm 56. So I’m 56 and those two verses we read. What time I’m afraid.

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    I will trust in thee. In God, I will praise His word. In God have I put my trust. I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. in verse 10 in God will I praise His word? Enjoy will I praise His word in God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

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    Or from Psalm 119 verse five and six. I called upon the Lord in distress. He answered me and he made me free. I’m going around the room with doubt and distressed and anxiety. When it’s all done and it dealt with everything, which is free, it’s gone. And gods are just put your trust in me.

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    And you can be free of The Angst and the depth. Trust me. Go back over to Matthew chapter 14. That’s the very thing that Peter had to learn. So we come to the events after the feeding of the 5000 Matthew chapter 14.

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    And after feeding of the 5000 Jesus ascends a mountain and you can Strays his disciples to go into the boat to go before him to the other side while he sent the multitude away.

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    And we read in verse 24. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea. Tossed with the waves for the wind was contrary. I’m in the 4th Night Watch of the night. Jesus went unto them walking upon the sea. And when disciples saw him walking upon the sea they were troubled saying is it as it is a spirit and they cried out for fear that when I grow up through Sunday school, I sort of had this thought of a boat on the sea and you sort of sea of glass.

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    But it says in here the ship was now in the midst of the sea tossed with the ways he sent them out at night.

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    The ages are not these disciples. These are professional fisherman. And this boat is getting checked around left, right and center. The wind is howling through the rigging goodness knows what happened to the sale. They’re trying to keep the vote and you must win the midst of a storm keep the boat into the waves into the wind. And here they all the focus trying to keep this boat afloat. And they suddenly see Jesus walking upon the sea. Am I cried out for fear?

50. 27:12

    And verse 27 Jesus said spake unto them saying be of good cheer. It is I and Be not Afraid now, the wind is howling through this situation. We tend to look at it. We sit in our chairs in a hall and we said look at the situation what’s happening in in a ship out in the ocean and I suppose because ago tuna fishing. You know what it’s like out in the rough sea, sometimes the wind is howling through this situation and they see this figure of someone standing upon the waves and then Peter turns around.

51. 27:43

    He says in verse 28 Lord if it be thou bid me to come onto the on the water, Look, it’s a staggering request. Absolutely staggering for you. Go to you see the waves and the move the water moving. Never in the scripture to hear of anyone walking on the water or sense. But Peter has asked his Lord bird me to walk on the water to come to you. It’s just an instinctive response his main focus. There’s his Lord.

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    He wants to be with him is not concerned about the odds. And Jesus said unto me come. Henry’s not just anything off of platform onto a flat surface. The boat is rising up and down and Peter’s going to try put his foot out there and he’s going to put his foot on the moving water.

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    And he finally is able to do this and it says we find that they walked on the water to go to Jesus. And the waves are moving up and down that Peters on the water everything’s moving up and down and he’s walking on the water and he is going to Jesus and he’s walking straight to him.

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    And Jesus said unto them. verse 27 be of good cheer it is I be not afraid. So when Peter stepped out of that boat onto those turbulent Waters Peter was not afraid.

55. 29:20

    When you got out of that ship he was not afraid he was not afraid of defying nature to walk on the water. We tossed around with the waves. And as long as he had Jesus as his primary focus Peter was not afraid.

56. 29:38

    So what caused into sync? But when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid. And beginning to sink. He cried out Lord save me so now he has lost his focus of attention Upon Jesus and his let the wind become his primary focus. He’s taking his eyes off Jesus.

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    And he said he says there and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand. And called him that what does it tell you about Jesus? The Jesus was still on the water. Yes, cause Jesus was still on the water that Jesus had quick reflexes. Yes that he was a strong man to hold Peter at the water.

58. 30:27

    Yes. But when did Jesus respond? when Peter asked him if you ever thought about that. when become doubtful No, we had to go was to go to Christ. and ask you and you know brothers and sisters Peter was almost at Christ’s feet if Jesus could reach out and grab him by the hand.

59. 31:06

    He was almost there. So how close are we to the kingdom of God? Well almost are brothers and sisters so important that we don’t let seeds of Doubt get into our mind. Can I pay them might have been afraid of the forcible wind brothers and sisters but to his credit when he down to the circumstances and feared he knew where his greatest consolation lie.

60. 31:34

    It was in his Lord. An addition to that there’s another important fact here that why Peter took his eyes off Jesus. Jesus never took his eyes off Peter. ever wonder about that in life when you going through and you can’t see the things that distract us on the way to the kingdom of God. We find R over here over there.

61. 32:09

    Jesus never took his eyes off Peter for a moment. Matt just second chronicles the one I quote so really like second Chronicles chapter 16. In verse 9 just so fitting for this. This little section II chronicles 16 verse 9 for the eyes of Yahweh run to and fro throughout the whole Earth. To show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

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    Revel which reversed upon the face of the Earth brothers and sisters God’s eyes are with Whether on a ship when replying with the traipsing through the middle of a desert God’s eyes on the I beholding his service some 33 Verse 18 the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him. But back in chapter 31, it’s back in chapter Matthew chapter 14, you’ll notice how tender Jesus speaks. Come averse and diverse 30 also verse 31 and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him. O thou of little faith.

63. 33:42

    wherefore did staredown There’s No harsh condemnation. There’s no pity. You’re so impulsive. You say one thing but you’ve barely pull it through. Where Ford it’s their down. And Jesus identifies precisely what Peter’s problem was. Oh ye of little faith. You trusted me to digital. Why did you doubt? So again debt was the primary issue which was brought about by the force of wind. Now, we know when you come to Ephesians that the Winds of Doctrine blow left and right every form of thinking which is contrary to the truth as it is in Christ. And we go through life and there are questions that plant seeds of doubt.

64. 34:29

    People come along and they ask you questions. How do you know God exists? It’s a questionnaire granddaughter come to us recently and asked how do we know God is there? People who have left the Christian Community. How do you know the Bible is true? Just think for a moment. What else would you do with your life?

65. 34:55

    If God was real. self-preservation you see What could I do with my life if this wasn’t real? That’s what Peter said to Jesus Lord. Don’t get a Jerusalem picking yourself get behind me Satan. He said The brothers and sisters. We not why not be called upon to lead 300 soldiers against a hundred thirty-five thousand. What’s a walk on the rough Seas?

66. 35:28

    But God desires our absolute trust in what he asks of us. You know, I believe that the circumstance of Matthew chapter 14 would Peter on the water. I ask myself the question. So why did that take place? What are we being told here in this gospel record? In fact is a little lighter in in Peters life. The seeds of Doubt expressed you Matthew chapter 14 come up again.

67. 35:59

    You’re one of them. No, I’m not. I’m not one of them. your Jesus is I’m not it’s not me and he begins to occur since we see the seeds of Doubt come back into his mind, and he suddenly dis Ting himself from Christ.

68. 36:22

    So it’s prophetically what was yet to come? But you know after Jesus resurrection. Jesus met Peter Again by another pile of coals and Jesus comes in and he and he finds the key issue in overcoming doubt.

69. 36:48

    And Peter standing there by the pile of coals, and he suddenly goes I’ve been here before. And Jesus comes to Peyton see Peter. Do you love me?

70. 37:01

    And you can just about guarantee that people his head looking down at Kohl’s he would look at his face Jesus face. Peter do you love me and Peter’s uncomfortable? And finally by the third time Peter do you love me? He shifted his eyes from down that find it looks at P. Jesus face. And you can finally acknowledge and there’s communication back with Christ and Peter.

71. 37:32

    And he looked unto Jesus and he knew that there was no hiding of his emotions with Jesus. Let It Go Peter Do you love me?

72. 37:45

    And the beautiful thing about those circumstances brothers and sisters that even though Peter doubted Christ. Even though he denied Christ. Peter found forgiveness with Christ We come around this Memorial type of we can take heart that in all the things that face Us in life. That upset US Financial issues job loss tragedy suddenly ill health and we become tossed around like a boat upon the Water. The god understands the bamboo occations what we go through. This is just trust me. and with the times we haven’t trust him God says Just come to me and demonstrate your love and I’ll forgive you for that.

73. 38:35

    If we can only look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith to come to stand more about his character. And respond to things the way that he did. Because when we come to remember the man upon the table this morning our Lord Jesus Christ. He never took his eyes of his God. He said my heart is fixed.

74. 38:58

    That is the word fixed means to stand or upright or be erect like a lighthouse on a solid foundation. It was always pointed in the correct of the true Direction. So as you go into a new week brothers and sisters. With that we are trying to carry your burden facing you circumstances or doubt. Let’s just remember to trust God to seek support to apply ourselves in faith. to understand what God reveals Let’s go forth in battle in faith. And the praise God for the victory has in us because we need to remember.

75. 39:35

    The God will never forsake us. Because he is faithful that promised. Thank you for listening to the good Kristoff intox podcast Please Subscribe for new episodes and leave a review and apple podcast or whatever service you are listening from to help people find the show when they search for it. If you enjoyed this talk share it on social media. So other people can find it to for show notes and links to the talk that you just listen to visit our show page at anchor dot f m / G CT We want to encourage everyone to share their thoughts from the talk this week on Facebook or Instagram where we are at Food christadelphians talks or on Twitter where we are at GCT underscore podcast. If you know of a great talk, we want to know about it to send a suggestion to good christadelphians talks at gmail.com or message us on any of our social media platforms. Thank you for listening.

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    God bless and talk to you next week.