Tomorrow is not guaranteed. What you are doing today is preparing opportunities for yourself to serve today. Today is the day that you can do something different.
Scripture Text
Ephesians 5:15-17
Main Points or Ideas
Doubt is an experience common to all people.
The only cure for doubt is how much trust you have in a sovereign God.
Even those with faith in God struggle with doubt on occasion and say with the man in Mark 9, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”
Hebrews 11: There was faith in God to overcome their doubt.
Doubt is a tool of Satan.
Genesis 3: Satan cast doubt into Eve’s mind.
We tend to put faith in what we experience with our senses
James 1:5-8
If we doubt God’s ability to be able to fulfill His promises, what is the point in asking anyways?
Hebrews 11:6
Before we can be secure in our faith, we must answer the question: Where have I placed my trust?
We put our trust into a chair when we go to sit, but we don’t put our trust in the Almighty God who is the Creator of everything.
Use what you are learning right now to apply it right now.
Three Pillars to Battle Against Doubt
The Word
It can be encouraging to remember the faithfulness of God when we are struggling
1 Kings: Elijah gave into fear and doubt because of the influences that he let into his life.
During times of stress and exhaustion it is easy to forget everything that God has done for us.
Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:22
We have to be students of the Word.
What does God want you to do in this situation?
Romans 8:16
Help my unbelief.
We all need to grow and pursue or faith in Christ.
Prayer
Pray without ceasing.
This may be the most difficult discipline to practice in the life of the believer, but it is the most important one.
Luke 11:9-13
Keep a prayer journal, so that you can see the hand of God sustaining and keeping you.
God does not want people to doubt you, He wants them to be confident in His love.
Prayer is for your benefit. Allow God to fill you.
Only as you pursue your Creator will you be satisfied.
If you find that you do not have any satisfaction in this life, that is because you are made for another life.
Faith in God is the answer to doubt.
The Holy Spirit
The most powerful battle against doubt.
Overcoming Doubt
Your life should be controlled by the Spirit of God in you.
Until you have come to that point in your life, you are not seizing the opportunities that God has put in your life.
Redeem the Time
Ephesians 5:15-17
God has a purpose for our tomorrows.
We need to seize the day so we can prepare for tomorrow.
Redeeming the time is an eternal pursuit that affects an eternal manifestation.
Wisdom is the practical application of God’s Word.
Do not be hearers of the Word but doers.
Your Walk (vs. 15)
Keep your eyes wide open.
Look around for the enemy.
Satan wants to make you ineffective for God’s glory.
Your Way (vs. 16)
What are you doing now with what God has given you to serve Him?
What does God want from you today?
Your Wisdom (vs. 17)
Understand what the will of the Lord is.
It’s like Paul is saying, “Don’t be stupid, stupid!”
You were created for one purpose, to know God and make Him known.
Proverbs 1:6
Identify the lies of the enemy.
Lay aside the weights and the sins that easily beset us.
Pursue holiness according to the wisdom of His Word.
Conclusion
We have to walk circumspectly and redeem the time, one day at a time
