dealing with doubt
section 1
All believers have doubts in faith; if it were not so we would be perfect already in faith i thessalonians 3:10 . There are various practical causes for doubt in our lives, but Biblically speaking our doubts are not about whether we have faith or not, but rather what we have faith in ii corinthians 5:7 . For we all have to live by faith and not merely by what we can sense. No one is complete in knowledge but God job 37:16 , and as such, we all are subject to faith because we cannot sense, experience or understand everything hebrews 11:1-3 .
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supporting scriptures
10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
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7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
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16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
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1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
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section 2
Everyone has some kind of faith by necessity of our nature, and everyone knows there is God romans 1:18-21 as God has made us to know there is the unsensed ecclesiastes 3:11 ; even demons know of God james 2:19 . Yet in our own thinking we limp between believing God or believing our own understanding jeremiah 23:26 proverbs 3:5-6 . It is this very doublemindedness james 1:6-8 , the indecision of what is true, that causes the handicap of doubt i kings 18:21 . Doubts are actually conflicting beliefs jeremiah 2:13 : whether actually or seemingly contradictory thoughts, expectations, assumptions, experiences, etc. Doubts are when we do not know how to reconcile our conflict or which belief to put away or which to embrace romans 12:2 jeremiah 17:5-9 .
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supporting scriptures
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
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11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
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19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
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26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,
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5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
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6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
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21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word.
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13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
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2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
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5 Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
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section 3
Peter faltered in his faith when he believed Jesus enough perhaps from some previous experience matthew 8:24-27 to get out of the boat, but because of his inexperience at having never walked on stormy waters and his expectations of what should normally be happening colossians 2:8 colossians 2:20 he had a dilemma {di-two, lemma premise} in the midst of experiencing a great miracle matthew 14:25-31 . He couldn’t comprehend i corinthians 2:9-10 ephesians 3:20 or reconcile his various experiences and began to wonder if this were possible luke 1:34 luke1:37 . Was his doubt fully resolved? No, for he had other dilemmas, but He was delivered by calling out to the Lord romans 10:13 ; and that desperate cry was a choice in beliefs to deliver him from the crisis of faith matthew 17:14-20 . Peter feared, but the fear of the stormy waves was not enough for him to despair psalm 42:5-6 , but it was sufficient for him to desperately seek deliverance from Jesus john 6:68 proverbs 1:7. 29 proverbs 9:10 .
my notes:
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supporting scriptures
25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
28 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
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9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
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20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
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34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
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37 For nothing will be impossible with God."
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For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
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14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." 17 And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."
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5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6 and my God...
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68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
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7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
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29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
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10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
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section 4
Doubts…dilemmas of faith…doublemindedness are a result of our instability of our slowly coming out of our corruption hebrews 5:11-12 and replacing our own notions with a whole new way of understanding what the Truth is ephesians 4:22-24 galatians 5:16-17 . The corruption we waffle in, lingers because of the ignorance that is in us due to our natural selves and the tempting familiarity to practice: cowardice, selfishness, indifference, and the hatred of all but our own selves ephesians 4:17-19 titus 3:3 ephesians 2:1-3 .
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supporting scriptures
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
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22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
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16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
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my notes:
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
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3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
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1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
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section 5
So, we doubt because we have experienced in ourselves titus 1:15 that no one is seemingly trustworthy ecclesiastes 7:20 romans 3:10 romans 3:12 . So, we have doubts/doublemindedness about God even to the extent of His existence because of our own darkness psalm 14:1-3 job 37:19 . Our own sorrows and bitterness incite us to seek for a understandable explanation other than our own sinfulness proverbs 16:2 proverbs 19:3 romans 3:4 i kings 8:39 , as we purposely ignore our own wickedness and doubt God’s goodness psalm 73:2-3 psalm 73:13-17 psalm 73:21-22 . We wonder if He cares mark 4:38 . We question His justice job 9:16-23 . We think Him to be a liar like us jeremiah 20:7-8 john 8:55 psalm 50:21 , while discarding our own need to repent, i.e. change our premise jeremiah 15:18-19 . We expect Him to act on our behalf as we want job 34:33 and then doubt Him when He does not do as we ignorantly expect judges 6:13 matthew 22:29 . So, we doubt Him because we desire something different than what He is or what He offers genesis 3:1-4 .
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supporting scriptures
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
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20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
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10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
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12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
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1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
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19 Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
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2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
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3 When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.
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4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
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39 then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),
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2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
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21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.
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38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"
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16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;
18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?
20 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent
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7 O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.
8 For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, "Violence and destruction!" For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.
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55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.
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21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.
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18 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?
19 Therefore thus says the Lord: "If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.
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33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.
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13 And Gideon said to him, "Please, my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian."
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29 But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
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1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’" 4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.
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section 6
We have doubts because we do not like His ways and thoughts as they are not ours isaiah 55:7-9 . So, we wonder if His Word could be true because of our own natural aversion to His will jeremiah 1:5-10 . Though as believers we often know just enough to feign self-doubt to mask our doublemindedness towards God exodus 4:1-13 , we are only deceiving ourselves.
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supporting scriptures
7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
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5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." 7 But the Lord said to me,
"Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord."
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
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my notes:
1 Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’" 2 The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff." 3 And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, "Put out your hand and catch it by the tail"—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 "that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." 6 Again, the Lord said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, "Put your hand back inside your cloak." So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 "If they will not believe you," God said, "or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground."
10 But Moses said to the Lord, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." 11 Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." 13 But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else."
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section 7
We are so ignorant of God’s abilities ephesians 3:20 ii kings 3:18 john 1:50 and character ephesians 3:18-19 psalm 18:35 that we often cannot comprehend what He does romans 11:33 and what He is deuteronomy 29:4-6 . So, we often search for an understandable reason and tangible means galatians 3:3 even for His wonderful gifts philippians 4:7 ii corinthians 9:15 i peter 1:8 ephesians 3:19 which can cause doubts {doublemindedness} in us when we face that which is beyond our ability to explain luke 24:36-45 or which is beyond our own reasonable expectation acts 12:6-16 .
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supporting scriptures
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
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18 This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand,
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50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these."
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18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.
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33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
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4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.
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3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
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7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
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8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
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19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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my notes:
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
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my notes:
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is his angel!" 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
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section 8
Abraham, our father in faith, did not comprehend the Lord’s power and goodness, though he believed God was fully capable of doing that which He promised but was seemingly impossible romans 4:17-21 . Abraham’s lack of knowledge caused him to act in doubtful ways as he did not understand God’s prescription for the promised son genesis 1:27-28 genesis 2:24 genesis 16:2 , but he did not doubt God description of the promise genesis 15:1-6 . Why then would you despair in your dilemmas of faith if God was so gracious to Abraham for believing if not fully understanding God’s promise?
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supporting scriptures
17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
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27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
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24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
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2 And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
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1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." 2 But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir." 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir." 5 And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
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section 9
It is helpful to understand that there is a difference in Scripture between doubts and disbelief. Though they these terms can be interchanged, for our purposes, we will distinguish between the quite different connotations. Both doubt and disbelief come from a wicked, unstable, ignorant heart, but God deals with doubt jude 22 differently than disbelief ii thessalonians 2:10-12 . A doubter He treats as one to be strengthened romans 15:1-3 , brought along romans 1:11-12 , to be patient with isaiah 42:3 and ministered to acts 20:35 i thessalonians 5:14 isaiah 40:11 . Just as we have already looked at, this is because doubters are spiritually handicapped between their lack of understanding, ignorant expectations, etc. They are uncommitted to rebellion but wavering through various weaknesses.
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supporting scriptures
10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
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1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
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11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
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3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.
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35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
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14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
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11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
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my notes:
section 10
While the unbeliever is not so. Biblically speaking, the unbeliever is not handicapped by ignorance, unsettled or weak, but determined, willful and rebellious hebrews 3:15-19 against the little knowledge that he has romans 1:18-21 2:12-16 . Though God still endeavors to turn people from their destructive choices leviticus 26:18-21 ; those who continue in their rebellion are in danger of being given over to their lust for destruction proverbs 29:1 romans 1:28 hebrews 10:26-27 . An unbeliever like this shuts himself off deliberately from God ii peter 3:5 psalm 53:1-5 ecclesiastes 7:29 . This is not a crisis of opposing thoughts, but a willful, disobedient disbelief romans 1:5 hebrews 3:18-19 . Atheists claim to not believe in God, but God has not made atheists romans 1:18-19 . An unbeliever is committed to his idolatrous selfishness and pride and in that state is not doubleminded but singerly determined to oppose God leviticus 26:23 whether through outright denial philippians 3:18-19 or hypocritical denial titus 1:16 luke 6:46 . That is why no matter the outward appearance, a true unbeliever is rejected by God because the unbeliever has first rejected Him, and truly wants nothing to do with God psalm 81:10-12 .
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supporting scriptures
15 As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
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18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
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12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
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18 And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins, 19 and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.
21 "Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins.
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1 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
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28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
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26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
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5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,
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1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
4 Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
5 There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
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29 See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
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through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
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18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
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18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
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23 "And if by this discipline you are not turned to me but walk contrary to me,
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18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
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16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
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46 "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
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10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
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section 11
So how do we deal with our doublemindedness, our doubts? To begin with, recognize that doubt is a natural reaction to a mind that has yet to fully understand deuteronomy 29:4 . Take heart; as you grow in faith your doubts diminish i corinthians 13:9-12 . Yes, you have doubts, unbelief, conflicting thoughts, purposes, desires, hopes, etc., but when in our miniscule, strife-ridden faith we ask for help mark 9:22-24 psalm 50:15 God delights to give more grace james 4:6-10 making our conflict come into unity with the Truth ephesians 2:14-15 as confusion ii corinthians 4:8 and uncertainty john 13:22 are slowly swallowed up by the further familiarity with God through the practice and fulfillment of God’s Word hebrews 5:13-14 .
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supporting scriptures
4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.
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9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
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22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23 And Jesus said to him, "‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
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15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."
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6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
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14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
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8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
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22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.
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13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
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section 12
As you see Christ lived out by others ii timothy 3:14 ii corinthians 3:2-4 hebrews 13:7 and you live it out yourself psalm 119:140 your confidence will grow and the conflict of mind will diminish ii peter 1:2 psalm 34:8 because you will know God more ephesians 1:17 and understand His promises better ii corinthians 1:20 . This is because your faith being acted upon galatians 5:6 results in a reality that cannot be reasonably understood any other way john 11:40 judges 7:2 malachi 3:10 . We are doubleminded because we do not know Him well enough yet, but as we walk in His way He Himself reveals Himself all the more through the living out of His commands so that we may truly know Him john 14:8-21 . It is for this very reason He gives us His commands and promises so that we can escape the corruption of our evil desires and take part in Who He is ii peter 1:3-4 . So, this is God’s way of making our faith in Him grow and our other conflicting beliefs {doubts} diminish i peter 1:21-22 .
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supporting scriptures
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
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2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
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7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
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140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
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2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
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8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
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17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
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20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
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6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
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40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"
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2 The Lord said to Gideon, "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
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10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
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8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
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3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
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21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
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section 13
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my notes:
section 14
Yes, we are weak in our natural selves romans 6:19 ; God knows how little strength we have in ourselves psalm 103:14 proverbs 24:10 . But this is exactly why He enCOURAGEs us to put our faith in Him john 14:1 and not look for solutions from other sources john 5:44 colossians 2:8 . This is why He makes us walk in uncommon, unworldly ways; so that we might finally understand Who He is ii kings 5:10-15 and not have a conflict of belief i corinthians 1:21-31 . This is why He makes life so desperate acts 14:22 job 36:15-16 , because without that desperation we would only have further doubts, doublemindedness, about Who or what to believe deuteronomy 32:36-39 .
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19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
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14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
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10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
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1 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
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44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
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8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
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10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?" 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant."
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my notes:
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
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22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
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15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping, and what was set on your table was full of fatness.
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my notes:
36 For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone and there is none remaining, bond or free.
37 Then he will say, Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,
38 who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you; let them be your protection!
39 "‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
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section 15
Do want to believe Him more? Stop doubting Him by thinking you are wiser than He proverbs 3:5-6 . Accept the Truth john 3:33 by at the least putting the Truth into action and seeing what it results in i corinthians 10:15 i thessalonians 5:21-22 romans 6:22 . You’ve probably already spent enough time practicing selfishness and pride to see what that results in i peter 4:1-3 and living by the basic principles of this world to know that final end romans 6:21 . Perhaps though you have not spent enough time in the futility of the world ephesians 4:17-20 , but in that there is much more pain, sorrow and danger acts 26:14 proverbs 3:34 ephesians 4:18-19 than humbly accepting the Truth planted in you james 1:21 . The one who accepts God’s Word at His Word is blessed to not have to discover the harsh reality for themselves john 20:24-29 psalm 32:8-9 or perhaps miss it all together ii timothy 3:8 .
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5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
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33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
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15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
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21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
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22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
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1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
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21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
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my notes:
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!
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14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
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34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
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18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
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21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
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my notes:
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
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8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
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8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
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my notes:
section 16
You will stray at times in your weakness, but God does not ignore our wanderings psalm 119:176 . If you do not stubbornly persist in your unbelief romans 11:23 , God will demonstrate the Truth of Who He is so that you may believe once again and all the more i john 5:10-13 i john 3:9 . If you are studying this today, take heart ecclesiastes 9:4 , your doubts are not too much for God to overcome jeremiah 32:17 ii samuel 14:14 and He will win your heart to Himself ezekiel 14:5 if only you do not stubbornly choose to reject Him psalm 36:1-4 psalm 75:4-5 isaiah 1:18-20 but rather keep reasoning out the Truth of the Scriptures ii timothy 2:7 . He has promised to never leave you, nor forsake you hebrews 13:5-6 and He Who has started His work in you will finish it philippians 1:6 . Be at peace…your faith will grow.
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176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
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23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.
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10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
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No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
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4 But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
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17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
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14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.
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5 that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.
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1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.
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4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, Do not lift up your horn;
5 do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’"
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18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
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7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
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5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we can confidently say,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
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6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016