Wrestling With Nagging Doubts
Jesus teaches that enduring faith is necessary to sustain believers in times of trial and that God rewards those who purpose to stand strong for Him.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of enduring faith in the face of trials and doubts, using the parable of the persistent widow to illustrate the tenacity required to trust God amidst adversity. He warns that many believers falter when their prayers go unanswered, allowing doubts to creep in, which can diminish their passion for Christ. Wilkerson encourages Christians to endure hardships as soldiers of Christ, reminding them that God seeks those whose hearts are loyal to Him. He reassures that when believers stand firm in their faith, God will demonstrate His strength and power in their lives.
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Jesus asked, "When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" He had just told the story of a persistent woman who asked a judge to rule in her favor and bring justice to her cause (see the story in Luke 18:2-8.) Jesus uses this woman as an example of the kind of tenacious, enduring faith he is looking for -- the kind that calls upon God in times of trial and trusts him to fulfill his promises. Christ knew such enduring faith would be the only kind able to sustain his people in the times to come.
Jesus addresses this issue when he speaks of those whose faith will endure "but for a while." In other words, when their prayers are not answered -- when the deadlines for their requests are not met -- they will fall into unbelief. Their faith has no roots. "He has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles" (Matthew 13:21).
Too often, when afflictions begin showing up in the lives of such believers, they become offended. You may have heard such offense expressed by Christians who have faced dire afflictions. They have read God's Word, claimed certain promises, and prayed earnestly, but their trial continues and nagging doubts creep in.
Make no mistake, Satan feeds those growing doubts so that your passion for Christ is reduced to a flicker. The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy, "Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3). He was saying, "You are a soldier in the Lord's army and you have been trained to undergo hardship in spiritual battle."
"The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). Think of it! God looks down upon the whole earth, searching diligently for that man or woman of faith who is wholly given to him in trust.
When you purpose in your heart to stand strong for God, He will show himself strong to you and give you his power to "keep the faith."
Sermon Outline
- I. The Persistent Woman and Enduring Faith
- A. Jesus uses the story of the persistent woman to illustrate the kind of faith he is looking for
- B. Enduring faith calls upon God in times of trial and trusts him to fulfill his promises
- II. Shallow Faith
- A. Faith that endures only for a while has no roots
- B. When tribulation or persecution arises, it stumbles
- III. Satan Feeds Doubts
- A. Satan uses afflictions to reduce passion for Christ to a flicker
- B. The apostle Paul exhorts believers to endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ
- IV. God's Faithfulness
- A. God searches for those whose heart is loyal to Him
- B. When we purpose to stand strong for God, He will show Himself strong to us
Key Quotes
“Jesus asked, 'When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?'” — David Wilkerson
“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” — David Wilkerson
“When you purpose in your heart to stand strong for God, He will show himself strong to you and give you his power to 'keep the faith.'” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must purpose in our hearts to stand strong for God, even in the face of affliction.
- Enduring hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ is essential for spiritual battle.
- God rewards those who are loyal to Him and seek to stand strong in their faith.