INTRODUCTION:

The Apostle Thomas could have been related to Eliza Doolittle from the musical My Fair Lady. She expresses the same idea as Thomas when she cries out, "Don't tell me you love me, show me! Show me!"

Thomas could have been related to Saint Francis of Assisi, as well. Because St. Francis said something very similar when he said, "Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words."

Thomas had to be from Missouri. He had to be from the "Show Me" state. He was a visual and kinetic learner. He had to see it and actually touch it for something to be real. For him, "Seeing WAS believing." No wonder he had his doubts when the disciples told him what had happened.

Thomas was a lot like the bird in Pixar's cartoon titled: "For the Birds." (SHOW CARTOON)

Thomas has been misunderstood. And he probably felt just like that big goofy bird. He felt like an outcast who just wanted to belong. But his doubt caused a gulf between himself and the rest of the disciples. Let's look at the passage that describes this episode of doubt in Thomas' life. Let's look at John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

[19] When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

[20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

[21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

[22] When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

[23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

[24] But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

[26] A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, 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. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt 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 come to believe."

[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

[31] But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

For whatever reason, whether it was because of his learning style or what not. Thomas had a moment of doubt. But if you stop and think about it, it's not surprising because every one of the disciples reacted differently. When the women got there, they were afraid.

When Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw it was empty, they were astounded. They didn't know what to think. They were in shock, so much so that John wouldn't even go in at first. Yet, scripture says that John was the first one to believe. And that Peter was basically confused. And these two SAW the empty tomb.

But, you know, there are a lot of reactions to the Cross and the Good News of the Resurrection.

One little boy grew up in a military family. His father used to tell long stories of military triumphs. One day in Sunday School, the boy's teacher gave a graphic account of Jesus' death on the cross. The little boy was flabbergasted and shouted, "Well, what I want to know is, where were the Marines?"

How about the guards, how did they react? Maybe this cartoon will tell you.

And what about the Angel at the tomb. How do you think that Angel might have reacted on that first Joyous Easter. Like this cartoon?

We know that Thomas' reaction was one of doubt. We know how he handled that doubt, but how do we handle our doubts.

Today I want us to look at LIFE WITHOUT A DOUBT, LIFE WITHIN A DOUBT AND LIFE BEYOND A DOUBT.

I. WITHOUT A DOUBT:

I think I can say unequivocally that "Without a doubt, life without a doubt is impossible."

We all have doubts. Some people think that's a problem. But those are the same people who want you to check your brain at the door when you enter their presence or their school or their church or their government building or their whatever. They think we should be the mindless, unquestioning masses. And doubt causes us to ask questions.

But I don't believe that doubt is a problem. And I don't think Jesus did either. I believe that doubt is a gift from God. Healthy doubt, that is. Doubt that helps us question and change and grow.

Early humanity said, "Without a doubt, we're alone in this life. It's just us." Abraham and Sarah said: "I doubt it." And a relationship with the God of creation developed and a the beginnings of a Nation was formed.

The early Israelites moaned that without a doubt they would always be slaves and never know what freedom was like. Moses said: "I doubt it." And with God's leadership, lead them to the promised land.

Humanity said: "Without a doubt, Man will never fly." The Wright brothers said: "I doubt it." And today flying is standard operating procedure for millions of people.

Sickness and disease said: "Without a doubt, We've got you now. Nothing can stop us." But doctors and scientists said: "I doubt it." And modern vaccines and modern medicines were created and illness was healed.

Skeptics and flat earthers said: "Without a doubt we'll never make it to the moon." NASA and others said: "I doubt it." And then Neil Armstrong uttered those now famous words as he took that first step on the lunar surface: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

There are those who without a doubt treat us like Ziggy. There are those who say that without a doubt because you've made mistakes or bad choices, you've sinned and fallen away from God. As a consequence your worthless and will never amount to anything.

God says: "I Doubt It" and sent His Son, Jesus, who spread His arms wide on the cross and wrapped His arms around the entire world in a hug of love and grace and offers each of us forgiveness.

So you see, sometimes doubt is a good thing. "Without a doubt, life without a doubt is impossible." But doubt can lead to solutions and better understanding. Doubt can lead to changed lives. It did for Thomas.

II. WITHIN A DOUBT:

LETS LOOK AT LIFE WITHIN A DOUBT One of my favorite authors is Anne McCaffrey. And in one of her novels there is a disaster and one of the characters comments on the reaction of the general masses of people. It was a little ditty that has stuck with me. "When in danger or in doubt, Run in circles, scream and shout."

Doesn't that describe some people? Doesn't that describe how you feel (even if you don't act on it) when you find yourself in one of those situations that throws everything you hold dear out the window?

And we've all felt like that haven't we? That's what doubt does to us. It fills us with fear and uncertainty.

Some of our doubt comes simply from living in the society we live in. It's a challenge to live a life filled with faith. It's a challenge to live a life of dependency on God when we live in a land of plenty.

Sometimes our doubt is simply a cover up for cowardice and fear a taking the risk of giving ourselves completely to Christ because we don't know what our friends and family will; think.

Sometimes our doubt is related to old wounds, rejections, hurts, disappointments, failures and grief. Those things still hold onto our hearts and won't let us trust completely.

Sometimes doubt comes simply from the fear of change. We all like things to be the same. As much as we gripe about the boredom of living the same-o life, and going to the same-o job in the same-o car and doing the same-o thing over and over again. We really like the same-o stuff all the time. Most of us would rather have the same-o thing than try something new.

But WITHIN THIS DOUBT God always does what Jesus did for Thomas. God always reaches out to us. WITHIN A DOUBT, God reaches out and reaches down to show us the wounded hand of Christ and to reach out and lift us up.

And just like Jesus did for the disciples, God breathes the Holy Spirit into our lives. The breath of God fills us and we are able to remember who we are, Whose we are, and what it is that we believe. Because while for Thomas, seeing was believing. For us, believing is seeing.

Doubt is natural part of life and even of faith. With the help of God. It's as natural as breathing, as long as you let the breathe of God breathe within the doubt.

Ask God to breathe life into your doubt through the Doubters Prayer. You know it. It's found in Mark 9:24 in the words of the father of the mute boy that the evil spirit kept throwing into the fire. Jesus asked the father if he believed that Jesus could heal his son.

The father said, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief."

The willingness to name your doubt is the first step in living WITHIN A DOUBT.

When you find yourself WITHIN A DOUBT, simply pray; "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief."

III. BEYOND A DOUBT:

A. WE CAN'T LIVE LIFE WITHOUT A DOUBT, BUT WE CAN LET GOD BREATHE WITHIN OUR DOUBT AND HELP US LIVE BEYOND A DOUBT.

We're called to live BEYOND A DOUBT. WE'RE CALLED TO LIVE BY FAITH. You see, the worst thing in a life of faith is not doubt. The worst thing in a life of faith is discouragement.

Doubt doesn't tear at the heart, discouragement does. Doubt doesn't tear down the spirit or the soul, discouragement does. Living BEYOND A DOUBT means living as encouragers.

In Acts 4:32-37 we met one of the New Testament evangelists. He was a traveling partner with Paul. And he went on his own missionary journeys. His name was Barnabas. Actually, his name was Joseph and he was Levite. But he had such an encouraging spirit and personality, that the disciples and members of the early church gave him the nickname Barnabas because the meaning of Barnabas is "son of encouragement."

You and I are called to be like Barnabas. You and I are called to be "sons and daughters" of encouragement.

We all do it in lots of little ways. We offer that helping hand and encouragement through our prayer concerns. Through meals for those who are sick or recovering for surgery or at funerals. There are those who send notes and cards or make calls. All of these ways are acts of encouragement. They lift the spirit and help keep us from being discouraged in our walk of faith. But to be a Barnabas means to do it constantly.

B. For me, one of the most encouraging things in life is humor. I love a good laugh. Laughter lifts the soul and the spirit. The devil can't stand it when we laugh. And this day is a day of laughter.

Many churches celebrate this as Bright Sunday. A day to laugh in face of death and sin. Why? Not because we're so brazen but because they thought they had won.

But instead, while they were partying and carrying on, Jesus rose from the dead and vanquished them both.

The tomb is empty and they've been running scared ever since. And our joyous laughter sends them running even further. Can you understand now why I like laughter so much? And why I like humor so much? It's spiritually therapeutic. And it strengthens our spiritual armor.

With that in mind, I want to make you laugh. I want to lift your spirits. These photos and cartoons have no other purpose but to make you laugh. (SHOW CARTOONS)

Now don't you feel better. Haven't your spirits been lifted a little. There's a couple that you'll probably never forget. Humor and laughter are some of the tools we need if we want to be a Barnabas. Be a Barnabas. Be a "son or daughter of encouragement." Help yourself and help others live BEYOND A DOUBT.

WE CAN'T LIVE LIFE WITHOUT A DOUBT, BUT WE CAN LET GOD BREATHE WITHIN OUR DOUBT AND HELP US LIVE BEYOND A DOUBT SO WE CAN ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO LIVE BEYOND A DOUBT.

CONCLUSION:

Maybe you feel a little like Thomas when it comes to some aspect of the faith. That's OK. Or maybe like the bird in the cartoon, you just feel a little like an outsider because of the your faith or your questions. That's OK, too. God understands.

God is reaching out to you right now. And all God's wants is to wrap you in the arms of love, through the arms which were stretched out on the cross for you. The arms of Christ Jesus. God wants to Breathe the Holy Spirit into your life so you can live BEYOND A DOUBT. And so you can be a Barnabas.

Has God forgotten about you? Has God written you off because there is some doubt in the midst of your faith? "I Doubt It."

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www.SermonWriter.com (Copyright, Richard Niell Donovan, 2000)

www.SermonMall.com

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