Thomas – Going from Doubter to Martyr

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel… 2 Timothy 2:8 (NIV)

Resurrection speaks to my POTENTIAL.

Labels speak to my PLIGHT.

“Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do!” 40As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41Still they stood there doubting, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” Luke 24:39-41 (NLT)

• HOW DO GO FROM DOUBTER TO DARING? 

1. BY EXPRESSING MY DOUBTS OPENLY.

Now Thomas… one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  John 20:24-25 (NIV)

Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:22b-24 (NLT)

2. BY INVESTIGATING MY DOUBTS HONESTLY.

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:26-27 (NIV)

• Are you looking for an EXCUSE to doubt?

• Are you looking for a REASON to believe?

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it… 2 Peter 1:19a (NIV1984)

For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. Romans 1:20 (AMP)

• WE CAN BE “MORE CERTAIN” BECAUSE YOU AND I HAVE …
• The words of the PROPHETS.
• The evidence of the RESURRECTION.
• The testimony of reliable WITNESSES.
• The testimony of CHANGED LIVES.

3. BY RESPONDING TO EVIDENCE ACCORDINGLY.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27-28 (NIV)

My deepest doubts can be transformed into life changing FAITH.

4. BY OBEYING GOD CONSISTENTLY.

Simon Peter and Thomas, who was also called Didymus, were there together. Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee were with them. So were two other disciples. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them. They said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat. That night they didn’t catch anything. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, don’t you have any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat. There you will find some fish.” When they did, they could not pull the net into the boat. There were too many fish in it. John 21:2-6 (NIRV)

If you want to test my teachings and discover where I received them, first be passionate to do God’s will, and then you will be able to discern if my teachings are from the heart of God or from my own opinions. John 7:17 (TPT)

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5 (NIV)

Take a close look at everything, test it, then cling to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (VOICE)

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the person who goes to him for safety. Psalm 34:8 (NIRV)

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 (NIV)

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31 (NIV)